Hiroshima sit-in appeals for abolishing nuclear weapons on 32nd anniversary of Chernobyl accident
Apr. 27, 2018
by Kyosuke Mizukawa, Staff Writer
On April 26, a sit-in to appeal for ending the use of nuclear energy and abolishing nuclear weapons was held in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, located in Naka Ward, to mark the 32nd anniversary of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union. The demonstrators were members of the Hiroshima Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and the Hiroshima Peace Action Center.
About 80 people, including A-bomb survivors and union members, took part in the 30-minute sit-in, which began shortly after noon. In a speech, Tetsuo Kaneko, the head of Gensuikin, referred to the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant in 2011 and said, “Let’s face the nuclear damage that many people suffered from and appeal for a turnaround in nuclear energy policy.” They held up a banner which bore the words “Human beings and nuclear weapons cannot coexist.”
Afterward, a participant read out an appeal which calls for phasing out the use of nuclear energy and abolishing nuclear weapons. “There must be no new radiation victims,” the statement said. It was then adopted with applause.
(Originally published on April 27, 2018)
On April 26, a sit-in to appeal for ending the use of nuclear energy and abolishing nuclear weapons was held in front of the Cenotaph for the A-bomb Victims, located in Naka Ward, to mark the 32nd anniversary of the nuclear disaster at Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union. The demonstrators were members of the Hiroshima Congress Against A- and H-Bombs (Gensuikin) and the Hiroshima Peace Action Center.
About 80 people, including A-bomb survivors and union members, took part in the 30-minute sit-in, which began shortly after noon. In a speech, Tetsuo Kaneko, the head of Gensuikin, referred to the nuclear accident that occurred at the Fukushima No. 1 (Daiichi) nuclear power plant in 2011 and said, “Let’s face the nuclear damage that many people suffered from and appeal for a turnaround in nuclear energy policy.” They held up a banner which bore the words “Human beings and nuclear weapons cannot coexist.”
Afterward, a participant read out an appeal which calls for phasing out the use of nuclear energy and abolishing nuclear weapons. “There must be no new radiation victims,” the statement said. It was then adopted with applause.
(Originally published on April 27, 2018)
