Students at Hiroshima Junior International Forum issue declaration to advance nuclear disarmament
Aug. 24, 2016
by Hiroshi Ebisu, Staff Writer
On August 23, the participants of the Hiroshima Junior International Forum comprised of 83 junior high and senior high school students in Japan, along with international students from abroad, announced their Hiroshima declaration to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons and create a peaceful world. At the forum, the students from Hiroshima Prefecture and 16 countries and regions overseas have been discussing topics concerning global peace.
The declaration states that the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) is not sufficient for advancing nuclear disarmament, and recommends that all nations sign a new international treaty. Arguing that nations are stuck in the mindset of nuclear deterrence, the students stress, “Global leaders should work towards the changing of this mindset by emphasizing mutual understanding, and by putting energy into confidence-building efforts.”
The declaration also mentions the sense of urgency with regard to the advancing age of the A-bomb survivors and pledges that the students will appeal to others to visit the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
A reporting session for the forum took place at the International Conference Center Hiroshima in Naka Ward, and about 20 students appeared on stage as representatives. They read out the declaration in English and handed it to Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki. Mr. Yuzaki then asked them to put these resolutions into practice as soon as possible, and appointed the 83 forum participants as youth ambassadors.
Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, 16, a first-year student from Hiroshima Gakuin Senior High School and a resident of Higashihiroshima City, said, “Hiroshima’s experience, its remarkable rebirth from the devastation of the atomic bombing, can surely help fuel nuclear disarmament. I plan to convey this message to others on various occasions.”
The forum opened on August 21 and the participants have listened to accounts of A-bomb survivors, toured the Peace Memorial Museum, and engaged in group discussions to draft their declaration. The gathering will end on August 24, after a visit to the island of Miyajima in Hatsukaichi.
Read the full text of the Hiroshima Junior International Forum Declaration here.
(Originally published on August 24, 2016)
On August 23, the participants of the Hiroshima Junior International Forum comprised of 83 junior high and senior high school students in Japan, along with international students from abroad, announced their Hiroshima declaration to advance the abolition of nuclear weapons and create a peaceful world. At the forum, the students from Hiroshima Prefecture and 16 countries and regions overseas have been discussing topics concerning global peace.
The declaration states that the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) is not sufficient for advancing nuclear disarmament, and recommends that all nations sign a new international treaty. Arguing that nations are stuck in the mindset of nuclear deterrence, the students stress, “Global leaders should work towards the changing of this mindset by emphasizing mutual understanding, and by putting energy into confidence-building efforts.”
The declaration also mentions the sense of urgency with regard to the advancing age of the A-bomb survivors and pledges that the students will appeal to others to visit the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
A reporting session for the forum took place at the International Conference Center Hiroshima in Naka Ward, and about 20 students appeared on stage as representatives. They read out the declaration in English and handed it to Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki. Mr. Yuzaki then asked them to put these resolutions into practice as soon as possible, and appointed the 83 forum participants as youth ambassadors.
Yoshiyuki Ishikawa, 16, a first-year student from Hiroshima Gakuin Senior High School and a resident of Higashihiroshima City, said, “Hiroshima’s experience, its remarkable rebirth from the devastation of the atomic bombing, can surely help fuel nuclear disarmament. I plan to convey this message to others on various occasions.”
The forum opened on August 21 and the participants have listened to accounts of A-bomb survivors, toured the Peace Memorial Museum, and engaged in group discussions to draft their declaration. The gathering will end on August 24, after a visit to the island of Miyajima in Hatsukaichi.
Read the full text of the Hiroshima Junior International Forum Declaration here.
(Originally published on August 24, 2016)
