Hi Friend, 

We are still ecstatic and moved by Friday’s announcement that the grassroots group representing the survivors of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Nihon Hidankyo won this year’s Nobel Peace Prize. This recognition is so well-deserved, meaningful and timely. 

For decades, the hibakusha have been tireless advocates for the elimination of nuclear weapons. No one will ever be able to measure how many people’s lives were forever altered by hearing, first hand, a survivor tell their story of that summer morning in Hiroshima or Nagasaki. Most often, the person telling the story was a child at the time- and lost their parents, their siblings, their best friends. 

It takes incredible bravery to re-live such a horrific trauma, over and over, for audiences around the globe. The courage to do so has led people to the conclusion that nuclear weapons are so horrific, they must never be used again. It has helped the public and world leaders to see nuclear weapons for what they truly are.

These stories, and the willingness to share them, helped us achieve the adoption and entry-into-force of the UN treaty that bans nuclear weapons forever, the TPNW. And of course, they have inspired - and continue to inspire- people all around the world who work on nuclear abolition to keep pushing until the job is done.  

Terumi Tanaka, co-chair of Nihon Hidankyo, speaking against nuclear weapons in 2011. Photo: ICAN | Tim Wright. Read his story here. 

This global recognition of everything the hibakusha have done to protect us all from the nuclear war is also an opportunity to make the world hear their urgent calls to end the nuclear threat once and for all. It marks a new opportunity to re-energise the movement, and call on everyone to stand in solidarity with the hibakusha, particularly as next year will mark 80 years since the atomic bombings. 

We hope you will join us in thanking Nihon Hidankyo and all the hibakusha. Will you please read and share these pieces that feature some of their incredible work?

Thank you,

Susi Snyder
Programme Coordinator
ICAN