Protest letter against the US subcritical nuclear test (August 30, 2002)

August 30, 2002

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

Letter of Protest

On August 29, the United States conducted its 18th subcritical nuclear test at its underground nuclear test site in Nevada.

In my Peace Declaration for the 57th year since the atomic bombing, I expressed my grave concern regarding your nation's self-centered effort to strengthen its nuclear capabilities. Coming so soon after my call for the abolition of nuclear weapons, your subcritical nuclear test and obvious efforts to cling to your nuclear weapons are a clear betrayal of the atomic bomb survivors and most people around the world, who wish to abolish nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the US Defense Department Report issued this month strongly suggests the possibility of preemptive strikes, including the use of nuclear weapons, forcing us to the conclusion that the US has, indeed, shifted to a military policy that assumes the usability of nuclear weapons. As mayor of the A-bombed city Hiroshima, I am outraged by your reckless posture, and on behalf of the citizens of Hiroshima, I vehemently protest.

Israel and the Palestinians remain bound by chains of violence and retaliation. Military tension continues to intensify between India and Pakistan. Your blatantly aggressive threat to remove the Hussein regime in Iraq "by any means necessary," and your planning for a military attack has created a dangerous climate that has made Hiroshima extremely concerned. If we are to prevent the annihilation of the human race, and if we are to bequeath a brighter future to our children, we absolutely must avoid any use of nuclear weapons.

Your own National Academy of Science has declared that, "The CTBT is in the best interest of US national security, and nuclear testing is not required to ensure the reliability of nuclear weapons." I hereby demand that you listen to your own scientists, accept your duty as a nuclear superpower and ratify the CTBT immediately. I further demand that you begin striving in good faith to fulfill your promise of an "unequivocal undertaking" to eliminate your nuclear arsenal promised at the most recent NPT review conference, and begin working conscientiously to build a truly peaceful 21st century free from nuclear weapons.

Tadatoshi Akiba
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima