The nuclear abolition movement is alive and active. This we can see from hundreds of actions and events taking place around the world this week to commemorate Hiroshima Day (August 6), Nagasaki Day (August 9) and International Youth Day (August 14).
Events include lantern floating ceremonies, origami crane making, concerts, readings, religious services, vigils, walks, fasts, rallies, film screenings, exhibitions and more.
Many of the events include a call or appeal for action. Individuals, parliamentarians, city councils, civil society leaders and non-govermental organisations are invited to support these calls/appeals even if they cannot attend an event. These include:
- Hibakusha Appeal for the Elimination of Nuclear Weapons;
- Online Avaaz petition United Nations: Step up for nuclear abolition (calling on governments to support the UN High Level Conference on Nuclear Disarmament);
- Call on governments to sign or ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons;
- Appeals to nuclear-armed states for them to adopt nuclear-risk reduction measures (e.g. the Human Survival Project Appeal for nuclear risk reduction and the Back from the Brink nuclear risk-reduction resolution);
- Call on individuals, universities, religious institutions, cities, governments and financial institutions to divest from (end investments in) companies manufactuing nuclear weapons or their delivery systems. (See Move the Nuclear Weapons Money).
The City of Hiroshima released the official Hiroshima City Peace Declaration 2018 on August 6.
For more information on nuclear disarmament actions for Hiroshima and Nagasaki Days, see 2018 Nuclear Remembrance and Action Week Guide.
Check Abolition 2000 facebook page for posts of event photos and articles.