We call for your support for and participation in the
2005 World Conference against A & H Bombs

Hiroshima on August 6 and Nagasaki on August 9, 1945 -- the humanity experienced the catastrophic effect of nuclear weapons for the first time in history. As the world commemorates the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombings this summer, we are holding the 2005 World Conference against A & H Bombs on August 2 to 9 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is our strongest desire to achieve a major breakthrough this year for the real steps leading to the abolition of nuclear weapons to be taken, and we hope to do so by working together with, and deepening the cooperation and solidarity among the Hibakusha of Hiroshima/Nagasaki and nuclear victims across the world, peace/anti-nuclear weapons movements and NGOs, local authorities and governments of non-nuclear weapons states to gather headway. We call on all those who share the goal of a world at peace and free of nuclear weapons to give warm support for and take active part in the 2005 World Conference.

After 60 years since the atomic bombings and 50 years since the first World Conference against A & H Bombs in 1955, the call for ridding the world of nuclear weapons has grown a powerful global voice. Today, more than half the globe is covered by the zones free of nuclear weapons and annual UN General Assembly resolutions calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons gain the support of overwhelming numbers of countries of the world. The desire for the prevention of nuclear war and the abolition of nuclear weapons that the Japanese movements against A and H bombs have held together with the Hibakusha for the past half century, has now grown into powerful actions, involving various peoples' movements of the world, local authorities and governments of non-nuclear weapons states.

This year especially, leading up to the Review Conference of the Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) in May and the 60th year of the atomic bombings in August, they are joining forces in pressing the nuclear weapons states to live up to their "unequivocal undertaking", agreed at the NPT Review Conference in 2000, to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear weapons, and to eradicate the threat of nuclear weapons.

The government of the United States, however, is seeking to frustrate the efforts for abolition by invalidating this agreement, to which it also committed. It is defiant in embracing its pre-emptive attack doctrine, which even includes the use of nuclear weapons against a "perceived threat of nuclear proliferation", despite the complete failure in its war in Iraq, and is determined to develop new "usable" kind of nuclear weapons. This is unacceptable and will be met with ever more disapproval, leading to a further isolation of the US government in the international community. If the world is to build peace and strengthen security and to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons, nuclear weapons must be categorically banned and the nuclear weapons states must abide by and implement their international agreement without delay.

There is a growing force in Japan of approving the U.S. nuclear and war policies and of adversely revising the Constitution of Japan. As a people's movement against nuclear weapons of the only nation to have suffered the nuclear attacks and to enshrine the renunciation of war in the Constitution, we are determined to break away from the dangerous protection of the US "nuclear umbrella" and to build a Japan that will sincerely strive for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

We call on all friends in Japan and across the world for your participation in the 2005 World Conference against A & H Bombs to further our cooperation, solidarity, discussion and friendship to realize a world of the 21st century without nuclear weapons. Let us work together to develop a variety of campaigns, including the global signature drive "Abolition of Nuclear Weapons Now!", the campaign to make Hibakusha's experiences known and support their struggles for justice, sending delegations to the coming March 1 Bikini Day commemorative events and to the NPT Review Conference, and achieving the success of the Nationwide Peace March for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons and many others. We reiterate our call to unite our activities, experiences and aspirations to achieve our cause, and support and participate in the World Conference against A & H Bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in this 60th year of the atomic bombings.

February 10, 2005
Organizing Committee, World Conference
against A & H Bombs

Abolition of Nuclear Weapons Now!

The 56th plenum of the Organizing Committee of the World Conference against A and H Bombs was held in Tokyo on Feb. 10, 2005. It announced that the 2005 World Conference would take place on Aug. 2-9 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and called for participation in and support for the conference.

A call for Participation in and Support
for the 2005 World Conference against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs

Provisional Program of the 2005 World Conference against A and H Bombs

Aug. 1: Information meeting for overseas delegates (evening)
Aug. 2-4: International Meeting (Hiroshima)
Aug. 2: Opening and Plenary Sessions
Aug. 3: Plenary Session and Workshops
Aug. 4: Closing Session

Aug. 4-6: World Conference - Hiroshima
Aug. 4: Opening Plenary
Aug. 5: Workshops
Aug. 6: 60th year Hiroshima Day Conference

Aug. 7-9: World Conference - Nagasaki
Aug. 7: Opening of the Nagasaki part of the World Conference
Cultural Program
Aug. 8: International Solidarity Forum
Workshops
Aug. 9: Closing Plenary