Seven A-bomb survivors’ organizations solicit signatures for the abolition of nuclear weapons
Jul. 28, 2016
by Hidetoshi Arioka, Staff Writer
On July 27, seven A-bomb survivors’ organizations in Hiroshima Prefecture including two organizations which bear the same name, the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, joined forces for the first time in a signature drive at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park which calls for a nuclear weapons convention that would ban and eliminate all nuclear arms. This was part of a global signature drive proposed by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization (Nihon Hidankyo), which marks the 60th anniversary of its founding in August.
Representatives and about 30 members from seven organizations including Sunao Tsuboi, 91, the chairman of one Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, and Kunihiko Sakuma, 71, the chairman of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations, gathered at the Motoyasu Bridge and held up a banner which bore the words “Now is the time to abolish nuclear weapons” and said, “Let’s convey this desire to the world from Hiroshima.” Shiori Tokita, 15, a third-year student at Omagari Minami Junior High School in the city of Daisen, Akita Prefecture, was visiting Hiroshima as part of the school’s peace education program. She signed her name, saying, “I empathize with the feelings of A-bomb survivors as they work to abolish nuclear weapons in this heat.”
The signature drive was proposed by Nihon Hidankyo, and nine A-bomb survivors, leaders of antinuclear campaigns in and out of Japan, began this effort in April. They are pursuing the campaign with the aim of realizing a nuclear weapons convention by August 2020, and the collected signatures will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly each year. Mr. Tsuboi, one of the leaders, said, “U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima has raised the public’s interest in the abolition of nuclear weapons. The cooperation of many people will be helpful.”
(Originally published on July 28, 2016)
On July 27, seven A-bomb survivors’ organizations in Hiroshima Prefecture including two organizations which bear the same name, the Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H-bomb Sufferers Organizations, joined forces for the first time in a signature drive at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park which calls for a nuclear weapons convention that would ban and eliminate all nuclear arms. This was part of a global signature drive proposed by the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization (Nihon Hidankyo), which marks the 60th anniversary of its founding in August.
Representatives and about 30 members from seven organizations including Sunao Tsuboi, 91, the chairman of one Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations, and Kunihiko Sakuma, 71, the chairman of the other Hiroshima Prefectural Confederation of A- and H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations, gathered at the Motoyasu Bridge and held up a banner which bore the words “Now is the time to abolish nuclear weapons” and said, “Let’s convey this desire to the world from Hiroshima.” Shiori Tokita, 15, a third-year student at Omagari Minami Junior High School in the city of Daisen, Akita Prefecture, was visiting Hiroshima as part of the school’s peace education program. She signed her name, saying, “I empathize with the feelings of A-bomb survivors as they work to abolish nuclear weapons in this heat.”
The signature drive was proposed by Nihon Hidankyo, and nine A-bomb survivors, leaders of antinuclear campaigns in and out of Japan, began this effort in April. They are pursuing the campaign with the aim of realizing a nuclear weapons convention by August 2020, and the collected signatures will be submitted to the United Nations General Assembly each year. Mr. Tsuboi, one of the leaders, said, “U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Hiroshima has raised the public’s interest in the abolition of nuclear weapons. The cooperation of many people will be helpful.”
(Originally published on July 28, 2016)
