At 11:02 on August 9, 1945, a U.S. atomic bomb exploded on the sky of Nagasaki, a town of ancient history and culture. Within a few seconds the people were assaulted with ferocious heat, the blast and radiation generated from the bomb, and by the end of the year 70,000 people were deprived of their lives. The bomb left incurable wounds to the body and mind of those who survived the initial death. It also left insurmountable hardships in their lives.
"Never again must we let that tragedy happen!" -- The cry of Hibakusha who had seen the hell on earth has since become a call and a movement for the abolition of nuclear weapons and a source of determination and courage for people in building a peaceful world. Today, despite such a call, the United States contemplates the use of nuclear weapons and pre-emptive attacks and this is threatening the world with the possibility of another Nagasaki and Hiroshima. Such a perilous policy cannot be left to take its own course any longer. Let us join hands with the unprecedented scale of actions taken against war on Iraq and promote cooperation with like-minded governments of the world now in building a peaceful world without nuclear weapons and without war, where the rule of world peace set forth by the U.N. Charter is duly observed.
Let us learn the contents of the Declaration of the International Meeting of the 2003 World Conference against A & H Bombs, to gain force for further cooperation and much stronger grass-roots actions for the abolition of nuclear weapons.
1) The Conference has proposed a new signature drive, "Abolish Nuclear Weapons Now! Let there be no more Hiroshimas and no more Nagasakis", which calls for no use, threat to use nor development of nuclear weapons, and immediate steps for their abolition. Let us carry out this campaign across Japan and in the world to make 2005, the 60th year of the atomic bombing, a turning point for a world without nuclear weapons. Based on achievements in our previous signature campaigns let us gather creative ideas and energy for the new campaign.
2) The government of Japan is turning its back on the efforts for the abolition of nuclear weapons in such an international political arena as the United Nations. Let us urge the government to take strong initiatives toward the goal, as worthy of the government of a country that suffered the a-bomb attacks. Let us urge the government to strictly observe the Three Non-Nuclear Principles of not to possess, not to manufacture, and not to allow the bringing in of nuclear weapons, and to write them into law. Let us urge the government to disclose and cancel its "secret" nuclear agreements with the United States. Let us call on the government to promote policies for the establishment of and substantiating nuclear-free municipalities and to insure that our ports and airports are nuclear-weapon free.
3) In order not to turn Japan into a country that wages war, let us multiply our efforts to prevent the invocation of the law on dispatching the Japanese Self Defense Forces to Iraq and the law on contingencies. We must stop adverse revisions of the Fundamental Law of Education and the Constitution of Japan. We are strongly against North Korea's development of nuclear weapons. We call for peaceful resolution through negotiations of the problem.
4) We oppose the plans for a new U.S. military base in Nago, Okinawa and the build-up of the U.S. Navy base in Sasebo, Nagasaki as well as the consolidation of other U.S. military bases that are taking place across Japan. We demand drastic revisions of the U.S.-Japan Agreement on the Status of U.S. Military Forces in Japan and reduction and withdrawal of U.S. bases in Japan. Let us work to build public opinion in support of the abrogation of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.
5) Let us make known the real effects of the atomic bombing to the people in Japan and the world. Let us organize A-bomb exhibitions and promote the campaigns of recording and passing down stories of Hibakusha to future generations and for the preservation of A-bomb ruins. Let us support the concerted A-bomb lawsuits of Hibakusha in which they seek official recognition of their A-bomb diseases. In March 2004, in commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Bikini Hydrogen bomb testing, various events will be organized. Let us work for their success and strengthen our solidarity and friendship with nuclear victims of the world.
A number of youth in Japan and from other parts of the world made a great contribution to the success of the World Conference. This moved us and gave us hope for future. Let us work together with the young people to make the movement against A & H bombs stronger and more creative.
For the dignity and survival of humanity, let us act now to realize a future full of hope where there are no nuclear weapons.
No More Nagasakis! No More Hiroshimas! No More Hibakusha!
Aug. 9, 2003
The 2003 World Conference against A & H Bombs - Nagasaki