World Conferences Against A & H Bombs wrap up
Aug. 10, 2010
by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer
The parallel World Conferences Against A & H Bombs concluded their gatherings on August 9. One of the conferences was organized by the Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs and its affiliated groups, while the other world conference was organized by the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and its affiliated groups. At both conferences, passionate discussion was made on creating a concrete roadmap to nuclear abolition. As their immediate task, both World Conferences Against A & H Bombs will strengthen their campaigns calling on the Japanese government to abandon the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held this past May confirmed that achieving a world without nuclear weapons is a common policy goal for member countries. Discussion at the world conferences centered on the idea that the A-bombed nation of Japan must end its contradictory policy in which the government appeals for nuclear abolition while relying on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for its security.
The Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs made the theme of its conference the closing of the nuclear umbrella. In a session held in Nagasaki on August 8, Tetsuo Maeda, a military commentator, pointed to the vicious cycle in which the security of one country backed by force sparks an arms race in neighboring nations. He argued that a common regional security framework, including the denuclearization of North East Asia, should be developed.
Meanwhile, the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs focused on overcoming nuclear deterrence as the main theme of its conference. At its international forum held in Nagasaki on August 8, Hiroshi Takakusaki, general secretary of the council, said that nuclear abolition cannot be achieved without abandoning the idea of nuclear deterrence, and he urged the government to drop the nuclear umbrella.
Inflaming this argument over nuclear deterrence was Prime Minister Naoto Kan. At a press conference held in Hiroshima on August 6, Kan stated clearly that he feels nuclear deterrence is now needed.
"That remark by the prime minister is unacceptable," said Yasunari Fujimoto, secretary general of the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs at the final meeting of their gathering. Mr. Fujimoto's remark was met with loud applause. At a press conference after the conference, Mitsuo Sato, head of the executive committee for the conference held by the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, criticized Mr. Kan's statement harshly, saying, "It runs counter to the international trend."
Those involved in the parallel world conferences said they engaged in the gatherings with more passion than in previous years. For this reason, strengthening their campaigns is a common task for the Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs as well as the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.
At the Nagasaki conference of the Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs, Hitoshi Hamasaki, 79, a member of the Nagasaki Testimony Association, called for the reunification of the ban-the-bomb movement. Mr. Hamasaki chose not to take part in either conference, since the two factions of the original advocacy group have remained split. "I don't know how many years I have left," he said. "So I want to use every opportunity to appeal for nuclear abolition."
How will the abolition movement, which was spurred by the A-bomb survivors, respond to their wish for the realization of nuclear abolition while they are still alive? Momentum to move the government toward nuclear abolition must first be generated.
The parallel World Conferences Against A & H Bombs held their meetings in Nagasaki on August 9, concluding their programs for this summer.
According to the organizer, nearly 2,200 people participated in the final meeting of the Japan Congress at the Nagasaki Prefectural Gymnasium to sum up the gathering. Yasunari Fujimoto, secretary general of the congress, summarized the gathering as a step toward nuclear abolition, citing the achievements in discussion on such topics as the denuclearization of North East Asia and abolishing nuclear power.
The gathering adopted a declaration which includes enshrining the three non-nuclear principles into law and enhancing support for second- and third-generation A-bomb survivors. The participants marched 1.2 kilometers from the gymnasium to the hypocenter to appeal for peace.
Meanwhile, the Japan Council held the World Conference, Nagasaki General Assembly at Nagasaki Citizens Hall with nearly 2,000 people in attendance, according to the organizer. Terumi Tanaka, 78, secretary general of the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, who was exposed to the bombing in Nagasaki, talked about his experience and called for solidarity, saying, "A-bomb survivors convey the inhumanity of nuclear weapons through their A-bomb accounts."
At the time the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, those in attendance offered a silent prayer. The conference adopted the Nagasaki resolution, with the start of negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention serving as a main pillar of the statement, and concluded their program.
(Originally published on August 10, 2010)
The parallel World Conferences Against A & H Bombs concluded their gatherings on August 9. One of the conferences was organized by the Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs and its affiliated groups, while the other world conference was organized by the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs and its affiliated groups. At both conferences, passionate discussion was made on creating a concrete roadmap to nuclear abolition. As their immediate task, both World Conferences Against A & H Bombs will strengthen their campaigns calling on the Japanese government to abandon the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
The Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference held this past May confirmed that achieving a world without nuclear weapons is a common policy goal for member countries. Discussion at the world conferences centered on the idea that the A-bombed nation of Japan must end its contradictory policy in which the government appeals for nuclear abolition while relying on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for its security.
The Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs made the theme of its conference the closing of the nuclear umbrella. In a session held in Nagasaki on August 8, Tetsuo Maeda, a military commentator, pointed to the vicious cycle in which the security of one country backed by force sparks an arms race in neighboring nations. He argued that a common regional security framework, including the denuclearization of North East Asia, should be developed.
Meanwhile, the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs focused on overcoming nuclear deterrence as the main theme of its conference. At its international forum held in Nagasaki on August 8, Hiroshi Takakusaki, general secretary of the council, said that nuclear abolition cannot be achieved without abandoning the idea of nuclear deterrence, and he urged the government to drop the nuclear umbrella.
Inflaming this argument over nuclear deterrence was Prime Minister Naoto Kan. At a press conference held in Hiroshima on August 6, Kan stated clearly that he feels nuclear deterrence is now needed.
"That remark by the prime minister is unacceptable," said Yasunari Fujimoto, secretary general of the Japan Congress against A- and H-Bombs at the final meeting of their gathering. Mr. Fujimoto's remark was met with loud applause. At a press conference after the conference, Mitsuo Sato, head of the executive committee for the conference held by the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs, criticized Mr. Kan's statement harshly, saying, "It runs counter to the international trend."
Those involved in the parallel world conferences said they engaged in the gatherings with more passion than in previous years. For this reason, strengthening their campaigns is a common task for the Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs as well as the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs.
At the Nagasaki conference of the Japan Congress Against A- and H- Bombs, Hitoshi Hamasaki, 79, a member of the Nagasaki Testimony Association, called for the reunification of the ban-the-bomb movement. Mr. Hamasaki chose not to take part in either conference, since the two factions of the original advocacy group have remained split. "I don't know how many years I have left," he said. "So I want to use every opportunity to appeal for nuclear abolition."
How will the abolition movement, which was spurred by the A-bomb survivors, respond to their wish for the realization of nuclear abolition while they are still alive? Momentum to move the government toward nuclear abolition must first be generated.
Conferences conclude in Nagasaki
by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer
The parallel World Conferences Against A & H Bombs held their meetings in Nagasaki on August 9, concluding their programs for this summer.
According to the organizer, nearly 2,200 people participated in the final meeting of the Japan Congress at the Nagasaki Prefectural Gymnasium to sum up the gathering. Yasunari Fujimoto, secretary general of the congress, summarized the gathering as a step toward nuclear abolition, citing the achievements in discussion on such topics as the denuclearization of North East Asia and abolishing nuclear power.
The gathering adopted a declaration which includes enshrining the three non-nuclear principles into law and enhancing support for second- and third-generation A-bomb survivors. The participants marched 1.2 kilometers from the gymnasium to the hypocenter to appeal for peace.
Meanwhile, the Japan Council held the World Conference, Nagasaki General Assembly at Nagasaki Citizens Hall with nearly 2,000 people in attendance, according to the organizer. Terumi Tanaka, 78, secretary general of the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, who was exposed to the bombing in Nagasaki, talked about his experience and called for solidarity, saying, "A-bomb survivors convey the inhumanity of nuclear weapons through their A-bomb accounts."
At the time the atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki, those in attendance offered a silent prayer. The conference adopted the Nagasaki resolution, with the start of negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention serving as a main pillar of the statement, and concluded their program.
(Originally published on August 10, 2010)
