Protest letter against the US nuclear test (October 30, 2013)

October 30, 2013

His Excellency Mr. Barack Obama
President
The United States of America

Letter of Protest

Your country has announced that another test of the Z-Machine involving plutonium was conducted sometime between July and September this year at a research facility in New Mexico.

These repeated Z-Machine and subcritical tests indicate that the United States intends to cling to its nuclear stockpile indefinitely, and such actions are completely unacceptable. They have betrayed the hopes of the survivors of the bombing and the millions of others who seek the elimination of nuclear weapons, and also arouse suspicion regarding your commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, which you expressed in your 2009 Prague speech. On behalf of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, I vehemently protest.

This June, you again demonstrated your commitment to nuclear disarmament by inviting Russia to start negotiations regarding further reduction of nuclear weapons, and thus you are obliged to lead your country to become a model of nuclear disarmament. Nonetheless, you continue to conduct nuclear tests and I feel strong indignation. I urge you to stop betraying our hopes. Please contemplate the agonizing experience of the hibakusha, understand their sincere wish for peace, and strive for the earliest possible realization of a world free from nuclear weapons.

MATSUI Kazumi
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima

October 30, 2013

Mr. Kurt Tong
Charge d’Affaires ad interim
Embassy of the United States of America in Japan

Letter of Protest

Your country has announced that another test of the Z-Machine involving plutonium was conducted sometime between July and September this year at a research facility in New Mexico.

These repeated Z-Machine and subcritical tests indicate that the United States intends to cling to its nuclear stockpile indefinitely, and such actions are completely unacceptable. They have betrayed the hopes of the survivors of the bombing and the millions of others who seek the elimination of nuclear weapons, and also arouse suspicion regarding President Obama’s commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, which he expressed in his 2009 Prague speech. On behalf of the A-bombed city of Hiroshima, I vehemently protest.

This June, President Obama again demonstrated his commitment to nuclear disarmament by inviting Russia to start negotiations regarding further reduction of nuclear weapons, and thus he is obliged to lead the United States to become a model of nuclear disarmament. Nonetheless, your country continues to conduct nuclear tests and I feel strong indignation. I urge your country to stop betraying our hopes. Please contemplate the agonizing experience of the hibakusha, understand their sincere wish for peace, and strive for the earliest possible realization of a world free from nuclear weapons.

MATSUI Kazumi
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima

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