Hi Friend, 

It is hard to put into words what it has meant to be in Oslo over the past few days, as the world gathered to honour the hibakusha and celebrate Nihon Hidankyo’s Nobel Peace Prize. But Terumi Tanaka’s simple yet urgent invitation to push together for a world free of nuclear weapons resonated deeply with me, and all those who heard it: 

“I [...] plead for everyone around the world to discuss together what we must do to eliminate nuclear weapons, and demand action from governments to achieve this goal.” 

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize has put the hibakusha, their harrowing stories, and their powerful calls for an end to nuclear weapons front and center.  This historic moment has underlined that the nuclear armed countries have no more excuses –  they must do what the hibakusha have spent decades calling for – urgently get rid of nuclear weapons.  

Many hibakusha joined the iconic Nobel Peace Prize torchlight procession. 
Photo: ICAN | Kaspar Vosse

Words of congratulations are a start, but they are not enough. The nine nuclear armed states and their allies must listen to Nihon Hidankyo, the Nobel Committee,  and the hibakusha and join the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. That is an effective pathway to the elimination of nuclear weapons and a safer world for all of us.   

As Jørgen Watne Frydnes, the head of the Nobel Committee put it during the ceremony: “We all have a duty to fulfil the mission of the Hibakusha. Their moral compass is our inheritance. It is now our turn. Disarmament efforts require insistent public appeals and sustained pressure.” 

For ICAN, it is an honour to take on that duty.  Just like it has been an honour for us to work alongside the hibakusha for all these years, to celebrate them in this key moment, and renew our commitment to turn their inspiring voices into action around the world. 

Now is the time to get involved.  Check here if your country has already signed and ratified the TPNW. If they have not, get in touch with your elected representatives and urge them to push the government to do so. And if your country has already joined the treaty, will you instead help us spread the word about the hibakusha’s message on social media?

Next year marks the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings, and we must make it count, together. In the coming weeks, we will send you more about our plans to share the hibakusha’s stories and build global pressure to end these inhumane, immoral weapons in 2025. We hope you will stand with us. 

Sincerely,

Florian Eblenkamp
Advocacy Officer
ICAN