 Japanese anti-nuclear group visits New Zealand pacifists Japan's Association for a Non-Nuclear Government visited the New Zealand cities of Wellington and Auckland from October 31 to November 5 to learn more about the non-nuclear policy and movements in New Zealand. The visiting party was composed of ten members headed by Horiba Hideya, a pediatrician and an advisor of the Japanese Medical and Dental Practitioners for Improvement of Medical Care. In meetings with New Zealand parliamentarians, scholars, trade union executives, and grassroots peace activists, they exchanged ideas and opinions on activities in preparation for the 60th anniversary of the A-bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty Review Conference next year. They also discussed how to make progress in the effort to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons. Legal scholar Andrew Ladley, who was involved in drafting the Nuclear-Free Act established by the New Zealand government in 1987, emphasized that the Act was built by reflecting on the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He also said that it drew upon the "Nuclear-Free Kobe Formula" that requires foreign warships to submit a certificate that they are not carrying nuclear weapons when entering Kobe Port. Speaker of the New Zealand Parliament, Jonathan Hunt stressed the necessity of grassroots activities toward nuclear disarmament and commended efforts in A-bombed Japan. Former President of the U.N. Security Council, Terrence O'Brien expressed his expectation for Japan to fulfill a role appropriate to an A-bombed nation in the field of nuclear disarmament. (end) |