As A-bomb anniversary again dawns, Hiroshima calls on world to abolish nuclear arms
Aug. 5, 2016
by Kohei Okata, Staff Writer
This past May, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima and called for “a future in which Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known not as the dawn of atomic warfare, but as the start of our own moral awakening.” Seventy-one years ago, a single atomic bomb annihilated the city of Hiroshima. After enduring enormous hardship, the people of this city have been able to rebuild and restore a peaceful life. And yet nuclear weapons continue to threaten our world. The anniversary of the atomic bombing will be marked once more on August 6. Now that the leader of the nuclear superpower has made his presence felt in the A-bombed city, a visit that drew the world’s attention, it is time to accelerate global efforts for abolishing nuclear arms once and for all.
On May 27, Mr. Obama studied some selected artifacts on the first floor of the Peace Memorial Museum’s east building, offered a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, and closed his eyes as he made a silent prayer. Then he delivered a speech in front of the cenotaph in which he encouraged the nuclear powers to have the courage to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. After he spoke, he exchanged words with two A-bomb survivors.
Two months have passed since Mr. Obama’s visit. The four paper cranes he presented to the city are on display at the museum, and the number of visitors to the museum has risen by 1.4 times compared to the same period last year, which brought the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing. Excitement still lingers in the city following the first-ever visit by a sitting president of the country that dropped the atomic bomb.
The president spent 52 minutes in the Peace Memorial Park. What did he see? And what did he feel? The Chugoku Shimbun has been seeking to learn as much as possible about his visit, investigating what he saw and did in the museum, information which has not been made available to the public. We have also interviewed survivors who were invited to attend the ceremony that took place in connection with Mr. Obama’s visit. The tremendous horrors of the atomic bombing that they relate could never be truly understood in 52 minutes.
Did Mr. Obama hear Hiroshima’s voice?
Ben Rhodes, the deputy assistant to the president, gave an exclusive interview to the Chugoku Shimbun in July. In this interview he made clear that the Obama administration will continue to take steps toward nuclear disarmament until the president leaves office in January 2017. He also said that the administration is considering significant revisions to the nation’s nuclear policy. These revisions would reportedly include a declaration of “no first use,” which means that nuclear weapons would only be used in response to a nuclear strike. If this declaration is made, it would constitute an important change for the nuclear superpower.
However, A-bomb survivors and antinuclear groups are expressing concern that Japan, the A-bombed nation, may object to this revision since it relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for its security. They also criticize the unfavorable view held by the Japanese government toward establishing a nuclear weapons convention. In meetings of the United Nations working group which seeks to advance nuclear disarmament, many non-nuclear weapon states have expressed support for a legal ban on nuclear arms. The working group’s final meeting will be held this month, then multilateral discussions will begin. In this situation, the Japanese government’s attitude will be put to the test.
As of the end of March 2016, the number of people holding the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate totals 174,080, which is less than half of the highest number recorded in 1981, and their average age is now 80.86. How can Hiroshima make the most of President Obama’s visit to the city in its efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons? Hiroshima now faces this key question.
(Originally published on August 5, 2016)
This past May, U.S. President Barack Obama visited Hiroshima and called for “a future in which Hiroshima and Nagasaki are known not as the dawn of atomic warfare, but as the start of our own moral awakening.” Seventy-one years ago, a single atomic bomb annihilated the city of Hiroshima. After enduring enormous hardship, the people of this city have been able to rebuild and restore a peaceful life. And yet nuclear weapons continue to threaten our world. The anniversary of the atomic bombing will be marked once more on August 6. Now that the leader of the nuclear superpower has made his presence felt in the A-bombed city, a visit that drew the world’s attention, it is time to accelerate global efforts for abolishing nuclear arms once and for all.
On May 27, Mr. Obama studied some selected artifacts on the first floor of the Peace Memorial Museum’s east building, offered a wreath of flowers at the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, and closed his eyes as he made a silent prayer. Then he delivered a speech in front of the cenotaph in which he encouraged the nuclear powers to have the courage to pursue a world without nuclear weapons. After he spoke, he exchanged words with two A-bomb survivors.
Two months have passed since Mr. Obama’s visit. The four paper cranes he presented to the city are on display at the museum, and the number of visitors to the museum has risen by 1.4 times compared to the same period last year, which brought the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing. Excitement still lingers in the city following the first-ever visit by a sitting president of the country that dropped the atomic bomb.
The president spent 52 minutes in the Peace Memorial Park. What did he see? And what did he feel? The Chugoku Shimbun has been seeking to learn as much as possible about his visit, investigating what he saw and did in the museum, information which has not been made available to the public. We have also interviewed survivors who were invited to attend the ceremony that took place in connection with Mr. Obama’s visit. The tremendous horrors of the atomic bombing that they relate could never be truly understood in 52 minutes.
Did Mr. Obama hear Hiroshima’s voice?
Ben Rhodes, the deputy assistant to the president, gave an exclusive interview to the Chugoku Shimbun in July. In this interview he made clear that the Obama administration will continue to take steps toward nuclear disarmament until the president leaves office in January 2017. He also said that the administration is considering significant revisions to the nation’s nuclear policy. These revisions would reportedly include a declaration of “no first use,” which means that nuclear weapons would only be used in response to a nuclear strike. If this declaration is made, it would constitute an important change for the nuclear superpower.
However, A-bomb survivors and antinuclear groups are expressing concern that Japan, the A-bombed nation, may object to this revision since it relies on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for its security. They also criticize the unfavorable view held by the Japanese government toward establishing a nuclear weapons convention. In meetings of the United Nations working group which seeks to advance nuclear disarmament, many non-nuclear weapon states have expressed support for a legal ban on nuclear arms. The working group’s final meeting will be held this month, then multilateral discussions will begin. In this situation, the Japanese government’s attitude will be put to the test.
As of the end of March 2016, the number of people holding the Atomic Bomb Survivor’s Certificate totals 174,080, which is less than half of the highest number recorded in 1981, and their average age is now 80.86. How can Hiroshima make the most of President Obama’s visit to the city in its efforts to realize a world without nuclear weapons? Hiroshima now faces this key question.
(Originally published on August 5, 2016)
