Hibakusha call for no more war and nuclear weapons
About 50 atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and their children on March 25 staged a protest against the war on Iraq in front of Shibuya Station in Tokyo.
The action was organized by the Japan Confederation of A- and H- Bombs Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo). Participants displayed photographs of A-bomb victims and appealed for peace.
A 74-year-old man stated that he lost all of his family members in World War II and said, "Innocent citizens have always become victims of war."
The demonstrators later proceed to the U.S. and British embassies to submit their statement in protest against the war.
Also, a citizens' organization in Hiroshima, held a rally against war and nuclear weapons on March 2, and placed an anti-war advertisement in the March 24 New York Times.
The advertisement includes a picture of human letters "NO WAR NO DU!" which the rally participants formed, as well as photos of Japanese children having an anti-war demonstration in front of Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, and of Iraqi children suffering from the war.
The Hiroshima group stated in the advertisement, "Hiroshima says no to more Hibakusha. The White House's denial of the radioactive and toxic effects of DU ammunition is false." (end)
