Give Peace A Chance

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, Canada

Give peace a chance was the theme of the lantern ceremony held Wednesday August 6 at the harbour.  This was the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima with an atomic weapon.  A small group of people gathered to speak about the need for peace worldwide, to recognize the horrors of all wars and to honour all victims of war.

The gathering was generally lighthearted with small children playing in the sand and shallow water. Three young women brought a large peace dove to fly around the park. Even though they didn't know it, this small ceremony was for them.  To see them playing  safe, well fed and carefree underlined the contrast between peace and war.

I have to admit that I felt a profound sadness hearing those old Vietnam protest songs sung again.  Not because they were poorly sung, but because they were still so relevant 40 years later.

At ten o'clock participants picked up their lanterns and singing put them into the waters to be towed out to sea.