the anti-nuclear policy that spread across the world.

Ever since the bombing an anti nuclear movement has spread across the world. Hibakusha, meaning survivors of the bombings, have been a central voice in this effort and a reminder to many people the horrors that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ever since the event, there has been anti-nuclear protests and rallies throughout the world, including the largest in New York in 1982 where one million people marched against Nuclear Weapons. In 2010 there was first talk of a treaty regarding Nuclear Weapons, but it did not go through as it was opposed by some powerful nations that supported Nuclear Weapons, such as the USA. Negotiations carried on for years after as well as proposals being introduced and rejected, until July 2017 when the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons passed, however is yet to be in effect as it needs 50 ratifications until it is active and it only has 10 so far. The treaty is definitely a step in the right direction, however only applies to countries that signed the treaty and all the states with the most extensive nuclear arsenals, such as the USA and Russia boycotted the treaty. The bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made the world aware of the devastation that nuclear warfare cause and sparked movements across the globe. It certainly had a positive effect in the way that 15 countries have no nuclear powerplants and have pledged to stay that way and that 8 countries have pledged to phase out nuclear power. The world still has ways to go in terms of becoming nuclear free but the devastation in Hiroshima and Nagasaki has sparked a movement that is making big changes.

This anti-nuclear movement is a result from the bombings because the devastation caused made the world and people aware of the reality of Nuclear War.

Another effect of the bombing is the lasting effects of the radiation and the people that are still affected today.

Aside from the thousands of people who died in the initial blast, there has been people dying ever since from various complications due to exposure to radiation. Five years after the bombing, the rate of leukaemia had noticeably increased, research done by the Center for Environmental Health Studies later has linked exposure to Ionizing Radiations to cancer. About a decade after the bombing increases in thyroid, breast, lung and other cancers were also noted. Women who were pregnant during the bombing who survived experiences higher rates of infant mortality and miscarriages, infants that did survive birth were more likely to disabilities and stunted growth.

People dying from complications due to exposure to radiation is a result of the bombs being dropped as even those who did not die in the initial blast were still affected, even years later.

New Zealand

The event impacted New Zealand because a lot of Kiwi men and women were fighting the Japanese in the pacific so when the bombs were dropped and the war was over they would’ve been happy because they could go home.

The news of the Japanese surrender originally arrived in New Zealand at 11 am 15th August. This news brought immediate celebration, sirens were sounded, and people celebrated in the streets. There was a two-day public holiday and celebrations reigned. Parades, services, dances and bonfires were part of the celebrations. Although the celebrations seem inappropriate now, at the time it was a huge relief because all the tension from having a war so close to home was gone. Kiwi soldiers, nurses and engineers stationed overseas got to go home because the war was over.