NYC rally for ban

June 18, 2017

A-bomb victims join NYC rally for ban on nuke weapons at U.N.

http://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/AJ201706180031.html

By KEITA MANO/ Staff Writer

NEW YORK--Shouting “No More Hiroshima, No More Nagasaki,” hundreds of demonstrators marched through a downpour in New York City on June 17, calling for a treaty to ban nuclear weapons under negotiations at the United Nations.

Atomic bomb survivors and others took turns giving speeches when they arrived at the square near the United Nations headquarters. The 1.5-kilometer march was organized by the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Elayne Whyte, Costa Rica's ambassador who is chairing the negotiations, pledged to strive toward the establishment of the treaty, while expressing gratitude toward the 3 million signatures collected in a campaign by atomic bomb survivors to highlight the importance of the U.N. talks.

Hibakusha survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki traveled to New York to coincide with the negotiations and handed the signatures to Whyte at the U.N. headquarters the previous day.

Toshiyuki Mimaki, 75, a hibakusha from Hiroshima, said he was touched by the participation of so many people in the march.

“Despite the heavy rain, a large number of people came and shouted Hiroshima and Nagasaki together,” said Mimaki. “I am so happy and grateful.”

Rallies were also held across Japan on June 17 to coincide with the New York City march.

Women march for nuclear arms ban treaty

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20170618_07/

Representatives of Japanese atomic bomb survivors have marched in New York in support of a proposed ban on nuclear weapons being discussed at the United Nations.

Saturday's march was organized by a women's peace group, and came during the second round of UN negotiations aimed at making the world's first-ever treaty to ban nuclear arms.

Toshiyuki Mimaki and Masako Wada came to represent survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Around 800 protestors marched for about 2 kilometers, chanting "No more Hiroshima, No more Nagasaki."

Wada said that atomic bomb survivors have been saying for 72 years that no one else should suffer from nuclear weapons.

Costa Rican Ambassador to the UN Elayne Whyte Gomez, who is also chairing the talks, joined the rally.

She told the demonstrators that she will do her best to successfully conclude the treaty.

After the rally, Mimaki said others share the determination to eliminate nuclear arms.

A demonstrator from the US said that it was great to see atomic bomb survivors supporting the negotiation.

Countries that possess nuclear weapons are not taking part in the talks. Japan, as a country under the US nuclear umbrella, is also sitting out talks.

Negotiators at the UN are hoping to adopt the treaty's provisions by July 7th.