Action plan for “Hiroshima for Global Peace” initiative to be developed this fiscal year
Sep. 6, 2012
by Kenichiro Nozaki, Staff Writer
On September 3, the prefectural government of Hiroshima held the first meeting of the promotion committee for the prefecture’s "Hiroshima for Global Peace” plan. The plan sets out the role of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima in seeking the elimination of nuclear weapons and building peace in the world. At the meeting, the process for realizing the plan’s aims was discussed by the committee members, including the former foreign ministers of Japan and Australia. Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki expressed his desire to draw up a concrete action plan by the end of this fiscal year.
Among the committee members present were Yoriko Kawaguchi, former Japanese foreign minister, Gareth Evans, former Australian foreign minister, John Ikenberry, a professor of international politics at Princeton University, and Nobuyasu Abe, former U.N. undersecretary general. Thirteen members of the 15-member committee, including observers from inside and outside Japan, engaged in a five-hour discussion, which, except for the beginning portion, was a closed-door meeting.
Ms. Kawaguchi and other committee members held a press conference after the session. They mentioned that a suggestion was made to produce a film depicting the reality of the atomic bombing and the process of the city’s reconstruction. Many views were expressed on the significance of Hiroshima’s role in the field of education and its moral responsibility in handing down its experience to future generations.
Ideas were also offered on the subject of holding a round-table conference in Hiroshima where multinational negotiations on nuclear disarmament can be conducted, an aim incorporated in the global peace plan. One idea put forward proposed that the focus of such a conference be on Northeast Asia, while another idea would also include Southeast Asia.
The “Hiroshima for Global Peace” plan was announced by the Hiroshima prefectural government in October 2011. Regarding the roles that Hiroshima should play, the plan mentions: amassing research on nuclear disarmament and conflict resolution, training personnel in the field of peace building, assessing efforts made by countries for nuclear non-proliferation, and other functions. Most of the people who helped formulate the plan are also serving as members of the promotion committee.
At the press conference, Governor Yuzaki said, “I hope that an action plan can be developed in the near future,” expressing his desire to have a concrete action plan to move forward with the peace plan and a time frame for accomplishing the plan’s objectives unveiled within this fiscal year. The promotion committee will again engage in discussion on September 4.
(Originally published on September 4, 2012)
On September 3, the prefectural government of Hiroshima held the first meeting of the promotion committee for the prefecture’s "Hiroshima for Global Peace” plan. The plan sets out the role of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima in seeking the elimination of nuclear weapons and building peace in the world. At the meeting, the process for realizing the plan’s aims was discussed by the committee members, including the former foreign ministers of Japan and Australia. Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yuzaki expressed his desire to draw up a concrete action plan by the end of this fiscal year.
Among the committee members present were Yoriko Kawaguchi, former Japanese foreign minister, Gareth Evans, former Australian foreign minister, John Ikenberry, a professor of international politics at Princeton University, and Nobuyasu Abe, former U.N. undersecretary general. Thirteen members of the 15-member committee, including observers from inside and outside Japan, engaged in a five-hour discussion, which, except for the beginning portion, was a closed-door meeting.
Ms. Kawaguchi and other committee members held a press conference after the session. They mentioned that a suggestion was made to produce a film depicting the reality of the atomic bombing and the process of the city’s reconstruction. Many views were expressed on the significance of Hiroshima’s role in the field of education and its moral responsibility in handing down its experience to future generations.
Ideas were also offered on the subject of holding a round-table conference in Hiroshima where multinational negotiations on nuclear disarmament can be conducted, an aim incorporated in the global peace plan. One idea put forward proposed that the focus of such a conference be on Northeast Asia, while another idea would also include Southeast Asia.
The “Hiroshima for Global Peace” plan was announced by the Hiroshima prefectural government in October 2011. Regarding the roles that Hiroshima should play, the plan mentions: amassing research on nuclear disarmament and conflict resolution, training personnel in the field of peace building, assessing efforts made by countries for nuclear non-proliferation, and other functions. Most of the people who helped formulate the plan are also serving as members of the promotion committee.
At the press conference, Governor Yuzaki said, “I hope that an action plan can be developed in the near future,” expressing his desire to have a concrete action plan to move forward with the peace plan and a time frame for accomplishing the plan’s objectives unveiled within this fiscal year. The promotion committee will again engage in discussion on September 4.
(Originally published on September 4, 2012)
