Call for support and participation in the 2021 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs

“With the Hibakusha, Let us Achieve a Nuclear Weapon-Free, Peaceful and Just World – For the Future of the Humankind and Our Planet.”

 February 12, 2021

The General Assembly, Organizing Committee of the World Conference

Dear friends,

We will convene the 2021 World Conference against A and H Bombs (online) with the theme: “With the Hibakusha, Let us Achieve a Nuclear Weapon-Free, Peaceful and Just World – For the Future of the Humankind and Our Planet”, centering on August 6 and 9, the 76th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

With the support of an overwhelming majority of national governments and mounting public opinions, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force on January 22 this year, rendering all activities relating to nuclear weapons, including the use, threat of use, development, testing, production, and stockpiling illegal. It has brought us to a new era where with the treaty as leverage, civil society and governments of the world can open up the way to achieve a world without nuclear weapons.

During the same period in August when the World Conference will be held, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference is to take place in New York, where the implementation of the agreement to “achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons” will become a major focus. From autumn to January next year, the Conference of the States Parties to the TPNW is expected to be convened, following the 76th session of the U.N. General Assembly.

The 2021 World Conference against A and B Bombs to be held at this historic moment has a particular significance for the movement against A and H bombs. It has made effort to achieve 3 basic goals of the prevention of nuclear war, the prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons, and relief for and solidarity with the Hibakusha since the first World Conference in 1955, and has developed cooperation with international community and national governments of the world.

Last year, despite difficulties due to the coronavirus pandemic, we were able to hold the World Conference online and make a success of it with support and participation by many people in and out of Japan, including the Hibakusha and the officials of the U.N. and national governments. Though the pandemic is still continuing, we are determined to make the conference befitting the new era, building on last year’s experiences, pursuing to organize possible on-site events to develop solidarity with the Hibakusha in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and connecting voices and actions of people around Japan and the world by “Peace Wave” international joint actions.

Dear friends,

In the world, there are still 13,400 nuclear weapons stockpiled and deployed. Leaders of the nuclear powers and their allies have insisted that nuclear weapons are necessary for their “security”, refusing to join the TPNW. When the survival of humanity is threatened by many critical challenges such as the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, disparity, poverty and discrimination, it is clear that their unilateral acts have only increased sacrifices of people in their own countries as well as the rest of the world and posed the biggest obstacle to resolving them. As U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out, the abolition of nuclear weapons is an urgent and vital task because not only one country’s security but the survival of the entire humanity and civilization are at stake. All countries should cooperate and start taking actions immediately to achieve this task.

The global trend for the abolition of nuclear weapons has sharply questioned the position of the government of Japan, the only atomic-bombed country. What Japan should do is not to collaborate with the U.S. nuclear strategy under the pretext of “protecting Japan’s security”. It has been forcing to build new military bases in Okinawa and Mage Island and bulk-buying fighters, interceptor missiles and radar systems from the U.S. Instead, it should join the TPNW and take the lead in international politics to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, taking seriously the wishes of the Japanese citizens and expectations of the international community.

In “nuclear umbrella” countries around the world that have relied on nuclear weapons for their security, there is an emerging sign of change leading to a shift of their policies from “security depending on nuclear weapons” to “security of a world without nuclear weapons”. In Japan, a signature campaign calling on the Japanese government to sign and ratify the TPNW is rapidly developing with the support of a wide range of people, including the Hibakusha, former cabinet members and those in academic, cultural, environment and religious fields. Inspired by these developments, we will gear up the campaign with a conviction that the Japanese people will choose the path to a peaceful and nuclear weapon-free Japan.

We call on all of you to support and participate in the 2021 World Conference against A and H Bombs and the “Peace Wave” global actions.

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Provisional Program of the 2021 World Conference

 
August 2 (Mon): 10:00am – 12:30pm (JST)
International Meeting (on Zoom)
 
August 2-5 (Dates & Time: TBA)
Theme-based Forums (TBA)
 
August 6 (Fri): 10:00am – 12:30pm (JST)
World Conference – Hiroshima Day Rally (on Zoom)
 
August 9 (Mon): 10:00am – 12:30pm (JST)
World Conference – Nagasaki Day Rally (on Zoom)
 
August 6 & 9
On-site events in Hiroshima and Nagasaki (depending on the situation of coronavirus pandemic)
 
August 2–9
Peace Wave international joint action

2021WorldConf-Call-revised.pdf