Bombing of Hiroshima
Bombing of Hiroshima During World War II, the United States was working on the Manhattan Project – the development of the atomic bomb. The U.S. had several reasons to create and use this new weapon, including the obtaining of accurate effects, attempting to bring an end to the war with Japan more quickly, and to show America’s true power to the rest of the world in order to keep the Soviet Union from expanding its sphere of influence. After much consideration, the first atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima early in the morning of August 6th, 1945. Although America’s decision did have its benefits, in light of its many other negative consequences, the decision to drop the bomb on that fateful day was not and cannot be justified.
The bomb was dropped at approximately 8:14 a.m in the morning on the waking city of Hiroshima. Accompanying the explosion was a brilliant flash of light with a burst of heat, with temperatures exceeding 1800 degrees Celsius. Thus, the consequences of the atomic bomb were unimaginably horrible. Firstly, 90% of the buildings within the radius of 2km of where the bomb was dropped—which is also sometimes referred to as within the ‘Ground Zero’ area --were completely destructed (TOP SECRET). Furthermore, approximately 350,000 people died directly from the atomic bomb, and 140.000 people died due to nuclear radiation that it created. Even worse, the number of victims that were affected by the bomb doesn’t end here. In fact, many unborn babies were also exposed to radiation in their mother’s womb, a disease known as the ‘A-bomb microcephaly’. (A-bomb damage continues). As a result of this disease, not only did these babies suffer in their mother’s womb, but would suffer for the rest of their lives once they were born (if they managed to even survive birth). This is because such children were born with many body abnormalities and disfigurations, such as face, hands, and leg disorders.
It still doesn’t end here -- the explosion also
The bomb was dropped at approximately 8:14 a.m in the morning on the waking city of Hiroshima. Accompanying the explosion was a brilliant flash of light with a burst of heat, with temperatures exceeding 1800 degrees Celsius. Thus, the consequences of the atomic bomb were unimaginably horrible. Firstly, 90% of the buildings within the radius of 2km of where the bomb was dropped—which is also sometimes referred to as within the ‘Ground Zero’ area --were completely destructed (TOP SECRET). Furthermore, approximately 350,000 people died directly from the atomic bomb, and 140.000 people died due to nuclear radiation that it created. Even worse, the number of victims that were affected by the bomb doesn’t end here. In fact, many unborn babies were also exposed to radiation in their mother’s womb, a disease known as the ‘A-bomb microcephaly’. (A-bomb damage continues). As a result of this disease, not only did these babies suffer in their mother’s womb, but would suffer for the rest of their lives once they were born (if they managed to even survive birth). This is because such children were born with many body abnormalities and disfigurations, such as face, hands, and leg disorders.
It still doesn’t end here -- the explosion also
Cited: Table of Global Nuclear Weapons Stockpiles. Natural Resources Defense Council, Oct.-Nov. 2002. Web. 21 May 2010. <http://www.nrdc.org/nuclear/nudb/datab19.asp>. Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. UN Department for Disarmament Affairs., 2002. Web. 21 May 2010. <http://www.un.org/Depts/dda/WMD/treaty/>. TOP SECRET. U.S. National Archives, 1995. Web. 2 June 2010. <http://www.dannen.com/decision/handy.html>. Japan Focus. Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, 2002. Web. 2 June 2010. <http://www.japanfocus.org/-Tsuyoshi-Hasegawa/2501>.