  Increasing anti-nuclear movementAkahata editorial The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference is set to begin on May 2, but its agenda is yet to be decided due to U.S. actions obstructing progress of nuclear disarmament, causing concerns about the conference proceeding. It is important to note the new moves developing to criticize the U.S. obstruction and call for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Abolition is essential to prevent nuclear proliferation Many proposals and statements are being issued with the aim of calling on nuclear-weapons states to keep their "unequivocal undertaking" to eliminate their nuclear arsenals as agreed upon in the 2000 NPT Review Conference. Most of them are calling for nuclear weapons to be abolished in order to prevent the further proliferation of nuclear weapons. The Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) published its "proposal to governments of the world" calling on them to act to implement the "undertaking" in pursuit of an international treaty banning nuclear weapons. However, insisting that its possession of nuclear weapons is justifiable, the United States is developing plans to use nuclear weapons as well as "usable nuclear weapons" ostensibly to block other countries from becoming nuclear powers. The Gensuikyo proposal criticizes the U.S. policy for increasing the danger of nuclear proliferation, pointing out that the prevention of the proliferation of nuclear weapons can only be guaranteed by the elimination of such weapons. The appeal published by the Committee of Seven for World Peace also emphasizes that the nuclear-weapons states are called upon to take the lead in taking concrete steps to eliminate their nuclear weapons as the best way to prevent nuclear proliferation. Support for the U.N. resolution proposed by the New Agenda Coalition for the fulfillment of the 2000 agreement has increased among NATO nations. Furthermore, the European Parliament that includes Britain and France as well as the Belgian Senate Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee adopted a resolution calling for the agreement on nuclear disarmament to be accomplished. Criticism of the U.S. policy is also increasing in the United States. Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter criticized the nuclear strategy of President George W. Bush in an essay he recently published, stating, "The United States is the major culprit in this erosion of the NPT." Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright emphasized that the U.S. government is obligated to carry out nuclear disarmament. A recent public opinion poll in the U.S.shows that 66 percent of the respondents said no country should possess nuclear weapons, indicating that the idea of using nuclear weapons to prevent nuclear proliferation and maintain security is no longer tenable in the U.S. However, with the NPT Review Conference approaching, the U.S. government has indicated its intention to shelve the 2000 agreement, attempting to use widespread concerns over nuclear proliferation to deflect criticism of U.S. policy. President Bush in a statement issued in preparation for the NPT Review Conference stressed the need to prevent "rogue states" from possessing nuclear weapons. He also said, "We must therefore close the loopholes that allow states to produce nuclear materials that can be used to build bombs under the cover of civilian nuclear programs." This indicates the U.S. government's attempt to include other states' peaceful use of nuclear power as targets in its nuclear preemptive attack strategy which was established under the pretext that proliferation of weapons of mass destruction must be prevented. On the other hand, it claims that it is in compliance with nuclear disarmament obligations, dismissing the 2000 agreement. Even though the United States emphasizes the threat of nuclear proliferation, it cannot justify its dangerous policy. Bring wishes of A-bombed citizens to New York Increasing the anti-nuclear calls and movements is more important than ever in order to realize a nuclear-free world. Japan Gensuikyo is sending an 800-strong delegation that includes many young people to New York to make representations to the NPT Review Conference and to nuclear weapons states. It also will use this occasion to strengthen the movement and develop solidarity with state and local governments as well as NGOs calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons. There is a great possibility that cooperation between grassroots movements and governments will further develop. (Akahata, April 24, 2005) |