From Hiroshima to G7 Foreign Ministers

CITIZENS’ STATEMENT TO APPEAL FOR ACTIONS TOWARDS A NUCLEAR-FREE WORLD
The prospect for a nuclear-free world is not bright. Today, the over 15,000 nuclear warheads thatexist on the planet continue to threaten the existence of humanity. Nuclear proliferation
continues and the vicious cycle involving poverty, inequality, environmental degradation andviolence is bringing about various kinds of humanitarian crises across the world.
The G7 Meeting that takes place in the city which experienced an atomic-bombing, Hiroshima,must reflect the lesson learned seventy years ago by the use of nuclear weapons on the cities ofboth Hiroshima and Nagasaki: the unprecedented and inhumane experience of the atomic
bombing has taught us that “nuclear weapons and humanity cannot coexist.”
We as citizens ask the G7 Foreign Ministers for the following.
1. To clearly acknowledge the inhumane nature of nuclear weapons and to depart fromnational security policies that depend on nuclear weapons.
• Listen to the voices of atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) and acknowledge that any
use of nuclear weapons would cause catastrophic and inhumane consequences. We urge
the G7 Foreign Ministers to clearly spell out their firm determination not to repeat sucha catastrophe.
• The nature of nuclear weapons is such that their use can in no way be accepted from ahumanitarian, legal, or political standpoint. All nuclear armed states as well as states
under the “nuclear umbrella” should abandon their policies that depend on nuclear
weapons, and start taking actions towards establishing a national security frameworkthat does not rely on nuclear weapons.
2. To start taking concrete steps towards banning and abolishing nuclear weapons.
• Reaffirm the Advisory Opinion by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which statesthat the use or threat of nuclear weapons generally violates international humanitarianlaw, and that there exists an obligation to bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to
nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control.
• Participate in the UN Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG) to address concrete effective
legal measures, legal provisions, and norms that will need to be concluded to attain andmaintain a world without nuclear weapons, and actively take part in discussions aimed
at starting negotiations towards a treaty banning nuclear weapons.
3. To strengthen efforts to bring about a nuclear-free and peaceful order in Northeast Asia.
• Regarding North Korea’s continuing development of its nuclear program, including
execution of nuclear testing, we urge Governments to pursue diplomatic efforts thatbring about a nuclear-free and peaceful order in the Northeast Asian region, such asestablishing a Nuclear-Weapons-Free Zone, instead of relying on sanctions.
• On the issue of territorial disputes and maritime security in Northeast Asia, recognize
the necessity to avoid militaristic provocation and to apply measures that are based on
the principles of peaceful resolution of conflicts.
4. To strictly control nuclear materials and bolster measures that prevent nuclear
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proliferation and nuclear terrorism.
• In order to strengthen the prevention of nuclear proliferation and nuclear terrorism, it
is imperative that states work to minimize and more strictly control plutonium andhighly enriched uranium. The G7 countries should recognize that they need to takeleadership in this initiative.
• In particular, recognize that it is a source of deep concern that Japan possesses as muchas 48 tons of plutonium, the use of which has not been accounted for. Promote a freeze
on the operation of the Rokkasho reprocessing plant in Aomori, Japan.
• It cannot be allowed that nuclear cooperation and agreements are made with states thatare not party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), such as India, byrecognizing their status as exceptional de facto nuclear weapons state. We are especially
opposed to the Japan-India Nuclear Agreement, and ask for a complete disclosure ofinformation regarding the exact contents of the deal that the Governments of India andJapan announced that they have generally agreed in December 2015.
5. To reduce military spending and pursue peaceful diplomacy that addresses the root
causes of terrorism.
• Last year, USD 1.7 trillion was spent on military expenditures, while worldwide
measures to address poverty, employment, social security, sustainable development,
human rights, refugee issues, disaster risk reduction, and environmental issues lagged
behind. We are deeply concerned about this status quo. The G7 countries account fornearly half of world military spending and thus are responsible for shifting what iscurrently spent on the military to other expenditures that address human needs.
• The issue of terrorism is of serious concern across the world. It is important not to rely
on military means and to instead address the social, economic, and political factors thatlead to the occurrence of terrorism. In recognizing this, the G7 countries should makeefforts towards promoting and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
April 10, 2016
Hiroshima
Japan NGO Network for Nuclear Weapons Abolition
Hiroshima Alliance for Nuclear Weapons Abolition (HANWA)
Contact:+81-90-9064-4705 (Ms. Moritaki Haruko)+81-90-8310-5370 (Mr. Kawasaki Akira)nuclear.abolition.japan@gmail.com

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