Countdown to Decision: To Eliminate or To Proliferate

Steven Leeper, Chairman of The Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, addressed the Webster University "Global Issues: Japan" class (June 9, 2009). He explained:

"... we are at a crucial juncture right now, such that the human family will probably decide ... [in May 2010 at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference], whether we will get rid of nuclear weapons, or let everybody have them..."

[click on image below to play video]Steven Leeper, Director,
Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation
Addressing: Webster University Class, "Global Issues: Japan"
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, June 9, 2009

Testimony of a Japanese Soldier in China

Ichiro Koyama is now 88 years old. He was drafted into the Japanese Imperial Army at age 20, and was stationed in Qingtao and Jinan (Shandong Province), China. Koyama tells his story as one in a series of interviews among World War II witnesses published by The Japan Times to commemorate the 64th anniversary of the end of the War. The article (See: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090409w1.html) includes the video below:

Queen Noor: Are We Approaching a Nuclear Tipping Point?

In an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union” (July 5, 2009) Queen Noor of Jordan explained that we may be on a path toward a "nuclear proliferation tipping point" from which we may not be able to pull back. See http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/05/queen-noor-we-are-approaching-a-nuclear-tipping-point/

Obama On "The Gravest Threat to Humanity"

At the conclusion of meetings between Presidents Obama (USA) and Medvedev (Russia), the leaders made a joint statement pledging to work together on nuclear disarmament (April 1, 2009). Obama declared that nuclear weapons "... continues to be the gravest threat to humanity."

In the video clip below from MSNBC's "Rachel Maddow Show" (April 1, 2009), Queen Noor of Jordan applauds the joint statement and explains the work of Global Zero, the international campaign to eliminate all nuclear weapons.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

• Video Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/30002781#30002781

Related Articles and Videos:

• Global Zero Website: http://www.globalzero.org/
  
• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/30002781#30002781
  
• http://www.ploughshares.org/news-analysis/news/queen-noor-promotes-global-zero
  

Update: US-Japan Nuclear Umbrella Talks

The Japan Times (July 19, 2009) reports that the United States and Japan have agreed to conduct official discussion regarding the so-called nuclear umbrella and other security deterrence measures. This agreement was reached in a meeting that included Kurt Campbell, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asia and Pacific affairs and his Japanese counterparts in the Foreign and Defense ministries on Saturday.

• For details, see: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090719a1.html.
• For related information, see: http://globalissuesjapan.blogspot.com/2009/07/us-japan-to-discuss-us-nuclear-umbrella.html

Solar Eclipse Reenacts Japan's Sun Goddess Cosmology

The longest total eclipse of the sun in the 21st century will occur over parts of Asia (including Okinawa, Japan) on July 22, 2009. The event can be seen as a re-enactment of an ancient Japanese cosmological story involving the Sun Goddess and her brother the Storm God. For details, see: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090712x1.html

Secret Nuclear Treaty Documents Revealed

The Japan Times reports (Sunday, July 12, 2009) that Japan's Foreign Ministry has kept the English-language version of a secret 1960 treaty with the United States government which covers the handling of U.S. nuclear weapons in Japan. The Japanese government continues to maintain that such a treaty does not exist. For details, see: http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20090712a1.html.

Press Conference & Open Letter to Emperor & Empress

Peace Philosophy Centre (Vancouver, BC, CANADA) was one of several groups of Canadians which held a joint Press Conference Thursday (July 9, 2009) to welcome to the Japanese Emperor and Empress’s visit to Canada. In an open letter to the Emperor and Empress, the groups appeal to them to continue their efforts to bring healing and justice to the victims of atrocities committed by Japan before and during the Asia-Pacific War, and for their support to keep Article 9 intact in the spirit of peace. For more information, see:

• Peace Philosophy Centre blog posting
  
• Photo Album
• Eiji Yoshikawa webpage
  
• Tokyo Shinbun article (Japanese)

Japan to Discuss Nuclear Issues with USA & China

The Japan Times reports (July 9, 2009) that the U.S. and Japan will hold official talks later this month on security issues including the U.S. nuclear umbrella, which is a topic that is usually excluded from such talks. For the full story, see: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/us-japan-to-hold-official-talks-on-nuclear-umbrella

Japan will also hold official talks with China starting Thursday to seek ways to "denuclearize" North Korea. For the full story, see: http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/chinese-japanese-top-nuclear-envoys-to-hold-talks

Media Alert: Press Conference (July 9 2009)

MEDIA ALERT

WHAT: Press Conference regarding an OPEN LETTER to the Japanese Emperor and Empress issued by multi-ethnic organizations

WHEN: July 9, 2009 (Thursday) at 10:30 am

WHERE: Ovans Room, G/F, BC Teachers’ Federation Building, 550 – West 6th Avenue, Vancouver

Representatives of the multi-ethnic organizations to speak at the press conference:

• Thekla Lit, Co-chair of Canada ALPHA (Association for Learning & Preserving the History of WWII in Asia)
• Satoko Norimatsu, Founding Director of Peace Philosophy Centre
• Tatsuo Kage, Member of Human Rights Committee, Japanese Canadian Citizens Association
• Dr. Marlene Le Gates, Acting President of Women’s International League for Peace & Freedom, Vancouver
• Fernando P. Salanga, President of Philippine War Veterans & Ex-servicemen Society of BC
• Jane Ordinario, Chairperson of Migrante-BC
• Kevin Sung, Director of Korean Drama Club Hanuree
  

MEDIA CONTACT PERSONS: Thekla Lit (604-313-6000) or Satoko Norimatsu (604-619-5627)

BACKGROUNDER:

Representatives of groups of Canadians that make up the rich diversity of this country: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, and European extend their warm welcome to the Japanese Emperor and Empress’s visit to Canada. At the same time, they appeal to the Emperor for his continued efforts to bring healing and justice to the victims of atrocities committed by Japan before and during the Asia-Pacific War, and for his support of the endeavours to keep Article 9 intact in the spirit of peace.

---

See also: http://peacephilosophy.blogspot.com/2009/07/press-conference-regarding-open-letter.html

バンクーバーのいくつかの平和団体・アジア系団体とともに、カナダ訪問中の天
皇皇后陛下への公開書簡についての記者会見を７月９日（木）午前１０時半に開
催します。詳細は添付をご覧ください。書簡は記者会見で発表し、その後公開い
たします。

99 Luftballoons (Karaoke)

NOTE: The private video below requires login to YouTube for playback.

RECORDED: June 6, 2009, Kyoto, Japan
WHO: Webster University and Ritsumeikan students and faculty

Sayonara Anata (Karaoke)

NOTE: The private video below requires login to YouTube for playback.

Recorded: June 6, 2009 Kyoto, Japan.
Images of the old Honshu-Hokkaido ferry have been edited into the video clip.

Report on PrepCom & Outlook for 2010 NPT Review Conference

Rebecca Johnson, executive director of the Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, has published an article in Arms Control Today, reviewing the third Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) meeting for the 2010 Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, held May 4-15, 2009 in New York. The article, titled "Enhanced Prospects for 2010: An Analysis of the Third PrepCom and the Outlook for the 2010 NPT Review Conference," summarizes the negotiations and results of the Third PrepCom. The PreCom raised hopes for a productive 2010 Conference (scheduled for May 3-28, 2010), but also highlighed the enormous political and diplomatic work required in the next year to achieve agreements that will result in advancing the nonproliferation agenda and in creating a foundation for moving toward a world free of nuclear weapons. The article is available at: http://www.armscontrol.org/act/2009_6/Johnson

In his discussion with the Webster University class "Global Issues: Japan" (June 9, 2009), Steven Leeper (Chairman, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation), referred to the 2010 NPT Review Conference as a milestone for knowing whether or not the world will choose to work toward a nuclear weapon-free world. Leeper asserts that if it does not choose that path, then other nations will develop nuclear weapons within a few years, and "it will only be a matter of time before they are used."

Ring bells for Peace

APPEAL FOR PEACE BELL PROJECT
commemorating the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Everyone is invited to ring bells at the exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing (8:15AM on August 6th, Japan) and the Nagasaki bombing (11:02AM on August 9th, Japan).

Or you can ring bells in your time zone at 8:15AM on August 6th for Hiroshima and 11:02AM on August 9th for Nagasaki.

Support a World Without Nuclear Weapons for our Children and All Future Generations.

Upon informing us of your plans we will include your participation on our website www.universalpeaceday.com
Please e-mail us at: univpeaceday@aol.com

No Nuke Network Hiroshima

No Nuke Network Hiroshima is a study group of students from 9 junior high and high schools in Hiroshima. They include students from:

• Hiroshima Jogakuin High School
  
• Notre Dame High School (Hiroshima)
• Motomachi High School
• Hiroshima Students Peace Seminar, a peace education circle comprised of high schools students; and
  
• junior writers for “Peace Seeds,” a children’s newspaper produced by teens in Hiroshima.

According to a report in the Hiroshima Peace Center News (July 1, 2009), the group has launched a campaign to encourage U.S. President Barack Obama to visit Hiroshima. They met with Professor Hiroshi Oshima, a professor of Hiroshima Shudo University to learn more about Mr. Obama and the American view of nuclear weapons. This study session helped the group consider specific actions they could take in their campaign.

The study group is an example of young students practicing "global citizenship" through peace literacy activities.

6 Japanese Parliamentarians Work for A-Bomb Monument and Museum in Washington, D.C.

Hiroshima Peace Media Center is an institute within Chuogoku Newspaper, which is widely read in the Chugoku Region (Western end of Honshu Island) of Japan. Their "Peace News" covers a wide range of topics from nuclear abolition to peace education. One piece of bright news that I found recently is:

Japanese parliamentarians seek to establish A-bomb museum in Washington, D.C.

The "NPT Promotion Committee" that consists of 6 parliamentarians from different parties, plans to unveil a monument to "express the hope of eliminating nuclear weapons" in next May, when the NPT Review Conference takes place. Also some time in the next year, they aim to open "a permanent museum to convey the consequences of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki."

Peter van den Dungen, who leads the International Network of Museums for Peace, said during the 6th International Conference of Museums for Peace conference in Hiroshima in October 2009, that he would like to see A-bomb museums in the capital cities of all the nuclear-possessing countries. This move initiated by a group of Japanese parliamentarians will be a great start.

According to Chugoku Newspaper, the six members of the "NPT Promotion Committee" are:

Minoru Terada, LDP (House of Representatives,) 寺田稔（自民、衆院広島５区）
Tsutomu Tomioka, LDP (House of Representatives) 富岡勉（自民、衆院比例九州＝長崎１区）
Hideo Hiraoka, DPJ (House of Representatives) 平岡秀夫（民主、衆院山口２区）
Kenzo Fujisue, DPJ (House of Councilors) 藤末健三（民主、参院比例）
Nobuto Hosaka, SDP(House of Representative) 保坂展人（社民、衆院比例東京）
Akira Kasai, JCP (House of Representative) 笠井亮（共産、比例東京）

LDP=Liberal Democratic Party; DPJ=Democratic Party of Japan; SDJ=Social Democratic Party of Japan; JCP=Japan Communist Party)

Where are the women? I should make an inquiry :)

Satoko

Class Interview with Yumi Kikuchi

Yumi Kikuchi described her development as an environmentalist, peace activist and media educator in this video clip when the Webster University class, "Global Issues: Japan" visited with her in Tokyo on June 2, 2009:

For more information on Yumi Kikuchi, see: http://globalissuesjapan.blogspot.com/2009/05/resources-on-yumi-kikuchi.html