Hiroshima Asks: Toward the 70th Anniversary of the Atomic Bombing: Addressing the issue of nuclear weapons
Jan. 30, 2015
Abolition or deterrence as the situation demands
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
A comment in early December by Japan’s ambassador for disarmament, who said that if a nuclear blast were to occur it could be handled “on the fly,” provoked an angry response. Toshio Sano made the remark at the third Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, which was sponsored by the Austrian government and held in Vienna. Setsuko Thurlow, 83, an atomic bomb survivor and resident of Toronto, Canada, was invited to speak at the conference. After the deliberations, she confronted Mr. Sano and angrily asked him how he could make such an “unrealistic” comment.
What Ms. Thurlow sought was the real intent behind Mr. Sano’s remark as leader of the Japanese government’s delegation to the conference. While many people pointed out that no one could provide adequate relief efforts in the event of a nuclear explosion, Mr. Sano countered that that attitude was “a little pessimistic” and recommended that further research be conducted into enhancing the ability to provide relief. During an interview following his remarks, Mr. Sano said that if people were to enter a bombed area “naked” they would be exposed to radiation but that protective clothing could be worn to prevent such exposure.
This comment can be seen as an underestimation of the effects of nuclear weapons with security through nuclear deterrence in mind. Not only atomic bomb survivors objected to the remarks by Japan’s representative. An Austrian government official offered a chilly response, suggesting that the international community was unlikely to agree with Mr. Sano’s views. As the victim of atomic bombings, Japan is expected to lead the effort to eliminate nuclear weapons. Yet the nation continues to adhere to the notion of nuclear deterrence. This stance is now being called into question.
(Originally published on January 19, 2015)
by Michiko Tanaka, Staff Writer
A comment in early December by Japan’s ambassador for disarmament, who said that if a nuclear blast were to occur it could be handled “on the fly,” provoked an angry response. Toshio Sano made the remark at the third Conference on the Humanitarian Impact of Nuclear Weapons, which was sponsored by the Austrian government and held in Vienna. Setsuko Thurlow, 83, an atomic bomb survivor and resident of Toronto, Canada, was invited to speak at the conference. After the deliberations, she confronted Mr. Sano and angrily asked him how he could make such an “unrealistic” comment.
What Ms. Thurlow sought was the real intent behind Mr. Sano’s remark as leader of the Japanese government’s delegation to the conference. While many people pointed out that no one could provide adequate relief efforts in the event of a nuclear explosion, Mr. Sano countered that that attitude was “a little pessimistic” and recommended that further research be conducted into enhancing the ability to provide relief. During an interview following his remarks, Mr. Sano said that if people were to enter a bombed area “naked” they would be exposed to radiation but that protective clothing could be worn to prevent such exposure.
This comment can be seen as an underestimation of the effects of nuclear weapons with security through nuclear deterrence in mind. Not only atomic bomb survivors objected to the remarks by Japan’s representative. An Austrian government official offered a chilly response, suggesting that the international community was unlikely to agree with Mr. Sano’s views. As the victim of atomic bombings, Japan is expected to lead the effort to eliminate nuclear weapons. Yet the nation continues to adhere to the notion of nuclear deterrence. This stance is now being called into question.
(Originally published on January 19, 2015)
