May 2010

Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Visit WCRP in New York

Dr. Tadatoshi Akiba, mayor of Hiroshima, and Mr. Tomihisa Taue, mayor of Nagasaki, visited the office of the World Conference of Religions for Peace at United Nations Plaza in New York on May 5 while in the city to participate in the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), held May 3-28 at UN Headquarters.

They were welcomed by young leaders of the Global Youth Network of Religions for Peace. Also present were Dr. William F. Vendley, secretary-general of Religions for Peace; Ven. Gijun Sugitani, chairperson of the International Standing Commission on Disarmament and Security; Dr. Gunnar Stalsett, bishop emeritus of Oslo of the Church of Norway and moderator of European Council of Religious Leaders; and Archbishop Joseph Mitsuaki Takami of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Nagasaki.

After reports on concrete activities by young members for the disarmament petition drive of the Arms Down! Campaign for Shared Security, Dr. Akiba sought to encourage Global Youth Network members, saying, "In every epoch, young people are always the driving force for change." Mr. Taue said, "It is crucial for many people to turn their hope into action and collaborate with each other to create a world without nuclear weapons." Mr. Taue exhibited "A-bombed Mary," the head of a statue found at Urakami Cathedral, near ground zero of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, which has become a tragic symbol. He said he hoped young religious leaders would show that nonviolence is the path to world peace.

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