Hiroshima-Nagasaki Survivors’ Emergency Mission to the US

Sponsored by Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition

HANWA

The Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition is an umbrella organization that includes members of all the major organizations working for peace in Hiroshima. It was founded on March 20, 2001, in an effort to unify Hiroshima’s peace movement and facilitate peace actions on a scale larger than any of the groups could accomplish alone. All members join as individuals, but most informally represent substantial constituencies that can be mobilized when HANWA comes up with an idea deemed acceptable to all. The stated purpose of HANWA is to eliminate all nuclear weapons. The membership currently stands at approximately 400 people. The present mission was initiated by HANWA and is supported by all peace groups in Hiroshima. At least 7 members of this mission are members of the Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition. The combined delegation is expected to number between 25 and 30.

Purpose

This mission derives from the sense of crisis being felt now in Hiroshima and Nagasaki regarding nuclear weapons, war, and the progressive militarization of the world. We will bring with us a position paper we intend to hand out expressing our collective opinion of America’s failure to ratify the CTBT, the intended abrogation of the ABM, the recent Review of Nuclear Strategy (and the possibility noted in it of renewed underground testing and development of "bunker buster" nuclear weapons), the potential for rapid and extensive proliferation of "usable" nuclear weapons, the use of violence to combat terrorism, America’s obscenely high military budget, and increasing militarization and loss of freedom in the US, Japan, and most of the world. The mission will include at least ten atomic bomb survivors who are willing to tell their stories in the effort to awaken all who listen to the very real horrors of nuclear weapons. It will also include experienced Japanese peace activists, including former city officials, who have long supported the survivors and worked to promote peace consciousness in Japan. The goals of the mission are to:

1) Express outrage and horror with respect to America’s current nuclear policies

2) Beg American people and decision-makers to rethink these policies and move quickly and urgently to eliminate all nuclear weapons

3) Forge new links and working relationships with peace activists in the US such that the energy and resources of Hiroshima and Nagasaki can be utilized where they are most needed.

Objectives

In New York, we would like to:

1. meet with bereaved family members and others connected to Sept. 11 in New York who have expressed their opposition to a war of retaliation.

2. go to the WTC site and offer prayers.

3. meet with peace activists or any audience willing to meet with us.

4. pay a courtesy call on the Mayor of New York.

5. visit the UN and meet the Secretary General or another appropriate official.

6. hand out our position paper wherever possible, including on an appropriate street corner.

7. do a sit-in demonstration at the WTC site or at the UN, probably at noon on the 26th

In Washington,

1. pay a courtesy call on the Mayor of Washington DC.

2. visit Senators and Congresspeople to give them the position paper and ask them to fight against the use of nuclear weapons,

3. do a press conference or media event if possible.

4. make as many public presentations as possible at schools, American University, and churches (we can divide up and go to different places).

5. meet with local peace activists to talk about how to work together in the future

6. do a sit-in demonstration at the Capitol or the White House, probably at noon on the 28th

In Atlanta,

1. visit the King Center

2. pay courtesy call on the Mayor

3. visit the Carter Center

4. make presentations at schools and other audiences

5. meet with local peace activists

Schedule

April 24 – Arrive in New York at 19:00

April 25 – See the World Trade Center and meet with bereaved family members

April 26 – Visit City Hall and the UN, leaving NY at 6:20 pm, arriving in Washington that evening at 9:41.

April 27 – participation in the IAC-ANSWER Rally

April 28 – Lobbying in the House and Senate buildings, meeting with peace activists at night, Church meeting

April 29 – American University event

April 30 – Visits to churches, leave Washington in the late afternoon, arrive in Atlanta that evening.

May 1 – visit to King Center

May 2 – visit to City Hall, Carter Center

May 3 – Depart for Japan 9:35am

If you or anyone you know can help us accomplish any of these objectives, or if you have other worthy ways to use these people during this time, please contact:

Steve Leeper
404-898-0586
Fax: 404-607-0673
E-mail: leeps@mindspring.com

Members of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Delegation

From Hiroshima

1. Goro Kawai (70) – A-bomb survivor, Co-director of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, former chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation
2. Mitsuo Okamoto (68) - Co-director of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, president of the Article 9 Association, professor at Hiroshima Shudo University
3. Haruko Moritaki (62) - Co-director of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, president of Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan, executive director of the Global Peacemakers Association
4. Ichiro Yuasa (52) – General secretary of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, president of Peacelink, researcher at the Chugoku Center of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry’s Production Technology Institute.
5. Michinori Kawasaki (70) – director, A-bomb Sufferer’s Association, retired Junior High School Teacher
6. Keiko Murakami (65) – A-bomb survivor, executive committee of the Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition, founding member of Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan, YWCA
7. Takanobu Masumi (62) – A-bomb survivor, member of Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan, Hiroshima Association for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
8. Hidenori Yamaoka (60) - A-bomb survivor, member of Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan, Hiroshima Association for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
9. Hiroyuki Kubo (70) – A-bomb survivor, board member,
10. Miwako Sawada (45) – founding member of Global Peacemakers Association and Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan
11. Yoshie Osaki (31) – treasurer of the Global Peacemakers Association, founding member of the Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan
12. Haruka Katarao (19) - Global Peacemakers Association, founding member of the Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan
13. Tomoko Inoue (22) - Global Peacemakers Association, founding member of the Association for Youth Peace Exchange with India and Pakistan, member of IPPNW

From Nagasaki

14. Sakue Shimohira (66) – A-bomb Survivor, chairperson of Bereaved Families Association, member of the board of Hisaikyo, co-director of the Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
15. Mitsugi Moriguchi (65) – A-bomb Survivor, Nagasaki Testimony Association, general secretary of the Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
16. Hitoshi Hamasaki (70) – A-bomb Survivor, Nagasaki Testimony Association, executive committee of the Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
17. Takeshi Yamakawa (65) – A-bomb Survivor, vice chair of the Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors Teachers Association, executive committee of the Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
18. Akiyoshi Katayama (63) – Nagasaki branch of Gensuikin, executive committee of Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
19. Takeshi Ogata (63) - researcher at the Nagasaki Peace Institute, member of Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
20. Tomoko Maekawa (54) – researcher at the Nagasaki Peace Institute, member of Nagasaki Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition

Unconfirmed

21. Takashi Hiraoka – former mayor of Hiroshima
22. Yasuhiko Takeda – A-bomb Survivor
23. Sunao Tsuboi – A-bomb Survivor, chair of A-bomb Suffers Association

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