6.9 million signatures submitted to UN

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

6.9 million signatures submitted to UN

A ceremony to submit signatures calling for a world without nuclear weapons took place in front of the U.N. Headquarters in New York City on May 2, the eve of the NPT Review Conference.

On behalf of global pacifist organizations committed to the signature drive, Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) Representative Director Sawada Shoji and New Japan Women’s Association (Shinfujin) Secretary General Yonezawa Atsuko handed a total of 6,901,037 signatures signatures to United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Sergio Duarte and President-elect of the NPT Review Conference Libran N. Cabactulan.

These U.N. representatives waited for the submitters to reach the UN HQs, the end point of a parade in which these Japanese pacifists were participating.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki city mayors, Akiba Tadatoshi and Taue Tomihisa, also handed to them the “Hiroshima Nagasaki Protocol” complementary to the NPT for achieving a nuclear-weapon-free world by 2020.

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Ten of thousands of peace and anti-nuclear weapon activists from around the world, including 100 Hibakusha from Japan, participated in an “International Day of Action” held on May 2.

More than 10,000 people participated in a rally which took place between the 42nd Street and 38th Street on Broadway Avenue.

Hiroshima Hibakusha Kimura Hisako started her speech by saying, “My father was killed in the atomic bombing in an instant. I want him back.” As she called on the crowd to not repeat the same tragedy and establish a world without nuclear weapons and without wars, she got a big round of applause and cheers.

The participants after the rally marched in demonstration from Times Square towards the Hammarskjoid Plaza at the east end of 47th Street. The marchers walked with colorful peace posters, placards, and banners. Some even danced and played drums and music, attracting many New Yorkers as well as tourists.

- Akahata, May 4, 2010