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Nagasaki urges nuclear weapons ban on 75th anniversary of atomic bombing

35 Comments
By MARI YAMAGUCHI

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Taue singled out U.S. and Russia for increasing risks scrapping the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty

He should make a fair accusation instead of an anger rhetoric speech, the fact is the US administration under Donald Trump wants to scrap that 1987 treaty, the Russian govt. wants to keep it! More ridiculously Donald trump wants to draw China in a new round of negotiations! Maybe the Japanese news media didn't reported about this piece of information to the public!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

1glenn, well stated and I agree wholeheartedly.

It is the existence of nuclear weapons coupled with the fear of their destructive power that has actually encouraged peaceful coexistence between nations capable of waging major warfare.....a precarious and fear based peace, but peace nevertheless.

If we are successful in abolishing nuclear weapons (including biological and chemical), we'll go right back to the times (pre-1945) when conventional weapons made major all out total wars thinkable once again.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

While I totally agree that nuclear weapons should never be used again, I am of the opinion that it is the fear of nuclear weapons that has so far kept us from descending into World War III.

Most people on the planet agree that a nuclear war would be a losing proposition for all involved, with neither winners nor losers, but only losers. If we did not have the threat of nuclear weapons, I think we would have long ago descended into a conventional World War III. The period since 1945 has seen 75 years without a major war. When else in human history have we gone without a war between the major powers for such an extended period of time?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

sensei258Today  09:30 am JST

the moment the B-29 bomber Bockscar

Should be boxcar, like part of a train

Well, if you want to get technical about it, it's actually the Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber.

The bomber's moniker name "Bockscar" is correct, orginally assigned to pilot Captain Frederick C. Bock. But for some reason, Bock did not fly his plane on the 9 August mission. Major Charles W. Sweeney flew the "Bockscar" instead.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

the moment the B-29 bomber Bockscar

Should be boxcar, like part of a train

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@ReasonandWisdomNippon

Do you think Hiroshima and Nagasaki would have happened if Japan had the nuke as well?

Yes, because Japan lacked the ability to deliver nukes to US mainland even if Japan had one.

The reason NK nuclear bombs became problematic for the US was because NK now had ICBMs capable of delivering nuclear warhead to Washington DC and New York.

Until NK demonstrated its ICBM capability, the US was willing to ignore NK nuclear weapons programs.

@yosun

so Abe could at least request a treaty to be signed amoung these 4 parties

Why would those four countries give up nukes?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

A bell rings.

Ok . . . now try to unring it.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ban all wars!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Weapons will only get stronger. In 50 years 50 more nations will have more powerful nukes

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

America and Russia will never give up their nukes. They love them too much.

Do you think Hiroshima and Nagasaki would have happened if Japan had the nuke as well?

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Abe has repeatedly refused to sign the treaty. He reiterated that Japan's approach is not to take sides but to serve as a bridge between nuclear and non-nuclear states to encourage dialogue to achieve a total nuclear ban. Survivors and pacifist groups say Japan is virtually siding with the U.S. and other nuclear states.

Well, actually only 4 countries, US Russia China and NK, possibly use A bomb around JP, so Abe could at least request a treaty to be signed amoung these 4 parties as well as JP to set JP an A bomb free zone, it's not easy, but it is definitely step 1, and after that, hopefully we can see better development going on, however if we just do nothing, ok just forget it...

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

@bokuta

Japan should sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons from the U.N.

Abe can't. If Abe signs the nuclear weapons ban, following 2 things happen.

1) US must remove its nuclear weapons stock from Okinawa.

2) Japan must abandon its secret nuclear weapons development program. Yes, Japan wants a nuclear weapon too and is actively maintaining a capability to put together one in a month if necessary.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

The Middle East knows Israel has nuclear weapons and that's why nobody has dared launched a full scale attack against Israel since 1973.

Was Israel attacked in 1973? Is the Sinai part of Israel? What about the Golan Heights? Israel wasn't attacked in 1973, only territory it occupied. Do the research. I'm an expert.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Good luck getting the J... Israelis to follow a ban. Dirtiest people on the planet. They won't even admit they have a nuclear program.

Well, when you're surrounded by enemies, you need a deterrent from attack. And nuclear weapons have proven effective to be that deterrent. The Middle East knows Israel has nuclear weapons and that's why nobody has dared launched a full scale attack against Israel since 1973.

But yes, you're right, Israel won't admit they have nuclear weapons and the U.S. turns a blind eye to their Dimona nuclear facilities. Israel gets away with a lot of things. And they're good at playing the victim card to justify their actions.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

@kunagaijin:Good luck getting the J... Israelis to follow a ban. Dirtiest people on the planet. They won't even admit they have a nuclear program.

This is disgusting.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

I'm really convinced that nuclear weapons were the deterrent that allowed a relative peace after the horrors of world war II

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TARA TAN KITAOKAToday  07:01 pm JST

ATOMIC weapons means big budgets. Just look at the recent spending of the Japanese government.

Japan does not have a nuclear weapons program. Therefore Japan's military spending does not go to "Atomic weapons".

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Nukes are the Devil and Evil men work.

That doesn't make any sense.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good luck getting the J... Israelis to follow a ban. Dirtiest people on the planet. They won't even admit they have a nuclear program.

-4 ( +2 / -6 )

This statue looks ODD !!! something about it that just makes meeeeeeee wonder if it belongs their!??? or fits the message!??

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Nukes are the Devil and Evil men work.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If and when this happens again, I pray more for the survivors than the dead.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Ban ALL nuclear weapons for the future of humanity.

Then the world resorts to conditions prior to 1945 when World Wars fought with conventional weapons are thinkable once again?

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ATOMIC weapons means big budgets. Just look at the recent spending of the Japanese government. Does Nagasaki think that the Japanese government will comply ???.

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

Abe is a hypocrite He'll use the bombings to play the victim card, but he didn't even meet with the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, ICAN.

9 ( +9 / -0 )

... nukes

0 ( +2 / -2 )

Unless Japan is now producing and exporting nuclear weapons, what exactly is your point relative to this article? You are confusing Nuclear Non-Proliferation with banning all weapons of any type.

Are nuclear weapons the only weapons capable of mass-destruction? Hint: the firebombing killed more than the bikes...

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

bokudaToday  04:54 pm JST

Japan should sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons from the U.N.

Or else it has no moral authority to promote anything.

Moral authority and 100 yen will get you a drink from a vending machine. The world is effectively run by the three powers, US, Russia and China, and none of them have any Moral Authority. Japan needs to be under the US Nuclear Umbrella, like other nations. While it certainly has the capability to go nuclear on it's own it has no appetite for the politics attached. Can't blame them really.

7 ( +15 / -8 )

sf2kToday  04:24 pm JST

In 2014 the Abe government allowed arms producers to export arms, making Japan an arms dealer. So of course he's not going to ban weapons it would mean backtracking. Even though it under minds memorials like this..

Unless Japan is now producing and exporting nuclear weapons, what exactly is your point relative to this article? You are confusing Nuclear Non-Proliferation with banning all weapons of any type.

1 ( +10 / -9 )

Every nation that builds, buys and possesses nuclear weapons is committing a crime against humanity. The souls of the hundreds of thousands of innocent victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki deserve better.

Ban ALL nuclear weapons for the future of humanity.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

"The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted without taking into consideration the reality of the harsh national security environment," Abe said at a news conference

That's very true.

Has Mayor Tomihisa Taue and the nuclear abolishment community forgotten North Korea's threats, i.e, "to use nuclear weapons to “sink” Japan and reduce the United States to 'ashes and darkness'"?

Have hey forgotten who backs North Korea and the fact that they have nuclear weapons?

In addition to the U.S. and Japan, and U.K., why hasn't China, North Korea, Russia, India, Pakistan, Israel, signed the Treaty? Without their signature, the Treaty is useless, toothless, meaningless and impotent .

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Japan should sign and ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons from the U.N.

Or else it has no moral authority to promote anything.

8 ( +13 / -5 )

Human beings are thirsting for clean drinking water, pure air, healthy and sufficient food, clothing, health care and proper hygiene, housing, education for their children, job opportunities, and above all peace in their hearts. Living and dying in dignity is the humble wish and sincere longing of many members of our Planet.

10 ( +11 / -1 )

In 2014 the Abe government allowed arms producers to export arms, making Japan an arms dealer. So of course he's not going to ban weapons it would mean backtracking. Even though it under minds memorials like this.

He stance tarnishes the hard work of others trying to stop weapon proliferation. Forget the 2017 treaty how about that law from 2014. Abe can do something about the arms dealer law since his government created it.

2 ( +9 / -7 )

Totally agree 100% they should be banned and never used again anywhere on the only planet we have.

14 ( +18 / -4 )

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