"All Gains are Lost Without Disarmament"
The closing ceremonies at this years annual meeting of Non Governmental Organizations who work on United Nations issues sent a clear message: Withouit Disarmement all social, economic and political gains will mean nothing. The era of ultra right wing Bush Administration policy and military arms manufacturers has been halted. This the moment to act. Every speaker from Ban Ki-Moon to Jody Williams said it loud and clear: THIS IS THE MOMENT.
Sergio Duarte the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs said that from his UN perspective the last period of time can be put behind us, we we all mobilize.
But, the main call ot action was form Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba the Mayor of Hiroshima. He said he was speaking for the Mayor of Nagasaki by saying the nuclear war must never happen again.
He said that the goal of the year 2020 to fully disarm is within our reach. But, he learned that diplomats cannot do it alone. It will take the power of the people to achieve that goal.
On his part, as head of the International Mayors for Peace, he is trying to sign up every mayor in the world.
He said the the Mayor of Mexico D.F. just signed on. There are no 3,105 cities belonging the Mayor´s for Peace organization.
He sait the a giant peace march in NYC for March, 2010 is going to happen. And, that the Security Council´s meeting of September 24th our first goal.
Children are our Future
In Hiroshima 40% of the population was killed. The bombings of Tokyo a city of 3 million took 150,000 lives. He also cited Dresden where civilian poplations were bombed.
He cited Jody Williams powerful speech during his talk.
WMD - A NEW MEANING
REMEMBER THE WMD, WELL MAYOR AKIBA RENAMED THAT
WE MUST DISARM
FINAL DOCUMENT OF CONFERENCE
The assembled delegates, totally 1,300 from 50 countries approved a comprehensive document from the conference.
This will be posted on the DPI/NGO website.
NEXT YEAR´S MEETING WILL PROBABLY BE IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
