Japan Press Weekly

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2008 September 17 - 23 [ANTI-N-ARMS]

Gensuikyo to collect 12 million anti-nuclear weapons signatures

The Executive Board of the Japan Council against A & H Bombs (Japan Gensuikyo) at its meeting on September 16-17 decided to strive to collect 12 million signatures against nuclear weapons domestically, which accounts for 10 percent of the Japanese population, by the next NPT Review Conference in 2010.

The new signature campaign “For a Nuclear Weapons-Free World” started at this year’s World Conference against A & H Bombs (August 2-9) as an international joint action toward the 2010 NPT Review Conference based on growing cooperation between governments, municipalities, and NGOs in the effort to get rid of nuclear weapons.

Gensuikyo Secretary General Taka Hiroshi said, “We should take advantage of the growing criticism of Prime Minister Fukuda Yasuo’s resignation to increase calls for change in Japan’s direction to one of promoting the abolition of nuclear weapons and building a nuclear weapons-free and peaceful Japan.”

Taka proposed using the new signature campaign and A-bomb photo exhibitions as part of the immediate efforts to increase international opinion in support of the abolition of nuclear weapons.

He also called for more activities against the deployment of a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier to Yokosuka as well as efforts to have the Japanese government declare Japan nuclear-free and support for Hibakusha in their lawsuits demanding their official recognition as A-bomb-related disease sufferers.