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"In any war, it is cities and the people living in them that suffer. As Hiroshima and Nagasaki attest, this suffering becomes total destruction when nuclear weapons are involved. To protect their citizens' lives, it is incumbent on all mayors to make every effort to prevent war and eliminate nuclear weapons." Mayor Akiba, current Mayor of Hiroshima, Japan.
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Manly mayor Peter Macdonald says he signed up to Mayors for Peace
because he believes that collective action is very important in an
increasingly volatile world.
"People power does work and joining together for a just cause is important," he explains.
Already more than 700 mayors from 119 countries have joined Mayors for Peace. The network was started by Hiroshima's mayor, Takeshi Araki, in 1982, to ensure the suffering that befell the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki never occurs again.
With nearly 28,000 nuclear weapons in the world, the global arsenal is the biggest threat to world peace. USA and Russia have more than 10,000 weapons each. With unstable countries developing nuclear weapons and others ambitious to develop new nuclear weapons, an end to the nuclear threat is not likely soon.
In May, 2005, an international meeting will review the cornerstone treaty for nuclear disarmament, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Mayors for Peace will send an international delegation to New York for the meeting, providing a local community voice. They will also hold an International Peace Fair in Central Park to coincide with the NPT meeting.
Australia has been a strong presence at past NPT meetings and a leading voice for nuclear disarmament. Unfortunately, the recent government position is not as strong, even though 92 per cent of Australians say our leaders should help negotiate a global treaty for nuclear disarmament*. Our representatives should take this message to international meetings.
* Morgan Gallop poll, Nov 1998
Australian mayors in the Mayors for Peace network:
* Cr Denyse Needham: Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahadale, WA
* Cr Greg Watson: Shoalhaven City Council, NSW
* Cr Warren Maloney: Hepburn Shire Council, Vic
* Cr George Hicks: Nambucca Shire Council, NSW
* Cr Alice Murphy: Leichardt Municipal Council, NSW
* Cr Ruth Whittle: Peterborough District Council, SA
* Cr Jim Angel: Blue Mountains City Council, NSW
* Cr Jan Barham: Byron Shire Council, NSW
* Cr David Vendy: Ballarat City Council, Vic
* Cr Peter Macdonald: Manly Council, NSW
* Cr Tony Foster: Brighton Council, Tas
* Cr Murray Matson: Randwick Council, NSW
"People power does work and joining together for a just cause is important," he explains.
Already more than 700 mayors from 119 countries have joined Mayors for Peace. The network was started by Hiroshima's mayor, Takeshi Araki, in 1982, to ensure the suffering that befell the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki never occurs again.
With nearly 28,000 nuclear weapons in the world, the global arsenal is the biggest threat to world peace. USA and Russia have more than 10,000 weapons each. With unstable countries developing nuclear weapons and others ambitious to develop new nuclear weapons, an end to the nuclear threat is not likely soon.
In May, 2005, an international meeting will review the cornerstone treaty for nuclear disarmament, the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Mayors for Peace will send an international delegation to New York for the meeting, providing a local community voice. They will also hold an International Peace Fair in Central Park to coincide with the NPT meeting.
Australia has been a strong presence at past NPT meetings and a leading voice for nuclear disarmament. Unfortunately, the recent government position is not as strong, even though 92 per cent of Australians say our leaders should help negotiate a global treaty for nuclear disarmament*. Our representatives should take this message to international meetings.
* Morgan Gallop poll, Nov 1998
Australian mayors in the Mayors for Peace network:
* Cr Denyse Needham: Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahadale, WA
* Cr Greg Watson: Shoalhaven City Council, NSW
* Cr Warren Maloney: Hepburn Shire Council, Vic
* Cr George Hicks: Nambucca Shire Council, NSW
* Cr Alice Murphy: Leichardt Municipal Council, NSW
* Cr Ruth Whittle: Peterborough District Council, SA
* Cr Jim Angel: Blue Mountains City Council, NSW
* Cr Jan Barham: Byron Shire Council, NSW
* Cr David Vendy: Ballarat City Council, Vic
* Cr Peter Macdonald: Manly Council, NSW
* Cr Tony Foster: Brighton Council, Tas
* Cr Murray Matson: Randwick Council, NSW
