2017 World Conference against A and H Bombs

For a Nuclear Weapon-Free, Peaceful and Just World – Let’s Join Hands to Achieve a Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons

The 79th General Meeting, Organizing Committee of the World Conference against A & H Bombs
February 10, 2017
Dear Friends,

The 72nd summer since the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is approaching and we are facing a historic opportunity to achieve the earnest desire of the Hibakusha to create a world set free of nuclear weapons in their lifetime. The conference to negotiate a treaty to ban nuclear weapons, consistently called for by the Hibakusha, is set to be convened in March and June this year at the United Nations.

Sharing the aspirations of the Hibakusha, we will convene the 2017 World Conference against A and H Bombs in the two A-bombed cities, with the theme: “For a Nuclear Weapon-Free, Peaceful and Just World – Let’s Join Hands to Achieve a Treaty to Prohibit Nuclear Weapons.” We send out our sincere call on all of you for your support to and participation in the forthcoming World Conference.

Friends,
Together with the initiatives and leadership of national governments, international agencies and local municipalities, the voices and actions of the people of the world, including the Hibakusha, have contributed to the start of the treaty negotiations by raising awareness of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons through their testimonies and A-bomb exhibitions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  We must make this year’s World Conference successful by making known the damage and aftereffects of the atomic bombing throughout the world and creating a groundswell of people’s voices and actions calling for a total ban and the elimination of nuclear weapons.

The “International Signature Campaign in Support of the Appeal of the Hibakusha for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (International Hibakusha Appeal Signature Campaign)” launched in April 2016 has drawn a broad range of support both internationally and inside Japan, giving rise to the creation of joint campaign setups of various organizations in many parts of Japan beyond their differences.  Towards the U.N. negotiation conference sessions and the World Conference, let us achieve a dramatic development in the signature collection campaign.

Friends,
We cannot condone the attempts to cling to nuclear weapons and ignore the rules of international community such as peace, human rights and democracy.

Last year, the U.S. put pressure on the NATO member states and other allies to vote against the U.N. resolution calling for a start of negotiations of a treaty to ban nuclear weapons. The government of Japan, the only A-bombed nation, gave in to this pressure and voted against the resolution. Upholding the “Japan-U.S. Alliance-First” policy, Prime Minister Abe met President Trump and adamantly holds on to the reliance on the U.S. “nuclear umbrella.”

However, these nuclear weapon states and their allies are an absolute minority in the international community.  We call on the U.S. and other nuclear-armed states to stop consolidating their nuclear arsenals and take responsible actions for banning and eliminating nuclear weapons, as agreed in the international community since the founding of the U.N.  As the movement of the A-bombed Japan, we urge the Japanese government to join the treaty negotiation conference and commit to the conclusion of the treaty, and to carry out peaceful diplomacy based on the peace constitution, borne out of the painful experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Friends,
Achieving a world without nuclear weapons needs not only joint effort of national governments and civil society for the conclusion of the treaty but also cooperation of people all over the world who are taking actions for a peaceful and better world.  We stand for and work in solidarity with the movements demanding the removal of U.S. bases in Okinawa for U.S. nuclear attacks; the abrogation of the unconstitutional War Laws; the cancellation of the reinforcement of U.S. bases, including the deployment of Ospreys all over Japan; the redress and eradication of poverty and social gaps; achievement of ZERO nuclear power plants and support for sufferers of the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident.  We work together with many citizens in nuclear-armed states and their allies who are standing up against xenophobia and increasing poverty and for social justice.  Let us achieve a great success of the 2017 World Conference as a forum for joint undertaking of all these movements.

Friends,
We invite you to start and join the efforts to disseminate the facts about the atomic bombings and promote the “International Hibakusha Appeal Signature Campaign” towards the forthcoming negotiation conference sessions  in March and June-July, and bring about the achievements and experiences of the campaigns to the World Conference to be convened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August.  Let us set about making effort to organize participants in the World Conference in your local communities, workplaces and school campuses for achieving a historic success of the World Conference.

Provisional schedule of the 2017 World Conference against A and H Bombs
August 3 (Thurs)- 5(Sat):         International Meeting (Hiroshima)
Aug. 5(Sat):     Exchange Forum for Citizens and Overseas Delegates
Aug. 6(Sun):    Hiroshima Day Rally
Aug. 7 (Mon):  Move from Hiroshima to Nagasaki
Opening Plenary, World Conference – Nagasaki
Aug. 8(Tues):  International Forum / Workshops
Aug. 9(Wed):   Closing Plenary, World Conference – Nagasaki

 

One Response

  1. Reverend Sir,
    Conveying from the core of my heart the sincere respect. Having come to learn that your honor is going to undertake an auspicious and very important World Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs”, in the month of August’2017.
    World’s most abominable occurrence took place at the time of 2nd World War, where Hiroshima and Nagasaki was massacred by the brutal and crucial Nuclear Weapon, which is heart-bending.However, If I get the opportunity to participate in such an important program and to pray for them who lost the life, I shall be highly grateful.

    With Best Regards
    SRAMAN KANAN RATAN
    Sri Pragnananda Maha Privena 80, Nagaha
    Watta Road,
    Maharagama 10280,
    Sri Lanka.

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