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Hiroshima Declaration

The following is the text of the Declaration adopted at the International Meeting of the 2005 World Conference against A & H Bombs on August 4:

60 Years Since he Atomic Bombing:

Time to Develop Actions and cooperation for a Nuclear Weapon-Free, Peaceful, and Just World

In August 1945, two nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the U.S. instantly devastated the two cities, killing over 200,000 people by the end of that year, and leaving many surviving Hibakusha tormented both mentally and physically. It was a crime against humanity and raised the alarm of annihilation of humankind. Henceforth humans have had to struggle for their own survival. In the 60 years since then, Hibakusha, amidst their own suffering, have made an appeal, "Humans cannot co-exist with nuclear weapons." This call developed into a global demand for the abolition of nuclear weapons, that prevented the outbreak of nuclear war many times.

Assembled at the 2005 World Conference against A & H Bombs, joined by a record number of 264 overseas delegates from 29 countries, we take this 60th anniversary to renew our call to the citizens of the world to respond to the Hibakusha's wishes and in solidarity renew their determination to achieve a peaceful world free of nuclear weapons.

Despite public opinion calling for nuclear weapons to be abolished, 30,000 nuclear weapons are still deployed or stockpiled, jeopardizing human survival. With its policies and behavior the nuclear superpower, U.S.A. has given rise to strong protests in every corner of the world.

At the NPT Review Conference held in May 2005, the U.S. government, using the emerging "threats" of "terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction," refused to honor the "unequivocal undertaking" to eliminate nuclear weapons and other disarmament agreements, the commitment to the renunciation of the use of nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states, and the commitment to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.

Having persisted in its commitment to attack in dire disregard of worldwide opposition, the Bush Administration continues the policy of responding to "new threats" with pre-emptive attacks. By inciting fear to these "threats," it is pressing the international community to help carry out U.S.-initiated war. It is developing "usable nuclear weapons," promoting the first strike related "Missile Defense" program and weaponization of outer space, and reinforcing its nuclear weapons monopoly ostensibly to counter "proliferation."

This U.S. policy is based on dangerous unilateralism that undermines the U.N. Charter and other international law and agreements. The aim is to control the world by its overwhelming nuclear supremacy and monstrously swollen military power. But as seen in the continuing war and quagmire in Iraq and the spread of terrorism throughout the world, tihs so-called "solution" only aggravates the problems of terrorism and nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction. Thwarting the nuclear superpower's move to rule the world through military power, the international community must hold to the universal principle of resolving international conflicts through peaceful means and earnestly pursuing the abolition of nuclear weapons. This should apply to the efforts tot make the Korean Peninsula and the Middle East/West Asia zones free of nuclear weapons.

In this 60th anniversary, the voices and actions of he people of the world for nuclear weapon-free and peaceful world have gathered momentum in defiance of persistent backlash: cooperation and solidarity developed as demonstrated in the major New York Action on the eve of the NPT Review Conference. In addition to the efforts made by the Mayors for Peace, Nuclear Weapon-Free Zones Countries, the Non-Aligned Movement and the New Agenda Coalition, support for the implementation of the "unequivocal undertaking" to eliminate nuclear weapons is gaining ground among countries affiliated with military alliances. The world's NGOs and both local and national governments are increasing their cooperation, leadership and initiatives.

In order to restore peace and security to the world, we must accelerate this positive trend. We will strengthen the movement to demand a total ban and the elimination of nuclear weapons, the movement to establish a peaceful order based on the U.N. Charter, international law and reason in opposition to the use of force, and the movement to create a just world without poverty, discrimination, suppression of human rights and environmental destruction. We will build solidarity between all these movements respecting their diversity.

Today, the world is looking to Japan as the only nation that has suffered from the use ofnuclear weapons in war, and that has a Constitution prohibiting the use of force and the possession of war potentials. The government of Japan, while talking about the elimination of nuclear weapons, actually seeks security provided by the U.S. "nuclear umbrella." It cooperates in the reorganization and strengthening of U.S. military bases in Japan, in line with the U.S. pre-emptive attack policy, and in "Missile Defense" deployment. It even supports the policy of using nuclear weapons as "part of deterrence." Also, we are witnessing the Self-Defense Forces' increasing deployment abroad, ongoing preparation for war, the eulogizing of Japan's past wars, and further, the possible revision of the Constitution. These moves as arousing deep concern and anger especially among the peoples of Asia.

The world wants Japan to honor its pacifist Constitution and Three Non-Nuclear Principles (not to possess, produce or allow introduction of nuclear weapons) in resolving international conflicts through peaceful means and abolishing nuclear weapons. Facing the moves to negate these, we in the World Conference express our warmest support for and solidarity with the people of Japan in their opposition to the revision of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which has pioneering significance for world peace.

Let us make the 60th year since he bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the 50th year of the Word Conference against A & H Bombs a turning point to achieve a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world.

The United Nations, having declared as its purpose to save humanity from the scourge of war and pledged in its First Resolution to eliminate nuclear arms, must play a unique and vital role to free humanity from the threat of nuclear weapons. We call on all U.N. ember states to make special efforts so that the U.N. Summit in September 2005 and the General Assembly session that follows, will open a path to achieve without delay a treaty totally banning and eliminating nuclear weapons. To this end, let us start a major campaign in the nuclear powers and their allies to press the governments to fulfill their obligation to abolish nuclear weapons. As the 55th Pugwash Conference on Science and World Affairs held in Hiroshima on the eve of this World Conference pointed out, we must firmly convince the public of the fact that "the security of each is best served by concluding a Nuclear Weapons Convention prohibiting such weapons."

The anti-nuclear and peace movement has been a driving force to expand and strengthen the current for the abolition of nuclear weapons in world politics. We must rally the broader public through grassroots campaigns, invigorate anti-nuclear peace forces in each country, and develop worldwide solidarity and joint actions. Let us stage a variety of activities all over the world, including signature campaigns to demand the abolition of nuclear weapons, placing opinion ads in newspapers, peace marches, seminars ad discussion meetings, grassroots actions on August 6 and 9, A-bomb photo exhibitions and events to listen to the Hibakusha testimonies. In support of the Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and nuclear victims in different countries, let us promote international solidarity and exchanges, calling on the people of the world to take action for nuclear weapons abolition and the creation of a culture of peace.

In this 60th year, by reaffirming the historical significance of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and confirming that the abolition of nuclear weapons is essential for the survival of humanity, let us develop voluntary, grassroots movements on every continent and all around the world. Aiming at a peaceful world without nuclear weapons and wars, let us encourage young people to take action, create new hope and build up these massive movements.