World Conference organizers call for effort to force government to break away from U.S. nuclear umbrella

Japan Press Weekly

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

World Conference organizers call for effort to force government to break away from U.S. nuclear umbrella

The Organizing Committee of the World Conference against A & H Bombs on July 14 held a news conference in Tokyo to announce the list of overseas delegates as well as the schedule of the World Conference due to be held in Hiroshima and Nagasaki from August 2 to August 9.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, Noguchi Kunikazu, a member of the Japan Scientists' Association, expressed hope to increase public opinion calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons toward the 2010 NPT Review Conference by taking advantage of the growing international calls for a "world without nuclear weapons."

He also said that this year's World Conference should be a milestone in the struggle to change the Japanese government policy of continuing to cling to its dependence on the U.S. "nuclear umbrella".

The 2009 World Conference against A & H Bombs will open with the International Meeting (August 3-5), followed by the World Conference-Hiroshima rally (August 5-6). The main World Conference rally will take place on August 7-9 in Nagasaki City.

About 80 overseas delegates, including representatives of international organizations and NGOs, as well as government officials from several countries are expected to attend the World Conference.

- Akahata, July 16, 2009