Prime Minister shares Greenpeace’s vision of Nuclear Free Future on Hiroshima anniversary

zoom

Greenpeace activists and schoolchildren met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing, and delivered 30,000 messages of peace sent by people from all over the country. Pic courtesy PMO.

Responding to the message read out by the students (1), the Prime Minister said he shared their dream of a world where all nuclear weapons were totally abolished. He further assured them that he will continue to work on the plan that Rajiv Gandhi presented to the United Nations for universal nuclear disarmament. "I believe that ultimately sanity will prevail and we would not have to live under the fear of nuclear sceptre. May your path be blessed" he added after receiving the the 4 ft high memento from Greenpeace supporters.

"Each of these 30,000 boats carries a clear message - our generation wants peace!" said Aarohi Shastri of class XII from St.Thomas School, one of the children present at today's meeting, "Although the Hiroshima bombings took place long before we were born, we are appalled at how little world leaders seem to have learnt from the experience. There are already enough nuclear weapons to destroy the world 50 times over! We want leaders, including our own, to pledge that there will be NO MORE HIROSHIMAS!"

On 5th August 2005, Greenpeace activists in Hiroshima ushered in the 60th anniversary of the bombing with 10,000 "Wings of Peace" messages sent in by people from 155 countries. The messages were attached to dove-shaped balloons that soared high over the Hiroshima Peace Dome.  The slogan 'You can't sink a Rainbow' stands testimony to Greenpeace' commitment to working towards a nuclear free world, a commitment as old as Greenpeace itself. The campaign has only grown stronger in the face of opposition - such as the French government's bombing of the Rainbow Warrior in 1985.

"World leaders must not be allowed to renege on their past commitments to nuclear disarmament. True security can be fostered only by eradicating the root causes of conflict, not by fortressing ourselves with more deadly technologies. The promotion of renewable energy choices for our country is central to our demand for a nuclear free world," said Benson Isaac, Peace Campaigner, Greenpeace India, "

Greenpeace is an independent campaigning organisation that uses non-violent creative confrontation to expose global environmental problems to force solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future.

For further information:

Benson Isaac, Peace Campaigner, Greenpeace India Tel: 09845167575, E-mail:

Vivek Sharma, Media Officer, Greenpeace India Tel: 09343788424,

E-mail:

Notes to the editor:

(1) Students from Delhi schools representing people across the country, read out a peace message to the Prime Minister on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the Hiroshima bombing.