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World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs opening on August 4 in Hiroshima, Oliver Stone to attend

by Junpei Fujimura, Staff Writer

On June 25, the executive committee of the World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, sponsored by the Japan Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and other organizations, announced the schedule of this year’s conference. This will be the third year, following the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 2011, that the annual conference will consist of three conference gatherings, in succession, in the cities of Fukushima, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki. The Hiroshima portion will open on August 4 at the Hiroshima Green Arena in the city center.

On August 5, four meetings will be held at the Hiroshima conference on such themes as “peace and nuclear disarmament” and “eliminating nuclear energy dependence” to discuss issues connected to the nuclear power plant accident and those who have suffered exposure to radiation. The conference in Hiroshima will close with the final meeting on August 6. American film director Oliver Stone has indicated that he will take part in one of the sessions in Hiroshima.

The Peace Hiroshima Conference, which Gensuikin regards as the opening ceremony of the Hiroshima conference, was cosponsored by Gensuikin, the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC), and the National Council for Peace and Against Nuclear Weapons (KAKKIN) until last year. Since KAKKIN, which supports the peaceful use of nuclear energy, expressed reservations about the three groups sponsoring this year’s conference, JTUC will be the solo sponsor of the event. In the past, the gathering was held on August 4, but it will be held on August 5 this year, and Gensuikin and KAKKIN will serve as joint sponsors.

The Fukushima conference, which will mark the opening of the world conference, is scheduled for July 28. Haruko Moritaki, co-chair of the Hiroshima-based citizens’ group Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, will speak on the theme of “Hiroshima and Fukushima.” The Nagasaki conference will be held between August 7 and 9.

(Originally published on June 26, 2013)

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