International Meeting
2001 World Conference against A & H Bombs

Report on Workshop 2: Prevention of Bringing-in of Nuclear Weapons in Foreign Territories - Expansion of Nuclear Weapons-Free Zones Worldwide

A large number of Japanese and overseas delegates attended workshop 2. Extensive knowledge and deep convictions were shown by the participants.

The major ideas presented were these,
1) Alarm over widespread U.S. missile defense policy and imperialism.
2) Calls for expansion and strengthen of nuclear free zones.
3) Eradication of crimes and environmental pollution caused by U.S bases in South Korea, Japan and the Philippines.
4) Specific concerns about a Japanese history textbook and the prime minister's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine.

Japanese delegates showed how much they want peace and nuclear free world.  It is clear that they know the pain and misery of war and nuclear weapons.
Grass-roots peace groups informed the workshop a book about Hibakusha which they had published and about their efforts to educate the youth.  They
explained how they are promoting youth participation in the peace movement Japanese delegates have informed us that they have collected signatures for the
"Appeal from Hiroshima and Nagasaki".  Through this workshop we could  understand many kinds of peace movement in Japan.

Overseas delegates, Ms Corazon Fabros from the Philippines pointed out that U.S. has an intention to expand military facilities in Asia.  Eg: Asking for new
land for bases in Korea, the base construction plan in Nago, Okinawa, and increased  military exercises in the Philippines are all evidence of this. Hiroshi
Suda also emphasized that the enlargement of U.S bases and facilities in Asia will be a real threat to the Asian people. We urgently need to take action to
block these developments.

Environmental accident at US bases is a really serious problem in Okinawa, South Korea and the Philippines. So all the people recognized that the
SOFA(Status of  Forces  Agreement)  should  be fundamentally revised in all countries which have SOFAs. Lee, Yujin as a Korean delegate suggested that
environmental guidelines for the foreign bases should be prepared for the Rio+10 Earth Summit which will be held in Johannesburg in 2002.

The representatives of India and Sri Lanka strongly condemned U.S. imperialism and Missile defense policy. Mr. Surojit from India suggested an
international based [World  Campaign] for a nuclear free world.  And Mr.Hikima also suggested a world conference about a [ Nuclear Free Zone in
Northeast Asia]

There were plenty of good ideas and suggestions.  I apologize for any omissions.  The conclusion of this workshop was that for a nuclear free peaceful world, we have to fight together.