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Candles are lit with wish for nuclear abolition

by Yoko Nitta, Staff Writer

As a part of Nuclear Abolition Day, with local events coordinated across the world to appeal for the establishment of a nuclear weapons convention, Candle Night in Hiroshima was held near the A-bomb Dome on June 6. Nearly 100 Hiroshima citizens came to the gathering and lit candles with a wish for nuclear abolition.

The meeting was organized by the "Yes! Campaign," a citizens' group. Steven Leeper, chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, appealed for the start of negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention with 200 glowing candles placed behind him on the bank across from the A-bomb Dome.

The participants lit their candles inside paper cups emblazoned with such messages as "Nuclear-free world" and "Unconditional peace." As the candles burned with fire from the embers of the park's Flame of Peace, they prayed for peace.

The campaign for the coordinated events was launched by The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in response to the outcome of the NPT Review Conference. According to an announcement made beforehand, such events as concerts and seminars were reportedly planned in 25 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and France.

(Originally published on June 6, 2010)

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