National Peace Memory Hall calls on the dismantling of nuclear weapons

Tomoo Kurokawa, National Peace Memory Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims Director visited the exhibition "A-Bomb Exhibition, Hiroshima and Nagasaki", on show at the main foyer of Porto City Hall, from 2 October till 30 November.
Visiting schedule is from Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 5 pm. 

This is a very special occasion as it marks the 73rd anniversary of the Nagasaki and Hiroshima atomic bombings, during World War II. Mr. Kurokawa wanted to leave a message of peace and urge nations to curb the proliferation of nuclear weapons.

This visit was also held in the context of the 40 years of Porto and Nagasaki Twinning and the Director was welcomed at Porto City Hall by Mayor Rui Moreira.

Mr. Tomoo Kurokawa kindly granted an interview to Porto., and stated that "the main message of the Memory Hall is to send a parable of the atomic bomb victims to the world".

"Although there is another museum in Nagasaki to show the remains of the Atomic Bomb in that city, this Memory Hall was erected to give the victims a voice, to show what they have suffered", the Director added, also saying that there are two museums of the kind in Hiroshima.

"My mother and my brother are also victims of the atomic bomb, but that is in the past. Nowadays, the most important is to show that atomic weapons must not be used ever again in the world. This kind of reasoning is more important than to hate", the Director declared.

"All victims of the atomic bomb wish the elimination of all nuclear weapons ", he urged.

During his visit to the exhibition, Mr. Kurokawa stated he was "both surprised and satisfied that so many people were visiting the exhibition".

"We wish to contribute to the elimination of atomic bombs and nuclear weapons in the world and I believe this exhibition is also another step to reaching that goal", the Director concluded.

The Nagasaki National Peace Memory Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims was erected between November 2000 and December 2002, and its fundamental mission is to show the world the sacrifice of all those of have perished under the bombings, and also to commemorate everlasting peace.

The memory Hall is located near the Atomic Bomb Museum and the Peace Park in Nagasaki.

It is worth mentioning that in the context of the 40 years of Porto and Nagasaki Twinning, the Palacete dos Viscondes de Balsemão, located at Praça de Carlos Alberto, hosts a contemporary exhibition with artwork from artists from Porto and Nagasaki, as well as children artwork from both cities to disseminate a message of universal peace.

This exhibit is entrance free and can be visited from Monday to Friday, from 10 am till 5.30 pm. The exhibit will be on show till 31 October.