The Gensuikin Anti-Nuclear Peace Walk that has crisscrossed the nation appealing for the abolition of nuclear weapons arrived in Peace Memorial Park (Naka-ku, Hiroshima) on the 3rd. Joining another walk advocating the same cause and sponsored by Rengo Hiroshima, they proceeded to the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims where they stopped for a moment of silence.

The Gensuikin Walk started in Aomori City on April 4 and linked the nine areas of Japan behind their banner. On this day, the groups approached the Peace Park from four directions, with Hiroshima Prefectural Gensuikin coming from east and west and Rengo Hiroshima coming from north and south. About 600 people ended the walk in Peace Memorial Park.

After dedicating flowers and offering a greeting, the chairman of Rengo Hiroshima, Minoru Miyaji, pointed to the nuclear programs in Iran and North Korea and said forcefully, "The world is falling into turmoil. Leading up to the 60th anniversary of the bombings, we must strengthen our day-to-day campaigning."

Meanwhile, Gensuikyo's 2004 World Congress against A- and H-bombs entered its second day with special sessions and workshops in the Hiroshima Koseinenkin Hall (Naka-ku, Hiroshima) on the 3rd involving an audience of about 260.

At a special session focusing on the damage done around the world by nuclear development, Senator Maynard Alfred of the Marshall Islands described the suffering of the radiation exposed and the worsening of illnesses and the living environment due to US nuclear testing. He said, "I don't want this tragedy to be repeated." Individuals exposed due to uranium mining in India and the nuclear tests in Pakistan also spoke and called for an anti-nuclear campaign transcending national borders.

(Caption)The Rengo Hiroshima walk heading for the hypocenter carrying a banner that reads, "Let's Get Rid of Nuclear Weapons"