Background: Since the first nuclear weapons test conducted in New Mexico in July 1945, the world has seen two atomic weapons used in Hiroshima and Nagasaki that took 200,000 lives, and 2,000 nuclear tests. The process of developing, testing and producing nuclear weapons, uranium mining and various related activities continue to impact the health, environment and rights of those who had to work at or live near such facilities.
Through the survivors’ tireless efforts to appeal to the world about the inhumanity of these weapons, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) was adopted at the United Nations in July 2017, and entered into force in January 2021. Nuclear weapons are finally clearly illegal under international law. This treaty includes direct reference to the “unacceptable suffering of and harm caused to the victims of the use of nuclear weapons (hibakusha), as well as of those affected by the testing of nuclear weapons”. Article 6 of the treaty also provides the obligation for assistance to victims, and environmental remediation. Now is the time for the world to listen and learn from nuclear survivors.
About Peace BoatPeace Boat is a Japan-based NGO that has been working to promote peace, environmental sustainability, indigenous peoples’ rights and decolonization through global voyages carried out on board a chartered passenger ship since 1983. We work very closely with nuclear survivors, including from Hiroshima and Nagasaki as well as other impacted communities.Together with partners around the world of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), 2017 Nobel Peace laureate, Peace Boat hopes to create a space for the world to listen to the voices of nuclear survivors and learn about their experiences and lessons.
The World Nuclear Survivors ForumThe first Meeting of State Parties of the TPNW will be held in Vienna, Austria in March 2022. This will be an important opportunity to draw attention from various governments to the situation of nuclear survivors. In advance of this, Peace Boat plans to hold a “World Nuclear Survivors Forum” in December 2021.
At this online event, nuclear survivors and impacted communities around the world will virtually meet, learn about each other’s situations, share various actions and initiatives, and mutually understand what needs exist today. We sincerely hope that the Forum will serve as a new platform on which various communities come together and build a long term relationship. The discussions and outcomes will be returned back to participants in the most accessible format possible, for further future discussions and actions.
To make this opportunity truly for and by the survivors themselves, we have begun a series of consultation meetings with potential participant survivor communities and individuals.
For the draft details of the Forum please see the attached concept note.
Open consultation meeting for US-based nuclear affected communitiesIn order to ensure that this is something which would be of relevance, interest and use for impacted communities, we would be honoured if you would consider sharing some time to attend an open consultation meeting as below. We would greatly appreciate the chance to hear your stories, messages, and any suggestions or practical ideas you might have to make a meaningful Forum together.
Date & Time: 6:00 pm EDT (5:00 pm CDT / 4:00 pm MDT / 3:00 pm PDT), Tuesday October 5th*The meeting shall take about an hour, possibly longer if needed
Zoom link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84139622243?pwd=cGhDdVkxakJudWVIV0V0V0xNYi9lQT09
