ID :
136507
Sat, 08/07/2010 - 13:45
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/136507
The shortlink copeid
U.S., U.N. attending Hiroshima memorial boosts nuke-free world hopes+
HIROSHIMA, Aug. 6 Kyodo - Representatives from a record 74 countries including the United States, a first-time participant, and the U.N. chief attended a ceremony Friday in Hiroshima to mark the 65th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of the city in World War II, symbolizing a growing international move toward a nuclear
weapons-free world.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos became the first U.S. representative to
attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony in the western Japanese city, while U.N.
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon became the first U.N. chief to do so.
Representatives of nuclear nations Britain and France also attended for the
first time.
Roos' attendance at the memorial was initially received favorably but
eventually left many local atomic bomb survivors disappointed as he kept
tight-lipped during his stay in Hiroshima, declining to voice any specific
words for the victims or talking with them.
Roos issued a comment through a press release put out by the U.S. Embassy in
Tokyo after the memorial, saying, ''For the sake of future generations, we must
continue to work together to realize a world without nuclear weapons,'' but
some of the survivors who expected an apology from the United States were let
down as the release also said Roos attended the ceremony ''to express respect
for all the victims of World War II.''
At the ceremony joined by some 55,000 people, including many atomic bomb
survivors, Ban reiterated his call for nuclear abolition, terming it ''the only
sane path to a safer world.''
''For as long as nuclear weapons exist, we will live under a nuclear shadow,''
he said.
Ban met with a number of atomic bomb survivors during his stay in Hiroshima and
his Thursday visit to Nagasaki, another atomic-bomb-devastated city, and
addressed the need to preserve records of such people's testimonies and
translate them for future generations to learn from.
Meanwhile, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba urged the Japanese government to
abandon the U.S. ''nuclear umbrella'' and take the lead in nuclear disarmament,
saying, ''Now, the time is ripe.''
He also urged the government to legislate into law the three non-nuclear
principles against production, possession and introduction of nuclear weapons
in Japan and provide comprehensive assistance to the atomic bomb survivors.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he hopes the desire of the Japanese people to
never again see any harm caused by nuclear weapons ''will reach the hearts of
everyone across the world.''
He said the government is ''resolved to proactively propose forward-looking,
concrete steps for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and to contribute
to consensus building in the international community,'' while maintaining the
three non-nuclear principles.
Russia and Pakistan, also nuclear powers, as well as Israel and Iran joined the
United States, Britain and France, to take part in the ceremony which included
wreath-offerings and silent prayers at 8:15 a.m., the moment the atomic bomb
exploded over the city 65 years ago.
According to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki city governments, more than 140,000
people died by the end of 1945 after the Aug. 6 bombing of Hiroshima, and over
70,000 people perished following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki three days
later.
Japan surrendered six days after the Nagasaki attack, ending the war. Many
American people believe the nuclear attacks on the two Japanese cities were
necessary to end World War II and save the lives of U.S. military personnel.
This year's Hiroshima memorial comes at a time when there is a growing
international movement toward nuclear disarmament after U.S. President Barack
Obama called for a nuclear-free world in Prague last year, and a Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May successfully yielded a final
document on abolishing nuclear weapons.
Hopes have been building in Japan for a possible Obama visit to Hiroshima when
he travels to Japan in November to attend an Asia-Pacific summit, since he has
once shown positive response to the idea. But on Thursday, a White House
official said in Washington that the president so far has no plans to visit
Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
The average age of the survivors is 76.73, and the number of certified
hibakusha was over 370,000 at its peak and has fallen to 227,565 as of the end
of March.
Many survivors and others started gathering before daybreak around the park
where the ceremony was held, holding flowers in their hands and incense to
offer prayers for their lost families and victims.
Yoshio Watanabe, 82, who was among one of the early visitors at a memorial
monument, said he lost his younger brother in the bombing and ''the bomb didn't
even leave his bones behind.''
''I cannot forget even if I tried,'' he said.
Another atomic bomb survivor, a 67-year-old woman in Hiroshima, said she can
hardly recall the event herself as she was only 2 at the time, but has suffered
from illnesses stemming from the bombing, including cancer and is concerned
about her children who she fears could have inherited radiation effects.
''The U.S. and other states attending the ceremony comes too late,'' she said,
adding, ''They should have come earlier.''
''We have all been suffering from various illnesses, but we have to continue
telling others about it because it is the duty of the survivors,'' she said.
==Kyodo
weapons-free world.
U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos became the first U.S. representative to
attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony in the western Japanese city, while U.N.
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon became the first U.N. chief to do so.
Representatives of nuclear nations Britain and France also attended for the
first time.
Roos' attendance at the memorial was initially received favorably but
eventually left many local atomic bomb survivors disappointed as he kept
tight-lipped during his stay in Hiroshima, declining to voice any specific
words for the victims or talking with them.
Roos issued a comment through a press release put out by the U.S. Embassy in
Tokyo after the memorial, saying, ''For the sake of future generations, we must
continue to work together to realize a world without nuclear weapons,'' but
some of the survivors who expected an apology from the United States were let
down as the release also said Roos attended the ceremony ''to express respect
for all the victims of World War II.''
At the ceremony joined by some 55,000 people, including many atomic bomb
survivors, Ban reiterated his call for nuclear abolition, terming it ''the only
sane path to a safer world.''
''For as long as nuclear weapons exist, we will live under a nuclear shadow,''
he said.
Ban met with a number of atomic bomb survivors during his stay in Hiroshima and
his Thursday visit to Nagasaki, another atomic-bomb-devastated city, and
addressed the need to preserve records of such people's testimonies and
translate them for future generations to learn from.
Meanwhile, Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba urged the Japanese government to
abandon the U.S. ''nuclear umbrella'' and take the lead in nuclear disarmament,
saying, ''Now, the time is ripe.''
He also urged the government to legislate into law the three non-nuclear
principles against production, possession and introduction of nuclear weapons
in Japan and provide comprehensive assistance to the atomic bomb survivors.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he hopes the desire of the Japanese people to
never again see any harm caused by nuclear weapons ''will reach the hearts of
everyone across the world.''
He said the government is ''resolved to proactively propose forward-looking,
concrete steps for nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation, and to contribute
to consensus building in the international community,'' while maintaining the
three non-nuclear principles.
Russia and Pakistan, also nuclear powers, as well as Israel and Iran joined the
United States, Britain and France, to take part in the ceremony which included
wreath-offerings and silent prayers at 8:15 a.m., the moment the atomic bomb
exploded over the city 65 years ago.
According to the Hiroshima and Nagasaki city governments, more than 140,000
people died by the end of 1945 after the Aug. 6 bombing of Hiroshima, and over
70,000 people perished following the atomic bombing of Nagasaki three days
later.
Japan surrendered six days after the Nagasaki attack, ending the war. Many
American people believe the nuclear attacks on the two Japanese cities were
necessary to end World War II and save the lives of U.S. military personnel.
This year's Hiroshima memorial comes at a time when there is a growing
international movement toward nuclear disarmament after U.S. President Barack
Obama called for a nuclear-free world in Prague last year, and a Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May successfully yielded a final
document on abolishing nuclear weapons.
Hopes have been building in Japan for a possible Obama visit to Hiroshima when
he travels to Japan in November to attend an Asia-Pacific summit, since he has
once shown positive response to the idea. But on Thursday, a White House
official said in Washington that the president so far has no plans to visit
Hiroshima or Nagasaki.
The average age of the survivors is 76.73, and the number of certified
hibakusha was over 370,000 at its peak and has fallen to 227,565 as of the end
of March.
Many survivors and others started gathering before daybreak around the park
where the ceremony was held, holding flowers in their hands and incense to
offer prayers for their lost families and victims.
Yoshio Watanabe, 82, who was among one of the early visitors at a memorial
monument, said he lost his younger brother in the bombing and ''the bomb didn't
even leave his bones behind.''
''I cannot forget even if I tried,'' he said.
Another atomic bomb survivor, a 67-year-old woman in Hiroshima, said she can
hardly recall the event herself as she was only 2 at the time, but has suffered
from illnesses stemming from the bombing, including cancer and is concerned
about her children who she fears could have inherited radiation effects.
''The U.S. and other states attending the ceremony comes too late,'' she said,
adding, ''They should have come earlier.''
''We have all been suffering from various illnesses, but we have to continue
telling others about it because it is the duty of the survivors,'' she said.
==Kyodo
