NEWS – Nihon Hidankyo received the Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world and for advocating against the use of nuclear weapons, as highlighted by the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Background of Nihon Hidankyo
  • Members are survivors of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, known as “Hibakusha,” who initiated the global movement to end nuclear weapons.
• Objectives of Nihon Hidankyo
  • Founded on August 10, 1956, it focuses on:
    1. Welfare of Hibakusha.
    2. Elimination of nuclear weapons.
    3. Compensation for victims.
  • Impact of Hibakusha Testimonies
    • Their accounts have increased awareness of the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons.
  • Significance of the Award
    • The Nobel Committee emphasized the importance of upholding the “nuclear taboo” amid global conflicts.
  • Establishment of the Nuclear Taboo
    • Nihon Hidankyo’s efforts contributed to a global norm preventing nuclear weapon usage since 1945, which is currently under threat.
  • Historical Context of Nuclear Disarmament
    • Nihon Hidankyo is among various recipients advocating for nuclear disarmament, following past Nobel winners like ICAN in 2017 for their work on nuclear weapons prohibition.

Interesting Facts

• Mahatma Gandhi: Nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize but never awarded.
• Kailash Satyarthi: Shared the 2014 prize with Malala Yousafzai for child rights advocacy.
• Latin America: Established as a nuclear-weapons-free zone since 1967, with Alfonso García Robles receiving the peace prize in 1982.

Recent Nobel Laureate

• Narges Mohammadi: Awarded the 2023 Nobel Peace Prize for her fight against women’s oppression in Iran and promoting human rights.

Historical Events: Hiroshima and Nagasaki

• Little Boy: Dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, causing immediate destruction and over 100,000 deaths.
• Fat Man: Dropped on Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, killing at least 40,000 instantly, with many more affected later.
• Critique of Bombings: The decision to use nuclear weapons has been debated for its ethical and strategic implications, leading to a global nuclear disarmament movement.