Donald Trump is sworn in as U.S. president, A-bomb survivors to watch nuclear policy
Jan. 22, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa and Kohei Okata, Staff Writers
Following Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States, A-bomb survivors on January 21 said that he should follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Barack Obama, by visiting Hiroshima and gaining a better understanding of the inhumane consequences caused by nuclear weapons. At the same time, they are deeply concerned over whether the new president will share the same goal of a world free of nuclear arms. This concern stems from the mixed signals Mr. Trump has conveyed to date, making it unclear if he will seek to enhance or reduce that nation’s nuclear capability.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Trump put forward his ideas for running the country, using such expressions as “America first,” but he did not discuss nuclear policy. Sunao Tsuboi, 91, the chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, after sharing his account of the A-bomb experience in downtown Hiroshima, was interviewed by reporters. “The ideas in his speech were abstract. I will look closely at the concrete steps he takes,” said Mr. Tsuboi.
Mr. Tsuboi spoke briefly with Mr. Obama during his visit to Hiroshima in May 2016. Last month Mr. Trump tweeted that the United States should expand its nuclear capability. “The A-bomb survivors and Mr. Obama were at least of the same opinion that we should make efforts toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. Mr. Trump may be different,” said Mr. Tsuboi.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 72, the chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said, “I hope he will not become an extreme isolationist in pursuing national interests.” Negotiations for a treaty that would ban nuclear weapons will begin at the United Nations in March, but the United States has always been opposed to such negotiations. “I’m afraid Mr. Trump needs to learn more about the nuclear weapons issue. The Japanese government must play a more substantial role,” said Mr. Sakuma.
Tadatoshi Akiba, 74, the former mayor of Hiroshima, mailed letters addressed to Mr. Trump to the White House and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo this month, requesting that the new president lead North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program through diplomatic efforts and denuclearize Northeast Asia. The letters also call on him to visit the A-bombed city. Mr. Akiba said, “It is Hiroshima’s role to continue sending out messages through various channels so that A-bomb survivors’ experiences and Hiroshima’s message will reach Mr. Trump.”
(Originally published on January 22, 2017)
Following Donald Trump’s inauguration as president of the United States, A-bomb survivors on January 21 said that he should follow in the footsteps of his predecessor, Barack Obama, by visiting Hiroshima and gaining a better understanding of the inhumane consequences caused by nuclear weapons. At the same time, they are deeply concerned over whether the new president will share the same goal of a world free of nuclear arms. This concern stems from the mixed signals Mr. Trump has conveyed to date, making it unclear if he will seek to enhance or reduce that nation’s nuclear capability.
In his inaugural address, Mr. Trump put forward his ideas for running the country, using such expressions as “America first,” but he did not discuss nuclear policy. Sunao Tsuboi, 91, the chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, after sharing his account of the A-bomb experience in downtown Hiroshima, was interviewed by reporters. “The ideas in his speech were abstract. I will look closely at the concrete steps he takes,” said Mr. Tsuboi.
Mr. Tsuboi spoke briefly with Mr. Obama during his visit to Hiroshima in May 2016. Last month Mr. Trump tweeted that the United States should expand its nuclear capability. “The A-bomb survivors and Mr. Obama were at least of the same opinion that we should make efforts toward the elimination of nuclear weapons. Mr. Trump may be different,” said Mr. Tsuboi.
Kunihiko Sakuma, 72, the chair of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations, said, “I hope he will not become an extreme isolationist in pursuing national interests.” Negotiations for a treaty that would ban nuclear weapons will begin at the United Nations in March, but the United States has always been opposed to such negotiations. “I’m afraid Mr. Trump needs to learn more about the nuclear weapons issue. The Japanese government must play a more substantial role,” said Mr. Sakuma.
Tadatoshi Akiba, 74, the former mayor of Hiroshima, mailed letters addressed to Mr. Trump to the White House and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo this month, requesting that the new president lead North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program through diplomatic efforts and denuclearize Northeast Asia. The letters also call on him to visit the A-bombed city. Mr. Akiba said, “It is Hiroshima’s role to continue sending out messages through various channels so that A-bomb survivors’ experiences and Hiroshima’s message will reach Mr. Trump.”
(Originally published on January 22, 2017)
