It is now half a century to the day since Hiroshima was devastated by the atomic bomb. Along with recalling that fateful day and praying for the souls of the many who died, and being acutely aware of the difficulties the aging hibakusha face, I cannot but repeat in the strongest possible terms that the development and possession of nuclear weapons constitutes a crime against humanity. Throughout this half-century, we have told all the world of the human devastation that the atomic bombs wrought, particularly the unprecedented damage of radiation, in a consistent appeal that nuclear weapons be abolished. Yet distrust among nations is deep-rooted and there are vast stockpiles of nuclear weapons around the globe, creating a formidable barrier to the attainment of our ideal. It is profoundly saddening that some people see the possession of nuclear weapons as symbolic of a nation's strength.
Nuclear weapons are clearly inhumane weapons in obvious violation of international law.
If humanity is to maintain hope for the future, we must act now with courage and decisiveness to achieve a nuclear-free world. The possession of nuclear weapons is no guarantee of national security. Rather, the proliferation of nuclear weapons, the transfer of nuclear weapons technology, and the leakage of nuclear materials are all threats to the survival of the human race. Like the suppression of human rights, impoverishment and starvation, regional conflict, and the destruction of the global environment, these are all major threats to world peace. This is an era in which we must think of global security.