March 1, 2021
The Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) on February 28 held its annual March 1 Bikini Day National Rally via a web-conferencing app under the banner, “Let us work to achieve a nuclear weapons-free world using the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) as leverage!”
March 1 of this year marked the 67th anniversary of the Bikini tragedy in which Japanese fishing boats and their crewmembers in addition to Marshall islanders were showered with radioactive fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll.
Speaking on behalf of the organizer, President of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) Obata Masako referred to the entry into force of the antinuke UN treaty in January. She said, “The Japanese government should listen to the demands of the general public, including Hibakusha, and take a step in the direction of ratifying the TPNW.”
Gensuikyo Secretary General Yasui Masakazu delivered the keynote speech and called on all peace-loving people in the world to launch an action in solidarity to press their governments to sign and ratify the UN treaty. Yasui also said, “In Japan, with the promotion of a signature-collection campaign which was launched to push the Japanese government to sign and ratify the TPNW, let us increase public opinion to overwhelmingly support this call.”
Initiators of this signature-collection campaign Hosei University Professor Yamaguchi Jiro and the famous music critic and lyricist Yukawa Reiko delivered speeches in solidarity. After that, overseas activists spoke in solidarity.
From the U.S., Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, expressed his determination to use the organization’s network to push the U.S. government to sign and ratify the nuclear weapons ban treaty. Kim Jinyoung of a South Korean social movement organization, People’s Solidarity for Social Progress, said if her country and Japan participate in the TPNW, this will give strength and momentum to the movement calling for turning Northeast Asia into a peaceful, nuclear weapons-free regions. Chair of the UK “Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Dave Webb said, “More than half of British citizens want our government to take part in the TPNW. The CND is lobbying MPs to support the treaty.”
Past related article:
> 1st step toward a world without nuclear weapons taken [January 23 & 24, 2021]
> JCP welcomes entry into force of UN Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons [January 23, 2021]
March 1 of this year marked the 67th anniversary of the Bikini tragedy in which Japanese fishing boats and their crewmembers in addition to Marshall islanders were showered with radioactive fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll.
Speaking on behalf of the organizer, President of the National Confederation of Trade Unions (Zenroren) Obata Masako referred to the entry into force of the antinuke UN treaty in January. She said, “The Japanese government should listen to the demands of the general public, including Hibakusha, and take a step in the direction of ratifying the TPNW.”
Gensuikyo Secretary General Yasui Masakazu delivered the keynote speech and called on all peace-loving people in the world to launch an action in solidarity to press their governments to sign and ratify the UN treaty. Yasui also said, “In Japan, with the promotion of a signature-collection campaign which was launched to push the Japanese government to sign and ratify the TPNW, let us increase public opinion to overwhelmingly support this call.”
Initiators of this signature-collection campaign Hosei University Professor Yamaguchi Jiro and the famous music critic and lyricist Yukawa Reiko delivered speeches in solidarity. After that, overseas activists spoke in solidarity.
From the U.S., Ralph Hutchison, coordinator of The Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance, expressed his determination to use the organization’s network to push the U.S. government to sign and ratify the nuclear weapons ban treaty. Kim Jinyoung of a South Korean social movement organization, People’s Solidarity for Social Progress, said if her country and Japan participate in the TPNW, this will give strength and momentum to the movement calling for turning Northeast Asia into a peaceful, nuclear weapons-free regions. Chair of the UK “Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Dave Webb said, “More than half of British citizens want our government to take part in the TPNW. The CND is lobbying MPs to support the treaty.”
Past related article:
> 1st step toward a world without nuclear weapons taken [January 23 & 24, 2021]
> JCP welcomes entry into force of UN Treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons [January 23, 2021]
