  Resolve to accomplish nuclear abolition at March 1st Bikini Day despite adversity -- Akahata editorial, February 26, 2005Japanese peace organizations, including the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo), will meet to renew their resolution to ban nuclear weapons at events marking the Bikini Day from February 27 to March 1. On March 1,1954, the United States conducted a hydrogen bomb test explosion at the Bikini Atoll of the Marshall Islands in the Pacific which was 1,000 times more powerful than the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. A massive amount of radioactive fallout caused serious injuries and death to local residents and Japanese fishermen on fishing boats, including the Daigo Fukuryu-maru (Lucky Dragon No.5). The national shock following the American A-bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki gave rise to a nationwide movement in Japan calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Since then, half a century has passed. The present situation requires this movement to make further advances. U.S. seeks roll back With the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference starting on May 2nd in New York, the point at issue is whether or not nuclear nations will fulfill the promise they made during the 2000 NPT Review Conference to abandon their nuclear arsenals. Implementation of effective measures for nuclear disarmament is also another important issue. In sharp contrast, the U.S. Bush administration is trying to regain lost ground as is clear from remarks of U.S. government officials. The United States argues that the situation surrounding nuclear nonproliferation has dramatically changed and it will no longer be bound by the promise agreed upon in 2000, and that the coming conference should focus on reinforcement of an obligation on non-nuclear possessing countries for nuclear nonproliferation. The international community must unite to prevent another nuclear state from emerging. However, nothing can justify the maintenance of huge nuclear forces, their increase, or plans to use the weapons under the pretext of preventing nuclear proliferation as the United States does. These moves will only force other countries to develop nuclear weapons. Even within the United States, criticism is increasing. The New York Times in its editorial on February 10 said, "America's nuclear creativity should be focused on convincing nations like Iran and North Korea that nuclear weapons will not enhance their own security, not on setting a perverse contrary example." A U.S. high official is so arrogant as to try to justify the much criticized small nuclear weapons development on the grounds that it does not mean developing new nuclear weapons because thousands of such weapons are already stored and that the NPT is not calling for an agreement on nuclear disarmament or abolition. This statement is intended to push into an indefinite future the confirmed international agreement on the need to eliminate nuclear weapons. The United States hasn't changed its position even after the pretext it used to invade Iraq because it had weapons of mass destruction (WMDs) had failed. The United States carried out the invasion in the name of preventing the proliferation of WMDs. However, the United States will have to face increased isolation internationally if it insists on turning the wheels of history backwards. In fact, non-aligned countries, members of the New Agenda Coalition, the cities of A-bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and many central and local governments are working to force the coming NPT Review Conference to take concrete action to carry out the 2000 agreement pledging nuclear abolition. If these efforts are combined with the struggles in solidarity with the efforts and movements for peace and against nuclear weapons among peoples and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) throughout the world, a great momentum will be created toward making an advance. To achieve this, Japan Gensuikyo, which has contributed to the international movement since the death ash shower at the Bikini Atoll in 1954, has a further role to play. The more than 30 million signatures it collected against A and H bombs in the 1950s and the over 60 million signatures it collected in Japan for the Appeal from Hiroshima and Nagasaki has become a worldwide movement. Public opinion and movements at the grass-roots have kept the world from a nuclear war and have brought about the 2000 agreement on nuclear abolition. In a turbulent world The recent general meeting of the world social forum for the first time included in its action program the task of eliminating nuclear weapons. The signature campaign for "Abolition of Nuclear Weapons. Now!" also won wide support. In the turbulent world where the struggle against U.S. hegemonic outrages is developing, it is necessary for the movement against A and H bombs to show strength as one of the major imperative struggles in the world. (end) |