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2020 Vision

(An Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons)

Projects

Aiming toward the target year of 2020, Mayors for Peace adopted the “Mayors for Peace Action Plan (2017-2020)” (Overview) at the 9th General Conference held in Nagasaki in August 2017, which set two main objectives that would lead us to our ultimate goal, that of lasting world peace: “Realization of a world without nuclear weapons” and “Realization of safe and resilient cities”. Based on this Action Plan, Mayors for Peace is promoting various projects.

[Main Projects]

Calling on the UN and national governments to act

Seizing every possible opportunity, including international conferences, Mayors for Peace has called on the UN and governments around the world to support efforts towards the early realization of a legal prohibition on nuclear weapons. These activities and the heartfelt appeal of the hibakusha and many other like-minded people who wish for the abolition of nuclear weapons bore fruit in July 2017, when the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted at the UN.

Mayors for Peace will continue to urge all states, including the nuclear-armed states and their allies, to participate in this Treaty as soon as possible. We will also encourage policymakers to work on creating a security framework that moves away from nuclear deterrence and to visit Hiroshima and Nagasaki to share in the hibakusha’s earnest wishes for nuclear abolition.

Expanding membership

We call on non-member cities to join Mayors for Peace, not only through invitations from the President of Mayors for Peace and its Secretariat, but also from other associations of local governments, Lead Cities’ partners and other channels.

Promoting regional activities spearheaded by Lead Cities

Mayors for Peace selects an appropriate number of Lead Cities that take the lead in their regional chapters in order to encourage proactive and independent activities appropriate to each region.

Sharing seeds from A-bombed trees

Mayors for Peace is distributing seeds from A-bomb survivor trees in Hiroshima in response to member cities requests. Please join us in this program by nurturing the trees distributed to your city as symbols of peace, and use them to raise peace consciousness among citizens.



● Requests to Those Receiving the Seeds

Mayors for Peace asks each recipient city to accommodate the following requests:

  • 1.To raise seeds/seedlings under the care of experts, such as in botanical gardens, until they become tall and sturdy enough to be planted in the ground.
  • 2.Provide the Secretariat with updates on development of the trees at least once a year. These updates should include some information on their height, number of seedlings, growing place and a plan/report of peace activities based around them as well as their photos.


● Procedure to Distribute Seeds
  • 1. [Recipient City] Contact the Secretariat
  • 　If a member city wants to receive seeds from A-bombed trees and agrees to accommodate the requests above, please contact the Secretariat by email.
  • 2. [Mayors for Peace Secretariat] Conduct preparatory research
    • a. The Secretariat researches the species of A-bombed trees appropriate for the recipient city’s climate
    • b. The Secretariat confirms whether or not procedures for quarantine, export and import licenses are required by the sending country and the receiving country.
  • 3. [Mayors for Peace Secretariat] Send a questionnaire to the recipient city
  • 　Based on the preparatory research in 2 - a, the Secretariat enters relevant information into the questionnaire and sends it to the recipient city. If quarantine or an import license is required by the receiving country, the Secretariat informs the recipient city of this information at this point.
  • 4. [Recipient City] Return the questionnaire
    • a. The recipient city answers the questionnaire by filling in required information, such as tree species they want to receive, intended care facility (e.g. a botanical garden), and contact information, and returns the questionnaire to the Secretariat.
    • b. In the case that some procedure is required by the receiving country, the recipient city should contact a domestic quarantine office for their advice on the procedure, then share this information with the Secretariat.
  • 5. [Mayors for Peace Secretariat] Send out seeds
  • 　Upon confirmation of the returned questionnaire and the completion of required procedure for quarantine and an import license, the Secretariat sends out seeds to the recipient city. Shipping costs are covered by the Secretariat.



● Note
  • When trees from the seeds become tall and sturdy enough to be planted in the ground, the Secretariat can donate an explanatory plaque. Please inform the Secretariat of plans of events involving the tree, such as a planting ceremony. A recipient city can receive one explanatory plaque for each species. If your city wishes to receive the plaque, please let the Secretariat know by at least two months before the desired delivery date.

Then UN Secretary-General planting the tree at United Nations Office at Geneva (Photo Credit:UN photos/PM Virot)


● List of Recipients of Seeds/Seedlings of A-bombed Trees

As of November 1, 2020

1. Distribution of Seeds (39 municipalities and 1 organization in 14 countries)

No Country Municipality /
Organization		 Species Date Note
1 Belgium Ypres Ginkgo
Camphor tree		 2012/5/5 Photo
Report
2 Spain Granollers Ginkgo
Persimmon
Camphor tree		 2012/5/5
2017/3/6
2018/1/23		 Photo
Report
3 Germany Schwäbisch Gmünd Ginkgo 2014/2/25
4 Belgium Brussels Ginkgo
Japanese hackberry		 2014/6/24
2016/2/2		 Photo
5 Norway Frogn Ginkgo 2014/6/24 Photo
6 Australia Fremantle Ginkgo 2014/7/11 Photo
Report
7 Russia Volgograd Ginkgo 2014/8/4
8 Canada Montreal Ginkgo 2014/8/5 Photo
9 UK Manchester Ginkgo 2014/8/26
2015/10/8		 Report
10 Germany Hannover Ginkgo 2014/12/11 Photo
11 Switzerland Luzern Ginkgo 2015/1/21 Photo
12 UK Shetland Ginkgo 2015/2/3
13 UK Edinburgh Ginkgo 2015/2/3 Photo
14 Slovenia Radlje ob Dravi Ginkgo 2015/4/14
15 UK Aberdeen Ginkgo 2015/6/30 Photo
16 Switzerland Renens Ginkgo 2015/7/14
17 Norway Fredrikstad Ginkgo
Jujube		 2015/8/3 Photo
18 Canada Oak Bay Ginkgo 2016/5/11 Photo
19 France Malakoff Ginkgo
Camphor tree
Japanese hackberry		 2016/5/11 Photo
20 Italy Thiene Ginkgo
Jujube
Japanese hackberry		 2016/5/11 Photo
21 UK Kingston upon Hull Ginkgo 2016/5/11 Photo
22 Germany Bonn Kurogane holly
Japanese hackberry
Muku tree		 2016/10/21
2017/1/19
2017/6/15		 Photo
23 Germany Erfurt Ginkgo 2017/1/19
2018/1/23		 Photo
24 UK Oldham Ginkgo
Jujube
Japanese hackberry		 2017/3/6
25 US Des Moines Ginkgo 2017/4/26 Photo
26 Italy Mirano Ginkgo 2017/4/26 Photo
27 Italy Spinea Ginkgo 2017/5/17 Photo
28 Germany Langen Ginkgo 2017/7/11 Photo
Report
29 France Lasseran Ginkgo
Kurogane holly
Japanese hackberry		 2018/3/29
2019/3/5
30 US Disruptor Foundation Ginkgo
Jujube
Japanese hackberry		 2018/4/3
31 UK South Ayrshire Ginkgo 2018/5/14
32 Portugal Évora Kurogane holly
Camphor tree		 2018/5/29
2019/9/13
33 Germany Coesfeld Ginkgo 2019/6/4
34 France Grigny Ginkgo 2019/8/9
35 Australia Hobart Ginkgo 2019/9/13 Photo
36 Germany Bad Kreuznach Ginkgo 2019/11/19
37 Germany Gau-Algesheim Ginkgo 2020/10/29
38 Germany Herzogenaurach Ginkgo 2020/10/29
39 UK Hebden Royd Ginkgo 2020/10/29
40 UK Rochdale Ginkgo 2020/10/29

2. Distribution of Seedlings (39 municipalities and 3 organizations in 12 countries)

No Country Municipality /
Organization		 Species Date Note
1 Bosnia and Herzegovina Sarajevo Ginkgo 2014/6/28 Photo
2 Kazakhstan Semey Ginkgo 2014/8/29 Photo
3 South Korea No Gun Ri International
Peace Foundation		 Ginkgo 2014/9/19 Photo
4 Italy Cervia Ginkgo 2015/9/13 Photo
5 Switzerland United Nations
Office at Geneva		 Ginkgo 2016/5/2
2016/10		 Photo
Report
6 Germany Stuttgart Ginkgo 2016/7/8 Photo
7 Germany Krefeld Ginkgo 2016/8/6 Photo
8 Germany Braunschweig Ginkgo 2016/9/21 Photo
9 Spain Sant Feliu de Llobregat Ginkgo 2016/11/30 Report
Report
10 Germany Rothenburg o.d.T. Ginkgo 2017/7/8 Photo
11 Norway Halden Ginkgo 2017/8/26 Photo
Report
12 Norway Kvinesdal Ginkgo 2017/8/29 Photo
Report
13 Spain Gava Ginkgo 2017/9/21 Photo
Report
14 Italy Italian Parliament Ginkgo 2017/11/14 Photo
15 France Paris Ginkgo 2018/4/28 Photo
16 Spain Gernika-Lumo Ginkgo 2018/4/29 Photo
17 Norway Larvik Ginkgo 2018/5/23 Photo
18 Norway Skedsmo Ginkgo 2018/6/17 Photo
19 Norway Sande Ginkgo 2018/6/28 Photo
20 Spain Canovelles Camphor tree 2018/9/22 Report
21 France Regional Council
of Occitanie		 Ginkgo
Japanese hackberry
Camphor tree		 2018/12/5
22 Poland Oswiecim
(Auschwitz)		 Ginkgo 2019/8/2
23 Norway Ringsaker Ginkgo 2019/8/29 Photo
24 Belgium Veurne Ginkgo 2019/10/29 Report
25 Belgium Ichtegem Ginkgo 2019/10/30
26 Belgium Lichtervelde Ginkgo 2019/10/30
27 Belgium Oudenburg Ginkgo 2019/10/30
28 Belgium Ghent Ginkgo 2019/11/5 Report
29 Belgium Erpe-Mere Ginkgo 2019/11/7
30 Belgium Moorslede Ginkgo 2019/11/7
31 Belgium Tessenderlo Ginkgo 2019/11/7
32 Belgium Deinze Ginkgo 2019/11/14
33 Belgium Wortegem-Petegem Ginkgo 2019/11/14
34 Germany Emden Ginkgo 2020/6/8 Photo
35 Germany Aalen Ginkgo 2020/7/30
36 Germany Tübingen Ginkgo 2020/8/9 Photo
37 Norway Våler Ginkgo 2020/9/17
38 Australia Albany Ginkgo 2020/9/21
39 Australia Busselton Ginkgo 2020/9/21
40 Australia Cockburn Ginkgo 2020/9/21
41 Australia Rockingham Ginkgo 2020/9/21 Photo
42 Australia Subiaco Ginkgo 2020/9/21

Distribution of Seeds/Seedlings in total:
78 municipalities and 4 organizations in 18 countries outside of Japan



● Downloadable pamphlet

A pamphlet introducing this project is available as an easily downloadable, full-color PDF. For anyone thinking of applying for seeds, we invite you to take a look. Please feel free to distribute it to any interested parties (12 page full color booklet).


*Print out on 6 double-sided A4 size sheets, fold in half and staple the binding to create an A5 size booklet.


*Print out on 12 single-sided A4 sized sheets


The Youth Exchange for Peace Support Program

In order to realize a “world free of nuclear weapons,” it is essential to foster and increase international public opinion for it. To this end, Mayors for Peace has implemented programs to encourage and inspire younger generations to get involved in peace activities in the future. These programs provide financial and other support to selected youth from member cities who would like to participate in programs offered by Hiroshima City, Hiroshima City University and so on, to learn about the experiences of A-bomb survivors and their desire for peace.


In each program, in addition to the existing content produced by each host organization, Mayors for Peace conducts its own programs such as a briefing on Mayors for Peace and testimonies from A-bomb survivors.


After completing the program, we ask the participants to propose Mayors for Peace activities for nuclear weapons abolition to their communities and the secretariat of Mayors for Peace. Based on the proposal, each city considers implementing projects. Through our program, we aim at developing human resources and strengthening our member city network.

● Current program
  • There is no program currently open for enrollment.
● Applications Closed
● The results of the completed programs

The petition drive calling for all states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible

3,111,940 signatures (As of December 1, 2020)

(The above number includes signatures collected through the petition drive calling for negotiations of a nuclear weapons convention Mayors for Peace promoted since December 2010.)

In July 2017, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons was adopted at the UN. This was made possible by the heartfelt appeal of the hibakusha and many other like-minded people for the abolition of nuclear weapons. In order for the Treaty to become a fully effective legal instrument for nuclear abolition, we believe it essential for all states, including the nuclear-armed states and their allies, to join this Treaty.

Through this petition drive, let us spread our appeal for peace, which is this path toward a world free of nuclear weapons, and create a powerful movement to urge all states to participate in the Treaty as soon as possible!


Sign the petition

Please sign the petition and show your support for this cause.

  • Online Petition
  • Petition Form

Download a poster to encourage people to join the petition

Download and use this poster to promote the petition on various occasions.

(PDF)

Holding the Mayors for Peace A-bomb Poster Exhibition

In order to give as many people as possible a much deeper understanding of the reality of the atomic bombings and to raise global awareness for the abolition of nuclear weapons, we ask member cities to hold an exhibition using Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-bomb Posters and other related materials.

Posters available in: English, German, French, Russian, Dutch, Spanish and Catalan

In Marion, Austraila

In Marion, Australia

In Muntinlupa, Philippines

In Muntinlupa, Philippines


Please let our secretariat (mayorcon@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp) know in advance if your city plans on holding this poster exhibition. So that we can share your city’s event, we would appreciate it if we could receive a report and photos on the exhibition afterwards. Please refrain from posting these posters online for copyright protection. 　　　　　　　　　　　　

● Download posters
Poster inventory

[Member cities]

Click the button below, then enter your password and user ID. You will be taken to the download page.

DWONLOAD（Other languages）

[Not a member city?]

If you work for a municipality that is not yet a member of Mayors for Peace, or you are from another kind of organization (e.g. NGO), and you want to use the posters, please submit the application form and documents explaining your event (e.g. plans) to the Secretariat.

● Report submission

After holding the poster exhibition, please submit a report on the exhibition, along with photos, to the Secretariat.

● Contact

Mayors for Peace Secretariat
c/o Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation
1-5 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0811 JAPAN
E-mail: mayorcon@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp



Promotion of peace education

● Children's Art Competition “Peaceful Towns”

Submission for the Children's Art Competition "Peaceful Towns" 2020 is CLOSED
*Click here for information on the 2020 Competition


[Selection Result] 　2019   2018


● Examples of initiatives to foster peace-seeking spirit

[Call for input]

Among the high priority action items in the Mayors for Peace Action Plan (2017-2020) adopted at the 9th General Conference is our efforts to conduct peace education to raise awareness among future generations.


In accordance with this, we are writing to ask for your kind cooperation in our efforts to compile good examples of initiatives to foster peace-seeking spirit conducted by our member cities around the world. Through sharing them in our monthly newsletters and on our website, we are hoping that more cities will follow suit and become inspired to launch their own peace education program.


In this regard, the Secretariat cordially asks you to provide information about peace education initiatives conducted in your city following the submission instructions below.


1 Requested content:

▶This Call for Input will be of interest to peace education initiatives conducted by any organization (city hall/school/NGO, etc.) in Mayors for Peace member cities that are conducive to raising peace-seeking spirit among future generations, on themes such as: the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the history of war in each member city, terrorism, refugees, the destruction of the environment, poverty, famine, discrimination and violence.

▶Kindly only send information on initiatives that have been completed as of the time of submission of the report.


2 Required materials:
Please email the following two items.

  • A. Report Form
  • 　In order to maintain consistency between the compiled reports, please use the designated form and write as specifically as possible.
  • B. Any photos relevant to the initiative
  • 　Please paste the photo(s) into a Microsoft Word document and attach captions to each photo.


3 Submission email address
　 mayorcon@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp


4 Note

▶There is no submission deadline. The Mayors for Peace accepts reports on a rolling basis, so please send your report whenever your project is completed.

▶Please note that not all submissions may be published. The Secretariat will select and publish initiatives that can be applied to other cities and if we receive more than one similar initiatives, we will choose one which best represents them.


[Contact]：
Mayors for Peace Secretariat
c/o Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation
1-5 Nakajima-cho, Naka-ku, Hiroshima 730-0811 JAPAN
E-mai: mayorcon@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp



Initiative example archive