March in New York numbers 10,000, with A-bomb survivors, to appeal for a nuclear-free world
May 7, 2010
by Kohei Okata and Yumi Kanazaki, Staff Writers, dispatched from New York
"Together, let us build a world free of nuclear weapons and war." On May 2, the skyscrapers of New York, a symbol of the United States, the only nation in history to have staged a nuclear attack and still a nuclear superpower, echoed with the appeal of A-bomb survivors (hibakusha). Some passersby stopped to hear the forceful appeal of the demonstration march involving about 10,000 citizens from various nations. The heartfelt message of the survivors, transmitted to those present, serves as a tailwind for the success of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.
The march began at Times Square. The participants arrived at the site, one after the other, seemingly undeterred by the fact that a bomb had been found there the night before. Banners and signs with such messages as "NO NUKES" and "No More Hibakusha" filled the street.
Hisako Kimura, 73, a resident of the city of Sendai, who related her A-bomb account on behalf of hibakusha at the departing ceremony, held a photo of her father. He died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Ms. Kimura forced her words out: "I want to see my father even now. Give me back my father."
Concerning the fact that these cruel weapons still exist, Audrey Coleman, 16, a first-year student at a high school in New Hampshire, said that she was now keenly aware that the damage wrought by the atomic bombings was not simply a thing of the past and that she had not been taught this at school. She promised to pass on Ms. Kimura's words to her school community.
With Ms. Kimura, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, and Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue heading the march, the citizens from many nations took part at their own pace. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 68, a resident of Hiroshima Prefecture who joined the march and walked for about three kilometers, said hopefully, "The march was a chance to send a passionate appeal. I hope it will impact the results of the NPT Review Conference."
Noa Reis, 27, a company employee and member of a volunteer team of about 80 Japanese people residing in the United States and providing support for hibakusha, distributed A-4 size leaflets which contain an A-bomb account. She wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "This is a simple message, not assigning blame about the bombings, but calling for nuclear weapons to never be used again. I was moved by the account myself."
(Originally published on May 4, 2010)
"Together, let us build a world free of nuclear weapons and war." On May 2, the skyscrapers of New York, a symbol of the United States, the only nation in history to have staged a nuclear attack and still a nuclear superpower, echoed with the appeal of A-bomb survivors (hibakusha). Some passersby stopped to hear the forceful appeal of the demonstration march involving about 10,000 citizens from various nations. The heartfelt message of the survivors, transmitted to those present, serves as a tailwind for the success of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference.
The march began at Times Square. The participants arrived at the site, one after the other, seemingly undeterred by the fact that a bomb had been found there the night before. Banners and signs with such messages as "NO NUKES" and "No More Hibakusha" filled the street.
Hisako Kimura, 73, a resident of the city of Sendai, who related her A-bomb account on behalf of hibakusha at the departing ceremony, held a photo of her father. He died in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Ms. Kimura forced her words out: "I want to see my father even now. Give me back my father."
Concerning the fact that these cruel weapons still exist, Audrey Coleman, 16, a first-year student at a high school in New Hampshire, said that she was now keenly aware that the damage wrought by the atomic bombings was not simply a thing of the past and that she had not been taught this at school. She promised to pass on Ms. Kimura's words to her school community.
With Ms. Kimura, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, and Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue heading the march, the citizens from many nations took part at their own pace. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 68, a resident of Hiroshima Prefecture who joined the march and walked for about three kilometers, said hopefully, "The march was a chance to send a passionate appeal. I hope it will impact the results of the NPT Review Conference."
Noa Reis, 27, a company employee and member of a volunteer team of about 80 Japanese people residing in the United States and providing support for hibakusha, distributed A-4 size leaflets which contain an A-bomb account. She wiped the sweat from her brow and said, "This is a simple message, not assigning blame about the bombings, but calling for nuclear weapons to never be used again. I was moved by the account myself."
(Originally published on May 4, 2010)
