Special Report LAST UPDATE July 1, 2010
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June 10, 2010 Peace Boat marks Nuclear Abolition Day in Norway
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AParticipants on Peace Boat's 69th Voyage held a demonstration in Norway, calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons and demanding an end to the siege of Gaza by Israeli forces. A group of activists were killed by Israel's navy last month while trying to ship aid to the Palestinian territory.
This event was part of actions held around the world to mark the inaugural Nuclear Abolition Day on June 5: www.nuclearabolition.org.
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Tanaka Kenji, whose mother was pregnant when the atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima, told the crowd that atomic weapons cause a lifetime of suffering. Mr Tanaka was blind in one eye when he was born six months after the bombing.
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More than 100 people joined the demonstration, which was held in the centre of Bergen, Norway's second biggest city. Demonstrators played traditional Japanese drums and sang songs of peace.
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Balloons were handed to dozens of people in the crowd. Red is the colour representing the campaign to develop a Nuclear Weapons Convention, which will begin the process of banning all nuclear weapons.
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Peace Boat participants performed an 'Article 9 Dance,' which is a celebration of Japan's peaceful stance. Article 9 in Japan's constitution prevents Japan from maintaining a military.
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Those onboard the 69th Voyage will continue to campaign for peace and the abolition of nuclear weapons as they travel from Northern Europe to Latin America.