A GREETING TO ALL THOSE ON THE GLOBAL VOYAGE
FOR A NUCLEAR FREE WORLD - PEACE BOAT HIBAKUSHA PROJECT.

Dear Friends,

I write to send my greetings to the Hibakusha, and the high school students, on this the second voyage of the Peace Boat.Your message of disarmament and peace is so important for The world. In a world where so many nuclear weapons threaten the very Survival of the human family, it is important that those who Know the cost of nuclear war, having felt it in their own lives, Through death, and continued suffering, challenge every citizen In the world to work for their Political leaders to abolish War and nuclear weapons, for the sake of Humanity's survival.

The Japanese people have given real moral and political leadership by such visionary movements as - The Peace Boat campaign, Mayors for Peace Campaign, the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol, Campaign to keep article 9 in The constitution, and most especially, the life-time commitment of the Hibakusha to educate people everywhere about the real human consequences of nuclear weapons. And on this boat journey the Youth are taking up their Responsibility to rid the world of nuclear weapons for themselves and Future generations. There is great hope for Nuclear Disarmament, and It comes from the seeds of peace and friendships planted by the Japanese People in so many countries where they visit. You example of building Friendships and dialogue to solving problems in this increasingly Interconnected and inter dependant world, will help move us away from Violence to nonkilling, nonviolent societies and a peaceful world. Thank you for your love and courage.

Peace to you all,
Mairead Maguire (Nobel Peace Laureate)
www.Peacepeople.com

Dear Sir or Madam,

I am writing to request your assistance with an important project.

Hiroshima, the first city to experience the atomic bomb, has long called for the abolition of nuclear weapons and the realization of lasting world peace. Today, strong efforts towards nuclear abolition are needed more than ever. Thus, I am voicing my strong support for Peace Boat's Hibakusha Project, which takes atomic bomb survivors around the world to share their stories and lessons about the inhumanity of nuclear weapons.

The second "Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World - Peace Boat Hibakusha Project" is traveling over the next few months to 20 countries to provide education about nuclear disarmament. I hope that its passengers, especially the Hibakusha, will enjoy safe passage and be warmly welcomed at every port of call during their journey. The atomic bomb survivors on this voyage should be greeted with open arms for their courage to persevere through pain and to speak, through personal experience, against any future use of any nuclear weapon.

The cooperation of port authorities everywhere is crucial not only to offering the hospitality this group deserves but also to helping this voyage and its important purpose. Peace Boat and this Hibakusha Project have already been instrumental in raising awareness around the world about the need for a peaceful, nuclear-free future. I had the pleasure of meeting with paticipants of the First Hibakusha Voyage during their visit to the United Nations Headquarters in New York, as well as welcoming them upon their return to Hiroshima. I am convinced that their disarmament education and direct interaction with youth, citizens, NGOs, as well as victims of war from other countries undertaken through this voyage will be a critical contribution to the growing global movement to abolish nuclear weapons.

In addition, I am grateful to Peace Boat for its promotion of the Mayors for Peace Programme. Started by Hiroshima City Mayor in 1982 as a way to transcend national borders and work together to press for nuclear abolition, this municipal assocation now has 3,147 city members in 134 countries. Twenty-seven of these cities joine during the first Peace Boat Hibakusha Voayge as a direct result of Hibakusha appeals to the mayors of the cities they visited.

Furthermore, the Peace Boat Hibakusha Project is working with us to gather support for our 2020 Vision Campaign to eliminate all nuclear weapons by the year 2020, the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is supporting adoption of the Hiroshima Nagasaki Protocol and promoting our Cities are Not Targets project.

At this critical historical juncture, the "Global Voyage for a Nuclear-Free World - Peace Boat Hibakusha Project" is highlighting the crucial role of citizens in resolving the many global issues facing us all in the 21st century. With increasing global momentum towards disarmament, this project will show that those working for nuclear abolition are the "Obamajority!" I commend the organisation of this project as well as the participating Hibakusha and students for their important contribution to nuclear abolition. I hope you will do whatever you can to ensure the safety and success of this voyage and that together we many work to realise a peaceful, sustainable nuclear-weapon free world.

Tadatoshi Akiba
Mayor
The City of Hiroshima

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