PSR: "Experts Agree: Approve the Iran Deal - Take Action!"

In an action alert urging support for the Iran Nuclear Deal, Physicians for Social Responsibility point out that:

- 29 leading scientists - including Nobel Prize winners - support the Iran deal in a letter to President Obama;
- 75 nuclear non-proliferation experts support Iran deal in an open statement;
- 340 Rabbis urge Congress to support the Iran deal in an open letter;
- 100 former American Ambassadors support the Iran deal in a letter to President Obama; and
- 36 retired generals and admirals support the Iran deal in an open letter.

PSR's action alert allows you and quick and easy way to communicate your support for the Iran Nuclear Deal to your two U.S. Senators and U.S. Representative, and urges them to vote in favor of it.

President Obama has vowed to veto a congressional override of the Iran Nuclear Deal. However, he must hold onto at least one-third of the U.S. House or U.S. Senate in order to sustain his veto.

"The Iran Nuclear Deal 70 Years After Hiroshima and Nagasaki"

Margaret Harrington, host of "Nuclear-Free Future Conversation"Margaret Harrington, host of "Nuclear-Free Future Conversation" on Channel 17/Town Hall Meeting Televsion in Burlington, VT, interviewed Beyond Nuclear's Kevin Kamps on the Iran Nuclear Deal announced on July 14th, the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombing 70th anniversaries on Aug. 6th & 9th, and the Japanese Abe administration's restart of an atomic reactor at Sendai post-Fukushima, despite overwhelming popular opposition.

Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR) has provided a quick and easy way for you to take action, to contact your Members of Congress to urge them to support the Iran Nuclear Deal.

On 70th annual commemoration of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Pope Francis calls for worldwide ban on nuclear weapons

As reported by Voice of America, Pope Francis has called for a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons. He did so on August 9th, marking the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan:

"After so long that tragic event still causes horror and repulsion," the pope said in Rome.

"It became the symbol of the boundless destructive power of man, when the achievements of science and technology are put to wrong use. It remains a permanent warning for humanity to reject war forever and to ban nuclear weapons and every weapon of mass destruction," Francis said.

The pope said he wishes there would be "one voice" that says, "no to war, no to violence, yes to dialogue, yes to peace. With war we always lose."

Hiroshima/Nagasaki Events Calendar with Hibakusha Testimonies in the National Capital Area

Beyond Nuclear is privileged, honored, and humbled to support the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area's 2015 commemorative events surrounding the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Japan.

What follows is a message from Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area cooridator John Steinbach, and a schedule of the planned events.

"Dear Friends,

For the past 34 years, the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area has been organizing for the abolition of nuclear weapons and power, and in support of nuclear victims. We believe that if the world is to avoid repeating the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, we must strive to keep alive the memory of the bombings. This August we again plan a full schedule of events.

We welcome two Hibakusha from Hiroshima, Mr, Goro Matduyama (86) , and Ms. Yakako Chiba (73). In addition, we welcome the Heartful Chorus led by pianist, Ms. Yukie Ikebe. The pianist and the chorus group will perform at each commemoration event.

The entire public schedule is listed below. Please make every effort to attend one of the Commemoration activities, and please forward this letter as widely as possible.

For a Nuclear-Free World,

John Steinbach

Mr. Goro Matsuyama (86)
He was a 4th grader of Hiroshima 2nd Middle School (16 years old) at the time, and working as a mobilized student worker at a military factory at the edge of the city (two and half miles from the epicenter). He walked through the devastated city to his dormitory and then to his home, exposing himself to the radiation. After retiring from teaching in Hiroshima Prefecture, he has become very active in Hibakusha peace movements. He compiled and published a collection of Hibakusha testimonies, and is presently president of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki Hibakusha Association of Neyagawa City in Osaka Prefecture.

Ms. Takako Chiba (73)
She was 3 years old at the time and survived the bombing at one and half miles from the Hiroshima bomb epicenter.  She grew up watching her mother working for support activities of  Hibakusha. After retiring from teaching, she started earnestly working for anti-nuclear movements.  She came to NY City for the 2010 NPT Review Conference and gave her testimony. She is president of Ashiya City Hibakusha Association.  She is also active in the anti-nuclear power movement.

Ms. Yukie Ikebe
She is the leader/instructor of the sixteen person Heartful Chorus choral group, in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture.  She is an accomplished pianist, and has performed in France and East Asian countries.  She is a peace activist and has held peace concerts throughout Japan.

2015 Hiroshima/Nagasaki Events Calendar with Hibakusha Testimonies

Hiroshima Peace Commemoration
Wednesday, August 5, 7:00 pm
American University Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW. Wash. DC
The Arts Center is featuring the world famous Maruki Panels depicting the horrors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There will be a moment’s silence at 7:15pm to commemorate the Hiroshima catastrophe.

Baltimore Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration with Hibakusha Testimonies
Thursday, August 6, 6:30pm
Bufano Sculpture Garden, 3400 N Charles St.  Baltimore, on Johns Hopkins Homewood campus    The program will be preceded by a vigil from 5:30pm at 33rd St. & North Charles St.  Baltimore.
Sponsored by Baltimore Hiroshima-Nagasaki Commemoration Committee.

US-Japan Friendship Concert for Peace
Friday August 7, 7:00 pm
Sam Abbott Citizens' Center Auditorium, 7500 Maple Avenue, Takoma Park, MD
Featuring Ms. Yukie Ikebe with the Heartful Chorus, and the DC Labor Chorus
Sponsored by the Nuclear-Free Takoma Park Committee and the DC Labor Chorus

Nagasaki Candlelight Vigil
Saturday, August 8, 9:45 pm
White House (Lafayette Park)
Moment’s Silence at 10:02, sharing of thoughts for peace

Frederick Hiroshima/Nagasaki Commemoration with Hibakusha Testimonies
Sunday, August 9, 4:00 pm
Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ, 15 West Church St. Frederick, MD
Sponsored by Frederick Women in Black"

HISTORIC 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF ATOMIC BOMBING OF HIROSHIMA, NAGASAKI: Major Protests at Warhead Facilities

Floating peace crane lanterns, with Atomic Bomb Dome in background, Hiroshima, Japan. Photo courtesy: Hiroshima Peace Media Center.Beyond Nuclear has joined with its Alliance for Nuclear Accountability coalition partners across the U.S. in a press release highlighting actions happening across the country, in commemoration of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings 70 years ago this August 6th and 9th, respectively. The commemorations and actions decry the trillion dollar plan for new U.S. nuclear weapons, and advocate disarmament.  

The press release begins:

A thousand or more peace advocates, Hibakusha (A-bomb survivors), religious leaders, scientists, economists, attorneys, doctors and nurses, nuclear analysts, former war planners and others across the country are coming together to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki this August 6 through 9 at key sites in the U.S. nuclear weapons complex and beyond.

Major commemorations, rallies, protests and/or nonviolent direct actions will place at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in CA, the Los Alamos National Laboratory in NM, the Kansas City Plant in MO, the Y-12 Plant in TN, the Rocky Flats Plant in CO, the Pantex Plant in TX, and in GA near the Savannah River Site. These events are united by their reflection on the past, and, uniquely, their focus on the present and future with a resolute determination to change U.S. nuclear weapons policy at the very locations that are linchpins in producing the new trillion dollar stockpile of nuclear weapons and their delivery vehicles.

Kevin Kamps of Beyond Nuclear said: "We are humbled to listen to the sobering stories of two Hibakusha, Mr. Goro Matsuyama and Ms. Takako Chiba, both survivors of the Hiroshima atomic bombing, at Hiroshima/Nagasaki Peace Committee of the National Capital Area events in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. We are also pleased to take part in the 'For People & the Planet' peace activist conference in Columbus, Ohio, to address the inextricable links between nuclear power and nuclear weapons, and what we can do about it."

United for Peace & Justice has posted a calendar of nation-wide Hiroshima and Nagasaki commemorations and actions at: http://www.nuclearfreefuture.org/events/

Update on August 6, 2015 by admin

A City of Hiroshima Peace Declaration has been delivered by Hiroshima Mayor Matsui at the August 6, 2015 commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of his city.

Update on August 6, 2015 by admin

 In commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Global Security Institute (GSI) Advisory Board member Jane Goodall (photo, left) wrote the following: 

I was 11 years old when the Allied Forces dropped two atomic bombs, first on Hiroshima then Nagasaki.  At the time the main impact that this had - at least in Europe and North America - was that this ended World War II.  Gradually news of the horror of this weapon of mass destruction filtered out - descriptions of the utter devastation, the horrendous human suffering, the destruction of all life.  That it happened once was awful.  That it happened a second time, after the effect had been witnessed, can never be forgiven.

It is desperately important that we remember our human crimes during this, the 70th anniversary.  That we reflect with sadness, feel shame for the suffering that was inflicted on hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians.  That we make  a vow to do anything we can to prevent such a horror from ever happening again, and that we educate the young so that they understand why this is so important.

We should think also of those who were injured, exposed to radiation, affected by cancers as a result of all the tests that were carried out, especially those tests that took place on the Marshall Islands.

Let us be joined, in our prayers and thoughts, as we urge the leaders of all Nations to pledge that they will never, in any circumstance, authorize the deployment of nuclear bombs.  

- Jane Goodall PhD, DBE 

Founder - the Jane Goodall Institute 

& UN Messenger of Peace

[See the GSI Special UN Panel Event Report from May 10, 2010, at which the photo above was taken.]

Update on August 9, 2015 by admin

As reported by Voice of America, Pope Francis has repeated his call for a worldwide ban on nuclear weapons. He did so on August 9th, marking the 70th anniversary of the U.S. atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan:

"After so long that tragic event still causes horror and repulsion," the pope said in Rome.

"It became the symbol of the boundless destructive power of man, when the achievements of science and technology are put to wrong use. It remains a permanent warning for humanity to reject war forever and to ban nuclear weapons and every weapon of mass destruction," Francis said.

The pope said he wishes there would be "one voice" that says, "no to war, no to violence, yes to dialogue, yes to peace. With war we always lose."

Update on August 10, 2015 by admin

The Kyodo News and Japan Times have posted the full text of the Peace Declaration read on August 9th by Nagasaki Mayor Tomihisa Taue (photo, left) at a ceremony to mark the 70th anniversary of the atomic bombing of his city by the United States.