2003 World Conference a chance to develop movement for a world free of nuclear weapons and wars

With the 2003 World Conference against A and H Bombs a month away, Akahata of July 1 carried an interview with Takakusagi Hiroshi, general secretary of the Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo), focusing on the tasks of this year's world conference. Takakusagi's remarks are as follows:

The theme for the 2003 World Conference is, "A world free of nuclear weapons and wars now". We understand that the elimination of nuclear weapons is an important task inseparable from the issue of world peace, and put forward the task concerning world peace in the 21st century, a task that has been much discussed in relation to the U.S. attack on Iraq.

Opinion for peace can influence politics

The World Conference will be held in the aftermath of a great experience the world had in standing against the U.S. Bush administration's unilateral violence. International opinion expressed opposition to the war on an unheard-of scale.

Some people argue that the United Nations is powerless and peace movements have broken down, but the fact is that world opinion for peace has influenced politics; in United Nations Security Council meetings, an overwhelming majority called for a peaceful resolution. The armed attack by the U.S. and British forces is nothing less than a result of their diplomatic failure and isolation.

The United Nations was established to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war", and its Charter is focused on solving international disputes peacefully. A majority of governments defended this position, as did 70 or 80 percent of citizens in every country. In this I find the strength that will help achieve a peaceful 21st century without nuclear weapons and wars.

The war against Iraq was started under the pretext of the need to get rid of Iraq's weapons of mass destruction, and even the possible use of nuclear weapons was indicated time and again. Against this background, calls for nuclear weapons to be abolished increased.

The Bush administration argues that terrorists need to be dealt with by preemptive attacks. It also named Iraq, Iran, North Korea, and China as possible targets of its nuclear attacks, giving rise to concerns among governments that the U.S. Bush administration may use nuclear weapons.

However, such lawlessness has only led to the further isolation of the U.S. Bush administration. In the recent conference concerning the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, participating governments, including Canada, a U.S. ally, criticized the Bush administration's policy of possible nuclear attacks on non-nuclear countries and called for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

In Britain and other countries, "the great cause" of the Iraq war is being called into question. In contrast, the Koizumi government is playing a loyal lieutenant to President Bush by trying to rush a bill through parliament to send the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq.

Stop Japan from being used as U.S. nuclear strategic base

Ostensibly in preparation for emergencies, the government is pushing ahead with an arms buildup. It has approved nuclear-capable U.S. warships to enter Japanese ports and used the force of parliamentary majority to get the "contingency legislation" enacted. All this clearly shows how Japan's government is going against the world current for the abolition of nuclear weapons and for peace.

The struggle to prevent Japan from being used as a stronghold for U.S. preemptive strikes has an important bearing on peace in Asia.

The question of North Korea's nuclear development program is another source of public concern. We of course are strongly opposed to North Korea's nuclear development program. Its idea of countering the U.S. nuclear threat with a nuclear development program is completely anachronistic; it will only make itself further alienated from the international community.

On this question, we also want to discharge our responsibilities as the Japanese movement against A & H Bombs and peace movements demanding that the Japanese government seriously seek a peaceful solution to the question of North Korea's nuclear program.

Government representatives to take part in global solidarity

In addition to the world's demand for the abolition of nuclear weapons, international calls for no war and the defense of the U.N. rules for peace have increased. The major task now is to develop this voice into a movement with a clear vision of realizing a world free of war and nuclear weapons.

That gives rise to high expectations toward this year's World Conference. Representatives of the non-aligned movement and New Agenda group countries will join us again. The World Conference will also be attended by U.S. and British anti-nuclear group members who led the movement against the Iraq war as well as delegates from Asian countries, including young Koreans and other activists struggling against the U.S.-led globalization.

Domestic efforts are also increasing rapidly to bring the World Conference to a success by organizing as many participants as possible. Young people who stood firm against the Iraq war are carrying out activities calling on other young people to learn about the world at the World Conference. Some of them are organizing a low-cost bus trip to Nagasaki to make it easier for young people to participate in the event.

The 2003 World Conference against A & H Bombs will be the place where people in Japan and from all over the world talk about their ideas and experiences and discuss ways to achieve world peace in the 21st century. I hope the 2003 World Conference will bring fresh hope for the future and generate energy for further grassroots struggles and global solidarity. (end)