Dear Friends,

The summer of the 67th year from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is [...]]]>  

For a Nuclear Weapon-free, Peaceful and Just World:
We Call for Your Participation in and Support to the 2012 World Conference
against A and H Bombs

 Dear Friends,

The summer of the 67th year from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki is around the corner.  In these two A-bombed cities, the 2012 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs is planned on August 2 to 9, under the theme: “For a Nuclear Weapon-free, Peaceful and Just World”.  We call on all of you who share this desire to express your support to, take actions in solidarity with, and participate in or send delegations to the World Conference.

Sympathizing the Hibakusha’s belief that “humans cannot coexist with nuclear weapons”,  the moves seeking for the abolition of nuclear weapons are prevailing all over the world.  Anti-nuclear peace movements and a broad range of civil movements are taking actions to urge national governments, especially those possessing nuclear weapons, to start negotiations for a total ban on nuclear weapons.  Last December, the Malaysian resolution calling for a start of negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention was adopted in the UN General Assembly with the support of 130 member states.  The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon in October 2011 called for achieving a nuclear weapon-free world for the sake of peace and security of humans, as the world population was about to reach 7 billion.  With the Hibakusha in the lead, our consistent call for a total ban on nuclear weapons is echoing throughout the world.

The greatest obstacle to the abolition of nuclear weapons is the “nuclear deterrence theory” which nuclear weapons states claim their nuclear weapons are the “guarantee of security” while criticizing the possession of them by others as threat, and the policy of relying on their “nuclear umbrella” (extended nuclear deterrence) for national defense.  However, that more than 20,000 nuclear weapons still exist on earth proves that the possession of nuclear weapons by one state could induce another nuclear development by its opponent.  Humans must get out of this vicious circle, and the Japanese government should play its role becoming to the only A-bombed country in the world to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons.

Now, we are making a fresh start on the movements to achieve a “world without nuclear weapons”.  Along with the recent developments in favor of the abolition of nuclear weapons, a variety of grass-roots movements for peace and against war, for democracy, rectifying social gaps for a more just society have been developing all over the world.  The 2012 World Conference against A and H Bombs will be an opportunity to further develop joint effort with the United Nations, national and local governments, NGOs and grass-roots movements of the world, and deepen solidarity with such wide-ranging and diverse movements.

In order to make this historic World Conference a great success, we call on you to support it internationally as well as nationally by joining the following activities: Collecting signatures in support of the “Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” in your workplaces, communities and schools; Holding A-bomb exhibitions to make known the A-bomb damage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the wishes of the Hibakusha; the National Peace March to walk across the country through May to August; Activities to achieve a nuclear weapon-free Japan by defending Article 9 of the Constitution and the Three Non-nuclear Principles.  We also call on you to deepen solidarity with the movements to support the victims of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident and to realize the eradication of radiation damage and a shift of Japan’s energy policy from nuclear power generation to renewable energy sources.

For a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful and just world, let us achieve a great success of the 2012 World Conference as a rallying point where anyone can join, raise their voices and bring the experiences of grass-roots activities from your communities, workplaces and school campuses.

2012 Bikini Day Conference – International Forum Feb. 28, 2012 at Shizuoka

Let Us Open the Door to a Nuclear Weapon-Free World by Force of Signatures

Yayoi Tsuchida, Assistant General Secretary

The Bikini Day conference last year became a place [...]]]>

2012 Bikini Day Conference – International Forum
Feb. 28,  2012 at Shizuoka

Let Us Open the Door to a Nuclear Weapon-Free World
by Force of Signatures

Yayoi Tsuchida, Assistant General Secretary

 The Bikini Day conference last year became a place where we started a new signature campaign in support of the “Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” nationwide, one which we had launched on Feb. 15,  with support from wide-ranging people, including UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.  For over one year, we did our very best.  No sooner did we start the campaign than Japan was inflicted with heavy earthquake, tsunami and the highest level of nuclear crisis at Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant.  Public focus quickly shifted away from nuclear disarmament.  We did rise up immediately in action to organize support of victims in Fukushima and other affected places as well as to call for an end to the reliance on nuclear power.  Nevertheless, as Joe Garson pointed out, we did not ease up our effort to collect signatures for the new Appeal.  People in Fukushima and neighboring prefectures were among the first to keep this effort organizing annual peace marches.  People everywhere in Japan visited local governments, fisheries’ coops and many different organizations to ask for their support.  As the result, the number of the signatures collected reached 1,029,031, including of 766 mayors, representing some 44% of the Japanese local governments, which we submitted to the First Committee of the UN General Assembly last year.  This is a formidable achievement.

Through these practices of about one year, I believe Gensuikyo broke new ground.  We learned deeper that as movement of the country that suffered Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and again Fukushima, we must send out voices and experiences of those who suffered; that we must appeal to the urgency and importance of the abolition of nuclear weapons; and that we should keep standing in the van for a total ban and the elimination of nuclear weapons.  This is the role we should undertake and fulfill.

As Mr. Ban Ki-moon says, we now live in a time when abolishing nuclear weapons is possible.  In October last year, we visited the UN headquarters.  There, I witnessed firsthand many countries of Non-Aligned Movement, New Agenda Coalition and other groups take offensive for the elimination of nuclear weapons.  The understanding that a binding treaty is the only way to totally abolish nuclear weapons was also widespread.

This momentum is being built and consolidated into irreversible development leading to a nuclear weapon-free world on the agreement reached by the 2010 NPT Review Conference.  It made it a goal to achieve a world without nuclear weapons, and made it obligation for all governments to make “special effort” to establish a “framework” to reach this goal.  Despite various resistance by nuclear powers, this was after all accepted by all.  As they once accepted, they should act to honor them.  We must increase pressure on them so that they will set about their “special effort” by starting negotiations for a convention banning all nuclear weapons.

With this point in focus, the new cycle of the NPT review process leading to the 2015 Conference will start on coming April 30.  We must turn this cycle into a process through which the agreement will be implemented and all nuclear arsenal eliminated.  As a concrete action, Gensuikyo has drawn a plan to host an A-bomb photo-panel exhibition in Vienna, the venue of the next NPT Preparatory Committee on April 30 and thereafter, as well as in all 47 prefectures in Japan, and in conjunction with it, we will challenge a signature campaign everywhere in Japan, each making it a goal to get local government and local people to join the campaign.  Let us encircle the NPT PrepCom with overwhelming voices and actions of citizens.

I have already circulated this plan to international NGOs.  The plan called attention from people in Vienna and other cities in Europe, and is helping to build up momentum.  The International Peace Bureau, in which Gensuikyo is an active member, has decided that it would cohost the exhibition in Vienna with us, and that it will soon issue a statement inviting other members and friends to join in this effort.  The European Chapter of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the European Youth Project for Nuclear Disarmament have sent us their support, saying that they share the spirit and want to generate a change.  In response to our call, Indian friends, too, are planning to host A-bomb photo exhibitions and run a signature drive in many places in their country.

This initiative has one more important role.  That is to press the Japanese Government to play its own role as the only A-bombed country in achieving a ban on nuclear weapons.  In response to our proposal, Nagasaki Gensuikyo visited Mayor Taue of Nagasaki City to ask for his support of the signature campaign and the A-bomb photo exhibition.  Maybe our friends from Nagasaki will give more detailed information to this forum later.  Yet one point I want to make here is that the mayor agreed that the present review cycle of the NPT should be made the final phase.  From the viewpoint of Mayors for Peace to accomplish the goal by 2020, he said, such tempo as achieving a ban in 2015 is prerequisite.  Then, he further said that the “idea of hosting A-bomb photo exhibition throughout the country is wonderful”, and that “we need more than cooperation, we will work together”.  As Mayors for Peace has 1101 member cities in Japan, this experience suggests that the development of the signature campaign with the whole of the local community involved is possible everywhere in the country.

The Japanese Government, too, says that it will stand in the forefront in the effort to lead to a nuclear weapon-free world. Yet,  making the maximum use of outside “threat”, such as nuclear development of North Korea,  it has tried to justify the policy of “nuclear umbrella” provided by the US.  As the US is shifting its weight to prevail in the Asia-Pacific region,  and the Japanese Government accommodates to this move,  as seen in its position on the Futenma Base in Okinawa or on the Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations,  sometimes,  it looks as if the force of backflow of history had a momentum.  Yet, the critical view against Japan’s dependence on “nuclear umbrella” is spreading much,  much wider in the public opinion.  We feel it almost every day through our contacts with citizens and local governments in the signature campaign. Facing pressure from the movement and the public support for it,  the government had to agree on the importance to honor the agreement of the 2010 NPT Review conference,  and admit the need for a treaty to ban on nuclear weapons “at some point in the final phase”.  Our signature campaign is an effective means to further build up public support for a total ban, and thus pressing the government to work for it.

In this year when the next NPT review cycle starts,  we must get our movement much broader and stronger.  We live in an era where people can make a change through their own action.  Accepting our signatures,  Mr. Sergio Duarte,  UN High Representative on Disarmament Affairs, said that the wave of democratic revolution is reaching the work of nuclear disarmament, and that the 7 million signatures submitted by Gensuikyo to the NPT Review Conference was an evidence.  Together with the signatures submitted by Mayors for Peace, our signatures were placed in twin towers,  which stand at the entrance of the main hall of the UN General Assembly.  Next occasion of the presentation of the signatures will be at the NPT PrepCom in Vienna.  Let us start the work quickly.  By building high waves of action, let us open a door of a world free of nuclear weapons.

1) The first Preparatory Committee for the next NPT Review Conference will be convened on April 30 this year in Vienna, Austria. Looking to the PrepCom, many governments of the [...]]]>  1. Promotion of Campaigns for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons in Solidarity with the Peoples of the World 

1)　The first Preparatory Committee for the next NPT Review Conference will be convened on April 30 this year in Vienna, Austria. Looking to the PrepCom, many governments of the world have taken actions so that the NPT agreements to create “a world without nuclear weapons” can be put into practice. In many parts of the world, various anti-nuclear and peace movements are intensifying their activities for nuclear disarmament, withdrawal of nuclear weapons and reduction of nuclear and military budget. 

In order to encourage the implementation of the agreements to realize “a world without nuclear weapons”, Gensuikyo will issue a call on the occasion of the first PrepCom to urge governments and heads of all NPT state parties and non-state parties such as India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel to take actions leading to a total ban on nuclear weapons.

During the first PrepCom, we will host an A-Bomb exhibition in Vienna together with International Peace Bureau (IPB) and other peace organizations in Austria and neighboring countries. We will also try to get cooperation or support from Austrian government for the exhibition.

We will exhibit a new set of A-bomb photo panels (title: A-bomb and Humanity) and make the exhibition a new starting point of disseminating A-bomb panels in Japan and abroad. On this occasion, we will make A-bombed testimonies heard and the signature campaign in support of the “Appeal on Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” promoted.

Furthermore, responding to the exhibition in Vienna, Gensuikyo’s local organizations in all 47 prefectural capitals and other districts will host A-bomb exhibitions at the same time.

In order to make a success of the planned A-bomb exhibitions in Vienna and all over Japan on April 30 and the National Peace March that will start a Tokyo-Hiroshima course on May 6, Gensuikyo makes concrete plans to develop the movements on a community basis, including requesting municipal authorities and local organizations to support and make joint effort to promote the signature campaign in support of the “Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons”.

We also seek to organize same action on the occasion of the International Conference on the establishment of a nuclear weapon-free zone in Middle East to be planned this year in Finland, cooperating with movements in the host country and in the countries concerned such as Israel and Arab countries. 

2) Gensuikyo sends a delegation to both the first Preparatory Committee of NPT Review Conference in April and the 67^th UN General Assembly First Committee in fall, and submits collected signatures to them. We set 4 phases to develop the signature campaign nationwide and build up public opinion enough to realize a total ban on nuclear weapons: 1) the first NPT Preparatory Committee on April 30, 2) 2012 World Conference against A and H Bombs in August (Hiroshima and Nagasaki Day), 3) the beginning of October, and 4) the end of the year. At each phase, we count the signature and make public the number of collected signatures.

The goal of campaign in support of the “Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” is to embody a wish of vast majority of the people for a nuclear weapon-free world and reflect it in international politics. The key to success is to obtain cooperation in the campaign from residents of communities beyond thoughts and beliefs.

So far, more than 1600 mayors, chairpersons and other officials of municipalities have supported the Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons. Among them, the number of mayors’ signatures reached 787, accounting for 45 percent of all mayors. In Nanae-town in Hokkaido, an association for abolishing nuclear weapons was formed with the mayor as a leader, aiming at involving all town residents in the signature campaign. We strengthen approaches to local governments such as the member cities of the Mayors for Peace and those declared nuclear free, requesting them to set a signature corner in city halls and collect signatures from their Council members and employees.

It is also important to develop and promote Monthly 6^th and 9^th Day Actions as a nationwide united activity.

2.  Aiming to create a nuclear weapon-free and peaceful Japan

We are determined to arouse public opinion to urge Japanese government to play a part as the only A-bombed country and contribute to making this year a turning point to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons.

1) We will call on the Japanese government as well as those of other countries to take actions for the abolition of nuclear weapons in the first NPT PrepCom.  Getting cooperation from member cities of Mayors for Peace and other municipalities across Japan, we will circulate our call widely to the Japanese people, and further internationally as representing the desire of the Japanese people.

2) We have to make Japanese government break away from U.S. “nuclear umbrella”, repeal secret nuclear agreements which allow the bringing of nuclear weapons in Japan and strictly implement the Three Non-nuclear Principles.  The signature campaign in support of the “Appeal on Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” serves to lay common ground of the public to support this task as well as the abolition of nuclear weapons.  To this end, it is vital to develop the signature campaign in all municipalities, involving residents and heads of local governments.

3) We demand that Japanese government repeal secret nuclear agreements, strictly observe and legislate the Three Non-nuclear Principles, and remove and refuse the portcalls of nuclear capable warships including nuclear powered aircraft carrier “George Washington”.  Even though getting unable to completely deny the existence of secret nuclear agreements, Japanese government has still continued to unconditionally allow nuclear capable warships to call at Japanese ports on the pretext that former US President Bush gave directions to remove tactical nuclear weapons from warships. The president’s directive, however, is the document that the U.S. can change anytime for its convenience without notice, and the US has the policy of “maintaining the system to redeploy nuclear weapons anytime”.  Indeed, US has continued to apply a policy of neither confirm nor deny carrying nuclear weapons on individual warships.　　　 

We urge the Japanese government to declare and notify internationally that it will not permit the bringing of nuclear weapons into the country, and to apply to the ports of Japan the Nuclear Free Kobe Formula that obligates warships of nuclear weapon states to submit a “non-nuclear certificate”. When there are media reports that the US Navy seems to aim at using ports and harbors in Honshu region facing the Sea of Japan and Kyushu region in case of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, we urge all municipalities concerned, especially those of these regions, to take the same attitude to the requests of US warships.

We will strengthen our efforts to raise awareness of citizens about the danger of nuclear weapons being brought into Japan and radioactive contamination of seawater, and to get them involved in the movement against them. 

4) On January 5, the U.S. government released the “Defense Strategic Guidance: Sustaining U.S. Global Leadership: Priorities for 21st Century Defense”, in which the government admitted that due to national financial crisis, it had to make a certain adjustment to its military spending that accounts for almost half of the world’s total military expenditure; however, the weight of Asia-Pacific region remained high as a region the U.S. future depends on, and it even put forward the direction to impose more burden on its allies.

We oppose the “reinforcement” of the Japan-US military alliance that has increased nuclear threat by the “nuclear umbrella”, the strengthening of the “missile defense” system and the danger of nuclear weapons being brought into Japan. We express firm solidarity with movements for unconditional removal of Futenma base, reduction and removal of U.S. military bases and installations, and against the joint use of the bases of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces by the US military.

3．Eradication of nuclear damage, breaking away from nuclear energy and shift to renewable energy sources

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster has become the worst nuclear accident in history, at level 7 of the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES). It has brought about severe and extensive radioactive contamination. The uncontrollable grave situation of the plant and the widespread contamination show that civil use of nuclear energy is incomplete technology that may risk people’s lives, let alone military use of it.

We are determined to develop solidarity with the movements seeking for a shift from nuclear energy to renewable energy which are growing nationally and internationally. We will study and raise awareness of people about the relations between nuclear weapons and nuclear power generation as well as the damage caused by radiation. 

We demand that the government should conduct detailed measurements of radioactivity, announce their results, commit to take strict safety measures for residents and the environment, including thorough decontamination, and provide relief and compensation for the victims.  We also demand the cancellation of all the following plans: the resumption of the operations of nuclear power plants; the plutonium recycling system; the resumption of the operation of the fast-breeder reactor Monju; the resumption of the nuclear fuel reprocessing plant in Rokkasho Village; the use of the MOX fuel and the construction of the 14 new nuclear power plants.  We call for breaking away from nuclear energy generation and developing of renewable energy sources.  We oppose Japan’s export of nuclear power plants.   

As immediate actions, we will continue activity to help sufferers of the Fukushima disaster-stricken areas get relief and compensation for the rehabilitation of their lives and communities; we will join and work with for the “No Nuclear Power Plants National Network” established on December 13, 2011; getting cooperation from scientists and experts of nuclear energy and radiation damage, etc., we will plan to organize symposiums and seminars to discuss the abolition of nuclear weapons, the problems of Japan’s policy on nuclear energy and nuclear power plants, and protecting the people from radiation damage (A symposium is planned on April 11, 2012 in Tokyo).

Dear friends,

We express our deep gratitude for your warm support and messages to us on the damage of the earthquake, tsunamis and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant [...]]]> Let Us Gather in Hiroshima & Nagasaki and Pile Up Millions of Signatures to Ban Nuclear Weapons

Dear friends,

We express our deep gratitude for your warm support and messages to us on the damage of the earthquake, tsunamis and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. As a movement which stood up and rescued the survivors of the A-bomb tragedy, we are devoting all our energies to rescue more than 400,000 sufferers and evacuees.

Though in the midst of this effort, we announce that the 2011 World Conference against A and H Bombs will be planned on August 3-9 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The damage of the disaster has brought tasks facing us into relief. Capability and resources that humans have obtained should be used for peace, environmental conservation, the protection of people’s lives, livelihood, safety and welfare. They must not be used for wars, military buildup, destroying environment and expanding disparity and poverty.

In particular, the ongoing disaster of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant once again shed light to the tremendous danger of the current development of nuclear energy that had made endless pursuit of profit at the sacrifice of people’s safety.

We urge the Japanese government to take urgent measures to give top priority to safety of the people and avert catastrophic exposure of the entire nation to radiation. Not only that, it should conduct comprehensive checks on all existing nuclear powers, and stop the use of plutonium fuel in the nuclear power plants. Japan is projecting on the use of plutonium, as seen in MOX fuel plan, the resumption of operation of the fast breeder-reactor “Monju”, etc. Above all, now is time for the government to shift its energy policy from dependence on nuclear energy to the development of renewable energy and creation of a lower energy consumption society.

The current nuclear disaster also carved in relief how devastating and criminal the use of nuclear energy for arms is! We are firmly determined to do utmost to achieve a total ban on nuclear weapons, let alone, to rescue the sufferers and win the shift of nuclear energy policy.

We launched a new signature drive in support of the “Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Feb. 15, 2010. This campaign demands that the governments of the world start negotiations to conclude a convention totally banning nuclear weapons. It was called for based on the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference and with confidence that the will and the actions of the people are the key to the next steps to reach the goal of a nuclear weapon-free world. The Preparatory Committee meeting to the next NPT Review Conference is due to be held in May next year. If we take it into account, we have to urge all governments to make “special effort” immediately, and we have to urge them to reach an agreement to start negotiation for the convention banning nuclear weapons in the UN General Assembly to be convened this autumn. In order to achieve this purpose this autumn, we have to make a success of the World Conference with a large number of participants and signatures. We call on you to join us in the Conference and to bring your collected signatures so that we can pile up millions of them in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Massive support and assistance is being extended nationally and internationally to the sufferers of the huge earthquake and tsunamis that hit the eastern Japan on March 11, and of the subsequent damage caused by the nuclear power plant accident. As an organization that has worked [...]]]> Hiroshi TAKA

Representative Director, Gensuikyo

Massive support and assistance is being extended nationally and internationally to the sufferers of the huge earthquake and tsunamis that hit the eastern Japan on March 11, and of the subsequent damage caused by the nuclear power plant accident. As an organization that has worked for relieving the survivors of atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and ensuring the survival of human race, we are now carrying out nationwide activities to relieve the sufferers.

Many heart-warming messages of solidarity and support to the victims have been sent to us. Most touching among them are certainly the letters of encouragement coming from the victims of nuclear accidents and nuclear testing around the world, including in the USA, the former Soviet Union and Pacific Islands.

The devastating earthquake of magnitude 9.0, comparable to those happened off the Chilean Coast in 1960 or off the Sumatra Coast in 2004, generated tsunami waves as high as 30 meters in some places. They engulfed towns and villages on the Pacific Coast. The toll of dead has so far reached 12,000. In addition, about 16,000 people are missing and more than 160,000 people are forced to live in the shelters.

Ongoing Nuclear Crisis of Fukushima Power Plant

Along with the relief of the sufferers and recovery from the destruction, the most pressing task is to settle the current crisis of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and prevent further deterioration of the damage. Due to failure of Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) and the government leaders and agencies in promptly responding to the crisis, radioactive contamination has already spread far beyond the evacuation zones within the radius of 20-kilometers from the plant, or even the area between 20 and 30 kilometers from the plant, where indoor sheltering is advised. In Iitate Village, 40 kilometers to the northwest of the plant, 163,000 becquerels of radioactive Cesium137 in 1kg of soil have been detected. In terms of radiation per square meter, this is equivalent to 3.2 million becquerels, an amount that exceeds by far the contamination level in the evacuation zone around Chernobyl Plant.

The situation is getting worse. Highly radioactive water is flowing into the ground, the sea and the underground water in and around the plant site and makes the repair work more complicated and difficult. On April 2, 16 experts, all formerly holding leading positions in the Atomic Energy Society and the Nuclear Safety Commission, jointly issued a warning concerning the No.1, No.2 and No.3 reactors. They said, “ (In these reactors), the fuels have partly melted and accumulated in the bottom of reactor pressure vessels (RPV). With the current makeshift cooling, it is highly likely that the RPV wall will melt by heat and be broken through”. Many specialists in this field, prized by the mainstream media, have tried to reassure the public by saying that “it would not be another Chernobyl”. However, despite difference in the reactor type, the amount of fuels remaining in the three reactors in Fukushima Daiichi Plant is far bigger than those that exploded the No. 4 reactor in Chernobyl Plant. If the uranium and plutonium from the melting fuel rods reach the critical mass again, or the RPVs or the containment buildings melt by heat, or the hydrogen gas explosion occurs, the amount of radioactive substances that will scatter, contaminate the environment and cause exposures can be much more than that of the Chernobyl accident. And this is not all. Some other experts suggest the possibility that RPVs in Fukushima Daiichi Plant have already been partly damaged in their bottom. The situation admits no delay.

Urgent Measures to Accident Delayed

We attach importance to the following three points:

First, the government should do all that it can to cool down the reactors and contain the radioactivity, giving top priority to the safety of the people. It should mobilize all available knowledge and experiences. The “Tokyo Shinbun” reported on March 28 that on Mar. 11 when the earthquake and tsunamis hit the power plant, the Nuclear and Industrial Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry anticipated already at 10:00pm that the suspension of the pouring water system would cause the exposure of the fuel rods from water in 50 minutes, and that the meltdown would start in another 2 hours. It planned to vent radioactive steam at 3:20am and explained about the plan to the prime minister. However, it was not implemented until 14:30 in the afternoon of Mar. 12, as many as16 hours after it was recommended.

The same thing happened to pouring water on the reactor cores. After the Emergency Core Cooling System (ECCS) got unavailable, pouring sea water or boric acid was recommended. But it was not put into practice until 30 hours later than the accident. Taking such an emergency measure as pouring sea water is said to be delayed from the hesitation of the parties concerned to do so, in fear of the reactors being rendered irreparable. If it is the case, the responsibility of those who delayed the response is heavy.

Neither Assumptions nor Solutions to Disasters

Continuing strong aftershocks make it urgent to make an all-out examination of existing 55 nuclear power plants at 17 places in Japan. The electric companies and the government, namely the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, have promoted the development of nuclear power in unison, boasting that “all possible measures against any disasters are set in place.” But in reality, none of 17 power plants have assumed a 10-meter high tsunami or even a higher one like one that came this time.

They have not assumed such big earthquakes, either, which was revealed not only by the earthquake of this time but by the Off Chuetsu earthquake in July 2007. It affected the Kashiwazaki Power Plant, whose generation of electric power was the largest in the world. Due to unexpectedly bigger shocks, the reactor came to an emergency halt. But a fire broke out at a substation with ECCS and, in addition, with lack of fire fighting system, it was about to be a catastrophe.

Stop Use of Plutonium Fuel

Since last year, the use of plutonium fuel either started or is planed to start soon at 10 power plants. The fast breeder-reactor “Monju” also was put under operation last year, although it quickly stopped due to another accident. The operation of the reprocessing plant at Rokkasho-mura also started despite strong voices of opposition, though it is currently out of operation. These dangerous attempts, all using plutonium, should immediately stop and be discarded. The planned construction of 14 new power plants should be cancelled. The prolonged operation of old power plants should be put to end.

Japan’s Energy Policy Be Reviewed

Japan’s energy policy has come into question now. The government and the industry have promoted the development of nuclear energy as a national policy. They even showed strong ambition to go into a world market. As the above statement of 16 experts suggest, they pursued the policy at the thought of yielding big profits; they have not fully considered and worked out solutions to possible danger of accidents.

Japan’s electricity generation consisted of coal (25%), natural gas (29%), kerosene (7%), water power (8%) and nuclear energy (29%). New energy only accounts for less than 1%. Yet since depending on nuclear energy means to sit back to back with the danger of radiation contamination on global level, a strategic shift to natural energy is unavoidable and in urgent need. Alternatives exist, including more efficient use of traditional energies, development of renewable energies such as solar, geothermal, biomass ones, combined with an effort to build a lower energy consumption society in which wasteful use of resources and energies is restrained.

All Possible Measures Be Taken to Rescue Victims

Another urgent task facing us is to rescue a large number of sufferers. One month after the disaster, the victims are getting to be encouraged by a nationwide relief effort by neighboring local governments, citizens and volunteers. But the time-consuming work of rehabilitation cannot be achieved only with goodwill of the people. The government should take drastic measures to relieve them. The tax cut in 2 trillion yen for big businesses and super riches, the 180 billion yen used as “considerate budget” and other wasteful money used for more than 135 US bases and facilities in Japan, and other expenditures for redundant public works and for a free expressway system should all be cancelled and the saved money be used for the relief of sufferers. The government should press for 2 trillion-yen internal reserves of TEPCO and a total of 244 trillion-yen internal reserves of Japan’s big enterprises to be used for the rehabilitation. So far, political parties in Japan, except the Communist Party, have kept silent about touching these “sanctuaries”.

Finally, although the gravity of disaster is not easily measured by a simple comparison, we can see that the toll of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings was even far more than the number of the victims by the recent disaster. In these two cities alone, 210,000 people died by the end of 1945, and even after that, the A-bomb damage has continued till today to take the lives of those who survived. Those killed by the two atomic bombs are countless.

Nuclear Arms – Worst Misuse of Nuclear Energy

The worst of the worst misuses of the nuclear energy is to build nuclear weapons. It will soon be 66 years from the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In these years, increasing of people’s awareness about what actually happened under the mushroom cloud has contributed to building up a world opinion in favor of elimination of nuclear weapons.

The disaster that hit the eastern part of Japan also teaches us a new lesson: The high level of abilities and resources the humans have acquired should not be used for wars, armament, or unlimited speculations and wastes. Instead, they should be used for the realization of a peaceful and just world through eradicating hunger and poverty, overcoming diseases and disasters, improving welfare and education and settling disputes and confrontations. A total ban on nuclear weapons remains an urgent and crucial task for this. It is the task humans can work in solidarity for their survival.

Committed to this task, we call on you to support and participate in the 2011 World Conference against A and H Bombs to be planned in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on August 3-9. We are resolved to do utmost effort to develop solidarity among the grass-root movements of the peoples of the world for achieving a peaceful and just world without nuclear weapons.

Gensuikyo called for nationwide fundraising on March 18 to support the victims of the earthquake, tsunamis and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Next day, we took to streets to appeal for donation in front of a railway station and [...]]]>

Gensuikyo Calls for Nationwide Fundraising to Support Victims

Gensuikyo called for nationwide fundraising on March 18 to support the victims of the earthquake, tsunamis and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. Next day, we took to streets to appeal for donation in front of a railway station and collected 30,000 yen. Public interest in this issue was so high that many young people stopped and chipped in to our donation boxes. They seemed to want to do whatever they can do to help the sufferers. Kanagawa Gensuikyo conducted fundraising at 9 places in the prefecture, colleting 210,000 yen in a short time. The total amount of donation we have so far collected exceeded 1.2 million yen as of April 6.

We Bring Relief Supplies to Fukushima

Responding to an email (see below) form Ishido Yuko, Secretary of Fukushima Gensuikyo, Hiroshi Taka, representative director of Gensuikyo, and staffs drove to Fukushima city on Mar. 30, and handed over 200,000 yen donation and 270 litter of kerosene. High level of radiation has been sometimes detected in this area, though it is not designated as an evacuation zone. The fear of effects of radiation makes delivery of relief supplies and volunteers’ activities difficult.

Yuko’s message

We were thrown into a really grave crisis. Every day, I line up for foods at stores amidst frequent aftershocks and sounds of helicopter. We are concerned about water contaminated by radiation but cannot do anything but drink it, and we never know when gasoline and kerosene will be available. It was snowing in the morning today and yesterday, and was really cold. The evacuees housed in cold school gyms and those who are forced to stay indoors of their houses might not have enough strength left to hold out much longer. My 84-year-old mother said, ‘It’s just like during a war’.

I have managed to live in my house which was undamaged, but I spend every day thinking about our days to come, watching endless news about Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and wondering if we can organize this year’s Peace March. Sometimes I cannot sleep at night, and I have little appetite and energy. But even more painful is that those who I want to talk together about Gensuikyo’s activities have left the region and gone to distant places for evacuation.I wonder what we Gensuikyo should do in the situation like this and have not found any answer, but believe all I can do now is to publish newsletters. So I have been sending out what little information I have obtained to communities and related organizations inside Fukushima Prefecture. Until Fukushima City is designated to be among evacuation zones (although it is certainly not desirable), I hope to carry on issuing newsletters, while helping and supporting people in emergency shelters as a member of our local ‘Cooperation Center for Rebuilding’. During this period, I realized that ‘sending out information’ has helped me to calm down.

YASUI Masakazu

Secretary General, Japan Council against A& H Bombs (Gensuikyo)

Following the massive [...]]]> Every measure must urgently be taken to prevent further deterioration of the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and to rescue the victims and evacuees of the earthquake, tsunamis and nuclear accident

Mar. 18, 2011

YASUI Masakazu

Secretary General, Japan Council against A& H Bombs (Gensuikyo)

Following the massive earthquake that hit eastern part of Japan and the subsequent tsunami disasters on March 11, 2011, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is facing a critical situation. Among its 6 nuclear reactors, Reactor No.1, No.2 and No.3 had their fuel rods damaged, partially melted, or suspected to be melting. At Reactor No. 3 and No. 4, the water temperature of the spent fuel storage pools has risen so high and much evaporated that fuel rods are exposed in air. A critical situation is continuing. It is also reported that the water temperature of the spent fuel storage pools at Reactor No. 5 and No. 6 is also rising.

Facing the danger of massive exposure to radiation, common with the damage from the A-bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and from nuclear testing around the world, voices of sympathies, concerns and anxieties for the victims and the people in evacuation, are reaching us from everywhere in Japan and overseas. As a movement working on the basis of the tragic experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki for the prevention of any more calamity and for a total ban on nuclear weapons, we are deeply concerned about the present crisis, and urge the Japanese government to make its all-out effort to avert the worst situation of catastrophic exposure of the entire nation to radiation.? We also call on it to make the best effort to mobilize the wisdom and actions of the people nationwide in rescuing the victims of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accident.

1. Both the most urgent and vital is to take every measure to prevent further meltdown of the nuclear fuel, ensure the cooling of the spent fuel and thus prevent the radiation from massively dispersing from the reactors. If the present situation further deteriorates to such a point where uranium and plutonium melt out of the fuel rods, massive amount of radioactive substance will be released into the air – the worst-case scenario.

It is strongly pointed out that the government has assigned the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, a body that was created for the promotion of nuclear energy, as a responsible body to cope with the crisis, and that this assignment is helping to aggravate the situation. The government must give top priority to securing the safety of the citizens, and should not be driven by the interests of the electricity industry and other financial and economic circles, such as, their demand for the preservation of the failed reactors. It should give the central role in coping with the crisis to the independent Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan, which has the role as the “cornerstone” of the nuclear safety administration.

2. The rescue efforts for the victims of the earthquake, tsunamis and nuclear power accident are equally urgent and vital. The death toll has exceeded 5,000 and another 17,000 people are still missing. Over 400,000 people are in emergency evacuation centers and passing hard time in anxiety. Inpatients evacuated from hospitals have resulted in tragic deaths in succession. In order to meet the challenge of the disaster of such enormous scale, it is essential to call for and rely on the support efforts of broad citizens, along with the efforts of national and local governments’ institutions. We urge the government to provide all disaster-related information fully and quickly. It should also ensure that the communication, traffic and transportation media are available for the citizens in their rescue efforts for the suffering people and their local governments.

3. The ongoing disaster at Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant once again shed light to the tremendous danger of continued dependence on nuclear power especially in Japan, the most earthquake-prone country of the world. Gensuikyo has many times pointed out the enormous risks involved in Japan’s nuclear policy, including the use of plutonium fuel in the nuclear power plants, the resumption of operation of the fast breeder-reactor “Monju” and the operation of the reprocessing plant at Rokkasho-mura. We have urged the immediate halt to the new construction of nuclear power plants, and called for an all-out examination of existing nuclear power plants. In the face of still-feared major aftershocks, we again urge the government to immediately conduct comprehensive checks on all existing nuclear powers. Further, we urge it to give priority to the development and promotion of alternative energy resources.

We are pleased to inform you that Gensuikyo launched a new signature campaign in support of the “Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” which calls on all governments to enter negotiations for a convention banning nuclear weapons. We would like to express [...]]]>

Starting Ceremony in Tokyo (Feb. 15)

We are pleased to inform you that Gensuikyo launched a new signature campaign in support of the “Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons” which calls on all governments to enter negotiations for a convention banning nuclear weapons. We would like to express our gratitude to you and all the other friends overseas who have given support to the new signature campaign.

This is the campaign based on the outcome of the 2010 NPT Review Conference, and it is a next step to achieving a world without nuclear weapons. On February 15, we held starting ceremonies in Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Tokyo simultaneously and called for collecting signatures for this cause in and out of Japan.

Why This Campaign ?

When we will soon see the 66th Summer of the tragedies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the world is rapidly changing in terms of nuclear weapons.? With our actions in New York, or in many other cities around the world, the NPT Review Conference in May last year declared it as its goal “to achieve the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons”, and called on all states to make “special efforts” to establish a framework for it, focusing on the proposal of UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the start of negotiations on a convention banning nuclear weapons.

The outcome of the session of the UN General assembly towards the end of the last year also showed a change. Nearly all member states voted in support of a resolution that urges full implementation of all past agreements on nuclear disarmament. The resolution calling for the start of negotiations on a nuclear weapon convention, put forward by Malaysia and many others, enjoyed support from 133 countries, including China, India and Pakistan, which possess nuclear arsenals, and even North Korea.

Now that the voice calling for a ban on nuclear weapons represents the majority in international politics, and that the Secretary General of the United Nations is appealing that we should, with Hibakusha, “celebrate the end of nuclear weapons”, the peace movements around the world should rise up in action in solidarity to make next steps forward, and the initiative for it should be taken here in Japan the only A-bombed country, with the Hibakusha.

Campaign Welcomed Nationally and Internationally

We have received endorsements from prominent figures in many different fields, leaders of organizations, and mayors, governors and local council leaders.? Eleven prominent personalities willingly agreed to our request that their names and portraits appear in a campaign poster.? They are Sumiteru Taniguchi, a leader of the Hibakusha movement, Tadatoshi Akiba & 　Tomiichi Taue, the mayors of Hiroshima & Nagasaki, Nobel laureates Kenzaburo Oe and Toshihide Masukawa, Yoji Yamada, the film director, Isao Harimoto, a baseball player who has the record of 3000 hits, Jakucho Setouchi, a leading Buddhist nun and writer, Dr. Shigeaki Hinohara, popular singers of Kumiko and Chitose Hajime.

International support and solidarity with the campaign is also spreading no less broadly than in Japan. We have received support from Nobel laureates Jody Williams and Mairead Maguire, and international networks and national and grassroots peace groups, such as the International Peace Bureau, the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War and its International Campaign. One more feature on the launch of it is that the UN secretary General Ban Ki-moon and High Representative Sergio Duarte gave us warm and inspiring messages.

Mairead Maguire

Jody Williams

Our Short-term Goal: To collect signatures toward the 2011 World Conference to submit them to the UN this autumn

Placing the desire of the people in the signatures, we will send a delegation to the United Nations around the beginning of October every year, when the UN begins disarmament deliberations, to submit them to the UN.

The Preparatory Committee meeting to the next NPT Review Conference is due to be held in May next year. If we take it into account, we have to urge all governments to make “special effort” immediately, and we have to urge them to reach an agreement to start negotiation for the convention banning nuclear weapons in the UN General Assembly to be convened this autumn.

In order to obtain this agreement in the autumn, let us make a success of this year’s World Conference against A & H Bombs to he held in August in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Please bring your collected signatures to the Conference. Let us pile up millions of signatures in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Message from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon

I am pleased to greet all those gathered in Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Tokyo to launch a new campaign calling for the start of negotiations for a convention banning nuclear weapons.

I fully support your efforts. The history of multilateral disarmament shows the importance of citizens raising their voices to demand action by governments.

Your campaign is especially timely given recent significant developments, including the entry into force of the new START Treaty between the Russian Federation and the United States and the successful outcome of the 2010 Review Conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We must all build on this momentum.

Last August, I attended the Peace Memorial Ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. That visit was among the most moving and memorable experiences of my life. I was humbled and inspired by the courage and fortitude of the many hibakusha I met in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hearing their experiences strengthened my conviction that we must do everything in our power to rid the world of nuclear weapons. As long as nuclear weapons exist, the threat exists. If we want to get rid of the threat, we need to get rid of the weapons.

In October 2008, I put forward a five-point proposal on nuclear disarmament, offering a practical approach to the elimination of nuclear weapons, including support for the idea of a nuclear weapons convention. I am heartened that at their recent summit in Hiroshima, Nobel Peace Laureates expressed strong support for this idea.

I hope people everywhere will sign your petition, thereby adding their voice to rising chorus calling for the start of negotiations. One day, we will rid the world of nuclear weapons. And when we do, it will be because of people like you. I wish you a most successful campaign.