Report by Gisela Kallenbach on the 6th Annual Conference of 'Mayors for Peace' and the 60th Annual Commemoration of the Bombing of Hiroshima

As a representative of the European Parliament's Intergroup for Peace Initiatives, I had the unique opportunity to participate in the 6th Annual Conference of 'Mayors for Peace' and to take part in the 60th Annual Commemoration of the terrible atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

These days were fully occupied by deep reflections on the events of 60 years ago; by the stories of those who survived; by deep disappointment about the failure of the Nuclear Weapons Non Proliferation Treaty review conference in New York in May of this year; but also by a strongly expressed common will and commitment to strive towards and obtain the goal of a total abolition of nuclear weapons by the year 2020.

I will never forget the testimonies of these still living survivors, neither will I be able to forget the images in the Hiroshima museum. These will be decisive for all what I will undertake in the future.

After all what happened it is totally incomprehensible why the USA, who caused this catastrophy, still continues the development of new generations of nuclear weapons.

I recommend - not only to Mr.Bush, but to every politician, man or woman, to go to Hiroshima or to Nagasaki and convince him- or herself of the terrible impact of the use of nuclear bombs.

By doing so, possibly many decisions might be taken differently

Thousands of Japanese citizens took part in the official commemoration ceremonies which were of course very emotional. The Japanese prime Minister, Mr.Koizumi took part as well.

A great number of international guests participated as well, most of them representatives of the Corps Diplomatique but no official delegations.

A very specific contribution was made by a special choir uniting fifteen different ensembles from Hiroshima and the World Youth Orchestra.

The common purpose of this meeting of Mayors, NGOs and international organisations was to find the road to concrete action for the global abolition of all nuclear weapons between now and the year 2020.

Representatives of 92 cities from 20 countries have - after the disappointing end of the NPT conference - made arrangements for a year of campaigning between August 2005 and 2006.

In doing so it is not only the intention to build stronger networks between the participating cities, but also to set up a variety of campaigns and education projects which will reach out to the citizens in all the regions of this planet.

To find signatures of Mayors to support the organisation "Mayors for Peace" is the one thing, the other thing, even more important, is to mobilise the broad support and action of people for the abolition of the life endangering A-weapons

For this goal, a global widespread societal support will be needed

The participants of the Conference and the supporters of the Campaign "Mayors for Peace" count in particular also on the good co-operation with the European institutions.

This became clear by the reactions on my participation and by the deep attention for the message and the signed declaration which I brought with me and for my contributions to the discussion.

For this reason I would like to remind all signatories that their signature has also brought commitments for them.

The organisation of the "Mayors for Peace" needs further support, because in all disasters the civilians in the cities and the regions are those who are directly hit.

Please take a commitment in your constituency and - if this is not yet the case - make sure that your mayor becomes a member of "Mayors for Peace".

This will be the basis for citizens to dialogue about the impact of the use of nuclear weapons and to develop their own activities for peacebuilding measures.

This is the decisive point of departure for the active action of states - be it multilateral or through the global community.

Gisela Kallenbach, MEP
Greens/EFA Brussels, 30.08.05

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