Archcomix

Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Wyclef Jean and Direct Action in Colombia

Friday marked the 65th anniversary of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima, and the first time that a US representative has attended any of the memorial services held in Japan. US Ambassador John Roos was at the service in Hiroshima to observe the moment of silence at 8:15am – the time that “Little Boy“, the most inappropriately named piece of ordinance ever, detonated some 300m above ground level, instantly incinerating an estimated 70,000 people. Click here to read an extract from Pika-Don (“flash-boom”, from the Japanese term for the atomic bombs), created by the Stanford Graphic Novel Project based on double atomic bomb survivor Tsutomu Yamaguchi‘s ordeal and experience the horror of being at ground zero (within 3km) for both blasts. Today at 11:02am will mark the anniversary of the Nagasaki bombing, which was actually 3 times more powerful (20 kilotons) than the Hiroshima blast. Be sure to check out this excellent digital resource from the Nagasaki Archive: a patch for Google earth that lets you explore the shell of the city in the the atomic aftermath.

In more surreal news, ex-Fugee Wyclef Jean is running for Haitian President. Seriously. Despite alleged mismanagement of his charity, his support for the US-backed coup of 2005 that ousted then-President Jean-Betrand Aristride, or – the fact that being a successful pop star does not qualify you to run a country, despite what it may do for your record sales. One-time…

Last but not least, the SOAW (School of the Americas Watch) delegation to Colombia is continuing their protest around US military installations (see video below) in the run up to the Aug 17 Constitutional Court decision that will determine the legal basis of the US military presence in the country and its use of Colombian bases. All the more dramatic, given Saturday’s inauguration of new Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who is decidedly more pro-Chavez than outgoing President Alvaro Uribe. Then again, U.S. Ambassador William Brownfield’s comments to local radio station La FM demonstrate the US’s attitude towards the Constitutional Court’s ruling. When asked if a negative decision from the Constitutional Court could affect bilateral relations, Brownfield said, “in absolute terms, I think not.”