Lively discussions held

Thousands of participants, including overseas delegates, in the 2002 World Conference against A and H Bombs-Hiroshima attended 11 workshops and two special forums on August 5 to discuss concrete actions toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.

A workshop on "U.S. nuclear strategy and Japan" discussed the danger of the U.S. Bush administration's policy of not hesitating to use nuclear weapons. Many speakers pointed out the need to further develop grassroots movements to prevent Japan from being used in U.S. nuclear wars.

In a workshop devoted to the issues of "terrorism, retaliatory war, and contingency legislation," many participants said that it is necessary not to allow U.S. military bases in Japan to be used as forward bases for U.S. preemptive attacks. The call for U.S. bases to be closed down and contingency legislation to be completely scrapped emerged as two urgent demands.

A participant from Kyoto said that a temple put up a sign stating that it is opposed to either terrorism or retaliatory wars, and that people can visit free of charge.

Special forums

One of the two special forums was devoted to "cooperation between non-nuclear weapons governments and NGOs." Delegates from Egypt, Malaysia, Bangladesh, and South Africa, with people representing NGOs in Japan, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka attended. Through the discussion, the forum realized that it is necessary to strengthen partnerships toward nuclear weapons abolition between non-nuclear weapon governments involved in international politics and NGOs. Romesh Chandra, honorary president of the World Peace Council, said that based on his experience of working in NGOs such partnerships should be substantive and mutual.

The other special program was a discussion of the role of municipalities in achieving nuclear abolition. The meeting came to an understanding that city, town and village municipalities have a role in defending self-government and play an active part in protecting people by calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. A representative of Yamato City (hosting the U.S. Atsugi Base) reported that the mayor, who was a conservative, was angered at the inaction of the central government and himself negotiated with the U.S. forces and had the noise-ridden exercise stopped. (end)