Peace Declaration portrays ideal vision of citizen solidarity but lacks specifics
Aug. 7, 2021
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
August 6, 2021, marked the first anniversary of the atomic bombing after the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) came into effect in January this year. In his 11th Peace Memorial Ceremony Peace Declaration, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui expressed his vision for aiming at the abolition of nuclear weapons through citizen solidarity that transcends borders. Nevertheless, the declaration lacked specific proposals to encourage citizens and politicians to take action, leaving the impression of a muddled message from the A-bombed city.
The path toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, for which Mr. Matsui uses unique expressions such as “culture of peace” and “consensus of civil society,” could be summarized in the following way: People throughout the world should share the idea that nuclear weapons are unnecessary and that the nuclear policies of politicians can be changed at the ballot box.
Without heeding the nuclear ban treaty that outlawed nuclear weapons for the first time in history, the nuclear weapon states of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China are modernizing and beefing up their nuclear capabilities. Mr. Matsui said, “In the Peace Declaration I felt it was more important to describe the shared values at which we are aiming than to discuss methodology.”
Mr. Matsui’s intention to imbue awareness of peace and the need for abolition of nuclear weapons into the public consciousness toward changing each country’s rigid stance is understandable. However, achieving that goal will undoubtedly take time.
The Mayors for Peace organization, for which Mayor Matsui serves as president and which enjoys a membership of more than 8,000 cities around the world, emphasized in its new vision and action plan set out in July this year the creation of a culture of peace through the mediums of art and sports. However, the plan removed any target date, which was a clear focal point of the previous action plan, for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Does this not stray from the hopes held by A-bomb survivors for the realization of a nuclear-free world as soon as possible?
It is unclear how a “culture of peace” is to be cultivated in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima.
Public opinion is divided about the Peace Promotion Basic Ordnance, enacted by the Hiroshima City Council in June this year, as well as the preservation of the Imperial Japanese Army’s A-bombed remnants found on the planned site of a new soccer stadium in the open space of Hiroshima’s Central Park, in the city’s Naka Ward. One wonders whether the process of listening to differing opinions and finding areas of agreement has been neglected. That, however, is precisely the work that will serve to create a foundation of peace.
To walk together with global citizens toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, Hiroshima must send a clear message and take actions that are consistent with that message.
1st term
2011 A-bomb survivors’ stories of their experiences were invited from the public for the first time and incorporated into the Peace Declaration. “Through the Peace Declaration I want to share the experiences of A-bomb survivors and Hiroshima’s desire for peace with each and every citizen in the world,” were the mayor’s words. 2012 The mayor expressed his expectations regarding the Japanese national government’s leadership in the fight to eliminate nuclear weapons as the only country to have experienced atomic bombings.
2013 The mayor declared that “Hiroshima is a place that embodies the grand pacifism of the Japanese constitution,” emphasizing that nuclear weapons are an “absolute evil.” 2014 The mayor announced the ideas “Each one of us will help determine the future of the human family” as well as “Imagine if A-bomb survivors’ experiences should happen to you or someone in your family.”
2nd term
2015 The mayor incorporated into the declaration the pleas of A-bomb survivors who want Hiroshima put back the way it was.
2016 The mayor stressed the significance of then U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima by saying that the spirit of Hiroshima, which refuses to accept “absolute evil,” had affected President Obama.
2017 The mayor said, “I want people to understand what happened under the mushroom cloud and broaden the circle of empathy to the entire world.”
2018 The mayor pointed out the significance of passing down history, saying, “We must continue talking about Hiroshima.”
3rd term
2019 The mayor called on the Japanese national government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by explaining it was the hope of A-bomb survivors.
2020 The mayor stressed the significance of “solidarity” in human society toward the realization of peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
2021 The mayor made an appeal that Hiroshima would promote a “culture of peace” to be shared around the world and create an environment that encourages political leaders to change their policies.
(Originally published on August 7, 2021)
August 6, 2021, marked the first anniversary of the atomic bombing after the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) came into effect in January this year. In his 11th Peace Memorial Ceremony Peace Declaration, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui expressed his vision for aiming at the abolition of nuclear weapons through citizen solidarity that transcends borders. Nevertheless, the declaration lacked specific proposals to encourage citizens and politicians to take action, leaving the impression of a muddled message from the A-bombed city.
The path toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, for which Mr. Matsui uses unique expressions such as “culture of peace” and “consensus of civil society,” could be summarized in the following way: People throughout the world should share the idea that nuclear weapons are unnecessary and that the nuclear policies of politicians can be changed at the ballot box.
Without heeding the nuclear ban treaty that outlawed nuclear weapons for the first time in history, the nuclear weapon states of the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, and China are modernizing and beefing up their nuclear capabilities. Mr. Matsui said, “In the Peace Declaration I felt it was more important to describe the shared values at which we are aiming than to discuss methodology.”
Mr. Matsui’s intention to imbue awareness of peace and the need for abolition of nuclear weapons into the public consciousness toward changing each country’s rigid stance is understandable. However, achieving that goal will undoubtedly take time.
The Mayors for Peace organization, for which Mayor Matsui serves as president and which enjoys a membership of more than 8,000 cities around the world, emphasized in its new vision and action plan set out in July this year the creation of a culture of peace through the mediums of art and sports. However, the plan removed any target date, which was a clear focal point of the previous action plan, for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Does this not stray from the hopes held by A-bomb survivors for the realization of a nuclear-free world as soon as possible?
It is unclear how a “culture of peace” is to be cultivated in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima.
Public opinion is divided about the Peace Promotion Basic Ordnance, enacted by the Hiroshima City Council in June this year, as well as the preservation of the Imperial Japanese Army’s A-bombed remnants found on the planned site of a new soccer stadium in the open space of Hiroshima’s Central Park, in the city’s Naka Ward. One wonders whether the process of listening to differing opinions and finding areas of agreement has been neglected. That, however, is precisely the work that will serve to create a foundation of peace.
To walk together with global citizens toward the abolition of nuclear weapons, Hiroshima must send a clear message and take actions that are consistent with that message.
Major points in Mayor Matsui’s Peace Declarations to this point
1st term
2011 A-bomb survivors’ stories of their experiences were invited from the public for the first time and incorporated into the Peace Declaration. “Through the Peace Declaration I want to share the experiences of A-bomb survivors and Hiroshima’s desire for peace with each and every citizen in the world,” were the mayor’s words. 2012 The mayor expressed his expectations regarding the Japanese national government’s leadership in the fight to eliminate nuclear weapons as the only country to have experienced atomic bombings.
2013 The mayor declared that “Hiroshima is a place that embodies the grand pacifism of the Japanese constitution,” emphasizing that nuclear weapons are an “absolute evil.” 2014 The mayor announced the ideas “Each one of us will help determine the future of the human family” as well as “Imagine if A-bomb survivors’ experiences should happen to you or someone in your family.”
2nd term
2015 The mayor incorporated into the declaration the pleas of A-bomb survivors who want Hiroshima put back the way it was.
2016 The mayor stressed the significance of then U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima by saying that the spirit of Hiroshima, which refuses to accept “absolute evil,” had affected President Obama.
2017 The mayor said, “I want people to understand what happened under the mushroom cloud and broaden the circle of empathy to the entire world.”
2018 The mayor pointed out the significance of passing down history, saying, “We must continue talking about Hiroshima.”
3rd term
2019 The mayor called on the Japanese national government to sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by explaining it was the hope of A-bomb survivors.
2020 The mayor stressed the significance of “solidarity” in human society toward the realization of peace and the elimination of nuclear weapons.
2021 The mayor made an appeal that Hiroshima would promote a “culture of peace” to be shared around the world and create an environment that encourages political leaders to change their policies.
(Originally published on August 7, 2021)
