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Declaration of the International Meeting
2004 World Conference against A and H Bombs
Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, Now -- Call for Worldwide
Action and Solidarity
Assembled in Hiroshima, the first victim city in history to experience
the tragedy of nuclear attack, we call on the people of the world
to rise in action together to eliminate all nuclear weapons from
the earth.
The Atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945
instantly ruined the two cities, killed over 200,000 people by the
end of the year and are now consuming lives, minds and livelihood
of the surviving victims even now, 59 years later. The movement
for the elimination of nuclear weapons has spread worldwide in response
to the call of the Hibakusha that the humans cannot coexist with
nuclear weapons. It has prevented the use of nuclear weapons many
times over. Nevertheless, about 30,000 nuclear arms are still deployed
and stockpiled around the world. Getting rid of this threat is an
urgent duty.
With the deepening concern about the war on Iraq and its implications,
the dangers of actual use of nuclear arms and about nuclear proliferation,
the demand for the implementation of the “unequivocal undertaking”
to accomplish the elimination of nuclear weapons, agreed upon by
the nuclear weapons states at the 2000 NPT Review Conference, is
gathering momentum. Nuclear powers, however, are resisting this
call.
The US Bush administration, in particular, is going against this
undertaking. It promotes the so-called “preemptive attack” strategy,
which includes the use of nuclear weapons as an option. The aim
is to impose an “order of force”, even by using force to overthrow
governments that refuse to comply with the US dominance under the
cover of “countering terrorism”, or removing “the danger of the
proliferation of WMD”. On the other hand, it is not only maintaining
its own massive nuclear arsenals, but it is also engaging in the
research and development of “mini-nukes” and other “usable” nuclear
weapons, as well as the possibility of resuming underground nuclear
tests. As evidenced by the war on Iraq, the policy of “rule of force”
is posing an actual new threat to our world in the 21st century.
If a nuclear superpower attempts to dictate to the world by force
with its nuclear arsenals, the principles of the UN Charter on the
peaceful solution of international conflicts and equality between
nations will be completely destroyed. However, the unlawful war
on Iraq and the subsequent occupation have met the concerted voice
of “NO!” from the overwhelming majority of people around the world
and of many governments. Diverse movements for a new world order
based on peace and justice are in progress. As proved by this development,
our time is no longer one where the outrages like the ones above
can prevail.
Now is the time to take action to create a peaceful world without
nuclear weapons. Let us prevent the use or threat of nuclear weapons
and demand that the abolition of nuclear weapons be fulfilled. This
will open a way to the fundamental resolution of the danger of the
new development or proliferation of nuclear weapons. The six-party
talks on North Korea’s nuclear weapons program is an example that
shows that the peaceful resolution of the problem of nuclear weapons
development is possible.
Among the US allies and the nuclear weapons states, some actions
have been taken recently in favor of the effort for peace and the
abolition of nuclear weapons. Further progress is possible if the
grassroots movements, NGOs, and national and local governments develop
their cooperation to reach this goal, while fulfilling their own
roles. We call on all peace-loving people of the world to join actions
to accomplish the abolition of nuclear weapons, on which the survival
of the human race depends. Such developments will help to accelerate
the process of establishing world peace and security based on the
UN Charter.
Learning from the past war of aggression and from the experience
of the A-bomb tragedies, Japan has upheld pacifism and the non-nuclear
weapons principle. The current move towards the revision of the
Constitution and the review of the “Three Non-nuclear principles”
is causing deep concern among the peoples of Asia and the rest of
the world. At a time when the resolution of international disputes
by peaceful means is most needed, the revision of the peace Constitution,
which laid the renunciation of war as Japan’s basic principle and
gave Japan an internationally playing a pioneering role, will run
counter to the major direction of the development in Asia and the
world.
The background of this move is a campaign to make Japan, under
the Japan-US military alliance, take an active part in US initiated
wars. This would lead to further consolidation of Japan as a base
for nuclear blackmail and nuclear attack. It is vital for peace
in Asia and the rest of the world that Japan retain its peace Constitution
and that the “Three Non-Nuclear Principles” continue to play an
active role so that the only A-bombed country can lead in achieving
the elimination of nuclear weapons.
Towards the NPT Review Conference in May 2005 and further to the
60th year of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies in August of the
same year, let us build up momentum in both the peace movement and
public opinion with the common slogan: “Abolition of Nuclear Weapons,
Now!” The initiative of the Mayors for Peace, which proposes a major
action in New York on May 1 and a variety of other actions are already
in place. We support these initiatives aimed at abolition, and call
for global action in solidarity to reach our common goal.
We demand that the nuclear weapons states, both declared and undeclared,
make plans for the abolition of their nuclear arsenals and set about
implementing them without any further delay, doing away with the
use or threat or development of nuclear weapons. We call on all
governments to put forth every effort to negotiate an international
agreement for the abolition of nuclear weapons. We further urge
that they vote in support of the resolutions that call for the elimination
of nuclear weapons in the coming session of the UN General Assembly,
thus renewing the determination for abolition and taking concrete
steps toward it. The “nuclear umbrella” should be renounced and
nuclear weapons deployed in foreign territories must be removed.
Let us develop the signature campaign in support of the call: “Abolition
of Nuclear Weapons, Now - Let there be no more Hiroshimas and no
more Nagasakis”, initiated by the 2003 World Conference and widely
supported by many people, organizations and government leaders.
Towards the 2005 NPT Review Conference, let us build many creative
actions all around the world, including joint presentation of signatures
and peace marches.
The course of the 21st century will be determined by the actions
of people supported by the world public opinion. Grassroots actions
in each country are the key. Let us strengthen our solidarity with
the Hibakusha of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the victims of the Bikini
test and other nuclear victims in the world. Let us create a global
movement to make 2005, the 60th year of the atomic bombing, a year
of international action to achieve a decisive turn toward liberating
humanity from the horror of nuclear weapons.
August 4, 2004
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