Almost 60 years have slipped by since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Many people still suffer from the aftereffect of the atomic bomb now. Recently, although we Hibakusha suffer from deep wound both mental and physical, we have acted hoping such a tragedy will never happen again and appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons all over the world. Since the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki although we have faced many crises, the use of nuclear weapons by the superpowers' has been prevented. This is a result of our continuous appeals. Our movement has paid off and it has also played a great role to ensure world peace for people in the future. The 20th century, after called the "Century of War" has finished and we who love peace and hope for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons, have dreamed that a truly peaceful 21st century will come.
However, the 9.11 attack, the war of retaliation against Afghanistan and the war in Iraq horribly trampled our appeals for world peace. Furthermore, in regard to the other so-called "axis of evil" countries, we are very concerned about the extraordinary responses being bandied about by the parties to the debate about preventing the development of nuclear weapons. We must firmly demand that all nations get rid of their past Cold War ideas of threatening the very existence of the human race by developing and possessing nuclear weapons. As long as nuclear weapons exist, there would be no peace for human in the future and no guarantee of a safe future for our children.
We not only have to spread the message of the tragedy of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki appeal the criminality of nuclear weapons. We also have to propose clear detailed ways to abolish nuclear weapons and have the will power to implement them..
Today, I would like to state my hope that this conference will help to convey our feelings to every corner of the world and that it will encourage "peace loving people" to act together.