Shaukat Awan

“I dispute the point that nuclear energy is 'clean' and 'cost-effective'. As I recall, when we first harnessed nuclear power it was to drop an atom bomb on a civilian population, not to save the environment. However, you must admit, the victors are never tried for war crimes.”
― E.A. Bucchianeri, Brushstrokes of a Gadfly

“Behind this monstrous shield, liberal democracy and the free market managed to hold out in their last bastions, and Westerners could enjoy sex, drugs and rock and roll, as well as washing machines, refrigerators and televisions. Without nukes, there would have been no Woodstock, no Beatles and no overflowing supermarkets. But in the mid-1970s it seemed that nuclear weapons notwithstanding, the future belonged to socialism.”
― Yuval Noah Harari, Homo Deus: A History of Tomorrow

“Dr. Y. Hiraiwa, professor of Hiroshima University of Literature and Science, and one of my church members, was buried by the bomb under the two storied house with his son, a student of Tokyo University. Both of them could not move an inch under tremendously heavy pressure. And the house already caught fire. His son said, ‘Father, we can do nothing except make our mind up to consecrate our lives for the country. Let us give Banzai to our Emperor.’ Then the father followed after his son, ‘Tenno-heika, Banzai, Banzai, Banzai!’ . . . In thinking of their experience of that time Dr. Hiraiwa repeated, ‘What a fortunate that we are Japanese! It was my first time I ever tasted such a beautiful spirit when I decided to die for our Emperor.”
― John Hersey, Hiroshima

“I come and stand at every door 
But none can hear my silent tread 
I knock and yet remain unseen 
For I am dead for I am dead 

I'm only seven though I died 
In Hiroshima long ago 
I'm seven now as I was then 
When children die they do not grow 

My hair was scorched by swirling flame 
My eyes grew dim my eyes grew blind 
Death came and turned my bones to dust 
And that was scattered by the wind 

I need no fruit I need no rice 
I need no sweets nor even bread 
I ask for nothing for myself 
For I am dead for I am dead 

All that I need is that for peace 
You fight today you fight today 
So that the children of this world 
Can live and grow and laugh and play 

- The Girl Child”
― Nazim Hikmet