On June 16, 2023, the 28th IUF Congress in Geneva adopted a the historic Resolution No.23 on Peace and Nuclear Disarmament. The resolution was proposed by Food Rengo, UA ZENSEN, Service Tourism Rengo and Noh-Dan-Roh.
Brother Toshiyuki Ito, President of Food Rengo, moved the resolution with the following speech, describing the horrors of Japan’s experience of the use of nuclear weapons and called for nuclear disarmament to prevent the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from ever happening again.
Calling for peace and nuclear disarmament
Brother Toshiyuki Ito, President of Food Rengo, addresses the 28th IUF Congress
I would like to express my opinion in favor of this resolution.
78 years ago, atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, claiming the precious lives of approximately 140,000 people in Hiroshima and 74,000 people in Nagasaki.
When the atomic bombs exploded, high heat was generated and it created a “mushroom cloud”. The rain that fell at that time is called “black rain”. This highly radioactive “black rain” caused secondary exposure to radiation, including hair loss and hemorrhaging. The rain was also dispersed by the wind, causing serious damage extensively.
Until now, many atomic bomb survivors suffer from leukemia, cancer, and other radiation-related diseases that affect future generations.
As the only country to have experienced the atomic bombings, we, Japanese labor unions, strongly believe that such a tragedy must never be repeated. Therefore, every year, RENGO, the national center, and Food Rengo, the industrial federation, hold peace actions and education in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The purpose of this event is to listen to the stories of the people who know what it was like to live in those days and to learn the fear of nuclear weapons and, at the same time, to learn the preciousness of peace.
Those who knew those days became old and are decreasing every year. It is precisely because of this situation that we must not let the events of 78 years ago fade away, but must pass them on to the next generation.
We have also been involved in actions such as “10 Million Signatures for Nuclear Weapons Abolition” together with the National Center and other related organizations toward the “Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference”.
We will continue to appeal widely to the international community about the tragic experience of the atomic bombings caused by nuclear weapons and promote efforts for the “abolition of nuclear weapons”.
Finally, I would like to say to Congress, “No more Hiroshima, no more Nagasaki! No more!”