Two Knighton residents are joining the International Fast for Peace to protest against nuclear weapons.

The ‘Healing Not Killing’ fast marks 75 years since nuclear bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

From 8.15am on Thursday, August 6, to 11.02am on Sunday, August 9, Angie Zelter and Lyn Gardenchild, supported by members of local peace and justice groups, will be fasting in the centre of Knighton at the War Memorial.

It is 75 years since nuclear bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That nuclear devastation started the nuclear arms race that has continued to pollute and terrify the world ever since.

Ms Zelter said: “Now that we have the existential threat of climate change to add to that of catastrophic nuclear war we must take on board the lesson that the Covid 19 virus is giving us, that global co-operation on these threats is both essential and possible. The time to rid ourselves of nuclear weapons is now.”

Lyn Gardenchild said: ‘I’m fasting out of respect for all those who were affected by the bombing’.

There will be an exhibition on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the continuing attempts to halt the global build up of nuclear weapons. This now consists of 14,000 plus nuclear weapons held by nine countries, representing several hundred thousand times the destructive capacity which obliterated those two Japanese cities in 1945.

Extinction Rebellion Peace said: “With the USA tearing up major international arms control agreements, talking about resuming nuclear testing and putting huge sums into modernising its nuclear arsenal, we are closer to a nuclear war than any time in the past. The UK is following suit joining in the nuclear race to hell and spending over £205 billion of public money on a replacement nuclear weapon system that is completely dependent on the USA, at a time when our NHS desperately needs funding”

The money the protestors and supporters (who may fast for one day or even just miss one meal) would have spent on food will be given to the Knighton Food Bank.

There is a full programme of socially distanced workshops and discussions.