Kazumi Matsui expressed concerns about the rising acceptance of nuclear weapons amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. He warned that these attitudes threaten the peace-building efforts established over decades. Matsui emphasized the importance of educating younger generations on the dire consequences of nuclear armament. He urged collective efforts to abolish nuclear weapons to foster a truly peaceful world. The ceremony notably acknowledged the dwindling population of hibakusha, survivors of the atomic bombing, who play a critical role in recounting the catastrophic realities of nuclear warfare.
Kazumi Matsui warned that the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East had contributed to a growing acceptance of nuclear weapons, disregarding lessons from past tragedies.
He urged younger people to recognize that acceptance of the nuclear option could cause utterly inhumane consequences for their future, stressing the need for a consensus to abolish nuclear weapons.
Matsui said, "Despite global turmoil, we, the people, must never give up. Instead, we must work even harder to build civil society consensus that nuclear weapons must be abolished."
The ceremony marked a significant moment for ageing hibakusha, allowing them to pass on first-hand warnings of the horror of nuclear warfare, as their numbers dwindle.
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