Make a big wave for nuclear-free world: World Conference-Nagasaki

The 2003 World Conference against A & H Bombs-Nagasaki called for a new signature campaign, "Abolish Nuclear Weapons Now! Let there be no more Hiroshimas and no more Nagasakis" in order to create a great wave demanding a nuclear-free world toward 2005, the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Proposing the new campaign, steering committee representative Takakusagi Hiroshi (Secretary-general of the Japan Council against A & H Bombs) at the closing plenary stated that it is to urge nuclear states to immediately eliminate their nuclear weapons as well as other countries to work for realization of an international agreement for the abolition of such weapons. (See separate item.)

In 12 workshops and other related events throughout the 3 days, participants in the World Conference discussed ways to get nuclear weapons abolished.

Discussions at a forum on August 8, "Dialogue between NGOs and Government Representatives of Non-nuclear Weapons States - Linking the grassroots with international politics," were participated in by Egyptian Ambassador Mahmoud Karem, Bangladeshi Counselor Mahbub-uz-Zaman, and Kete Dewes from the Peace Foundation.

From Hokkaido to Okinawa, more than 7,000 people took part in the World Conference. Nearly 60 percent of them were young people. (end)