Hiroshima Memo: Active support of citizens is needed to realize Hiroshima peace plan
Nov. 16, 2011
by Akira Tashiro, Executive Director of the Hiroshima Peace Media Center
Battling illness, Akihiro Takahashi lived 66 years as an A-bomb survivor (hibakusha) until his death at the age of 80. Although his dream of seeing nuclear weapons eliminated from the earth was not realized in his lifetime, his face, at rest, appeared to contented and at peace after exerting himself in his role as hibakusha until the very end.
Mr. Takahashi shared the impact of the atomic bombing with a succession of visitors from overseas, including politicians, journalists, and such foreign dignitaries as Pope John Paul II. At the same time, he continued to convey the horror of nuclear weapons and war, as well as the preciousness of life, to countless children, the next generation. Swallowing his bitterness toward the United States, the nation which dropped the atomic bombs, Mr. Takahashi preached the spirit of reconciliation, the “spirit of Hiroshima,” from the depths of his heart.
The funeral for Mr. Takahashi was held on November 4. Former Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba and actor Masakane Yonekura, both of whom enjoyed a long friendship with Mr. Takahashi, spoke at the funeral, praising his immense achievements. Mr. Yonekura said that the passing of Mr. Takahashi marks “a new era for the A-bombed city of Hiroshima.”
On the same day, Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki announced a vision called a “Hiroshima for Global Peace Plan.” The plan, compiled by key figures inside and outside of Japan, articulates the international role and efforts that the A-bombed city of Hiroshima could pursue. A number of points presented in the plan are matters that I support and hope will be realized, including arms reduction, peace building, and nurturing experts for conflict prevention.
But with regard to the issue of reducing and eliminating nuclear arms, it cannot be denied that the plan backtracks from the “2020 Vision” proposed and promoted by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through Mayors for Peace. Not even one word can be found concerning the realization of early negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC), which U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has endorsed and over 120 non-nuclear weapon states as well as a great number of NGOs in the world are supporting and advocating.
I question whether the plan can truly fulfill the proper leadership role for Hiroshima as an A-bombed site. As it stands, the plan is a proposal which falls in line with the world’s dependence on nuclear deterrence, as opposed to the desire of Mr. Takahashi and other hibakusha who continue to share their A-bomb accounts for the elimination of nuclear weapons at the earliest possible date.
“Let all the souls here rest in peace; for we shall not repeal the evil.” The inscription on the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims is a vow not only to abolish nuclear weapons and war, but also to avoid creating more hibakusha. Nevertheless, the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant has released an enormous amount of radioactive material into the environment, producing a number of new hibakusha. The nuclear disaster at Fukushima poses a grave question, too, with regard to the position the A-bombed city of Hiroshima has taken in not voicing the dangers of nuclear power more forcefully.
Along with the challenge of thwarting the possibility of nuclear terrorism, a grim reality today, we are faced with the task of shifting energy sources to renewable forms of energy and other types of energy in order to move away from our reliance on nuclear power. The proliferation of nuclear materials in the process of generating nuclear power leads to the proliferation of nuclear weapons; thus, these conditions always hold the possibility of producing new hibakusha. The city of Hiroshima, an A-bombed site that is painfully aware of the dangers of radiation exposure, must take the initiative in becoming a hub for creating renewable forms of energy. I find it regrettable that the plan did not refer to this unavoidable challenge.
Many A-bomb survivors have now begun to speak out about the perils of nuclear power, expressing regret that they did not oppose the use of nuclear energy in the past. One such hibakusha is Setsuko Thurlow, a resident of Toronto, Canada. On October 26, Ms. Thurlow, speaking as a “Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons,” a designation of the Japanese government, delivered an address at the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, charged with the issue of arms reduction.
In her address, Ms. Thurlow recounted the unimaginable horror of her experience of the atomic bombing, and stressed, “Has not the time come to consider replacing the pillar of the NPT guaranteeing access to nuclear energy technology with a guarantee for access and technological assistance for renewable energy from the sun, wind, and tides?”
Those that spearhead the peace efforts of the A-bombed city can exert their power only when their leadership reflects the sentiments of the hibakusha and the citizens and receives the public’s support. Paying visits to the United States and Europe to join forces for peace diplomacy efforts is indeed an important role for Governor Yuzaki and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui to play.
Of greater importance, however, is bolstering the plan in more concrete ways. Toward this end, I suggest, as a first step, that a diverse group of people who are engaged in issues related to peace and nuclear abolition, including A-bomb survivors, citizens, religious leaders, and business leaders, as well as the governor and the mayor, gather together to share their wisdom. An international peace hub that would be appropriate for a new dawn in the Hiroshima area can only be established if the people of Hiroshima are actively committed to its realization.
Meanwhile, there is no need to wait while the city pursues such large efforts as an international conference on arms reduction, which requires enormous expense and preparation. A number of challenges are here at hand, and close to our lives, including the task of enhancing peace education activities.
(Originally published on November 7, 2011)
Battling illness, Akihiro Takahashi lived 66 years as an A-bomb survivor (hibakusha) until his death at the age of 80. Although his dream of seeing nuclear weapons eliminated from the earth was not realized in his lifetime, his face, at rest, appeared to contented and at peace after exerting himself in his role as hibakusha until the very end.
Mr. Takahashi shared the impact of the atomic bombing with a succession of visitors from overseas, including politicians, journalists, and such foreign dignitaries as Pope John Paul II. At the same time, he continued to convey the horror of nuclear weapons and war, as well as the preciousness of life, to countless children, the next generation. Swallowing his bitterness toward the United States, the nation which dropped the atomic bombs, Mr. Takahashi preached the spirit of reconciliation, the “spirit of Hiroshima,” from the depths of his heart.
The funeral for Mr. Takahashi was held on November 4. Former Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba and actor Masakane Yonekura, both of whom enjoyed a long friendship with Mr. Takahashi, spoke at the funeral, praising his immense achievements. Mr. Yonekura said that the passing of Mr. Takahashi marks “a new era for the A-bombed city of Hiroshima.”
On the same day, Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki announced a vision called a “Hiroshima for Global Peace Plan.” The plan, compiled by key figures inside and outside of Japan, articulates the international role and efforts that the A-bombed city of Hiroshima could pursue. A number of points presented in the plan are matters that I support and hope will be realized, including arms reduction, peace building, and nurturing experts for conflict prevention.
But with regard to the issue of reducing and eliminating nuclear arms, it cannot be denied that the plan backtracks from the “2020 Vision” proposed and promoted by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through Mayors for Peace. Not even one word can be found concerning the realization of early negotiations for a Nuclear Weapons Convention (NWC), which U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has endorsed and over 120 non-nuclear weapon states as well as a great number of NGOs in the world are supporting and advocating.
I question whether the plan can truly fulfill the proper leadership role for Hiroshima as an A-bombed site. As it stands, the plan is a proposal which falls in line with the world’s dependence on nuclear deterrence, as opposed to the desire of Mr. Takahashi and other hibakusha who continue to share their A-bomb accounts for the elimination of nuclear weapons at the earliest possible date.
“Let all the souls here rest in peace; for we shall not repeal the evil.” The inscription on the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims is a vow not only to abolish nuclear weapons and war, but also to avoid creating more hibakusha. Nevertheless, the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant has released an enormous amount of radioactive material into the environment, producing a number of new hibakusha. The nuclear disaster at Fukushima poses a grave question, too, with regard to the position the A-bombed city of Hiroshima has taken in not voicing the dangers of nuclear power more forcefully.
Along with the challenge of thwarting the possibility of nuclear terrorism, a grim reality today, we are faced with the task of shifting energy sources to renewable forms of energy and other types of energy in order to move away from our reliance on nuclear power. The proliferation of nuclear materials in the process of generating nuclear power leads to the proliferation of nuclear weapons; thus, these conditions always hold the possibility of producing new hibakusha. The city of Hiroshima, an A-bombed site that is painfully aware of the dangers of radiation exposure, must take the initiative in becoming a hub for creating renewable forms of energy. I find it regrettable that the plan did not refer to this unavoidable challenge.
Many A-bomb survivors have now begun to speak out about the perils of nuclear power, expressing regret that they did not oppose the use of nuclear energy in the past. One such hibakusha is Setsuko Thurlow, a resident of Toronto, Canada. On October 26, Ms. Thurlow, speaking as a “Special Communicator for a World without Nuclear Weapons,” a designation of the Japanese government, delivered an address at the First Committee of the United Nations General Assembly, charged with the issue of arms reduction.
In her address, Ms. Thurlow recounted the unimaginable horror of her experience of the atomic bombing, and stressed, “Has not the time come to consider replacing the pillar of the NPT guaranteeing access to nuclear energy technology with a guarantee for access and technological assistance for renewable energy from the sun, wind, and tides?”
Those that spearhead the peace efforts of the A-bombed city can exert their power only when their leadership reflects the sentiments of the hibakusha and the citizens and receives the public’s support. Paying visits to the United States and Europe to join forces for peace diplomacy efforts is indeed an important role for Governor Yuzaki and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui to play.
Of greater importance, however, is bolstering the plan in more concrete ways. Toward this end, I suggest, as a first step, that a diverse group of people who are engaged in issues related to peace and nuclear abolition, including A-bomb survivors, citizens, religious leaders, and business leaders, as well as the governor and the mayor, gather together to share their wisdom. An international peace hub that would be appropriate for a new dawn in the Hiroshima area can only be established if the people of Hiroshima are actively committed to its realization.
Meanwhile, there is no need to wait while the city pursues such large efforts as an international conference on arms reduction, which requires enormous expense and preparation. A number of challenges are here at hand, and close to our lives, including the task of enhancing peace education activities.
(Originally published on November 7, 2011)
