New resolve toward nuclear abolition at Bikini Day gatherings
Mar. 3, 2011
by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer
On March 1, the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs, the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, and other groups held “Bikini Day” gatherings in the city of Shizuoka and other locations. March 1 marks the 57th anniversary of the incident in which the Daigo Fukuryu Maru (The Lucky Dragon No. 5), a Shizuoka-based Japanese tuna fishing boat, was exposed to the nuclear fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test in the Bikini Atoll, located in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Participants at these gatherings reflected on the reality of exposure to radiation and vowed to take action for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
The Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs held its gathering in Shizuoka. Koichi Kawano, chair of the organization, addressed an audience of about 300 people, saying, “The Bikini incident is a starting point for the efforts to seek a ban on nuclear tests and the elimination of nuclear weapons at home and abroad.” The gathering adopted an appeal which stated: “We must stop all nuclear development that produces hibakusha.”
Dr. Katsumi Furitsu, who has provided support to the areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in the former Soviet Union and by the exposure to depleted uranium munitions in Iraq, delivered a lecture. She conveyed the current situation in which local residents are, both physically and mentally, suffering from the radioactive contamination. Baku Nishio, co-director of the Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center, gave a speech, too, entitled “Japan’s nuclear energy policy stalled.”
On March 2, the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs will hold a memorial service for the late Aikichi Kuboyama, the chief radio operator of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, who died due to his exposure to the radiation. The service will take place at Kotokuin Temple in the city of Yaizu, the home port of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru.
Meanwhile, roughly 1,600 people attended a gathering organized by the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and local organizations, among other groups, and held in the city of Yaizu. Matashichi Oishi, 77, a former crew member of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, pointed out the danger of internal exposure to radiation produced by nuclear tests. Alson Kelen, mayor of the Bikini Atoll, spoke out about the suffering of the islands’ residents, who cannot return home due to the radioactive contamination.
The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs held a memorial service for the late Mr. Kuboyama at Kotokuin Temple.
(Originally published on March 2, 2011)
Related article
Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs holds Bikini Day gathering, promotes petition drive to start negotiations for nuclear weapons convention (March 2, 2011)
On March 1, the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs, the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, and other groups held “Bikini Day” gatherings in the city of Shizuoka and other locations. March 1 marks the 57th anniversary of the incident in which the Daigo Fukuryu Maru (The Lucky Dragon No. 5), a Shizuoka-based Japanese tuna fishing boat, was exposed to the nuclear fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test in the Bikini Atoll, located in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean. Participants at these gatherings reflected on the reality of exposure to radiation and vowed to take action for the elimination of nuclear weapons.
The Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs held its gathering in Shizuoka. Koichi Kawano, chair of the organization, addressed an audience of about 300 people, saying, “The Bikini incident is a starting point for the efforts to seek a ban on nuclear tests and the elimination of nuclear weapons at home and abroad.” The gathering adopted an appeal which stated: “We must stop all nuclear development that produces hibakusha.”
Dr. Katsumi Furitsu, who has provided support to the areas affected by the Chernobyl nuclear reactor accident in the former Soviet Union and by the exposure to depleted uranium munitions in Iraq, delivered a lecture. She conveyed the current situation in which local residents are, both physically and mentally, suffering from the radioactive contamination. Baku Nishio, co-director of the Citizens’ Nuclear Information Center, gave a speech, too, entitled “Japan’s nuclear energy policy stalled.”
On March 2, the Japan Congress Against A- and H-bombs will hold a memorial service for the late Aikichi Kuboyama, the chief radio operator of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, who died due to his exposure to the radiation. The service will take place at Kotokuin Temple in the city of Yaizu, the home port of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru.
Meanwhile, roughly 1,600 people attended a gathering organized by the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and local organizations, among other groups, and held in the city of Yaizu. Matashichi Oishi, 77, a former crew member of the Daigo Fukuryu Maru, pointed out the danger of internal exposure to radiation produced by nuclear tests. Alson Kelen, mayor of the Bikini Atoll, spoke out about the suffering of the islands’ residents, who cannot return home due to the radioactive contamination.
The Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs held a memorial service for the late Mr. Kuboyama at Kotokuin Temple.
(Originally published on March 2, 2011)
Related article
Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs holds Bikini Day gathering, promotes petition drive to start negotiations for nuclear weapons convention (March 2, 2011)
