This week, our volunteers chose as an example the emotional statement on Gaza made by Toshiyuki Mimaki, Co-Chair of Nihon Hidankyo (Japanese Atomic and Hydrogen Bomb Victims Confederation), winner of the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.
Nihon Hidankyo is a Japanese non-governmental organization founded by surviving atomic bomb victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that advocates for their rights. Founded in 1956, Nihon Hidankyo lobbies both the Japanese government and world governments for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons and support for survivors (hibakusha).
The Nobel Committee awarded Nihon Hidankyo "for his struggle to rid the world of nuclear weapons and for his testimony in demonstrating that nuclear weapons should never be used again." The Committee's announcement of the award can be accessed at the following link: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2024/press-release/ . This award reminded us of the devastating effects of war and weapons of mass destruction on humanity, and once again highlighted the importance of the struggle for peace and disarmament.
In his speech following the announcement of the award, Toshiyuki Mimaki drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and said:
"In Gaza, children covered in blood are held in the arms of their parents, just like what happened in Japan 80 years ago," Toshiyuki Mimaki, Co-Chairman of Nihon Hidankyo
This powerful statement drew attention to both the horrific effects of war on civilians and to humanitarian crises around the world. Emphasizing the similarities between the suffering in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the devastation wrought by the ongoing war in Gaza, Mimaki deeply empathized with the suffering of children affected by war.
As the Conscience Foundation , we are deeply concerned about the great threat posed by nuclear weapons to humanity. The fact that a person lost his family, loved ones and his entire life in just a few seconds in the attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is a tragedy that should never be repeated in history. These weapons have the power to destroy not only battlefields but also civilians and entire cities in an instant. Nuclear weapons are doomsday weapons that can destroy our civilization in a few hours, killing billions of people and rendering our planet uninhabitable for centuries.
In addition, intensive bombardments can be as destructive as nuclear weapons. As seen in World War II and today in Gaza, these bombardments that can wipe out cities and countries from the face of the earth clearly show how much destruction wars cause. As humanity, we must conscientiously oppose the consequences of such attacks and wars and question the existence of weapons.
The message of Nihon Hidankyo is a voice of people who have been subjected to nuclear attacks in history, reminding that war and weapons should never cause such suffering to any person or society again. This struggle, which has been ongoing since 1956, has become one of the cornerstones of global peace calls for the elimination of nuclear weapons. This movement, which announces the suffering experienced by the Hibakusha to the world and serves global peace for the elimination of nuclear weapons, is one of the most concrete testimonies of the destruction that wars bring to all humanity.
For more information about Nihon Hidankyo and to learn more about the message the organization wants to give to the world, you can read the following article: Wikipedia . Also, to learn more about Nihon Hidankyo's activities, you can visit their official website. Nihon Hidankyo website .
Nihon Hidankyo's determined struggle, which has lasted over 80 years, has become a message of peace that inspires the entire world and has been honored with the Nobel Peace Prize. This award also provides great inspiration to civil society organizations like us that support social and global peace and mutual understanding. As the Conscience Foundation, we will continue our struggle against war, violence and armament with this inspiration.
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