From 70th year of Bikini Tragedy to 80th year of Hiroshima/Nagasaki. Gensuikyo’s 2024 Action Plan to achieve a nuclear weapon-free world, marking the 70th anniversary of the 1954 Bikini Tragedy and toward the next year, the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Next year, 2025, will mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We have to make the anniversary a year of great transition for achieving a “world without nuclear weapons” to meet the wish of the Hibakusha to abolish nuclear weapons in their lifetime. Towards 2025, let us start a nationwide campaign for the abolition of nuclear weapons by developing discussion, dialogue and the signature campaign across Japan on the occasion of the 70th year of the Bikini tragedy as it triggered the nationwide movement to ban atomic and hydrogen bombs.
Building on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), let us develop a mainstream for the abolition of nuclear weapons in cooperation with the governments of the world, raising awareness about the real damage of the atomic bombings at home and abroad and promoting study activities and the signature drive to urge Japan to join the TPNW.
1. Solidarity and actions to achieve a nuclear weapon-free world
(1) With a view to the Second Preparatory Committee of the NPT Review Conference (July 22-August 2, Geneva), the 2024 World Conference against A and H Bombs, and discussion at the First Committee of the next UN General Assembly in October, we call on national governments, especially those of nuclear weapon states, confirm and implement the agreements reached so far, including “achieving the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons,” “the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals,” and the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in the Middle East. As an important treaty to complement Article VI of the NPT, we also call for their support for the TPNW, their participation in its Third Meeting of States Parties, and their prompt signing and ratification of the Treaty.
We will lobby the five nuclear weapon states and take action on the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (September 26).
(2) We call for joint actions on Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days in August, upholding the common tasks of achieving a world without nuclear weapons, supporting, signing, and ratifying the TPNW, and solidarity with Hibakusha and nuclear victims.
(3) In order to raise awareness of inhumanity of nuclear weapons, we propose an international campaign to hold worldwide photo exhibitions depicting the damage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as the damage caused by nuclear development and testing in other parts of the world.For that, we will not only disseminate our resource materials such as A-bomb photo sets in Japan, but also organize a campaign to send them to our friends worldwide so that they can hold A-bomb exhibitions in their countries.
(4) On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the Bikini disaster, Gensuikyo will send a delegation to the Marshall Islands. The delegation will lobby the government of the Marshall Islands to join the TPNW, extend support and solidarity with the test victims, conduct a survey of radiation damage, and interview the islanders about the damage.
(5) We will develop joint efforts with South Korean civil society to achieve a nuclear-free and peaceful Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia. We will promote exchanges and collaboration between civil society and government organizations, including those of ASEAN, that aim for peace in East Asia. We will support the victims of Agent Orange in Vietnam.
2. Let us make a success of “Nationwide Campaign to Achieve a Nuclear-Free Japan — from 70 Years after the Bikini H-bomb Damage to 80 Years after the A-bombing.”
2024 March 1 Bikini Day is the start of the campaign.
(1) Signature campaign to urge Japanese government to join TPNW
Building on the global trend of the TPNW, we will develop a diverse, creative and a large scale signature campaign to “call on the Government of Japan, the Only A-Bombed Country in Wartime, to Sign and Ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons”. Our aim is to build up overwhelming public opinion to change Japan’s politics from promoting war preparations and massive military buildup based on the US nuclear umbrella to that of a nuclear-free and peaceful country, including joining the TPNW.
– Lobbying local government officials and the entire local authorities to promote the signature campaign in conjunction with the adoption of the local assembly resolutions to urge the government to join the TPNW.
– Requesting cooperation from a broad range of groups and institutions, including local neighborhood associations, senior citizens’ clubs, women’s associations, churches, temples, agricultural cooperatives, fishery cooperatives, local business establishments, and labor unions.
– You can make your own creative signature forms with the united demand of calling for Japan’s joining in the TPNW, which include the demands and objectives of each organization and community.
– Placing special emphasis on reaching out to high school and college students and youth.
(2) Activity to inform the public of the A-bomb damage in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the damage caused by the Bikini H-bomb test
– In all possible cities, towns, villages, communities, schools (elementary, junior high, high school), universities, business establishments, etc. throughout Japan, holding photo exhibitions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bombing and the Bikini H-bomb test disaster, and collect signature on the petition calling for Japan’s participation in the TPNW. Encouraging all high schools to display the “Paintings on the A-bombing” drawn by Hiroshima high school students.
– Holding meetings with the Hibakusha and Bikini survivors to share their experiences
– Calling for an international campaign to the same effect together with the Japanese campaign.
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Japan Council against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs (Gensuikyo)
Tel: +81-3-5842-6034 Fax: +81-3-5842-6033 Email: antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp
6F, 2-4-4, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8464 JAPAN
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