Peace Declaration (1972)

Today, as we observe the twenty-seventh anniversary of the atomic bomb dropping, the day with all its disastrous memories haunts our minds retracing pang and agony. Incessantly in search for an unquestionable world peace through appeal for abolition of nuclear weapons and renunciation of war, the "Heart of Hiroshima" has served to revive the conscience of mankind and undoubtedly had functioned as a deterrent against nuclear wars. However, being possessed by the idea of balance of power, the great nuclear powers have poured preposterous sum of wealth and knowledge into the armament and have extensively proliferated the crisis of a nuclear war.

On viewing the recent international trend, namely, the summit meetings held between the United States of America and the People's Republic of China, between the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R., the East Treaty concluded between West Germany and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and new move of governmental-level negotiation for restoration of diplomatic relation between Japan and the People's Republic of China; all seems to denote receptive auspices of a thaw in the cold war, at long last. Whereas on the Vietnam front, the beholder is obliged to avert his eyes from the tormented scene of numberless women and children performed by the magnitude scale of strategic bombing and destruction. In the meantime, nuclear testings are forged ahead by the alleged nuclear powers utterly ignoring the sincere protest lodged by Hiroshima.

We, restate our strong appeal to expedite the termination of the Vietnam War and earnestly desire for an early realization of total ban on all nuclear weapons, without the least forgiveness on whatever nuclear testing, conducted by any nation whatsoever.

We, hereby affirm that the notion to believe nuclear armament could and would enhance one's own national security is nothing but mere delusion.

At the recent United Nations Conference on the Human Environment, the concept of human survival in the 1970s has been clarified, recognizing the destruction of natural environment, the population augmentation, and the multiple phases of crisis that mankind is confronted with; and whereby a declaration was pronounced for an urgent international consensus oriented towards a complete abolition of nuclear weapons. This event is in full accord with the very ideal of the Japanese Constitution on her renunciation of war, which directs to the road of peace.

It is high time that we call upon nations in the world to challenge the serious undertaking of education for peace and research for peace. In order to inherit this peaceful and livable earth on to the coming generation, we should reflect and realize that mankind partakes the same destiny existing on one earth, and by surpassing all ideological differences and binding intellectual and spiritual ties, we should create a new world order in which man neither has to kill nor be killed. This, we believe is the condition that will prevent another Hiroshima in the coming world.

In front of the victims, on this day of the Atomic Bomb anniversary, I hereby declare our renewed vow for peace, widely and strongly, to the entire world.

August 6, 1972

Setsuo Yamada
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima