Protest letter against the US subcritical nuclear test (September 20, 2003)

September 20, 2003

His Excellency George W. Bush
The President
The United States of America

Letter of Protest

On September 19, the United States conducted its 20th subcritical nuclear test at the underground nuclear test site in Nevada.

While the U.S. government demands that North Korea abandon its nuclear weapons program, you continue to conduct your own subcritical nuclear tests. You have declared that next year you will begin a series of new subcritical nuclear tests that are similar to underground nuclear tests. The inescapable conclusion is that you actually intend to use such weapons.

In my Peace Declaration delivered on the 58th anniversary of the atomic bombing, I expressed my fears about the U.S. nuclear policy of championing the "rule of power" as you increase your prowess for waging nuclear warfare. Ignoring my call for the immediate abolition of nuclear weapons as you conduct one subcritical test after another demonstrates utter contempt for the A-bomb survivors and countless others seeking an end to nuclear weapons. On behalf of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, I vehemently protest this outrage.

This U.S. nuclear policy will collapse the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty regime, the central international agreement guiding the elimination of nuclear weapons, even as it invites new nuclear proliferation. I deeply fear that it will trigger a chain of events that will bring the annihilation of the human race.

The NPT Review Conference agreed on an "unequivocal undertaking by the nuclear weapon States to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals." To prevent nuclear proliferation, I demand that the United States summon the will to abide by this commitment, ratify the CTBT immediately, cease all subcritical and other nuclear testing, and do everything within your power to make the 21st century peaceful and free of nuclear weapons.

Tadatoshi Akiba
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima