A-bomb survivors undertake signature collection for early effectuation of nuclear weapons ban treaty in Naka Ward
Sep. 26, 2019
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
On September 25, the Hiroshima prefectural chapter of the Hibakusha Appeal network, comprised of seven Hiroshima A-bomb survivors’ groups, collected signatures in support of the abolition of nuclear weapons on the Motoyasu Bridge located in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Because the situation regarding nuclear disarmament has become so uncertain as a result of the cancellation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and Russia, some 30 people, including A-bomb survivors, called for the early entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, 77, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), Kunihiko Sakuma, 74, the chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, and Kazuhiko Futagawa, 73, who was in his mother’s womb at the time the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, participated in the signature collection campaign. They strongly stressed that the abolition of nuclear weapons and the early entry of the nuclear weapons ban treaty into effect is their keen desire and asked park visitors from both Japan and abroad to support the campaign by providing their signatures.
Benny Hanon, 51, an Irish business owner who was visiting Hiroshima to do some sightseeing, said, “I remember the terror that existed in the 1980s with the threat of a possible nuclear war. We don’t need nuclear weapons.” and subsequently gave his signature.
The signature collection campaign started in April, 2016. As of September 20, 527,022 signatures have been collected in Hiroshima prefecture. On September 25, the signature campaign participants collected 356 signatures in some 30 minutes. They are aiming to collect 1.4 million signatures by 2020.
(Originally published on September 26, 2019)
On September 25, the Hiroshima prefectural chapter of the Hibakusha Appeal network, comprised of seven Hiroshima A-bomb survivors’ groups, collected signatures in support of the abolition of nuclear weapons on the Motoyasu Bridge located in Naka Ward, Hiroshima. Because the situation regarding nuclear disarmament has become so uncertain as a result of the cancellation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty between the United States and Russia, some 30 people, including A-bomb survivors, called for the early entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, 77, the vice chair of the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo, chaired by Sunao Tsuboi), Kunihiko Sakuma, 74, the chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, and Kazuhiko Futagawa, 73, who was in his mother’s womb at the time the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, participated in the signature collection campaign. They strongly stressed that the abolition of nuclear weapons and the early entry of the nuclear weapons ban treaty into effect is their keen desire and asked park visitors from both Japan and abroad to support the campaign by providing their signatures.
Benny Hanon, 51, an Irish business owner who was visiting Hiroshima to do some sightseeing, said, “I remember the terror that existed in the 1980s with the threat of a possible nuclear war. We don’t need nuclear weapons.” and subsequently gave his signature.
The signature collection campaign started in April, 2016. As of September 20, 527,022 signatures have been collected in Hiroshima prefecture. On September 25, the signature campaign participants collected 356 signatures in some 30 minutes. They are aiming to collect 1.4 million signatures by 2020.
(Originally published on September 26, 2019)
