We, the Hibakusha, have survived the atomic bombs dropped in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, as well as nuclear bomb testing all over the world.

As a result of the atomic bombs dropped in Japan 58 years ago, 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 70,000 people in Nagasaki perished and more than 400,000 survivors have been suffering from its effects for the rest of their lives.  For more than a half-century, we have suffered from different kinds of cancers, blood diseases, thyroid problems, and chronic pain from debris lodged in our bodies.   The worst part, however, has been living with these problems.

Outside of Japan, the Hibakusha who were exposed to radiation through the manufacture and testing of nuclear weapons have had both their health and their lives taken from them.  But the damage does not end there, because the effects of the radiation are passed on to the children and grandchildren of the victims.  The radiation has not only destroyed the soil and living creatures, but also contaminated the environment in which they must try to live.

The Hibakusha know from experience that it is impossible to recover from the effects of nuclear weapons.  Therefore we have continuously insisted on these two fundamental assertions: (1) Abolish nuclear weapons, and (2) Create no more Hibakusha.

By focusing their efforts on these two principles, the Hibakusha have been able to prevent any further use of nuclear weapons in war, and in stopping the further creation of Hibakusha.  Now is the time to listen to the advisory opinion of the world’s highest law authority, the International Court of Justice.

However, current nuclear technology has yielded bombs tens and hundreds of times more powerful than the bombs used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Moreover, since thousands of such weapons exist, the use of only one bomb is unlikely, hundreds would be unleashed.  The level of sheer carnage and destruction from such a situation would be beyond imagination.  Nuclear fallout and radiation would be spread all over the world.

In particular, at this moment, the current international political situation poses an immediate danger.  The U.S. and the U.K. are preparing to exercise their military power, and it has already been publicly announced that nuclear weapons could be used in future wars.  Some 100,000 soldiers have been deployed near Iraq, and are preparing for action.  The use of nuclear weapons was considered in the conflict between India and Pakistan.  North Korea has just restarted operation of some of its nuclear facilities, and they even went so far as to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty recently.

We simply cannot idly sit and watch while such critical events unfold.  As the world’s first victims of nuclear war and the victims of nuclear weapons throughout the world, we jointly request that all the countries with nuclear weapons, and other world leaders eager to maintain world peace do the following:

Do not use nuclear weapons anywhere in the world!
Create no more Hibakusha!
Abolish nuclear weapons!

   Those among us, who love world peace, raise your voice and act!
 
 

Sunao Tsuboi, Co-chairperson, Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations
Senji Yamaguchi, Co-chairperson, Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations
Nori Tohei, Co-chairperson, Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organizations
Mitsuo Tomozawa, President, Committee of Atomic Bomb Survivors in USA
Lee KwongSun, President, Atomic Bomb Casualty Association in Korea
Takashi Morita, President, Atomic Bomb Survivors Association in Brazil
Natalia Mironova, President of the Movement for Nuclear Safety, Russia
Milia Kabironva, President of the charity foundation for support nuclear victims "Aygul", Russia
Andrey Talevlin, Vice-President of the Lawyers organization “Pravosoznanie", Russia
Gosman Kabirov, environmental organiszation "Techa", Russia
Dennis Nelson, Director, Support and Education for Radiation Victims, USA
Claudia Peterson, Downwinder, Board Member, Nevada Desert Experience, USA
 
 
 

Contact to: Japan Confederation of A- and H-bomb sufferers organizations   （Nihon Hidankyo）
          Gable Bldg. #902, 1-3-5 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku Tokyo 105-0012 JAPAN
          Phone  +81 3 3438 1897   Fax  +81 3 3431 2113   E-mail  kj3t-tnk@asahi-net.or.jp