Peace Declaration (1983)

It is now thirty-eight years since that tragic day. Haunted by intense anxiety and revulsion at the nuclear arms race, Hiroshima once again finds itself under a hot August sun.

In spite of repeated talks on disarmament, the nuclear arms race, with the Unites States and the Soviet Union in the forefront, continues it appalling acceleration. Under the increasing menace of nuclear arms, humanity is confronted with the danger of annihilation, as demonstrated by the deployment of SS 20 nuclear missiles and the planned deployment of Pershing II nuclear missiles in Europe and the build-up of nuclear weapons taking place in the Far East.

In this tense situation, however, campaigns against nuclear weapons have arisen spontaneously. With voices calling out, "Do not repeat the tragedy of Hiroshima," and "No More Hiroshimas," the anti-nuclear weapons movement is gaining international attention.

As a part of the World Disarmament Campaign adopted at the Second Special Session on Disarmament, the United Nations will dispatch the first special delegation on disarmament to Hiroshima this autumn and a permanent exhibit on atomic bomb destruction is planned at the U.N. Headquarters. The United Nations has thus started to make new efforts towards educating world opinion, particularly future generations in perpetuity on the reality of disaster of the atomic bomb.

In January 1983, the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki made an appeal entitled "Program to Promote Solidarity of Cities Towards the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons." This growing solidarity is spreading beyond national boundaries, with messages of fervent support coming from all parts of the world.

It is high time that people in all countries depart from their history of hostility, be aware of human dignity, communicate more deeply with each other, and build bonds of trust and goodwill.

Today's hesitation leads to tomorrow's destruction.

In order to halt the ever-expanding nuclear arms race, we urge the nuclear powers, above all else, to immediately conclude a "Comprehensive Nuclear-Weapons-Test Ban Treaty," to stop the production and deployment of all nuclear arms, and to abolish all nuclear arms completely.

We especially urge the superpowers, the United States and Soviet Union, to hold a Peace Summit, to rise above their military and strategic considerations, and, with a global citizens' perspective, to make a decision that shall bring hope to the world.

Japan, the only country that has experienced the atomic bomb, maintains the three non-nuclear principles on the basis of its peace-centered Constitution, and is expected to take the initiative in promoting the Peace Summit between the United States and the Soviet Union and, thus, to be a beacon for world peace.

Today, on the occasion of this ceremony, we pray for the repose of the souls of the victims of the atomic bomb, and firmly pledge ourselves to carrying out relief measures on the basis of national indemnity for the atomic bomb survivors, to the total abolition of nuclear weapons, and to general and complete disarmament.

August 6, 1983

Takeshi Araki
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima