SIGN THE YOUTH DECLARATION

Dear Friends,

65 years ago, Japan became the first and only nation in the world which suffered atomic bombings. It was a horrible tragedy beyond imagination, not only for Japan but also for the entire world. It should never happen again …....... never ever.

It was at 08:15am on 6th August 1945 when the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima City. Three days later, on 9th August, the second atomic bomb was dropped over Nagasaki City, at 11:02am. It detonated 580 meters in the air. Around 140,000 people had died in Hiroshima and, about 75,000 people in Nagasaki by the end of December 1945. Even though the atomic bombs were dropped in August, why did I mention the death toll “by the end of December in 1945”? It is because the atomic bombs were quite different from all previous bombs and due to the emitter of radiation from the atomic bombs, many people suffered after effects, including keloids and leukemia. Therefore even after December in 1945, the number of the people who lost their lives due to the aftereffects has been increasing and even today many people still suffer from the after effects. The number of survivors suffering from leukemia increased remarkably five to six years after the bombing. Ten years after the bombing, the survivors began contracting various kinds of cancers such as thyroid, breast, lung and other cancers at higher than normal rates.

In my last four visits to Japan, I preferred every time to visit Hiroshima Peace Memorial, and during every visit, story of Ms. Sadako Sasaki touched me deeply. Ms Sadako suffered from leukemia owing to the after-effects of the exposure to the radiation, and was trying to fold 1,000 paper cranes praying for full recovery. I understand that most of you are aware about this story. Sadako became so-called Hibakusha, an atomic bomb victim when she was only 2 years old. For some years, nothing happened to Sadako. But, when Sadako was 12 years old, there were signs that something was wrong with her. She caught a cold and felt stiffness in her neck. Even after she recovered from the cold, the stiffness stayed. By early 1955, Sadako’s face looked swollen. After undergoing various tests, the doctors told Sadako’s family in February that Sadako had leukemia and she had only a year left at the most. Sadako was admitted to a hospital.

In August, 1000 paper cranes folded by high school students were delivered to the patients in the hospital. Sadako’s room also was decorated with the paper cranes. Receiving those cranes and hearing the legend, “Fold 1000 paper cranes and your wish will come true,” Sadako began to fold paper cranes by herself. She folded paper crane desiring for full recovery. Even though her health condition got worse and worse despite her efforts, she kept folding cranes very eagerly. However, in the morning of October 25, Sadako’s life finally ended. She was just 12 years old. This is a summary of Sadako’s story. It shows us how awful the aftereffects of the atomic bomb are.

Today I can see thousands of youths present in Hiroshima Peace Ceremony. As the story of Sadako’s monument shows, it is also extremely meaningful that the younger generation just as Sadako’s classmates, knows the facts about what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and recognize the importance of peace.

Unfortunately, these bombings ushered in a Nuclear Age where every one of us on this planet is compelled to live in fear. Over the last six decades, human beings have stockpiled thousands of nuclear bombs, enough to wipe us off the surface of the Earth many times over.
Fortunately, in the post World War II era, no nuclear war has been fought. But the fact is that thousands of nuclear weapons still exist today. More nations have acquired these weapons. There is always a danger that some unscrupulous elements, with malicious intent, may attempt to obtain A-bomb manufacturing technology or to acquire those weapons. Now it is the time to change the mind set of nuclear powers of the world. I can express my wish in the words of our former Prime Minster Sh. Rajiv Gandhi who while addressing the U.N. General Assembly on June 9, 1988, appealed, “Nuclear war will not mean the death of a hundred million people. Or even a thousand million-It will mean the end of life as we know it on our planet earth. We come to the United Nations to seek your support. We seek your support to put a stop to this madness.”

Similarly Secretary General of United Nation Mr. Ban Ki Moon while interacting with the gathering in the Japanese city of Nagasaki said, despite the continued presence of thousands of nuclear weapons in global arsenals, it is possible to achieve the goal of ridding the world of this deadly scourge.

“A world without nuclear weapons may be distant, but it is no longer just a dream,”
Mr. Ban said in a message to the Seventh General Conference of Mayors for Peace. “I look forward to continuing to work with governments and global citizens to realize this shared vision.”

Since last year, we have seen some encouraging signs in this regard. In April, last year, the President of the United States announced in Prague, capital of the Czech Republic, that the U.S.A. is committed to keeping the peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons. In Last July, the United States and Russia announced their intention to conclude a new arms reduction treaty.
At the G-8 Summit held in Italy in July, member countries expressed their commitment to seeking a safer world for all, and to creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons.

It seems that the world is ushering in a new era with hopes of eliminating nuclear weapons. Hiroshima is at the vanguard of this initiative and is making all out efforts to realize a world free of nuclear weapons by 2020.

The year 2020 is significant because it marks the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings. It was once rumored that nothing would grow in Hiroshima and Nagasaki for 75 years but with the determination, dedication, hard work and commitment people of this city, it was proved wrong. Friends Hiroshima and Nagasaki should lead the campaign of nuclear weapons free world. If we fail to abolish nuclear weapons in our times, we will have failed to fulfill our minimum responsibility to the hibakusha and to future generation. It is our firm belief that Japan’s mission, as the world’s first and only nation that has suffered from atomic bombings, is to strongly appeal to the world that the devastation of nuclear weapons should not be repeated, and that nuclear weapons should be completely eliminated.

However, I must say that we cannot be too optimistic. The goal of building a world without nuclear weapons cannot be reached quickly. Our patience and persistence will be tested. But we have to go forward with no illusions. Every step we take brings us a step closer to the goal.

The tragedy that befell Hiroshima and Nagasaki teaches us the utmost importance of peace – the importance of a world that knows no fear of nuclear threat. Every one of us has the right to live in such a world.

We have to make incessant efforts to raise awareness of people, especially among the younger generation. In this regard, I would like to that younger generation and especially student’s community should come forward to sensitize masses about the need of universal brother hood.