Hiroshima citizens gather in front of A-bomb Dome to convey support for ratification of nuclear weapons ban treaty
Jul. 17, 2019
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
In the evening of July 16, a public gathering was held in front of the A-bomb Dome in Naka Ward, Hiroshima to commemorate the second-year anniversary of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (also known as the nuclear weapons ban treaty) at the United Nations. The message “RATIFY BAN NUKES NOW! 2019,” formed from the light of candles, was made at the gathering to call for the swift ratification and enactment of the treaty so that the wish of the citizens of the A-bombed city, for the treaty’s ratification by all nations, including Japan, could be conveyed to the world.
The participants of the gathering lit about 1,200 candles to form the message that measured 4.8 meters long and 18 meters wide. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 77, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organization (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), stressed, “Let’s appeal to the Japanese government to support the nuclear weapons ban treaty.” Referring to the fact that 23 nations have ratified the treaty so far, Kunihiko Sakuma, 74, the chair of the other Hidankyo, asked the participants to encourage the public to speak out more strongly in order to realize the ratification of the treaty by 50 nations, the number required for the treaty to enter into force.
At the end of the gathering, a statement was made calling for the power of solidarity among citizens to realize the treaty’s enactment.
The nuclear weapons ban treaty was adopted at a meeting of the United Nations on July 7, 2017, with the support of 122 nations and regions. The gathering in Hiroshima was organized by the citizens’ group known as the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (HANWA), and attended by about 50 people.
(Originally published on July 17, 2019)
In the evening of July 16, a public gathering was held in front of the A-bomb Dome in Naka Ward, Hiroshima to commemorate the second-year anniversary of the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (also known as the nuclear weapons ban treaty) at the United Nations. The message “RATIFY BAN NUKES NOW! 2019,” formed from the light of candles, was made at the gathering to call for the swift ratification and enactment of the treaty so that the wish of the citizens of the A-bombed city, for the treaty’s ratification by all nations, including Japan, could be conveyed to the world.
The participants of the gathering lit about 1,200 candles to form the message that measured 4.8 meters long and 18 meters wide. Toshiyuki Mimaki, 77, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organization (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), stressed, “Let’s appeal to the Japanese government to support the nuclear weapons ban treaty.” Referring to the fact that 23 nations have ratified the treaty so far, Kunihiko Sakuma, 74, the chair of the other Hidankyo, asked the participants to encourage the public to speak out more strongly in order to realize the ratification of the treaty by 50 nations, the number required for the treaty to enter into force.
At the end of the gathering, a statement was made calling for the power of solidarity among citizens to realize the treaty’s enactment.
The nuclear weapons ban treaty was adopted at a meeting of the United Nations on July 7, 2017, with the support of 122 nations and regions. The gathering in Hiroshima was organized by the citizens’ group known as the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (HANWA), and attended by about 50 people.
(Originally published on July 17, 2019)
