HIS 100: Analyzing the Radiation Effects of Hiroshima & Nagasaki

This presentation examines the long-term effects of radiation exposure following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It analyzes the political context surrounding the bombings, particularly the attack on Pearl Harbor and the subsequent need for retaliation. The presentation draws on historical narratives and data from the Radiation Effects Research Foundation to illustrate the devastating impact on the population, including immediate deaths from the explosion and long-term health issues caused by radiation. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the value of human life and the dangers of nuclear weapons, advocating for nuclear non-proliferation and a more vital role for the United Nations in peacekeeping. The presentation concludes by highlighting the obligation of citizens to speak against nuclear build-up and hold nuclear-powered states accountable.

THE ATOMIC BOMBING
Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Topic:
• How did the radiation emitted from the atomic bomb blasts effect
the people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki then and now?

Historical Lenses
• The different dimensions of viewing history through various
perspectives.
• The various lenses are Cultural, Social, Economic,
Political/Government, Technology and Geography.
• The particular incident of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombing can be
listed under Government.
• Under government various incidents such as Law, wars, Politics,
power, and peace.

The Political Reasons Behind
the Attack
• The attack at Pearl Harbour
caused widespread anger against
Japan in the USA.
• There was a need of an
immediate action to retaliate.
• The nuclear action was a
consequence of the pearl
harbour attack.

Historical Narrative
• It is assessed by the “Radiation Effects Research Foundation” (an
agreeable Japan-U.S. association) that in the vicinity of 90,000 and
166,000 individuals were killed in Hiroshima.
• While another 60,000 to 80,000 were killed in Nagasaki.
• The next generation that took birth most had been bodily impaired
because of radiation.
• The people who have been instantly killed were because of explosion
and many died later because of radiation.

Historical Narrative
• Radiation can effect and cause
acute, instant result by
destroying cells and directly
destructing tissue, radiation can
also have effects that occur on
longer scale, such as cancer, by
causing mutations in the DNA of
living cells.

Historical Narrative: Conclusion
• “Probably the two most direct
designations are radiation injury
and gamma ray injury.”
• The skin gets dissolved and the
bones often get porous or bent.
• The affect is long term and even the
new born are born with the affects
• However statements like “a very
pleasant way to die” still haunt
people.

Value: Our Lives
• After the incident the world has
learnt the lesson that what can
be the consequences of a
nuclear attack.
• During the cold war both USA
and USSR had stopped short of a
nuclear war.

Value: Our Lives
• Recently USA and North Korea
engaged in a verbal fight.
• There were threats of Nuclear
attacks, but they did not engage.
• There was a meeting between
the heads of the states at the
end.

Value: Opinion
• It is important to understand
how valuable human life is and
how such weapons are
dangerous for peaceful growth
of civilization.
• All the conflicts has only caused
damage and problems in the
world and the world leaders and
common people must realize
that.

Value: Opinion
• The United Nations may play a more vital role in peace keeping,
presently it has much lesser role to play in international scenarios.
• There may be separate organizations which will look specifically into
nuclear matters.

Value: Obligation
• It must be the duty of the
citizens to speak against nuclear
build up.
• The government of the Nuclear
powered states must be held
responsible by the general
population.
• Nuclear Non Proliferation must
be encouraged.