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2018 February 21 - 27 [PEACE]

Rally calls for remembering Bikini tragedy and demands abolition of nuclear weapons

The Daigo Fukuryu Maru Peace Association on February 24 held a rally in Tokyo with the aim of commemorating the tragedy of the 1954 U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The Daigo Fukuryu Maru association operates a facility exhibiting to the public the tuna-fishing boat, Daigo Fukuryu Maru (Lucky Dragon #5), which was exposed to radiation fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test on March 1, 1954.

Delivering a speech on behalf of the organizer, Yamamoto Yoshihiko, representative director of the association, said, “This year’s Bikini Day events will take place following the adoption of the UN treaty banning nuclear weapons which opened a new era. Under this circumstance, we need to pass on the first hand stories regarding the tragedy to the younger generations.”

Former Daigo Fukuryu Maru crewmember Oishi Matashichi and Brooke Takala Abraham, a resident of the Eniwetok Atoll in the Republic of Marshal Islands, spoke as panelists.

Abraham reported on the islanders’ continuing sufferings caused by the U.S. H-bomb tests, such as soil and fish contamination and little or no access to necessary medical services.

Oishi explained why he began to speak about his story by saying, “I became aware of a need to eliminate nuclear weapons through the fact that despite the death of Daigo Fukuryu Maru crew, a large number of nuclear weapons have been deployed worldwide.”

Citing North Korea’s nuclear weapons and missile development and the U.S. new nuclear posture review, Oishi expressed his determination to continue to talk his experiences.

Past related articles:
> Grassroots efforts launched under US occupation lead to N-ban treaty: peace activist [December 15, 2017]
> Bikini Day rally resolves to work for success of NWC [March 1, 2017]