On July 16, the US conducted the first detonation of a nuclear weapon. 

In less than a month, the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima on August 6 and on Nagasaki on August 9. One bomb killed many citizens and destroyed both cities. Even now, a-bomb survivors suffer from the after effect of radiation. 

After the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the number of Nuclear -Weapons States is increasing and the number of nuclear test are also increasing. Many people are also affected by the nuclear tests. 

Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty(PTBT)

The PTBT entered into force in October 1963 against international criticism of health damage and environmental destruction by nuclear tests. The PTBT did not prohibit test detonations of nuclear weapons conducted underground. Thus, the effectiveness to deter the nuclear development by nuclear-weapon states is limited. Moreover, China, France did not sign the PTBT. 

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT)

CTBT prohibits “any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion” anywhere in the world including the atmosphere, underwater and space. As of December 2019, 168 of the 184 signatories have deposited their instruments of ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Among the 44 states listed in Annex 2 of the CTBT, whose ratification is a prerequisite for the treaty’s entry into force, five states (China, Egypt, Iran, Israel and the United States) have signed but not ratified, and three (India, North Korea and Pakistan) have not even signed. 1

Among the nuclear-weapon/armed states, only France, Russia and the United Kingdom ratified the Treaty, and France is the only one to have closed its testing facilities. The United Kingdom, which had used the US testing facility from 1962 to 1991, does not have its own nuclear test site.2

Initiative by Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Prefecture protests any nuclear test including tests without nuclear explosion. Once we find out that the nuclear test is conducted, we send the protest letter to the government. 

 

Protest Letters(Only Japanese page is available)

　

　

1 https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/en/hiroshimareport/report-2020/page-11/ , CTBT, Hiroshima Report 2020

2 https://hiroshimaforpeace.com/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2019/09/124439-1.pdf , Hiroshima Report 2013