Latest news with #MayorsforPeace
5 days ago
- Politics
Mayors for Peace Start General Conference in Nagasaki
News from Japan Society Aug 8, 2025 17:14 (JST) Nagasaki, Aug. 8 (Jiji Press)--Mayors for Peace, a worldwide organization of city leaders, started a three-day general conference in Nagasaki on Friday, the day before the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing of the southwestern Japan city. "We would like to learn from each city's efforts for peace and find possibilities for new collaborations," Nagasaki Mayor Shiro Suzuki said at the 11th general conference. The organization, which promotes efforts to abolish nuclear weapons, had a total of 8,509 member cities in 166 countries and regions as of the beginning of this month. Its quadrennial general conference is alternately hosted by Nagasaki and Hiroshima, the other atomic-bombed city, located in western Japan. At the opening ceremony on Friday, Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui said, "We would like to appeal to expand global solidarity and chains of actions toward a peaceful world." [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.] Jiji Press
Glasgow Times
6 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Seeds of trees which survived Hiroshima help build new Glasgow garden
Children from local schools have helped design the space, which was officially opened today (August 6) to mark the 80th anniversary of Hiroshima Day and to commemorate Victory over Japan Day and the end of World War Two. The new garden, dedicated to peace, remembrance and education, is part of the global Mayors for Peace initiative which encourages the planting of hibaku trees - descendants of those which survived Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Japan-born Botanic Gardens curator Hiro Shimai, whose mother witnessed the Hiroshima bombing, is nurturing the gingko biloba seeds and will oversee their future planting. Hiro Shimai (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Hiro said: 'Just after the bombing in Hiroshima in 1945, it was believed that no plants could grow for decades because of the radioactivity. 'Only some trees in the city of Hiroshima survived, and the ginkgo was one of them although it was seriously damaged. However, vigorous new shoot growth from the survivor ginkgo tree encouraged people in the city.' North Kelvinside Primary pupils Rajveer, 10 and Jasbir, 7, with their mum (who is also a teacher at the school) Kanta Rakhra, with Daria Sato, president of the Japan Society at the University of Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Seeds collected from the survivor ginkgo tree were donated to Glasgow City Council by Mayors for Peace in 2023. The seeds successfully germinated, and the seedlings were carefully maintained by the staff members at the Botanic Gardens. 'The second generation of the ginkgo, whose mother tree experienced the nuclear disaster, would tell us the importance of peace,' said Hiro. The garden has been developed in partnership with Glasgow CND (Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament). (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Chairperson Jean Anderson said: 'On this momentous anniversary of 80 years since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Glasgow CND is proud that our Lord Provost has been instrumental in creating a new Peace Garden. 'It will be a place of calmness and thoughtfulness and a refuge from the conflicts that surround us. 'We hope that the future will see better times, and that Robert Burns' words will come true: man to man, the world o'er, shall brithers be for a' that.' (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Although the gingko biloba seeds will not be ready for planting for another two to three years, the garden's symbolic elements are already in place. These include two commemorative benches with plaques acknowledging the international peace initiative, and information boards sharing the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and Glasgow's commitment to peace. (Image: Colin Mearns/Newsquest) Pupils from St Charles and North Kelvinside Primary schools also contributed artwork and essays reflecting on the themes of peace, remembrance and resilience for the launch, and a digital exhibition. Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren said the children's creative work 'helped to ensure that the voices of young Glaswegians are at the heart of this living memorial.' She added: 'Glasgow's Peace Garden will stand as a testament to our collective commitment to peace. 'The hibaku seeds - survivors of unimaginable devastation - will grow here as living symbols of resilience and hope. Much like peace itself, they require care, patience and community effort to flourish.' The Lord Provost said she was 'especially pleased' that young people from the area had been involved in the project. 'Their thoughtful contributions remind us that peace is not only a legacy to honour, but a responsibility to pass on,' she added. The unveiling coincided with the General Conference of Mayors for Peace in Nagasaki, where a message from the Lord Provost is being delivered by the UK and Ireland Chapter Secretary, reaffirming Glasgow's solidarity with cities around the world committed to peace. The launch of the Peace Garden comes ahead of a service of commemoration on VJ Day (August 15) being held at Glasgow Cathedral at 11am, to which the public are welcome.
NHK
01-05-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Nihon Hidankyo, Hiroshima, Nagasaki appeal for world without nuclear weapons
A Japanese group representing atomic bomb survivors, and the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, have appealed for a world without nuclear weapons at a UN nuclear disarmament meeting in New York. The speeches were delivered at Wednesday's meeting of the preparatory committee for next year's review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, or NPT. Kanamoto Hiroshi is an executive board member of Nihon Hidankyo, which won last year's Nobel Peace Prize. He explained how he was exposed to radiation in Hiroshima when he was nine months old, along with his then-15-year-old sister. Kanamoto said the survivors' ardent wish is to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons in their lifetime. He said they have high expectations for the forthcoming NPT review conference at a time when the decline of the "nuclear taboo," which holds that nuclear weapons must not be used, is a growing concern. Hiroshima Mayor Matsui Kazumi spoke on behalf of Mayors for Peace, a group of municipal leaders seeking the abolishment of nuclear weapons. He called on global representatives to heed civil society's call for peace and refrain from relying on nuclear deterrence. He also urged world leaders to advance reliable nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation measures in good faith. Nagasaki Mayor Suzuki Shiro expressed sympathy over the passing of Pope Francis, who visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 2019. Suzuki said the only way for humanity to escape the nuclear risk is through abolition. He wrapped up his speech with the message, "Nagasaki must remain the last wartime atomic bombing site."
NHK
30-04-2025
- Politics
- NHK
Youths from Hiroshima, Nagasaki call for nuclear-free world at United Nations
Students from Hiroshima and Nagasaki have called for a world free of nuclear weapons at the United Nations in New York. The appeal came on Tuesday at a meeting of the Mayors for Peace, attended by the mayors of the two Japanese cities that suffered atomic bombings in 1945. The session was held on the sidelines of a preparatory committee meeting for next year's review conference of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. High school and university students from Japan spoke about their wishes for peace. They said they are the last generation that will be able to directly hear the stories of the atomic bomb survivors, who are now aged over 85 on average. The students also talked about the continued suffering of the survivors, known as hibakusha, from leukemia and other conditions. UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Nakamitsu Izumi voiced her hope in the youth activities. She said the students have the right to demand what they want, in order to make sure the world will be a safer and more secure place. The Japanese students also had a chance to talk with young people from other countries. Kawamura Hanon is a third generation hibakusha from Hiroshima. She said she was motivated to change the way peace education is provided in Japan, after learning of the different approaches in other countries.
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Girl, 10, from Rochester receives international recognition as part of Mayors for Peace Art Competition
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – Rochester city leaders and educators gathered Wednesday night to watch as Mayor Malik Evans honored a young student, who was recognized internationally for her artwork! Her name is Zahra Farady, and she's only ten years old. She attends Abelard Reynolds School No. 42 on Lake Avenue in Rochester. Her artwork was recognized in the special prize category of the International Mayors for Peace Children's Art Competition. The certificate was sent by the Mayors for Peace President, Kazumi Matsui, the Mayor of Hiroshima, Japan. Guardian's Cup charitable hockey tournament returns to Rochester 'We discussed what peace means to us, and how we can convey that in a drawing,' said Zahra's art teacher, Amy Graham. 'Many students used peace doves and the peace symbol in their drawings, but Zahra chose to draw a picture that conveys the feeling of peace in a moment in time. This is a picture of her swinging on a swing. It's a fall day, the leaves are fluttering to the ground, and it conveys the carefree, safe childhood that everyone deserves.' The City of Rochester is one of more than 8,000 cities and 166 countries around the world that is a member of the Mayors for Peace, a group dedicated to achieving lasting world peace. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
