Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament Annual Conference
11– 12 September 2004
City Hall, London

Mr Hiroshi Taka will address the annual conference of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament on Saturday 11th September. In his speech he will condemn the prominent role of the US nuclear arsenal in its ‘notorious strategy of pre-emptive’ war. He will denounce the ‘nuclear double standard’ of the governments who choose aggressive disarmament wars over international law and diplomacy, whilst maintaining an arsenal of nuclear weapons that are ‘ready for actual use’. Looking forward to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference in May next year he warned that the nuclear five, including the UK, must not ‘bury their promises’. The conference will also be addressed by London’s Mayor Ken Livingstone, CND Chair Kate Hudson and Green MEP Caroline Lucas.

CND is at the centre of the peace and anti-war movement and has played a crucial role in mobilising the vast opposition to the war on Iraq and the aggressive pre-emptive war policies of our government. Effective opposition to these policies will be central to discussion. CND is Britain’s leading anti-nuclear organisation and much of the debate will focus on the developments taking place around Britain’s nuclear arsenal and how CND will be campaigning to prevent new nuclear weapons and a replacement for Trident.

Mr Hiroshi Taka, Secretary General of Gensuikyo, the Japanese anti-nuclear movement, said,

“Through experiences in the 20th century, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we have come to understand that war can no longer be the answer to international conflict, that nuclear weapons exist only to be abolished.”

Kate Hudson, Chair of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament said,

“The cycle of violence has escalated, not diminished, over the past three years. The tragedy of September 11th was not marked by a response to secure peace, but by war. It is vital that we look to peaceful solutions to the world’s problems rather then following aggressive, warmongering policies that only add to the insecurity and violence.”

-ENDS-

Notes to editor:

1. For further information or interviews please contact Ruth Tanner CND’s Press & Communications Officer on 0207 7002350 or 07968 420859

2. Mr Hiroshi Taka, Secretary General of Gensuikyo the Japanese anti-nuclear movement will be visiting the UK this weekend as a guest of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. If you would be interested in arranging an interview with Mr Taka, please contact Ruth Tanner CND’s Press & Communications Officer on 07968 420859.

3. The Japanese know better than anyone the true horror of nuclear war. Within one week in 1945 two nuclear attacks were a death sentence for over 280,000 Japanese men, women and children, with the long term impact of the radiation causing suffering and debilitation for countless others. Despite the horror we still have not learnt. Each missile head in Britain’s nuclear weapons system has an explosive power eight times the power of the atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima.

4. Speech by Hiroshi Taka at the National Conference of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (September 11th 2004)