By Tomomitsu Miyazaki

Nuclear abolition is citizens' duty

Calls for awakening and action

August 6. On this "Memorial Day" 61 years after the US dropped the atomic bomb, the Peace Memorial Ceremony held in Peace Memorial Park, Naka-ku, Hiroshima, was attended by 45,000 (city report). Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, in his Peace Declaration, emphasized that, "Cities and citizens of the world have a duty to..liberate the world from nuclear weapons." Saying, "The time has come for all of us to awaken and rise with a will that can penetrate rock and a passion that burns like fire," He called for action to abolish nuclear weapons.

At 8:00 a.m., Mayor Akiba and representatives of the bereaved families placed the Register of the Names of A-bomb Victims in the Cenotaph. This year, 5,350 victims died or their deaths were confirmed, and the addition of their names brought the total to 247,787. This year for the first time a volume was added to the Register for the "Many Unknown" Victims. Thus, four volumes were added, bringing the total number of volumes to 89.

At 8:15, the time the A-bomb was dropped, a minute of silence was observed with the participants standing and Masaaki Yonekura (46, Naka-ku), representing the bereaved families, and Yuriko Mito (11, Minami-ku, 6th grade, Aosaki Elementary School) representing the children, ringing the Peace Bell.

In his Peace Declaration, Mayor Akiba referred to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that stated ten years ago, "..the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to the rules of international law." Based on a sense of crisis and regret that nuclear weapons have still not been eliminated, he announced his determination to continue the campaign to demand "good faith negotiations" toward nuclear weapons abolition.

He also demanded that the Japanese national government hold up to the world and abide by the Peace Constitution, and that it launch a global campaign to pressure the nuclear-weapon states to fulfill their obligation and conduct those good faith negotiations. He further requested improved people-oriented assistance appropriate to the actual situations of the aging hibakusha.

Following the mayor, the children's representatives Nozomu Shintani (12, Naka-ku)in the 6th grade at Minami-kan-on Elementary School and Angelia Smith (12, Saeki-ku) in the 6th grade at Rakurakuen Elementary School read the Commitment to Peace.

For the 6th consecutive year Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi attended the ceremony and in his greeting said, "Once again, I pledge to abide by the peace article of the Constitution, maintain the three non-nuclear principles, and continue to lead the international community toward the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace."

(Caption)Peace Memorial Ceremony taking place under a blazing sun making us think of "that day." The participants' Mourning of the victims and desire to be rid of nuclear weapons has not changed. On the 6th, Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima. (Ushio Matsumoto)