August 8, 2023, Tuesday, 11:50AM-1PM
In front of the Consulate General of Japan in New York, 299 Park Avenue, New York, NY
(Between 49th and 48th Street)
78 years have passed since the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is estimated that the bombs killed 210,000 citizens by the end of 1945 and, over the years, have ruined the health of many of the survivors. The average age of the Hibakusha, or atomic bomb survivors, is now 84 years old, and many of them are still suffering from terrible health issues. To honor the memory of those who lost their lives to the atomic bombings, a coalition of citizens and peace activists will gather in front of the Japan Consulate General on Tuesday, August 8th at 11:50 AM.
There we will join our voices to express our sincere regrets and apologies for our nation’s atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
We will also send our solidarity to those affected by the ongoing Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant disaster. Japan and the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) have proposed a plan to dump more than 1.3 million metric tons of radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima Daiichi plant into the Pacific Ocean. We call for a halt to this plan and request that Japan explore alternative safer options to protect the environment and to minimize the health impacts on people and all living things.
In addition, to achieve peace in the northeast Asia region, we call on Japan to join us in supporting the peace process on the Korean Peninsula.
Finally, we call upon Japan to relinquish the so-called “nuclear umbrella” of the United States by swiftly signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) which went into force in January 2021 and makes the development, possession, and use of these weapons illegal according to international law.
The coalition’s conviction is that nuclear weapons must never be used again against any nation under any circumstances. The message of peace from Hibakusha to the people of the world is an appeal for all to realize a world free of nuclear weapons.
Co-Organizers:
Veterans for Peace NYC Chapter 34
Veterans For Peace (VFP) is a global organization of Military Veterans and allies whose collective efforts are to build a culture of peace by using our experiences and lifting our voices. We inform the public of the true causes of war and the enormous costs of wars, with an obligation to heal the wounds of wars.
Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World
Manhattan Project for a Nuclear-Free World is a group of concerned citizens, educators, health advocates, artists, and lawyers with a mission to raise awareness of the costs, risks, and humanitarian consequences of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons.
Endorsing Organizations:
Brooklyn For Peace
Catholic Worker
Granny Peace Brigade NYC
Kairos Community
NYC Metro Raging Grannies
NYC War Resisters League
Pax Christi New York State
Peace Action New York State
The Ribbon International