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As members of Genesee Valley Citizens for Peace (GVCP), we, Keith and Suzanne Blackburn, attended the 2024 World Conference Against Atomic & Hydrogen Bombs, hosted by Gensuikyo (The Japan Council Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs). Since 1955, Gensuikyo has brought together peace activists and representatives from governmental and non-governmental organizations from Japan and overseas to work toward their three goals: to prevent nuclear war, to ban and eliminate nuclear weapons, and to support the survivors of nuclear weapons (the Hibakusha). The conference took place during the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We represented GVCP, an affiliate of Peace Action New York State (PANYS).
The theme of the 2024 conference was “With the Hibakusha, let us achieve a nuclear weapon-free, peaceful, and just world – for the future of humankind and our planet.” The conference opened on August 3 in Hiroshima with a day of speeches leading to the Declaration of the International Meeting, a statement capturing the theme of the gathering. The full text of the declaration can be found here. The next three days included speeches, workshops, and a Hiroshima Day Rally attended by about 4000 people. We also attended the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony which took place on the morning of August 6th in Peace Memorial Park. This solemn ceremony included a moment of silence at 8:16 AM, the time an atomic bomb detonated over the city. The conference continued with two days of similar events in Nagasaki, concluding with a rally on August 9th commemorating the detonation of an atomic bomb over Nagasaki.
The average age of the Hibakusha is 85 years old. As they shared their stories, we sensed their awareness that when they are gone, there will be no one to speak first hand of the horrors of nuclear war. We are inspired by the Hibakusha from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Korea, to carry on their efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. Delegates from Spain, Kazakhstan, Russia, and the Marshall Islands shared their expertise and personal stories of the destruction, contamination, health impacts, and other risks of nuclear weapons, testing, use, and energy production. We are clear that the risks of nuclear energy and nuclear weapons far outweigh any perceived benefits. Nuclear policy experts informed us of the actions of nations planning to increase their nuclear arsenals and use nuclear weapons in conflict.
There is a long history of treaties regarding nuclear weapons, but the most recent, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), is the only one that mandates the elimination of all nuclear weapons. Neither the US nor Japan have signed the treaty (nor have other nuclear weapons states or states under the protection of their “nuclear umbrellas”). One of Gensuikyo’s primary initiatives is to petition the Japanese Government to sign on to the treaty. We believe the United States should also become a party to the TPNW. We are motivated to take action in our community to further the three goals of Gensuikyo.
International and World Conferences Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs 2024 (full pdf with images)