Japan's anti-nuclear movement encourages world

The world's peace-loving people have expressed their support for and solidarity with the initiative of Japan's anti-nuclear movement for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

A letter to the United Nations and its member states' governments for the nuclear weapons abolition, adopted at the 2002 World Conference against A & H Bombs, has been favorably responded to by the presidents of Angola and Panama.

The letter, demanding that the U.N. and its member states' government be against the use of nuclear weapons and strive to abolish them, was already responded to by the leaders of 15 countries including Malaysia, South Africa, New Zealand, Germany, and Canada (see Japan Press Weekly No.2314).

Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, the Angolan president, stated, "I'd like to express our solidarity with this initiative because we share the idea that the use of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction represent a threat to humanity. We are in favor of resolution of conflicts and differences through dialogue as the best form of preserving peace and international security."

In her letter, Panama's president Mireya Moscoso commended the initiative taken by the World Conference in calling the attention of the world's people to the threat of nuclear weapons to their security.

Also, peace activists throughout the world have sent their message of support for the signature-collection campaign that the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) is carrying out for nuclear weapons abolition.

Kate Dewes, New Zealand's well-known anti-nuclear activist, praised Japan Gensuikyo for submitting more than 30 thousand signatures to the U.S. Embassy.

Other people who sent letters of support to the Japan Gensuikyo include Romesh Chandra (the World Peace Council president of honor), Bruce Kent (former president of the International Peace Bureau, England), Rita Lasar (member of the September 11 Families for Peaceful Tomorrows, U.S.A.), Alice Slater (president of the Global Resource Action Center for the Environment, U.S.A.), Gerald O'Brien (the Peace Council of Aotearoa-New Zealand president of honor), Ole Kopreitan (No to Nuclear Weapons secretary general, Norway), and Sri Raman (president of the Movement against Nuclear Weapons, India). (end)