 Gensuikyo to cooperate with non-aligned countries for nuclear weapons abolition Looking towards the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference in May and the World Conference against A and H Bombs marking the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombings in August, the Japan Council against A and H Bombs (Gensuikyo) has decided to increase cooperation with non-aligned countries in seeking nuclear weapons abolition. In the keynote report to the board of standing directors meeting on April 18 and 19 in Tokyo, Gensuikyo General Secretary Takakusagi Hiroshi stated that the United States is reluctant to carry out the "unequivocal undertaking" for nuclear abolition agreed upon in the 2000 Review Conference, while non-aligned countries are insisting that the agreement be put into practice. He also pointed out that activities of citizens and municipalities are now more important than ever, and that there are high expectations for the Japanese movement. Japan Gensuikyo will send an 800 plus delegation to the NPT Review Conference in New York. The members will submit to the conference signatures bearing the call for nuclear weapons abolition, make representation to the governments, attend local anti-nuclear rallies, and talk with national delegates. In the Gensuikyo board of standing directors meeting, a representative from Hokkaido stated that people collected 30,000 signatures, braving the freezing cold. A director from Shimane Prefecture reported that a city mayor was the first to sign and donate. (Akahata, April 21, 2005) |