Japan Press Weekly

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2007 August 1 - 21 [ANTI-N-ARMS]

Hiroshima Appeal

Give back my father, give back my mother;
Give grandpa back, grandma back;
Give my sons and daughters back.
Give me back myself,
Give back the human race.
As long as this life lasts, this life,
Give back peace
That will never end.
An Anthology of A-Bomb Poems, Toge Sankichi

At 8:15 on 6 August 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. It completely destroyed the city and claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people within the next few months. It left those who narrowly escaped death with deep scars on their bodies, minds, and lives, scars which continue even after sixty-two years. The voices of Hibakusha, demanding “No more Hibakushas” and “Abolish nuclear weapons,” has merged into world opinion, and an overwhelming majority of governments also call for the same demands.

As a country that has suffered nuclear destruction and that has constitutionally renounced war, Japan should strictly observe its Three Non-Nuclear Principles: not to possess, not to produce, and not to allow nuclear weapons to be brought into its territory, and should take a leading role in the international community in pursuit of the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The recent string of official statements advocating Japan’s nuclear armament have enraged Hibakusha and the public, and public indignation forced the Minister of Defense to resign when his said that the dropping of atomic bombs could not have been avoided. The Abe administration tries to justify Japan’s past war of aggression, pushes to revise the Constitution, cooperates with the U.S. in reorganizing and transforming U.S. military bases in Japan, vigorously pursuing its efforts to turn Japan into a country that will “wage war with the U.S.”

Now is the time for us to make great strides in our movement. Let us reinforce our grassroots actions and expand our cooperation to achieve a nuclear weapons-free, peaceful, and just world, and a nuclear-free and peaceful Japan where Article 9 of the Constitution prevails.

The movements for the abolition of nuclear weapons are now rising to intensify their actions with the 2010 NPT Review Conference approaching. Let us urge the United Nations and all its member states, especially the nuclear possessing states, to take actions towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and to adopt resolutions for the commencement of negotiations on a convention totally banning all nuclear weapons.

Let us multiply our efforts to promote the signature campaign “For the Swift Abolition of Nuclear Weapons” in our communities, places of work, and school campuses, and let us expand it across the world.

Let us develop the campaign for a Declaration of a Nuclear Weapon-Free Japan, with which Japan will commit itself to the abolition of nuclear weapons and to the strict observation of the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, into a nationwide campaign, especially targeting local assembly sessions which start in September.

Let us strengthen nationwide actions and cooperation for the defense of Article 9, a world treasure, with all our might. Let us oppose the ongoing realignment and build-up of U.S. military bases in Japan, an effort integral to U.S. policies of preemptive strike and of the use of nuclear weapons. Let us work in solidarity and support of those struggling against the military build-up in Okinawa, in Iwakuni, in Yokosuka, and in many other places. Let us urge the government to withdraw the Japanese military forces from Iraq and the Indian Ocean.

Let us mobilize nationwide support for victory in Hibakusha lawsuits and for a drastic change of the government A-bomb disease recognition policies. Let us listen to Hibakusha’s testimonies, inherit their messages, and pass them on to others and to future generations. To that end, let us organize A-bomb photo exhibitions, disseminate A-bomb photo panels, and hold film screenings, theater productions, musical performances, and other cultural events. Let us work to preserve the A-bomb ruins, as a reminder of A-bomb destruction for future generations.

We will move forward to achieve the goal of creating a peaceful and just world without nuclear weapons and without war together with Hibakusha, younger generations and seasoned generations holding hands.

No more Hiroshimas! No more Nagasakis! No more Hibakushas! No more War!