Bikini Day Rally international meeting opens

Marking the 48th anniversary of the Daigo Fukuryumaru (5th Lucky Dragon) Incident on March 1 in 1954, a tragedy caused by radioactive fallout from a U.S. hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll, an annual March 1 Bikini Day Rally started with an international exchange meeting on February 28 in Shizuoka City.

The meeting, organized by the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo), discussed the recent dangerous moves of the U.S. Bush administration towards the possible use of nuclear weapons as well as the retaliatory war launched against Afghanistan.

A former crew member testified that in the nuclear test explosion 48 years ago, of the 23 fishermen on board the tuna fishing boat, Kuboyama Aikich died in that year followed by 11 other fishermen. He said, "Let me the last to be killed by the atomic bomb."

Sawada Shoji, Gensuikyo representative director, made the keynote speech to the international meeting. Sawada said that the Bikini Day action was the starting point of Japan's mass movement for the elimination of nuclear weapons. The movement since has gained enough influence that nuclear possessing countries have had to make a 'definite promise' to eliminate nuclear weapons, he stated.

Sawada also said that the need is to counter the unilateralism pursued by the U.S. Bush administration, which became more apparent since last year's terrorist incident in the U.S.

The following delegates made speeches: Joseph Gerson, American Friends Service Committee; Peter Anjain from the Marshall Islands; and a doctor from Afghanistan (resident in Japan).

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Co-op Superhighway

Co-op Shizuoka and the Japanese Consumers Co-operative Union (JCCU) organized an annual peace assembly in Shizuoka City on February 28 to remember the first hydrogen bomb test explosion at Bikini Atoll. About 230 unionists heard a testimony by a fishermen who was on board the Daigo Fukuryumaru in 1954. (end)