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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

Declaration of the International Meeting

The International Meeting of the 2006 World Conference against A & H Bombs on August 4 adopted the following declaration:

"Never again Hiroshima! Never again Nagasaki!"

For over 60 years since the atomic bombings, the voices of the Hibakusha have moved the hearts and minds of people around the world to speak out against nuclear weapons and for peace. The mounting people's opinion built by grassroots movements has many times prevented the use of nuclear weapons. Along with the efforts made by both local and national governments, this movement has developed into a global force demanding the elimination of nuclear weapons. Let us keep building this momentum to win a world free of nuclear weapons.

Even now, close to 27,000 nuclear warheads are deployed or stockpiled in the world. These weapons, whether of the declared nuclear weapons states or of the non-declared, pose a grave threat to the very survival of humankind. Their total abolition remains an urgent task and is the prerequisite for passing on a safe and peaceful world to future generations.

Accounting for one half of the world military expenditure with military bases all over the world, the U.S. launched a war of preemptive attack on Iraq. It now declares a "long war" on the ground of "preventing terrorism and proliferation." Making the use of nuclear weapons a declared key policy to this strategy, the U.S. is promoting the development of new nuclear weapons along with the "Missile Defense" program. At the NPT Review Conference and at the World Summit of the U.N. last year, the U.S. refused even to discuss nuclear disarmament, thus blocking the move to abolish nuclear weapons. We must overcome this backsliding and move forward to prevent the use of nuclear weapons and open a sure path to the abolition of nuclear weapons.

No doubt we must oppose every act of proliferation, i.e., new states acquiring nuclear weapons. But it is clearly hypocritical and dangerous for nuclear weapons states to resort to force and even to nuclear threats to "prevent proliferation or terrorism", while trying to justify their own nuclear arsenals and condoning the proliferation to certain countries. Abolition of nuclear weapons is the only fundamental solution to the "danger of nuclear proliferation."

We demand a convention totally banning nuclear weapons, with negotiations to achieve this beginning immediately. It is also urgent to defend and consolidate the order of peace based on the U.N. Charter while preventing preemptive attacks by countries whose underlying strategy includes the option of using nuclear arms. It is also urgent to oppose the reorganization and reinforcement of foreign military bases.

In cooperation with many local authorities and national governments, we call on the United Nations and other international bodies to take swift and effective steps toward eliminating nuclear weapons.

In its first resolution, the United Nations pledged to eliminate nuclear arms from national arsenals. In May 2000, the Nuclear Five made the unequivocal commitment to "complete elimination of their nuclear arsenals." Established to "save succeeding generations from the scourge of war," the U.N. should fulfill its mission to swiftly bring relevant resolutions and agreements into realization.

We call on all national governments to adopt a resolution for an international convention totally banning nuclear weapons at the U.N. General Assembly. We welcome all initiatives that lead to the abolition of nuclear weapons, including the convening of the 4th U.N. Special Session on Disarmament and a U.N. decade for complete nuclear disarmament.

For this, let us develop the signature campaign in support of the "Swift Abolition of Nuclear Weapons" and many other forms of action that will link the grassroots movements with the U.N. Let us press our own respective governments to work to reach this goal.

The world can no longer be dominated by massive military force. People are joining in a wide range of actions in opposition to outrages of the superpower.

Voices of people calling for the elimination of nuclear weapons are gathering force worldwide. Having reached a dead end in the occupation of Iraq, criticism against the U.S. war policy is increasing within the U.S. Facing the deteriorating situation in the Middle East/West Asia, demands for a peaceful resolution of conflicts are growing, including an end to the occupation of Iraq, a negotiated settlement of nuclear issued with Iran, and an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. The deepening economic crises caused by "neo-liberalist" policies are eliciting protests against the economic domination of the world by major powers.

A "nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world" is a common desire of the overwhelming majority of the world's people. In solidarity with all movements, including those opposing war and military bases, providing relief for nuclear test victims, victims of Agent Orange and other war damages; working to ban DU weapons; and demanding economic justice, redirection of military spending to meet social needs, social equality, women's rights, and environmental protection, we must increase public support for the movement calling for a total ban and elimination of nuclear weapons.

With the Hibakusha, the Japanese peace movement has spread the demand for the elimination of nuclear weapons among the people and tirelessly organized various actions. More and more young people are getting involved and willing to take on these actions. Movements defending Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution that renounces war and the possession of military force are rapidly gathering support in Japan and overseas. We extend our firm solidarity with the Japanese movement in their effort to keep their country from going to war overseas with the U.S. forces, and to get Japan out from under the "nuclear umbrella".

The Hibakusha have dedicated their lives which have been filled with pains and hardships to warning humankind of the danger of nuclear disaster, to stand with the "will to save humanity from its crisis through the lessons learned from our experiences, while at the same time saving ourselves" (Message to the World, proclaimed at the founding of Nihon Hidankyo, the Japan Confederation of A-and H-Bomb Sufferers' Organizations).

Activities by young people determined to carry forward Hibakusha's desires and commitment are our common hope for the future. Hand in hand with the Hibakusha, and with the younger generations, let us move toward a coordinated global movement for a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world.

No More Hiroshimas! No More Nagasakis! No More Hibakusha!