Blog

  • Fragments of the Past: Hiroshima’s Living Memory

    Fragments of the Past: Hiroshima’s Living Memory

    By

    Micah Sandy

    It is visually hard to tell that a bomb was ever dropped from a trolley ride through the streets of Hiroshima. Upon arriving at the Genbaku Dome-mae station, the temporary illusion of a bomb-free history dissolves.  The plethora of photos that exist of the Genbaku Dome, the only structure left standing after the world’s first…

  • Nuclear Waste Scholar Series: Making the Unseen Visible

    Nuclear Waste Scholar Series: Making the Unseen Visible

    By

    Helena Schatzki

    The Hanford Nuclear Reservation was responsible for producing plutonium for the Manhattan Project, a production which created large amounts of waste that still remain at the site and contaminate the surrounding environment. In response to these lingering environmental dangers, The Hanford Challenge, a non-profit organization dedicated to building accountability for cleanup at the Hanford Site,…

  • Together in Light: A Chicago Commemoration of the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 79 Years Later

    Together in Light: A Chicago Commemoration of the Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 79 Years Later

    By

    Avery Blaszak

    On August 6th, 2024, I had the opportunity to attend the Toro Nagashi, or lantern ceremony, organized by The Japanese Arts Foundation in the Garden of the Phoenix in Jackson Park. A significant portion of the 579 pre-registered attendees participated in lighting lanterns and releasing them on the water, with personal messages attached creating a…