Joseph Gerson
Campaign for Peace, Disarmament and Common Security
USA
It is a humbling privilege to return to Hiroshima in this perilous time. Gensuikyo is critically important in the world’s campaigning to prevent another and worse nuclear war, In the midst of new cold and hot wars, our work is more important than ever. Facing imperialisms, nationalisms, and neo-fascism, we are on the cusp of unrestricted nuclear arms races, as well as the existential climate emergency.
Encouragingly, U.S. peace organizations are releasing an open letter stating that we “bring our sincere apologies for our nation’s horrific atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki…[and] for the subsequent nuclear testing in the Pacific…We urge the abolition of nuclear weapons [and] urge our own country to reverse course in East Asia…provocative military exercises that increase the danger of a nuclear conflict with China over Taiwan…”
UN Secretary General Guterres tells us that “Humanity is on a knife’s edge. The risk of a nuclear weapons being used has reached heights not seen since the Cold War.” New bloc systems have reemerged with the network of U.S. Indo-Pacific military alliances, NATO, and the Chinese, Russian, North Korean, and Belarussian entente.
In the US our corrupt US Supreme Court recently marked the possible culmination of a counterrevolution, signaling an end to constitutional democracy, replacing it with a “king above the law” similar to Xi and Putin. U.S. voters face a choice between the “Republican” racist, rapist, Putin-infatuated, would-be dictator Trump and Kamala Harris, of the Democratic Party’s establishment.. If elected she will hew to Biden’s policies..
With headlines about Kamala, don’t forget that Trump threatens a “blood bath” if he loses, and there is the danger of another attempted coup/. Trump promises to transform the U.S. government into a fascist dictatorship and pledges the “most dramatic buildup of nuclear weapons.” Trump’s senior advisor reports that Trump will resume nuclear weapons testing, and that Trump’s 2017 “fire and fury” threat brought us closer to nuclear war than is understood. Trump values alliances, including NATO, and with China Trump will “ focus its Pacific diplomacy on allies such as Australia, Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea” : and partners like Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.” Trump promises massive increases to U.S. forces, “maximum pressure” against Iran, and not a penny for Ukraine.
Not only Medvedev urges weapons use. Members of Congress have reaffirmed the necessity Hiroshima A-bombing and urged Israel to nuke Gaza. Biden and Trump both threaten to expand the US nuclear arsenal,. Meanwhile, China doubled the size of its nuclear arsenal, even as it holds to its No Frist Use doctrine. North Korea revised its constitution to confirm its status as a nuclear power. And the U.S. is deploying “nuclear assets” in and around South Korea, new B-61-12 nuclear warheads in Europe, and we hope that the Gaza war doesn’t become regional including use of nuclear weapons.
Tragically, like our Supreme Court, Japan’s government rejects its constitution. Spurred by Japan’s elite’s and Washington’s strategies, there is a paradigm shift. With preparations for preemptive missile strikes against China or North Korea, with joint operations with the region’s and NATO militaries, and with the planned doubling of military spending, Article 9 is being abandoned.
Fortunately, there have been encouraging openings : the second meeting of TPNW states parties and the Oppenheimer film, which increased awareness of nuclear dangers. There is increased popular and Congressional support for the Back from the Brink agenda. The New York Times highlighted the growing dangers of nuclear war. The US Conference of Mayors again called for nuclear weapons abolition. We have also had massive demonstrations demanding an end to the Gaza genocide and growing calls for Gaza and Ukraine ceasefires and for peace negotiations. And with Harris, despite her limitations, she renews hope that a full-fledged Trumpian fascism can be averted in the US.
Friends, hope is something we make, in the streets, in our universities and community organizations, in polling booths, and in the halls of power. Together we can prevail!