August 7, 2019
On August 6, the day marking 74 years since the U.S. atomic bombing of Hiroshima, about 1,300 people, including 86 overseas delegates from 21 countries, took part in the Hiroshima Day rally and resolved to strengthen international joint actions in preparation for the 2020 NPT Review Conference and to create a turning point in the anti-nuclear weapons movement.
The Hiroshima Day rally headlined the 2019 World Conference against A and H Bombs and related events in Hiroshima. The annual world conference will end on August 9 in Nagasaki with its main rally.
Tomita Koji, the head of the World Conference drafting committee, delivered the report on behalf of the World Conference organizers and said that as stated in the Declaration of the International Meeting, it is necessary to work hard to make the year 2020 a “historic turning point to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons”.
Representing Hibakusha, Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Nihon Hidankyo) representative director Mimaki Tomoyuki appeared on the stage. He pointed out that the average age of A-bomb survivors, now numbering less than 50,000, is 82 years old. He expressed his hope for the development of various actions by younger generations aiming at establishing a world without nuclear weapons. He said that the boosting of the international signature campaign in support of the “Appeal of the Hibakusha of Hiroshima & Nagasaki for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons” will be a main driving force for putting the UN nuclear weapons ban treaty into practice.
Government representatives from Austria and Cuba gave speeches in solidarity. An Austrian diplomat emphasized the importance of making continuous efforts to have the antinuke UN treaty enter into force and to finally achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons.
A message in solidary from Hiroshima City Mayor Matsui Kazumi was read out.
Past related article:
> 2019 World Conference will give momentum to anti-nuke movement in run-up to key events in 2020 [July 22, 2019]
