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Mayors for Peace to hold assembly in Nagasaki from August 7 to 10 Messages from mayors overseas welcome nuclear ban treaty

by Miho Kuwajima, Staff Writer

The general assembly of Mayors for Peace (for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president) will be held in the city of Nagasaki from August 7 to 10. Mayors for Peace is a non-governmental organization (NGO) with a membership of 7,392 city mayors from 162 countries and holds general assembly meetings every four years. Now that the Nuclear Weapon Ban Treaty has been adopted by the United Nations, the Mayors for Peace organization, with its worldwide network, has a significant role to play. Prior to the general assembly, the Chugoku Shimbun asked the mayors of the organization’s 26 executive cities overseas to write messages in support of the abolition of nuclear weapons, and have so far received messages, by email, from the mayors of 10 cities in five regions. Their messages reveal that the mayors hold a strong desire for civil society to work together to steer the nuclear weapon states toward the goal of nuclear abolition.

1. As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the cause of nuclear abolition and peace?
2. What are your hopes for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?
3. How do you view the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations in July?
4. What do you think is needed to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

Manchester (United Kingdom)

THE Lord Mayor of Manchester, Councillor Eddy Newman

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

Manchester has a long history in developing efforts for a nuclear weapons free and more peaceful world. In 1980, the City Council passed a resolution to declare Manchester a ‘nuclear free zone’. As a young councillor, I was one of the councillors that put forward this resolution. This was at a time when the Cold War had got quite ‘hot’, with the UK accepting American cruise nuclear weapons at bases likes Greenham Common. The threat of an attack from the Soviet Union appeared very real to Councils in the UK, who called for disarmament talks instead.

The passing of such resolutions took place across the UK, and it led to the establishment of the Nuclear Free Local Authorities movement in the UK, which continues to be based in Manchester. These decisions to cooperate between cities were a factor in the creation of the Mayors for Peace by the Mayor of Hiroshima two years later in 1982. Manchester was one of the first UK members of Mayors for Peace in 1984, and its long-standing, active and committed opposition to nuclear weapons led to it being asked by Hiroshima to become a Vice President of Mayors for Peace in 2001.

Manchester has taken an active part in the Executive and General Conferences of Mayors for Peace and in 2003 it hosted the Executive Conference at which the Mayors for Peace’s 2020 Vision was formally agreed. Lord Mayors, senior councillors and officers have actively engaged with Mayors for Peace for many years now and in 2013 Manchester was delighted to accept a further request from Hiroshima to become a ‘Lead City’ of Mayors for Peace. In 2015, after considerable discussion a UK and Ireland Mayors for Peace Chapter was established. Manchester has hosted many visits of hibakusha to the city, the most recent being in March this year. As part of a national tour, the two hibakusha spoke to two large public meetings in the People’s History Museum in Manchester, a civic reception with me and some Manchester schoolchildren and a visit to the Dunham Massey estate, where gingko tree seeds from Hiroshima are being grown in an initiative we have called ‘Project G’.

‘Project G’ is a good example of how Manchester promotes the message of a nuclear weapons free world. The Council has organised an art and poetry competition with 6 Manchester primary schools where the children thought about the Hiroshima atomic bombing and the important role of nature in recovering from such a disaster. The children then talked of what they had learnt to a special event with Mayor Matsui of Hiroshima and my predecessor as Lord Mayor, Councillor Paul Murphy. The civic event in Manchester also heard from a local art teacher, Mike Stevenson, who had inherited art from the 1950s by children from the Jogakuin Primary School in Hiroshima. This art was sent back to the school in 2016. Our long-term plan is that some of the trees will go to each of the schools and the others in a redefined Peace Gardens in the city centre.

In the wider peace context, Manchester has developed a Manchester City Centre Peace Trail in an EU funded project with Berlin, Paris, Vienna, The Hague, Budapest and Turin. Thousands have now walked it. The booklet talks of some of the peace and justice organisations, issues and people that have influenced Manchester, the world’s first industrial city. It can be accessed via the website http://www.discoverpeace.eu.

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

We are looking forward in taking part in the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace to work on the positive development of the global Nuclear Weapons Ban Treaty. We have also been cooperating with fellow European Executive Cities about bringing in a broader campaign as well to consider issues like terrorism, the refugee crisis and a lack of peace in many places. The city was very badly affected by the terrorist attack at Manchester Arena on May 22nd and wants to highlight such issues, along with the campaign for a nuclear weapons free world, to its UK and Ireland Chapter.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

The Treaty is a very positive development in trying to unlock the stalemate that has taken place under the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty process. We very much welcome it and see it as a template for complete nuclear disarmament. However, there remains the great challenge of persuading nuclear weapon states, including the UK, to join this process. The Treaty does though change the debate and brings in much more discussion over the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons, which is vitally important. There remains much still to do, but it has created a positive policy process and increased the role of the United Nations within this.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

There has to be ways to now engage in a different manner with the nuclear weapon states, NATO and those states under the ‘nuclear umbrella’ like Japan and Australia. The 2018 High Level Conference on Disarmament appears the first major way to do that. At the local level, we are working with ICAN-UK and other groups to change the nuclear weapons debate and encourage MPs of all political parties of the necessity for nuclear disarmament. I am looking forward to discuss these issues with my fellow Mayors for Peace Executive members in Nagasaki. I am also looking forward to visiting Hiroshima and Nagasaki and attending their Peace Ceremonies to give me a greater personal understanding of the suffering and the campaigns of the hibakusha.

Malakoff (France)

Mayor Jacqueline Belhomme

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

Since its creation in 1883, the city of Malakoff is committed to act for peace. Malakoff has become a city of artists over the years (Le Douanier Rousseau and Rodin have worked there ...), it organizes each year, with local associations, an exhibition dedicated to peace. This year, nearly 70 artists are participating. While the main exhibition is hosted in the Municipality’s library, shopkeepers also welcome works in their shops and showcases. Training courses on the notion of Culture of Peace are also organized for the inhabitants and for the staff of the city. Children are very interested and above all very creative when it comes to talking about peace.

On the other hand, Malakoff, through his daily actions, transcribes this philosophy, for example, by welcoming and supporting refugees.

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

Malakoff participated in the 8 previous general conferences. We are committed to the symbolism of our relationship with the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This relationship gives meaning to the public policies of the city which are not merely utilitarian services or entertainment but bases for reflection and exchange. Human beings are social beings who need opportunities to think together. The general assembly makes it possible to make assessments and to find out what other cities are doing.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

Diplomacy is not a main competence of cities, but diplomacy of cities exists and it is not reserved to big cities. It is also of interest to all citizens, in particular through decentralized cooperation. So the nuclear disarmament treaty is of interest to us, especially as a country that possess nuclear weapons. The NPT already plans for States to pursue negotiations in good faith for the elimination of nuclear weapons ... We want only one thing, that all countries, France included, sit around the same table because the nuclear threat is dangerous and pernicious. It concerns us all now. It is also a sort of matrix of all violence ... including terrorist! All these issues must be considered in their systemic dimension. So every progress, and the treaty is one, allows the whole problematic to advance in a positive way. We are delighted.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

The lines move when citizens make their voices heard. Cities that are committed to peace and nuclear disarmament must therefore take initiatives of all kinds as we will say at the 9th General Conference. Raising awareness among the majority also involves research to be undertaken to study the influence of the nuclear threat on human behavior and the role of nuclear weapons as the matrix of all violence, including terrorist violence.

Other problems are also to be tackled in coordination within the network, such as support for migrants and refugees. Thousands of people flee war and seek refuge in France, for example, where they survive in conditions unworthy of the sixth world power. Countries and cities must improve their coordination to respond to this humanitarian emergency.

Hannover ( Germany)

Mayor Stefan Schostok

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city towards peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons?

As a founding member of Mayors for Peace and as a town twinned with Hiroshima, the City of Hannover is especially committed to acting for nuclear disarmament and peace. We are Lead City for Germany and, as such, we support networking between the German cities involved in Mayors for Peace, and also dialogue with relevant stakeholders such as Germany’s Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs and peace initiatives in Hannover. This two-way communication is important because our goal of peace can be achieved only if we join forces and act together!

Hannover has a strong focus on awareness-raising activities. We implement symbolic initiatives attracting media attention such as the German Flag Day for Peace, and the planting of a ginkgo tree descended from trees that survived the atomic blast. In addition, we are organizing events that encourage the public to reflect on geopolitical developments. We pay special attention to young people because it is crucial that they understand what is at stake when we speak about peace and nuclear disarmament. The new generation has not experienced anything like war or a nuclear attack! For instance, in two months we will be organizing a Skype discussion between atomic-bomb survivors and students from Hannover to deepen their understanding of the damage caused by nuclear weapons.

I also would like to mention a recently launched initiative that we will present at the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki. Hannover is coordinating an international art and peace project called ‘50 Cities – 50 Traces: one world without nuclear weapons’. The project, designed to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, will travel to Mayors for Peace cities around the world where it will be staged in connection with local artistic and peace activities. I very much hope that Hiroshima will also host this exhibition.

Last but not least, I believe that peace policy is an integral part of local policymaking and an objective that cities have to achieve in their day-to-day work. In Hannover we attach great importance to issues such as social stability, peaceful coexistence and democratic participation. We want to build a local environment in which everyone feels welcome, wherever they are from. I believe this is the mission for peace that every city can accomplish.

2. What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

Mayors for Peace is a worldwide network, and its General Assembly provides an opportunity to meet with mayors, representatives of cities and people from other parts of the world who are also committed to promoting peace and to nuclear disarmament. I expect we will enjoy much valuable discussion and find inspiration for our future action. We will undoubtedly return to Germany strengthened to continue our efforts. The General Assembly of Mayors for Peace is also a chance to to find out about the latest developments in the network and to take stock of the progress made on nuclear disarmament so far. The General Assembly will attract media attention: this is the opportunity to deliver a strong message of peace to the world.

3. How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

We welcome the adoption of this treaty, which we view as historic. For the first time, there will be a total ban on nuclear weapons. This international agreement can also be seen as reflecting the signatory states’ frustration at the inadequate implementation of nuclear-disarmament commitments as envisaged by the non-proliferation treaty. We hope that the ban treaty will now increase the sense of moral obligation on the part of the nuclear-armed states, and that disarmament policies will be strengthened again. However, we are also realistic enough to acknowledge we still have a long way to go and that, if anything, international law is currently being undermined rather than strengthened. This makes it all the more important that civil society and NGOs such as Mayors for Peace continue their vigorous campaigning and thus support the implementation process for this treaty.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

Reaching agreement on an international treaty is a difficult task. But successfully implementing such a treaty is equally challenging. We regret that the nuclear powers did not take part in the negotiations. In the final analysis, these states wasted their chance of bringing their own valid arguments to bear in drawing up this treaty. And we have called on the German Federal Government to seriously and constructively back disarmament initiatives. However, we also very much regret that the civil use of atomic energy is enshrined in the treaty. Nuclear power is and remains a high-risk technology, as shown by the Chernobyl and Fukushima disasters.

The adoption of the ban treaty coincided with the G20 summit in Germany, which was the main focus of media attention. There was, however, coverage of the treaty on German prime-time TV news. This demonstrates the enormous relevance that this international agreement already has. And, in this ban treaty, we see an excellent opportunity to stimulate wide public debate on current security architecture – and from a new starting point, too, given the fact that nuclear weapons are now prohibited. In moral terms, what does this mean for those states which possess these weapons or regard nuclear deterrence as part of their defence strategy?

What is important is that the treaty keeps the option open for other states to sign up to it in the future. This will be our initial focal point for action. Mayors for Peace will have a special role in the process of implementing this pact: we have the opportunity – through efforts such as the Flag Day, through events on the issues involved and through peace projects with young people – to raise public awareness in our countries of the necessity of delegitimizing nuclear weapons. We need a broad civil-society support base if we are to get closer to achieving our goal of a world free from nuclear weapons. And we need the optimism that shaped the spirit of this new ban treaty if we are, in the longer term, to appeal to those governments who have not yet signed and get them on board as well.

Granollers (Spain)

Mayor Josep Mayoral i Antigas

1. As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

Last years have been a period of intense activity. Granollers has produced together with the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace Museums in collaboration with Mayors for Peace the exhibition "Hiroshima-Nagasaki. 70 Years from the Atomic Bombing". This exhibition was opened in Barcelona and has been traveling around different Spanish cities. It was very moving to have an Hibakusha for the opening of the exhibition in Granollers. We also approved an Institutional Declaration of Nuclear Weapons Abolition. Another important activities were our collaboration with the Barcelona Manga Fair with an exhibition called “Nuclear mangas”, extremely successful too, and our work of taking care, growing up and giving seedlings of A-bombed trees for those who request.

2. What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

We expect a lot from the 9th General Assembly. Our organization has an extraordinary strength. We should take advantage of the General Assembly to boost our principles and plan adequately our aims. We are the largest municipalist organization in the world and we have a big responsibility. When governments are silent, the cities should talk out loud. The 9th General Assembly should help to strengthening our action, more muscle, more will power. The cities are not targets. Unfortunately a lot of cities in the world are victims of bombardments or violence. We should be the voice of those who have no voice. There are a lot of people who believe in us. We cannot fail them.

3. How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

We consider that the adoption of the treaty is an important and a crucial step to abolish nuclear weapons in the near future. Even the no participation of the nuclear states and their allies, the treaty will explicitly delegitimize the nuclear deterrence policies on which the United States and other nuclear-armed countries rely and will promote changes of attitude, ideas, principles and discourse. As one advocate said: “you cannot wait for the smokers to institute a smoking ban”.

4. What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

It is necessary to put the treaty into practice to start to reduce exponentially the number of nuclear weapons. This treaty will start by changing the meaning of nuclear weapons, forcing leaders and societies to think about and value them differently, and it will cause political effects internationally and domestically over the coming years in disarmament and humanitarian matters, as it happens years ago with cluster bombs and land mines.

Biograd na Moru (Croatia)

Mayor Ivan Knez

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

Biograd na Moru has made many efforts to make mayors for Peace known in Croatia.The city became a member of Mayors for Peace (MfP) in 2008.

It became an Executive city in 2009.We succeeded in recruiting 32 cities in Croatia which is a small country of only 4,000,000 inhabitants. we succeeded in making our sister cities in Slovenia, Bosnia, Italy become members of MfP.

Biograd na moru had a monument of the crane with inscriptions dedicated to Hiroshima built in 2010 and placed in a representative position in front of City Hall and next to the waterfront for all the tiourists who visit the city in the summer to see. Every year a commemoration is held in front of the crane on August 6th in memory of the fall of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The Japanese ambassador is always present at this commemoration and several member cities as well.

In 2012 a delegation of Mayors for Peace from Europe and Mayor Taue of Nagasaki visited and spoke with the President of Croatia, Mr. Ivo Josipović who dedicated an hour to MfP. in 2012 the the mayor of Biograd was invited to Vukovar with President Josipović to place a brick from the Nagasaki cathedral, which had been sent to Biograd directly from Nagasaki, in the new museum being built in Vukovar.

In 2013 we organized an exhibition in Biograd and Zagreb, our capital, on the A-bomb which was held first in Zagreb and then in Biograd. Upon that occasion a hibakusha came form Japan for the opening of the exhibition and he was interviewed on our national HRT1 television program.

In 2013 and 2014 workshops were organized where school children were taught to make cranes for peace in memory of Sasaki Sadako so everyone in Biograd and further is familiar with the story.

Biograd as member of MfP visited Kasakhstan (Semey, Semipaladinsk and Astana) and Iraq (Halabja in Kurdistan)and held speeches for mayors for Peace there.

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

We from Europe hope in again having a representative of Mayors for Peace centered in Europe for it is difficult if concentrated only in Japan. We will also discuss in broadening our agenda to terrorism and refugee issue not only nuclear weapons. Europe has different threats than Asia an Africa and in order to be worldwide we must adapt to the unfortunate changes in the world.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

The treaty recently adopted on the ban of nuclear weapons is a great step ahead in this battle but, unfortunately, without the main players such as countries in possession of nuclear weapons, nothing can really be done. The battle must go on.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

In order to put the treaty into practice people, the every day citizen, must become very aware of this danger. This can only be done though education, lectures, conferences, workshops, gatherings, rallies but they must take place everywhere in the world. All the countries that signed the treaty must work on this.

Fongo Tongo (Cameroon)

Vice Mayor Jean Paul NANFACK

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

This city of Fongo Tongo is situated some 450km from Yaoundé the capital city of Cameroon. Fongo Tongo joined Mayors for Peace Organization on August 2010 and has contributed immensely for creating awareness on the dangers of nuclear weapons in Africa Continent Thanks to our efforts, Cameroon is a leading African nation with more than 100 memberships to the organization. 70 of which were recruited by Fongo Tongo. In Africa, we account for at least ¼ of the recruitment of 370 city memberships. Fongo Tongo city recently organized in Bandjoun in the West Region of Cameroon the first ever exhibition in Africa to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. This was during the 3rd Regional Trade Fair (SACO2015) of Mayors of the Region where more than 10 000 invitees were present.

Two years ago, we put in place a coordination of African Mayors for Peace and Development (CAMPAD) with a spirit of the Hannover process aimed to atomize the functioning of each continent and region with emphasis on the different continent/region specificities for more efficiency.

As Executive Secretary of CAMPAD I have participated in the name of Africa to some international events including joining Mayors for peace delegation to New York in 2016 for NPT negotiations treaties with Mayor MATSUI where we headed a protest march in Manhattan for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

I also participated at the International Peace Bureau, World Congress 2016 on Military and Social Spending in Berlin(Germany) where I delivered an exposé on MILITARY EXPENSES VERSUS FUNDING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS” WITH AN EMPHASIS ON UNDEVELOPED COUNTRIES.

To carry the message of Mayors for Peace across Africa we initiated and created alongside other Africa journalists an association called MEDIA ACTIONS FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA code-named – MAPDA. We hope to have means to see all these associations functioning effectively.

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

We expect discussions to be fertile on bringing a concrete plan of action for the future. Delegates should create more awareness worldwide on the dangers of nuclear weapons. What was used in Japan 72 years ago, the atomic bomb is just a “toy” comparatively to sophisticated nuclear heads around the word today.

Common talk from those who defend nuclear proliferation claim that states acquiring or producing nuclear weapons do so for geostrategic reasons, influence of diplomacy and for the nation‘s supremacy.

So childish to think the reason being that in case of a nuclear war who will survive the bombings to appreciate such supposed supremacy? Nobody including nuclear powers themselves Here in Nagasaki, we will also like that the final declaration includes international terrorism and sustainable development objectives. Why? International terrorism has become one of the major threat to peace in many cities.

You cannot believe that a group like BOKO HARAM has killed more than 2000 people in Cameroon and nobody says anything from international community.Concerning sustainable development goals we believe development solves insecurity problems.

Statistics analysis from nuclear weapons and other military spending revealed that 12 millions of US dollars are spent every hour on these killer weapons. This just means that since a reader is reading your newspaper for 5 minutes as huge as 1million US dollars are been instantly spent on nuclear weapons.

Since the last 5mn then we could have used the money to help bring water to 250,000 people. That is people of 4 whole municipalities of the size of Fongo Tongo be it in Africa , South America or Europe. This could have helped support education all over the world lives of millions of children.

Our delegation in Japan is made up of 12 Municipalities who mayors are looking for investors, donors and partners for their population in the areas of social housing, water, electricity, education and health. We have an exhibition both at the conference venue in the University of Nagasaki.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

Very good and encouraging move. We should keep up pressuring nuclear weapons powers to follow us.We should target our actions on their public opinions by holding their leaders responsible for planning to destroying the world. In this junction CAMPAD our organization plans to organize as from 2018 to 2020 international mega events like friendly match and music show in the theme “STOP THE WEAPONS NOW” Partners interested can join us.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

Very necessary, It is even an obligation to move to the next step. If not why voting the treaty? We know that I will not be easy but there is an African proverb quoted as follows: “He who works slowly but carefully never sleeps on the road.” We expect nuclear powers to follow us and they must follow us because no one owes the world. Not even the nuclear powers.

Muntinlupa (Philippines)

Mayor JAIME R. FRESNEDI

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

We, in Muntinlupa, are one in the noble advocacy of the Mayors for Peace. To think globally and act locally, we in Muntinlupa believe that it is the overriding responsibility of cities to shape the culture of its citizenry. We start it by molding the youth to become peace advocates. Almost 2 out of 10 Filipinos comprise the youth today. If we won’t do something to make them staunch advocates of peace, we can see peace more elusive in the future.

The City Government of Muntinlupa pioneered in forging a partnership with the local schools division to integrate a Peace Education Program in the Araling Panlipunan (Social Studies) Subject. The program aims to educate the present 29,354 junior and senior high school students of the City and organize events that complement the Program.

The program is expected to engage the junior/senior high school students in the promotion of peace and how to propagate this through public forums, communal discussions, exhibits and other programs.

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

In the 9th General Conference of the Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki, I would be happy to see the presentation of best practices and innovation of the participants to inspire cities to make initiatives to advance peace in their environs. Interactive discussions will further the learning experience of every participant. An effective documenting and capturing of the discussions that will be provided to every participant would be a good reference material of the participating cities and other cities that aim to promote peace and become staunch advocates of NPT.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

We constantly express unstinting support for the adoption of the nuclear ban treaty. It would lead to total elimination of nuclear weapons. The threat to peace and stability, and nuclear proliferation have been consistently ranked as among the top concerns of nations today as ranked by the United Nations and even the European Union.

The impact of armed conflicts and wars has been incomparable in the cost of lives and environment. Its effects are irreparable even extending decades after the war. Today, more than seventy years after the atomic bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima, thousands of citizens still suffer the devastating effects of radiation and unconceivable emotional pain.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

With the solidarity of cities led by Mayors for Peace, I believe the challenges at hand could be surmounted. The emergence of cities in the 21st century has shown that city leaders can step into breaches where some nations hesitate or fail to tread. Cities can initiate promoting peace (other than the relevant mechanisms, inclusive economic development and less religious and racial inequality) by consistently raising the stakes on its constituents to become advocates of peace. If the stakes are high, the constituents can always police themselves and their communities free from acts of terror. With the internationalization of terrorism, and with the desire of some terrorists to gain access on weapons of mass destruction, communities that are active in promoting peace could thwart this. I believe that terror groups, which are not subject to any law to acquire weapons of mass destruction, like ISIS, that continuously seek new caliphates, are the immediate threat now. We cannot afford another Mosul again.

Des Moines (U.S.)

Mayor Franklin Cownie

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

In Des Moines, a coalition of peace groups annually remembers the devastating nuclear attacks of August 1945 by organizing a public peace ceremony, where I speak. I also speak at various gatherings throughout the year about the urgent need to eliminate nuclear weapons. In addition, I work with public libraries to put out information out about the devastating humanitarian effects of nuclear weapons.

As lead U.S. Mayors for Peace city, I also sponsor and introduce strong Mayors for Peace resolutions at annual meetings of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), the national non-partisan association of cities with populations over 30,000. This year’s resolution, “Calling on President Trump to Lower Nuclear Tensions, Prioritize Diplomacy, and Redirect Nuclear Weapons Spending to meet Human Needs and Address Environmental Challenges”, which had 20 co-sponsors, was unanimously adopted by the USCM on June 26, 2017. (See http://wslfweb.org/docs/6-28-17MfPrelease.pdf)

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

I very much regret that, due to prior commitments, I will not be able to participate in the Mayors for Peace General Conference this August in Nagasaki. The conference is an important opportunity for municipal leaders from around the world to strategize and implement measures to achieve the Mayors for Peace “2020 vison.” This year, it will be important for participants to study the new nuclear weapons ban treaty carefully and discuss how it can be used by mayors and citizens in both nuclear-weapon-free and nuclear-armed states to promote next steps toward the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

In December of last year, President-elect Trump tweeted that the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability “until such time as the world comes to its senses regarding nukes”. United Nations adoption of a treaty, by a vote of 22 to 1, to legally prohibit the development, testing, production, manufacture, possession, stockpiling, use, or threat of use of nuclear weapons, demonstrates once again that the majority of the world’s countries have indeed come to their senses regarding nuclear weapons. In fact, this has been true for many years, as shown in UN General Assembly resolutions and the creation of regional nuclear weapon free zones around the world. However, the nuclear ban treaty is a particularly strong and visible manifestation of the will of most countries to prohibit and eliminate nuclear weapons. It is a powerful statement of the applicable international political, moral and legal standards by which the conduct of all countries should be judged, whether or not they join the ban treaty in the near term. In particular, the prohibition on threat of use helps to delegitimize nuclear deterrence and accordingly advances complete nuclear disarmament.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

To begin with, fifty countries will need to ratify the treaty for it to “enter into force,” and become an operational treaty in legal effect. Then there will be a process of meetings of states parties that can serve as a springboard for initiatives to build upon the treaty’s provisions, for example assistance to hibakusha and victims of nuclear testing, and persuading more states to join. Fundamentally, however, the treaty will need to be used as a vehicle for education and advocacy in countries that have nuclear weapons and their allies that rely on nuclear weapons. Those are the countries that will have to accomplish the elimination of nuclear weapons, whether or not they do so in the framework of the ban treaty.

We U.S. Mayors are trying to do our part. The recent Mayors for Peace resolution adopted by the USCM, “Welcomes the historic negotiations currently underway in the United Nations, involving most of the world’s countries, on a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, leading to their total elimination, and expresses deep regret that the U.S. and the other nuclear-armed states are boycotting these negotiations,” and “Calls on the U.S. to support the ban treaty negotiations as a major step towards negotiation of a comprehensive agreement on the achievement and permanent maintenance of a world free of nuclear arms, and to initiate, in good faith, multilateral negotiations to verifiably eliminate nuclear weapons within a timebound framework.”

Montreal (Canada)

Mayor Denis Coderre

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

The City Montreal joined Mayors for Peace in 1989. We endeavor to promote peace at all levels of governance. We organize yearly a series of events where the values of peace are promoted. The sister-city agreement signed between Hiroshima and Montreal in 1998 is a testimony of this bilateral protocol. As a concrete examples.

The City of Montreal holds every August 5th at 19:15 a peace ceremony at the Japanese Garden of the Montreal Botanical Garden, where the Hiroshima Peace Bell was installed in 1998. This ceremony takes place simultaneously with the peace ceremony in Hiroshima, on August 6th at 8:15am.

The City of Montreal celebrates yearly the International Day of Peace on September 21, as promulgated at the City council in March 2005.

There are several public parks and spaces dedicated to peace and social harmony (the Japanese garden, la Place de la Grande-Paix de Montréal Place d’Youville, the Permanent Memorial for the Six Million Jewish Martyrs of the Nazi Holocaust at Concordia University, etc.

We nurture relations with numerous NGOs working towards Peace, social harmomy, equality of gender, and those working against racism and discrimination.

The City of Montreal has created in 2015 the International Observatory of Mayors on Living Together of which the Mayor of Hiroshima, Mr Kazumi Matsui, a founding member and honorary citizen of Motnreal Constant dialogue with the numerous cultural communities living in Montreal, etc.

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

As the general conference is held every four years, we intend to fully participate in fruitful discussions and information sharing with all members of the organization in Nagasaki.

My representative, Mr Russel Copeman, member of the executive committee and mayor of the District of Côte-des-Neiges-Notre-Dame-de-Grace will attend both the Hiroshima and Nagasaki Peace ceremonies as they are important events for Montreal, an executive member of the organization.

We intend to contribute to the drafting of the final statement of the conference.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

This treaty, voted by 122 countries (out of 192 – yet excluding the nuclear states) is nonetheless a most important treaty. It is a step in the only right direction, namely the prohibition of nuclear weapons.

It is most important that the voices of the hibakusha be heard, so that «no one shall ever again suffer as we have».

We, mayors, must continue our work to ensure that our voices are heard.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

Today we are a Lead City and an executive member of the organization. As Mayor of Montreal and President of Metropolis, Montreal was this past June, the host city of the 12th Metropolis Congress, which was attended by 127 mayors and 1250 representatives from 300 cities. Cities now hold a very important position in the world. Our voices must be heard. Let us use all platforms given to us to promote peace and social harmony. Let us use City Diplomacy to further the cause of the abolition of nuclear weapons.

And in order to achieve this ultimate goal, we must reach out. Mayors for Peace must attract more members, gain more attention worldwide. Children are the future, our future. We, mayors, should encourage our governments into approaching schools at all levels, colleges, universities to disseminate the message of peace, encourage inter-faith dialogues, etc. As Mayor Matsui said recently at the UN « we will continue to work together with our diverse partners in the world to nurture a collaborative international environment that encourages world leaders to take decisive steps towards nuclear abolition… Let us begin the work today».

Fremantle (Australia)

Mayor Brad Pettitt

1.As a member city of Mayors for Peace, what efforts have been made in your city for the purpose of abolition of nuclear weapons and peace?

The City of Fremantle has been proud to be a member city of Mayors for Peace. With the assistance of some wonderful volunteers there has been a range of activities in Fremantle promoting peace and steps towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

In 2014 a range of WA Local Government’s met in Fremantle and passed the Fremantle Declaration against Nuclear Weapons. http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/whatsnew/activity/data/declaration.pdf

This affirmed our commitment to supporting and developing dynamic cultures of peace within our cities, towns and regions as well as our commitment to ensuring that the cities, towns and regions we represent never become nuclear targets.

At this event we also had Hiroshima hibakusha living in Australia, children's illustrator Junko Morimoto tell her powerful story to the group.

There has also been a rededication of the peace park in Fremantle and a thought-provoking social event "Choosing Nuclear Exits" earlier this year.

2.What is your expectation for the General Assembly of Mayors for Peace, which will take place in Nagasaki in August?

It is our hope that is raises the profile of the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons and sees greater collaboration around the world.

3.How do you evaluate the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, which was adopted at the United Nations early this month?

Having so many countries sign onto this was an encouraging step towards the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

4.What do you think is necessary to put the treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons into practice?

It is going to take both strong leadership at a national and international level as well as grassroots pressure and community awareness raising to bring about this important change.

Kazumi Matsui
Mayor of Hiroshima (President)

The participants in the general assembly will hold substantive discussions on the abolition of nuclear weapons, summarize the views that come out of the discussions, and reach agreement on the matters discussed. We will then draw up the next action plan. I hope that all the member cities will share a common view of the future and unite in their efforts toward 2020. The nuclear weapons ban treaty acknowledges the wish of all the A-bomb survivors to see nuclear weapons banned during their lifetime. The treaty is also a reward for their persistent appeal for creating a security framework that does not rely on nuclear arms. They do not want deterrence or violence that arises from mutual distrust. I will work with the various partners of Mayors for Peace to encourage the lawmakers of every nation to lead decisively in order to advance the cause of nuclear abolition and take part in constructive and forward-looking discussions.

Tomihisa Taue
Mayor of Nagasaki (Vice President)

The historic treaty that bans all nuclear arms has been adopted and the momentum toward the abolition of these weapons is growing. On this occasion, I would like to send a strong message from the A-bombed city of Nagasaki that we should create a nuclear-free world in cooperation with cities, civil society, and young people. The nuclear weapons ban treaty is evidence that the desire of the A-bomb survivors and the people of Nagasaki and Hiroshima has brought change to the nations of the world, and this long-held desire has finally borne fruit. As the mayor of an A-bombed city, I am deeply impressed that the treaty states in its preamble: “Mindful of the unacceptable suffering of and harm caused to the victims of the use of nuclear weapons (hibakusha).” To make the treaty more effective, it is vital that as many countries as possible, including the nuclear weapon states and their allies protected under the nuclear umbrella, join this agreement.

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Making use of the organization’s potential power

The 2017 general assembly will take place mainly in Nakabe Hall at Nagasaki University. As of now, representatives from 193 member cities in 40 countries have confirmed that they will be attending the meeting. At the gathering, the participants will discuss their activities over the next three years based on the existing action plan “Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons (the 2020 Vision)” and create a “Nagasaki Appeal” which will include the contents of their discussions.

The main topic at the meeting will be how to make use of the nuclear weapons ban treaty, the agreement that was adopted at the United Nations on July 7. Concluding a treaty of this kind was originally part of the action plan crafted by Mayors for Peace which seeks the elimination of the world’s nuclear weapons by the year 2020. The brand-new treaty contains a provision that gives praise to the efforts made by non-governmental organizations (NGOs) toward achieving this aim.

The nuclear weapon states and their allies, including Japan, which is the only nation in the world to have suffered nuclear attack and yet depends on the U.S. nuclear umbrella for its protection, all strongly oppose the nuclear weapons ban treaty. To enhance the effectiveness of the treaty, it is important to sway international public opinion toward supporting nuclear abolition based on the viewpoint of cities and citizens. And Mayors for Peace, which has a broad worldwide network, can help make this goal achievable.

The agenda for the general assembly includes a range of items. Since the very first conference in 1985, there have been times when this gathering of the world’s member city representatives in the A-bombed cities took on particular importance. But now that the abolition of nuclear weapons has become a more realistic goal, rather than merely an ideal, the activities of each member city will grow in significance.

Of special concern are the participants from countries that possess nuclear arms. This year’s meeting is the first general assembly to be held since former U.S. President Barack Obama’s historic visit to Hiroshima, but despite this, no member cities of the United States will attend the gathering, and so the participants from the nuclear powers will be limited to those in the United Kingdom, France, and India.

In Japan, 1,679 local governments, making up a majority of all municipalities, are members of the Mayors for Peace organization. Considering the size of its membership, the organization needs to consider how to make good use of its potential power. In 2008, Mayors for Peace opened up its membership roll to Japanese cities, when previously members had been limited to cities outside Japan. Since then, the number of member cities has increased rapidly. There is, however, a wide difference among Japanese member cities when it comes to their level of enthusiasm and their concrete efforts toward advancing the goal of nuclear abolition. Because of this, the organization must pursue further measures to influence the Japanese government and Diet, which have shown strong reluctance to support and ratify the nuclear weapons ban treaty.

That said, the issue of nuclear weapons is not the only global threat today; the threats of poverty, violence, and regional conflicts must also be addressed. At the general assembly meeting, it is vital that efforts to build a broad conception of peace, a theme mainly demanded by member cities from developing nations, be actively discussed.

Keywords

Mayors for Peace
Mayors for Peace was founded as the World Conference of Mayors for Peace through Inter-City Solidarity, in response to a proposal from Hiroshima Mayor Takeshi Araki, at the U.N. Special Session on Disarmament in 1982. It was registered as an NGO of the U.N. Economic and Social Council in 1991, then changed its name to Mayors for Peace in 2001, and in 2003, crafted the “2020 Vision.” In 2013, the Japanese name of the organization was altered to “Heiwa Shucho Kaigi” to include the heads of all municipalities. The mayor of Hiroshima serves as president, while his Nagasaki counterpart serves as vice president. The general assembly is held every four years, alternately in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This is the first time in eight years that the general assembly will take place in Nagasaki, following the last conference held there in 2009.

(Originally published on July 31, 2017)

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