A-bomb survivors speak out after NPT Review Conference adopts Final Document
Jun. 1, 2010
by Junichiro Hayashi, Staff Writer
On May 29, A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima welcomed the adoption of the Final Document at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, saying that the adoption of this document, which includes an action plan for nuclear disarmament, is a sign of measurable progress. At the same time, views were voiced calling for a steady advance toward the elimination of nuclear weapons and initiative on the part of the Japanese government.
Toshie Uematsu, a 75-year-old resident of the city of Etajima in Hiroshima Prefecture, related her experience of the atomic bombing in the United States as one of the delegates of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo). Ms. Uematsu feels that the voices of survivors were heard. Sunao Tsuboi, 85, chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations and leader of the delegation, commented that while the conference was more gratifying than the previous one held in 2005, he did not totally welcome its outcome, adding that a more concrete road map to the elimination of nuclear weapons must be created.
Appreciation was also given to the mention of a nuclear weapons convention in the document.
Haruko Moritaki, 71, co-representative of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Abolition, handed a proposal on abolishing nuclear arms to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ms. Moritaki said, "At the conference, some European countries called for the enactment of a nuclear weapons convention. This will help gather momentum for making concerted efforts to draw up such a convention."
Among the people who observed the conference in New York were Rebecca Johnson, 55, director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy in the United Kingdom, and Regina Hagen, 52, an expert on nuclear disarmament from Germany. They commented, among other thoughts, that the Final Document proved fruitful in that it stipulates the need for a legal framework for nuclear abolition, and the two expressed their resolve to realize a nuclear weapons convention.
Others expressed disappointment over the deletion of a plan to hold an international conference for creating a road map toward the elimination of nuclear weapons, a provision originally included in an earlier draft. Also disappointing to some was that neither the Japanese prime minister nor foreign minister attended the conference.
Terumi Tanaka, 78, secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, said, "We are dissatisfied with the fact that a clear path to the elimination of nuclear arms was not articulated, and we will continue to call for more efforts by the signatories."
On the same day, the other faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations held a briefing session in central Hiroshima. At this session held by second- and third-generation A-bomb survivors, delegates of the confederation reported on their activities in the United States. Kazushi Kaneko, 84, chairman of the organization, stressed, "To influence the nuclear powers, it is important that the government of Japan, the only nation to have experienced nuclear attack, make serious efforts to lead the movement toward the abolition of nuclear arms."
Hiroshi Takakusaki, 65, general secretary of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, challenges the Japanese government's dependence on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Mr. Takakusaki said, "The very faith in nuclear deterrence poses an impediment in the road to the elimination of nuclear weapons."
Erika Abiko, 31, is director of the "Yes! Campaign Committee," which in New York appealed for the adoption of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol, a road map promoted by Mayors for Peace for the abolition of nuclear weapons by the year 2020. Ms. Abiko renewed her determination, saying, "Even though the goal of having the protocol adopted was not accomplished, our activities were not wasted. We will continue calling on the Japanese government to take the initiative for the elimination of nuclear arms."
(Originally published on May 30, 2010)
On May 29, A-bomb survivors in Hiroshima welcomed the adoption of the Final Document at the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, saying that the adoption of this document, which includes an action plan for nuclear disarmament, is a sign of measurable progress. At the same time, views were voiced calling for a steady advance toward the elimination of nuclear weapons and initiative on the part of the Japanese government.
Toshie Uematsu, a 75-year-old resident of the city of Etajima in Hiroshima Prefecture, related her experience of the atomic bombing in the United States as one of the delegates of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo). Ms. Uematsu feels that the voices of survivors were heard. Sunao Tsuboi, 85, chairman of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations and leader of the delegation, commented that while the conference was more gratifying than the previous one held in 2005, he did not totally welcome its outcome, adding that a more concrete road map to the elimination of nuclear weapons must be created.
Appreciation was also given to the mention of a nuclear weapons convention in the document.
Haruko Moritaki, 71, co-representative of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Abolition, handed a proposal on abolishing nuclear arms to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Ms. Moritaki said, "At the conference, some European countries called for the enactment of a nuclear weapons convention. This will help gather momentum for making concerted efforts to draw up such a convention."
Among the people who observed the conference in New York were Rebecca Johnson, 55, director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy in the United Kingdom, and Regina Hagen, 52, an expert on nuclear disarmament from Germany. They commented, among other thoughts, that the Final Document proved fruitful in that it stipulates the need for a legal framework for nuclear abolition, and the two expressed their resolve to realize a nuclear weapons convention.
Others expressed disappointment over the deletion of a plan to hold an international conference for creating a road map toward the elimination of nuclear weapons, a provision originally included in an earlier draft. Also disappointing to some was that neither the Japanese prime minister nor foreign minister attended the conference.
Terumi Tanaka, 78, secretary general of Nihon Hidankyo, said, "We are dissatisfied with the fact that a clear path to the elimination of nuclear arms was not articulated, and we will continue to call for more efforts by the signatories."
On the same day, the other faction of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations held a briefing session in central Hiroshima. At this session held by second- and third-generation A-bomb survivors, delegates of the confederation reported on their activities in the United States. Kazushi Kaneko, 84, chairman of the organization, stressed, "To influence the nuclear powers, it is important that the government of Japan, the only nation to have experienced nuclear attack, make serious efforts to lead the movement toward the abolition of nuclear arms."
Hiroshi Takakusaki, 65, general secretary of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, challenges the Japanese government's dependence on the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Mr. Takakusaki said, "The very faith in nuclear deterrence poses an impediment in the road to the elimination of nuclear weapons."
Erika Abiko, 31, is director of the "Yes! Campaign Committee," which in New York appealed for the adoption of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol, a road map promoted by Mayors for Peace for the abolition of nuclear weapons by the year 2020. Ms. Abiko renewed her determination, saying, "Even though the goal of having the protocol adopted was not accomplished, our activities were not wasted. We will continue calling on the Japanese government to take the initiative for the elimination of nuclear arms."
(Originally published on May 30, 2010)
