Amy Shira Teitel says Hiroshima, Nagasaki anniversaries should refocus attention on nuclear risk

Historian and author Amy Shira Teitel is marking the 81st anniversaries of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings by warning that nuclear weapons remain a present-day global threat. She says the human cost, the scale of current arsenals, and the continued relevance of treaties and disarmament make the topic urgent, not historical.

Why it matters: - The 81st anniversaries of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, observed Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, are a reminder that nuclear weapons still shape global security. - Teitel argues the bombings should not be treated as distant history because nuclear threats remain part of current diplomacy, deterrence and arms control debates. - Nine countries now possess nuclear weapons, and more than 12,000 nuclear warheads still exist worldwide.

What happened: - Historian and author Amy Shira Teitel issued a statement in Los Angeles urging reflection on the legacy of the atomic bombings. - Teitel said the anniversaries should prompt attention to the human cost of nuclear warfare and the continuing relevance of nuclear history. - Teitel also called for renewed focus on nuclear treaties, international agreements and disarmament.

The details: - The Hiroshima bombing killed an estimated 140,000 people by the end of 1945, according to the Japanese government. - The Nagasaki bombing killed approximately 70,000 people from the immediate blast, burns and radiation. - As of August 2024, Japan officially recognizes 344,306 Hiroshima victims and 198,785 Nagasaki victims, including people who later died from radiation-related illnesses. - Teitel said the images and stories tied to the two cities represent real communities, real people and real suffering. - Teitel is the author of Breaking the Chains of Gravity: The Story of Spaceflight Before NASA and Fighting for Space: Two Pilots and Their Historic Battle for Female Spaceflight. - Teitel’s work focuses on space exploration, mid-century technology and post-war American history. - More information is available at AmyShiraTeitel.com. - Teitel is available for interviews on Hiroshima, Nagasaki, nuclear weapons, global affairs and disarmament.

Between the lines: - Teitel is framing nuclear weapons as a living policy issue, not only a memorial topic. - Her message suggests public attention can fade as the bombings recede further into history, even as arsenals and geopolitical tensions remain. - The argument centers on the idea that remembrance matters because historical trauma still informs present-day decisions.

What's next: - Hiroshima and Nagasaki remembrance events will continue around the Aug. 6 and Aug. 9 anniversaries. - Teitel is likely to continue using the anniversaries to press for discussion of nuclear treaties and global security. - The broader debate over deterrence, disarmament and arms control is expected to remain active as nuclear states maintain their arsenals.