2001 Action Program
73rd National Council Meeting
Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo)
February 3 - 4, 2001, Tokyo
I. Domestic and International Prospect for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons
1. International Joint Action for Realization of Nuclear Abolition
4. Relief for and Solidarity with the Hibakusha and Nuclear Victims of the World
With the dawn of the 21st century, the world abounds with people's determination to make this century an era of the hope, free from the threat of extinction by nuclear weapons.
In 55 years, after the Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-bombings, the goal of nuclear weapons abolition is an urgent task, which Japan Gensuikyo and the World Conference against A and H Bombs have consistently pursued with the Hibakusha hoping "never to repeat the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki". It has now become a fundamental current in the world's anti-nuclear movements as well as an assertion of the overwhelming majority of nations in the international political arena. With the nuclear monopoly regime established by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) facing a serious deadlock, "an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals" was agreed on at the NPT Review Conference held in May last year. This agreement was confirmed with overwhelming support at the U.N. Millennium General Assembly. Behind these decisions were the world people's call for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the international anti-nuclear initiatives taken at governmental level, such as by the countries of the New Agenda group, the Non-Aligned Movement and nuclear weapon-free zones.
In those circumstances, the achievement of 60 million signatures collected for the "Appeal from Hiroshima and Nagasaki" was reported to the U.N. and given official recognition, and also representatives from the Swedish and the Thai governments as well as the Parliament of New Zealand participated in the 2000 World Conference against A and H Bombs. These events illustrate that movements for the abolition of nuclear weapons and Japan Gensuikyo are playing a bigger role in the international political arena. They also played an important role in defeating the notion of the "ultimate elimination of nuclear weapons", in moving public opinion to demand nuclear abolition, and in winning two lawsuits for government's recognition of A-bomb diseases in Nagasaki and Kyoto.
Under the new conditions, in which the confrontation
over the choice between the abolition of nuclear weapons and the continuation
of nuclear weapons monopoly is getting severe, the world is questioning
the contradiction of nuclear weapons states seeking to preserve their status.
Japan Gensuikyo is thus called on to carry out its activity beyond the
conventional framework, especially in international political arena.
Japan Gensuikyo, which has advanced the movement for nearly half a century
by holding high the banner of prevention of nuclear war, prohibition and
elimination of nuclear weapons and relief for and solidarity with the Hibakusha,
must spread its precious message both in Japan and abroad.
I. Domestic and International Prospect for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons
1. A consensus is being reached among the public and movements against nuclear weapons in the world on pressing the nuclear weapons states to carry out their "unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals", which was agreed to at the NPT Review Conference last May and confirmed at the U.N. General Assembly. At the NGO Millennium Forum held at the U.N. Headquarters in late May last year, participants from across the world unanimously called on governments "to promptly carry out their obligations in the Non-Proliferation Treaty to eliminate all nuclear weapons and to ban them" in the Final Declaration. In the United States, prominent persons took out an advertisement to call for negotiations for a nuclear weapons treaty (13 Oct. 2000) and the abolition of nuclear weapons within the next 5 years was called for at an international meeting, Globalization of Peace, held by the International Bureau (IPB) in Nanteer on the outskirts of Paris last October. At the meeting of the German Peace Forum held in Kassel, Germany, along with critical views on NATO's interference strategy, the need for the abolition of nuclear weapons was emphasized (2 Dec., 2000). In India, the National Coalition for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace was formed (13 Nov., 2000). This May, an international conference which will focus on the implementation of "undertaking to accomplish the total elimination" of nuclear weapons will be held in Athens, Greece by the IPB in conjunction with the Hague Appeal for Peace, world peace organizations and members of the Canberra Commission, an international body of specialists on nuclear issues, originally formed at the request of the prime minister of Australia.
2. Despite this, after the NPT Review Conference, the United States and the other pro-nuclear forces have intensified their efforts to trample the "unequivocal undertaking" and make it hollow in two ways. First, they are trying to suspend nuclear elimination by insisting that it is wrong to stress only one part of the Final Document, which emphasizes the abolition of nuclear weapons. Rather, they say it is necessary to give first priority to subjects such as a Cut-off Treaty (a convention on the prohibition of the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons). Second, they never change their actual nuclear weapons policy whatever the Final Document says. They have even strengthened their first use strategy, which includes promoting NMD and TMD, and developing "convenient" small-size nuclear weapons.
George W. Bush, the new President of the United States, emphasized "powerful military forces and strong alliances" during the presidential election campaign. Although he mentioned a reduction in armaments, insisting that they should not be bound to such "treaties," he has refused to ratify the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty and is pushing harder on NMD and TMD. Cabinet members of the new administration also stress the necessity for reconstructing "credible deterrence" with nuclear force and missile defense. It is serious that they also emphasize the military presence of the U.S. in "East Asia" under this strategy, and argue for a "collective defense" which will drag Japan into resorting to force led by the U.S. under the Japan-U.S. military alliance. On the other hand it is clear that opposition to the hegemonic world policy of the U.S. will grow rapidly if the Bush administration persists in its dangerous nuclear policy and reinforcement of military strategy against international public opinion which demands abolition of nuclear weapons.
3. The NPT Review Conference last year demonstrated the failure of the "ultimate elimination" stance of the Japanese government maintained in subordination to U.S., and it was no longer able to submit a resolution for "ultimate elimination" to U.N. General Assembly. However, Japan's revised resolution submitted to U.N. kept the elimination of nuclear weapons as a task to be achieved in the "final stage" (Foreign Minister Kono's address to UNGA), which means putting off the elimination.
The Japanese government also strongly refuses to verify the truth of secret nuclear agreements with U.S., which have been evidenced by many documents recently. Successive use of Japanese territory as a nuclear attack foothold for the U.S. in the 21st century is very dangerous, contradicting the wish for peace of the Japanese people who experienced the suffering of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the developing trend for peace and non-nuclear weapons in Asia. In these circumstances, the city of Nagasaki and citizens jointly held the "Nagasaki Global Citizens' Assembly for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons", calling for the movement to abolish nuclear weapons and to "end Japan's dependence on nuclear weapons for national security."
The dependence on the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" is the source of serious discord and self-contradiction in the nuclear policy of the Japanese government: Japan's diplomatic policy is subservient to the U.S. and obstructing the elimination of nuclear weapons; the scheme and suspicion of introducing nuclear weapons are infringing Japan's Constitution and the Three Non-Nuclear Principles; and Asian countries express distrust over the policy of the Japanese government depending on the Japan-U.S. military alliance. Demands for breaking away from the "nuclear umbrella" and a shift in the nuclear policy of the Japanese government are gathering momentum.
Since the War Laws were enacted, concrete steps leading
to war, e.g., the frequency of Japan-U.S. joint exercises supposing the
use of the weapons of mass destruction, and the number of warships capable
of carrying nuclear weapons entering military and commercial ports in Japan
have increased. Activities against these trends by the people and
local governments are growing widely, including protests against low-flying
and night-landing practice by U.S. forces. The current trend of "revitalizing"
the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty is a blatant violation of the safety and
well-being of people in Japan. That's why more and more active campaigns
should be promoted to realize a nuclear-free Japan aiming to enshrine in
law the Three Non-Nuclear Principles in solidarity with movements for the
abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
A world free of nuclear weapons-in order to turn this aspiration of the people of the world into a reality at the international political stage, our activity will be focused on the implementation of the undertaking to abolish nuclear weapons. To that end we will exert our utmost efforts to establish a national government with a non-nuclear policy that, in turn, could contribute to the efforts of the international community toward that goal and build wider cooperation in Japan and internationally. Bringing the 2001 World Conference against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs to success as the focal point of all these efforts is essential.
1.
International Joint Action for Realization of Nuclear Abolition
To abolish nuclear weapons, we demand that the "unequivocal
undertaking" to eliminate nuclear weapons as agreed upon in the NPT Review
Conference as well as the U.N. General Assembly, which became an international
agreement including nuclear powers, be kept and actually carried out.
For this, we propose and urge the U.N. and governments to immediately start
international negotiations aiming to abolish nuclear weapons. This
was called for in the Declaration of the International Meeting of the 2000
World Conference against A & H Bombs, which could be a point for broad
international agreement.
(1) Let us call for the convening of a "major international conference that would help to identify ways of eliminating nuclear dangers" (proposed by U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan) or the 4th U.N. Special Session on Disarmament as a forum to press for implementation of the "unequivocal undertaking". We urge all related bodies to take into consideration at all levels to meet their responsibilities and to promote more concrete steps to implement the "unequivocal undertaking" to abolish nuclear weapons, including the United Nations, multilateral meetings (e.g. Conference on Disarmament in Geneva), bilateral or multilateral negotiations or unilateral actions by nuclear powers. Let us build unanimous world public opinion and take initiative in the period up to 2005, when the next NPT Review Conference is scheduled. Building on the outcome of the 2001 World Conference against A & H Bombs, we will organize a focused nationwide campaign to abolish nuclear weapons and lobby national governments leading to the 2001 U.N. Disarmament Week.
(2) To implement these, we will promote discussions and build closer ties with the New Agenda group, Non-Aligned countries, the countries calling for a nuclear-free Asia, for example ASEAN countries, and the countries that are now in nuclear-free zones around the world.
(3) To strengthen international joint efforts to abolish nuclear weapons, we will take active part in international events aiming to end nuclear arms, including the upcoming international conference in Greece (May 10-12, Athens). Let us further develop our ties with anti-nuclear peace movements around the world, including those in the nuclear weapons states and the organizations of victims of nuclear weapons development and tests.
(4) We will promote joint campaigns with governments, municipalities, NGOs, and other peace movements in various ways such as issuing international joint appeals, join signature campaigns, and launching international chain-reaction rallies. We will further develop the "Appeal from Hiroshima and Nagasaki" signature campaign, which achieved 60 million signatures, as a movement to build a national consensus on the prohibition and abolition of nuclear weapons.
(5) We will put emphasis on opposing and exposing the real nuclear policy
and nuclear strategy that run counter to the "unequivocal undertaking"
to abolish nuclear weapons. Especially, we will focus on the campaign
demanding renunciation of first-use strategy, non-use of nuclear arms against
non-nuclear weapon states, cancellation of NMD and TMD plans and prohibition
of all kinds of nuclear tests, including subcritical ones. We will
also focus on urgent joint actions on each imminent task, such as a campaign
against NMD, to respond to the nuclear policy of the new Bush administration.
2. For the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, Putting the Three Non-Nuclear Principles into Law, Breaking Free of the U.S. Nuclear Umbrella and a Nuclear-Free and Peaceful Japan
To achieve a breakthrough in our country's situation, which has been made to serve as a foothold of U.S. nuclear war and bound to the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" well into the 21st century, we will work to build a consensus for a nuclear-free Japan among the public through expanding our criticism of the Liberal Democratic Party's pro-nuclear policy and the diplomacy subservient to the United States.
(1) We will launch a new nation-wide signature campaign calling on the government to engage in non-nuclear diplomacy that will seek the implementation of the "undertaking to accomplish the total elimination" of nuclear weapons, for the strict implementation of non-nuclear policies based on the Constitution of Japan and the Three Non-Nuclear Principles, as well as their enshrinement in law. We will seek the thorough investigation of the U.S.-Japan secret agreements on nuclear weapons and bringing-in of nuclear weapons into Japan. We will study the prospect of creating a nuclear-free Japan and including the Northeast Asia in the nuclear-free current of the world. Also we will focus on the possibility of new forms of cooperation in carrying out activities such as talks with government officials, organizing symposia and debates and nation-wide simultaneous information campaigns on nuclear issues in order to build activities based on shared demands and to raise public awareness. We will oppose Japan's participation in and collaboration to the U.S. plan on Theater Missile Defenses and mobilize a movement to stop it. We will promote discussion on the question of the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty, since the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" relates to the very heart of the treaty.
(2) In mobilizing people's demands to the governments, we will stress pursuing cooperation with local municipalities along with municipalities already having nuclear-free declarations. In order to establish a system that will block all nuclear weapons brought into Japan, we will strengthen our efforts for closer cooperation with local municipalities on tasks such as the promotion of nuclear-free ports and airports and nuclear-free and peace ordinances.
Along with increasing the number of municipalities with nuclear-free declarations, we will pursue closer cooperation with nuclear-free declared municipalities so that they will translate the declaration into actual practice, reflecting the declaration's purpose and the voice of the citizens.
(3) We will support and work in solidarity with the struggle for the eradication of damage caused by military bases and their reduction and withdrawal, as well as the Okinawan people's struggle for the reduction of Marine Corps. We will work for success in the Nation-Wide Peace Caravan for the Preservation of Dugongs and Peace (March 10 to April 28). We will oppose outrageous behaviors of U.S. forces such as low-altitude flight exercise, night landing practice (NLP) and U.S-Japan joint military exercises, and work in solidarity with movements across Japan calling for the eradication of such damage caused by military forces. We will work to build stronger public opinion supporting the withdrawal of U.S. military bases from Japan and the abrogation of the U.S.-Japan Mutual Security Treaty.
(4) In conjunction with the efforts for a ban on the use and deployment of depleted uranium (DU) weapons, we will demand that U.S. forces in Japan make known to the public about the actual deployment of such weapons in Japan and that they be withdrawn. We will demand that the Japanese government tell the U.S. government that it will not accept the bringing-in of DU weapons and to hold the U.S. accountable for withdrawing such weapons currently deployed in Japan.
3. The first World Conference in the 21st Century - Success in the 2001 World Conference against A & H Bombs (International Meeting on Aug. 3-5, World Conference-Hiroshima on Aug. 6, and World Conference-Nagasaki on Aug. 7-9)
(1) We must build worldwide public opinion to demand the implementation of the "unequivocal undertaking" and broaden our cooperation. We will make this a major campaign both in and outside of Japan, and achieve success in the 2001 World Conference against A and H Bombs by bringing our achievements and movements together in the first conference of the 21st century, which should build a basis for a nuclear-free 21st century.
The new situation where the "unequivocal undertaking" to abolish nuclear weapons has been made allows us to broaden the conditions for expanding wide-ranging cooperation among national governments, municipalities, NGOs and the anti-nuclear movements. Gensuikyo has called widely for dialogue, exchange and cooperation since July 1999 and has developed solidarity and cooperation for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Many people, including those individuals and groups who have joined the world conference in the past, have welcomed our initiatives, and new cooperation has appeared in various forms.
We must take full advantage of all these conditions and possibilities to achieve success in this year's World Conference with a wide range of forces. In addition, an early call should be issued to the governments that participate in the "New Agenda," Non-Aligned movements, and Nuclear Free Zones and the municipalities in Japan with nuclear-free declarations, inviting them to join the World Conference to promote exchange and solidarity.
(2) For the Upper House election scheduled just before the 2001 World
Conference against A and H Bombs, we will spread the criticism against
the diplomatic, security, and Hibakusha -related policies of the Japanese
government that follows U.S. nuclear strategy, and call for a shift in
politics towards the abolition of nuclear weapons and for a nuclear-free
Japan.
Plans and ideas for the World Conference, production and
distribution of educational and publicity materials, and choosing local
delegates should be prepared faster than ever. The first draft of
the conference program, posters, pamphlets, and badges should be completed
by mid-April. Delegates will be decided at an earlier stage to lead
our struggle in the turbulent political situation and to promote preparation
for the Peace March and World Conference.
(3) Gensuikyo will ensure the success in the 2001 March 1st Bikini Day Rally as the starting point of this year's mobilization for the World Conference.
(4) We will prepare for the Nationwide Peace March and network of local marches in which 100 thousand marchers participate in, by bringing together people's creativity and new ideas in planning, and covering all the local municipalities to convey the message, "Let's seize the opportunity!" We will take initiatives in every community for unity, cooperation and solidarity to develop a successful and grass roots-based Peace March.
4.
Relief for and Solidarity with the Hibakusha and Nuclear Victims of the
World
Activities to inform the people in Japan and internationally
of the real feature of the atomic bombing through the Hibakusha's testimonies
should be strengthened. Projects to hand down the message of
Hibakusha to the next generations of the 21st century will need to be proposed
in communities and promoted with local municipalities, Hibakusha organizations
and a wide range of local citizens groups. Such projects will include
equipping public libraries and community centers throughout the country
with educational videotapes, photo sets and books about the bombing, sponsoring
meetings to listen to Hibakusha testimonies and staging A-bomb exhibitions
in cooperation with local municipalities on the Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Days.
Building on the victory of the Nagasaki Matsuya Lawsuit and the Kyoto Lawsuit, lobbying the government for drastic improvement of the current relief measures for the Hibakusha should be strengthened. In order to support the two ongoing Hibakusha lawsuits (Yasui and Azuma Suits) for the official recognition of their atomic disease, petitioning to the government and the signature campaign should be promoted. We will support the movement to press for full investigation into the Bikini hydrogen bomb test damage, relief measures for the victims and compensation for their sufferings.
Japan Gensuikyo should promote the activity for relief for and solidarity with the Hibakusha. Holding dialogues with Hibakusha organizations throughout the country, we will devise concrete support systems based on the reality and needs of Hibakusha groups. We will raise fund for the solidarity with Hibakusha in all prefectures with an aim to achieve our target goals.
As part of our efforts in developing cooperation with the ASEAN and other countries of nuclear-free zones, New Agenda countries and Non-Aligned movement, we will consider sending delegations jointly organized with the Hibakusha's organizations. To seek the implementation of the undertaking to accomplish the elimination of nuclear arsenals, we will also examine sending delegations representing a broad range of Japanese people and the Hibakusha to the U.S. and other nuclear weapons states. A-bomb photo sets need to be more widely distributed in local communities, workplaces and school campuses. Sending overseas the A-bomb photo sets will be further promoted.
We will strengthen our support for movements of Hibakusha in South and North Korea, as well as of Japanese Hibakusha living abroad, who have been calling on the Japanese government for the support and compensation for their suffering. Solidarity and cooperation with victims of the Marshall Islands, including the people of the Rongelap Island who are seeking to resettle on their home island, and the solidarity with global Hibakusha will further be developed.
In order to promote these activities, a national activists conference for relief of and solidarity with the Hibakusha will be held during the next National Board Meeting (April 20 to 22).
5.
Opposition to the Military Use of Nuclear Energy and Solidarity with People
for the Prevention of Damage Caused by Nuclear Power Plants
We will demand the eradication of damage caused by activities
involved in the nuclear fuel cycle. We will also demand the cessation
of the recycling of plutonium to which the government obstinately adheres
and any plan on building new nuclear power plants, a thorough inspection
of all existing nuclear facilities and the fundamental review of the current
nuclear energy policy. We will work in solidarity with movements
calling for the development of alternative energy sources and phased withdrawal
from nuclear energy.
We will work in opposition to the military use of nuclear materials and energy, including plutonium and depleted uranium.
6. Organization Building
(1) Closer cooperation should be emphasized with affiliated national
organizations, and new membership drives and joint efforts with them should
be promoted.
In order for Japan Gensuikyo to take stronger initiative
in policymaking and movements, we will establish a Commission of Experts,
in which members and specialists study and discuss a variety of nuclear
issues to give advise to our movement.
(2) We will attach importance to reaching out to youth and students for their involvement in and succeeding to the peace movements. The annual World Conference against A & H Bombs, March 1 Bikini Day, local Gensuikyo Seminars and our other activities need to be carefully elaborated to meet the needs and interest of young generations. Our educational and information materials and the whole of our activity will need to be created accordingly.
(3) Prefectural and Local Gensuikyo Building: We will work to strengthen prefectural and local Gensuikyos to better serve as the bases for daily activities to promote the work against nuclear weapons and for systematic development of cooperation with local authorities and citizens groups. It is important to secure full and/or part-time workers for these Gensuikyo offices.
(4) We will seek to have a clear grasp of activities and the organizational structure of regional Gensuikyos. We will work to organize delegates from the grass-roots level across the country, including the towns and cities where there is no Gensuikyo organization, to the Japan Gensuikyo 2001 Bikini Day National Conference. We will seek the establishment and building of vigorous local Gensuikyo organizations capable of helping local municipalities to promote a non-nuclear administration from the grass-roots level.
(5) Japan Gensuikyo's Public Information Activities: Our monthly newsletter "Gensuikyo Tsushin" is what binds the organization and grass-root movements. We will work to improve its contents and increase the circulation. Our web site also needs to be improved and enriched. We will seek regular publication, 4 times a year, of our English newsletter "No More Hiroshimas".
(6) Fundraising and Campaign Goods Sales Activity: Japan Gensuikyo and
prefectural Gensuikyos need to establish a stable financial foundation
sufficient to carry out action plans and promote movements of the 21st
century.
In conjunction with the progress in movements, we will
work for a sound financial structure of Japan Gensuikyo and prefectural
Gensuikyos such as through the sales of the brochures, pins and posters
of the World Conference against A and H Bombs and the March 1 Bikini Day
events and increasing the circulation of Gensuikyo Tsushin (newsletter
in Japanese), produced by Japan Gensuikyo. These materials are subjects
of improvement, production cost review and a hoped for sales increase by
15 %. We will also seek a sales increase of "Chihiro Calendar" to
160,000 copies.
(7) Fundraising for the Construction of Japan Gensuikyo's New Office
(omitted)