At the 57th anniversary memorial, RENGO conducted its "Peace Actions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki" in Hiroshima (August 5-6) and Nagasaki (August 8-9)—the first and the only nuclear bomb sites in the world. In an effort to step up its peace movements and create solidarity, this year RENGO has standardized the names of actions held in four areas including Okinawa. Further, in addition to conducting its regular rallies, RENGO established seminars where participants could learn more deeply about peace. A prayer for peace first started from the Okinawa Peace Action in June will be relayed to Nemuro, Hokkaido in September via Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

 

Photo: "We should keep in mind that nuclear weapons are changing from a deterrent to regular weapons of war" says Acting President Sakakibara. (August 5, Hiroshima)

Photo: About 80 union members and their families display a poem and drama recitation. Here they are expressing the notion of 'earth' in sign language. (August 8, Nagasaki)

Prior to the Hiroshima Peace Rally, a Peace Walk and a seminar were started at noon on August 5. The seminar gathered approximately 300 participants with the following themes: [1] peace movement activities at the workplace and in local regions, [2] activities to support A-bomb victims.

RENGO Acting President Sakakibara stood to deliver a speech representing the organizers at the rally that same afternoon. He criticized the Bush Administration's opposing trends towards world peace by their railroading through subcritical nuclear experiments. He stated that "we should pay the most attention to the present conditions where nuclear weapons are changing in their status from deterrence to mere war weaponry." He appealed so that "people from all over the world should protest against the United States." Finally, he cheered on the 2,500 attendees to "realize a peaceful world without the fear of nuclear weapons, let us expand our activities."

RENGO Hiroshima President Morikawa emphasized the importance of continuing the movement saying, "we want to expand the movement network regardless of however small the leverage is. Let us continue to appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons which may yield massive bloodshed."
After Hiroshima Prefectural Governor Fujita's message was read, Hiroshima City Mayor Akiba made a speech and the participants moved to the site of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome). They all prayed for the repose of the victims' souls as well as for everlasting global peace, and waved penlights in the night sky.

On the following day, August 6, Acting President Sakakibara and others attended a peace memorial held by the city of Hiroshima. The caravan consisted of RENGO Headquarters, RENGO Hiroshima and RENGO Nagasaki attended a "Nagasaki Peace Bell" ceremony held at Hiroshima City University. The plea for peace was passed from Hiroshima to the Peace Rally in Nagasaki held on August 8 and gathered 2,500 people from across the nation. Acting President Sakakibara gave a speech representing the organizers urging those to "let us fortify peace movements in the workplaces and local regions. Moreover, let us take great strides forward with the RENGO peace movement."
Nagasaki Prefectural Governor Kaneko and Nagasaki Mayor Itoh each gave a speech at the rally. Afterwards, RENGO Nagasaki President Kamitani greeted the audience in his speech saying, "it is Nagasaki's duty to spread information for peace and to continue to do so. Let make the elimination of nuclear weapons and permanent peace a reality as early as possible."
After the speeches, a poem and drama recitation was performed entitled "Families Plea for Peace—Oppose Disintegration." Approximately 80 union members and their families participated in the poem and drama recitation, which was created to convey the horror of the A-bomb as well as the preciousness of life via songs, recitations and sign language. The sincere plea to across generations left the hall in solemn silence.
The next day, August 9, a symposium was held that gathered 250 attendees, where a panel discussion was held under a theme of "A Proposal for Peace Politics and Peace Movements." That evening, 500 people, far higher than usual attendance, participated in "Mando-Nagashi," or a floating lantern offering ceremony. As participants and citizens floated 1600 lanterns on the Urakami River, their prayers for peace overflowed.