今回の国連への署名提出は、当初は、NPT開催中のことでもあり、色々と難しい問題がありましたが、アトランタ在住のスティーヴ・リーパーさんなどの計らいで実現しました。(リーパーさんは、NO DU ヒロシマ・プロジェクトのメンバーであり、広島市が進めている「核兵器廃絶シティー・キャンペーン」のスタッフでもあります。)
Dear Mr. Nobuyasu Abe, Under-Secretary-General for Disarmament Affaires, the United Nations,
We, the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons (ICBUW), would like to submit to you the signatures on the International Petition to Ban Uranium Weapons. Since the petition campaign started last summer, we have collected more than 160,000 signatures in Japan alone. These are copies of only a small part of them. We are continually receiving more from all over the world, including the countries where the uranium (or depleted uranium) weapons have been used.
Secretary-General Annan, in the message you delivered on 6 November 2002 to mark the first observance of the International Day for Preventing the Exploitation of the Environment in War and Armed Conflict (resolution 56/4), you stated: “International conventions govern nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, but new technologies - such as depleted uranium ammunition - pose as yet unknown threats to the environment. Damage to the environment in war is also an impediment to the restoration of peace and rebuilding of society.”
In complete agreement with your message, ICBUW organized its first “International Day of Action to Ban Uranium Weapons” on Nov. 6, 2004, carrying out various actions and events around the world.
We request that the UN take immediate concrete actions to ban uranium weapons, in accordance ith the voices and desires for peace and health expressed by many citizens of the world. We urge the UN to spare no efforts to conduct health surveys of the victims of depleted uranium weapons, make environmental investigations in all affected areas, and seek ways to provide medical treatment and compensation for the victims of depleted uranium weapons. We will be immensely grateful for any effort you can make in this direction.
The International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons Ketelhuisplein 43, 1054 RD Amsterdam, The Netherlands
e-mail: info@bandepleteduranium.org
http://www.bandepleteduranium.org/index.php
For more information about the submission of these signatures from Japan, please contact the ICBUW board members below:
Dr. Nobuo Kazashi, NO DU Hiroshima Project: horizons@cc22.ne.jp
Dr. Katsumi Furitsu, Campaign Against Radiation Exposure: du-ban-hibaku@theia.ocn.ne.jp