Appeal for world without nuclear weapons in A-bombed city of Hiroshima on third anniversary of TPNW’s entry into force
Jan. 23, 2024
Meetings and signature-collecting campaign held in Hiroshima
by Fumiyasu Miyano and Ikumi Yorikane, Staff Writers
On January 22, the third anniversary of the effectuation of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), A-bomb survivors and a citizens’ organization held meetings in Hiroshima and called for an expansion of membership in the TPNW as well as realization of a “world without nuclear weapons.”
Seven A-bomb survivors’ organizations, including two Hiroshima Prefectural Confederations of A-bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hiroshima Hidankyo), issued a statement expressing that they “cannot suppress the sorrow” with regard to Japan’s non-participation in the TPNW. Fifteen-members of the organizations conducted a signature-collecting campaign at Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (in the city’s Naka Ward), calling on the Japanese government to sign and ratify the TPNW.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, 81, chair of one of the two Hiroshima Hidankyos, stressed, “The world can change significantly if Japan and the United States sign the treaty.” Kunihiko Sakuma, 79, chair of the other Hiroshima Hidankyo, also raised his voice. “It’s important for each of us to think that we must abolish nuclear weapons.”
On the same day, the citizens’ organization “Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (HANWA)” created English messages with about 1,500 lit candles in front of the A-bomb Dome in the city’s Naka Ward. The messages called for nuclear abolition and opposed war. About 70 people gathered at the venue, and Haruko Moritaki, 84, an advisor to HANWA, said firmly, “We want to make Hiroshima’s appeal a universal one.” HANWA also released a statement that nuclear abolition was the only way for humans to survive.
(Originally published on January 23, 2024)
