Tree Planting Ceremony of Hiroshima A-Bomb Survivor Tree

Tree Planting Ceremony of Hiroshima A-Bomb Survivor Tree
 

　On 3 October, Ambassador Junichi Ihara participated in a ceremonial planting of a second generation A-bombed Ginkgo biloba sapling at the European Headquarters of the United Nations. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Assistant Secretary-General and UNITAR Executive Director, Mr. Nikhil Seth, UNOG Director-General Mr. Michael Møller, and Mayor of Ypres and Vice-President of “Mayors for Peace,” Mr. Jan Durnez attended the ceremony.
　The Hiroshima Office of UNITAR, the NPO ANT-Hiroshima and the NGO “Mayors for Peace” are united in the aim of realizing a non-nuclear world. They work to conserve trees that have survived the atomic bomb and convey their seeds and saplings around the world. The sapling planted this time was originally presented by the Mayor of Hiroshima City, Mr. Kazumi Matsui, to Mr. Møller in May 2016.
　Ambassador Ihara said that Japan, as the only country that has suffered atomic bombing in wartime, has a duty to inform and pass on to people around the globe knowledge of the catastrophic humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapons. He went on to introduce the“Youth Communicators for a World without Nuclear Weapons” initiative that the Japanese government is conducting to raise awareness of nuclear issues among the younger generation. Ambassador Ihara also touched upon the important role UNITAR has been playing for many years in nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation by providing training for youth of many countries. He also pointed out that the task of realizing a world free from nuclear weapons cannot be carried out by governments alone, stressing that we need action with cooperation among governments, and international, regional, and civil society organizations.

 

【Speech by Ambassador Ihara】


【Planting by H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, the UN Secretary-General】





【Speech by Mr. Nikhil Seth, Executive Director, UNITAR】