First of all, I would like to underline that I am very honored and extremely impressed to be here in today in Hiroshima where such a dramatic event has occured on August 6th, 1945.

I address my most heartfelt emotions to the survivors and the members of the families of the victims of this horrible event (several of which were assisting to the lecture). I am deeply moved to be in this city which is such an important symbol. This visit is also very important for me to better understand the terrible and devastating effects of atomic bombs.

I would particularly like to thank for inviting me to Hiroshima and making tonight's presentation possible :

- Dr Hiroo Dohy, Vice-Director of the Hiroshima Red Cross Hospital and Atomic A-bomb Survivors Hospital, for his kindness, his warm welcome, and the special visit for us this morning of the Hiroshima Hospital and laboratory dedicated to the treatment and the study of the survivors of the A-bomb

- Dr Kouzou Sanada, President of the Hiroshima Medical Association, for his kind invitation and the organization of this conference

- Mr Minoru Hataguchi, Director of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, for his special visit of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum this afternoon, and his kind and precise answers to my many questions

- Mrs Sachiyo Oki, Director of the Office of International Exchange of the Hiroshima Medical Association, for her explanations during the visit of the city and of the Hiroshima Museum, and for her translation of this conference to and from Japanese

- Mr Mori and Dr Akimoto, survivors of the Hiroshima A-bomb, for making this meeting possible.

Before starting the presentation about the civilian applications and general considerations about nuclear energy, I express sincerely my profound emotion for being here in Hiroshima with you today. Hiroshima is a very unique and highly symbolic place in the history of humanity.

We must put all our efforts to act for a better and peaceful world in the future, and that such a dramatic event as the Hiroshima A-Bomb on August 6th, 1945, never happens again. Our association (EFN) is dedicated to prevent such events and to contribute to better information of the public on matters regarding energy, health, and the environment, and we are also, of course, totally opposed to any military applications of nuclear energy (nuclear war).

I was very impressed by today 's visit of the Museum and Hospital of Hiroshima.

Nuclear science should be applied only and strictly for peaceful applications, at the service of humankind, not for mass destruction.

Bruno Comby
President of EFN

Click here to download the entire presentation given by the President of EFN in Hiroshima (7.6 MO Powerpoint presentation in English).

Click here to see the photos of the visit of EFN in the city of Hiroshima, and photos of the Memorial, of the A-Bomb, of the Survivor's Hospital, to better understand this tragedy.