2020 Vision
Projects
Since setting out its 2020 Vision, Mayors for Peace has engaged in various projects, such as appealing to the United Nations and national governments for support and the petition drive calling for all states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible.
At the 9th General Conference of Mayors for Peace held in Nagasaki in August 2017, we adopted an Action Plan to carry us through to the year 2020 which set two main objectives: “Realization of a world without nuclear weapons” and “Realization of safe and resilient cities.”
- Calling on the United Nations and national governments to act
- Expanding membership
- Selection of Lead Cities and galvanizing regional activities
- Sharing seeds from A-bombed trees
- The Youth Exchange for Peace Support Programs
- The petition drive calling for all states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible
- The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Poster Exhibition
Calling on the United Nations and national governments to act
Seizing every possible opportunity, including international conferences, Mayors for Peace has called on the United Nations 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. We will continue to urge all states, including the nuclear-armed states and their allies, to participate in this Treaty as soon as possible.
【Recent actvities】
Expanding membership
Mayors for Peace is inviting non-member cities to join the organization through the Hiroshima Secretariat, associations of local governments, Lead Cities, 2020 Vision Campaigners, and various other channels.
Selection of Lead Cities and galvanizing regional activities
In order to encourage proactive and independent activities appropriate to each region, Mayors for Peace is promoting the creation of regional groups. To this end, an appropriate number of Lead Cities are selected to serve as chapters for the Hiroshima Secretariat. The Lead Cities are expected to establish an appropriate system as chapters and take the lead in their regional activities.
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 plant.
- 2.Provide the Mayors for Peace 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.
Notes
- 1.Delivery of seeds to member cities overseas is done by post. As a seedling is not suitable for international postal delivery, the Mayors for Peace Secretariat can offer a seedling only when it is to be transported in the luggage of someone who is traveling from Hiroshima to the recipient city.
- 2.When trees from the seeds become tall and sturdy enough to be planted in the ground, the Mayors for Peace Secretariat can donate an explanatory plaque. Please inform the Secretariat of plans of events involving the tree, such as a planting ceremony. Please be advised that a recipient city can receive one explanatory plaque for each species.
UN Secretary-General Planting the tree at United Nations Office at Geneva
Photo Credit:UN photos/PM Virot Procedure to Distribute Seeds
- 1.[Recipient City] Contact the Mayors for Peace Secretariat
If a member city wants to receive seeds from A-bomb trees and agrees to accommodate the requests above, please contact the Mayors for Peace Secretariat (mayorcon@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp) by email. - 2.[Mayors for Peace Secretariat] Conduct preparatory research
a. The Secretariat researches the species of A-bomb 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 Mayors for Peace 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 Mayors for Peace 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 Mayors for Peace Secretariat sends out seeds to the recipient city. Shipping costs are covered by the Secretariat.
List of Recipients of Seeds/Seedlings of A-bombed Trees
As of September 5, 2017
1. Distribution of Seeds (28 municipalities in 13 countries)
| No | Country | Municipality | Species | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Belgium | Ypres | Ginkgo Persimmon Camphor tree |
2012/5/5 | |
| 2 | Spain | Granollers | Ginkgo Persimmon Camphor tree |
2012/5/5 2017/3/6 |
|
| 3 | Germany | Schwäbisch Gmünd | Ginkgo | 2014/2/25 | |
| 4 | Belgium | Brussels | Ginkgo Japanese hackberry |
2014/6/24 2016/2/2 |
|
| 5 | Norway | Frogn | Ginkgo | 2014/6/24 | |
| 6 | Australia | Fremantle | Ginkgo | 2014/7/11 | |
| 7 | Russia | Volgograd | Ginkgo | 2014/8/4 | |
| 8 | Canada | Montreal | Ginkgo | 2014/8/5 | |
| 9 | United Kingdom | Manchester | Ginkgo | 2014/8/26 2015/10/8 |
|
| 10 | Germany | Hannover | Ginkgo | 2014/12/11 | |
| 11 | Switzerland | Luzern | Ginkgo | 2015/1/21 | |
| 12 | United Kingdom | Shetland | Ginkgo | 2015/2/3 | |
| 13 | United Kingdom | Edinburgh | Ginkgo | 2015/2/3 | |
| 14 | Slovenia | Radlje ob Dravi | Ginkgo | 2015/4/14 | |
| 15 | United Kingdom | Aberdeen | Ginkgo | 2015/6/30 | |
| 16 | Switzerland | Renens | Ginkgo | 2015/7/14 | |
| 17 | Norway | Fredrikstad | Ginkgo Jujube |
2015/8/3 | |
| 18 | Canada | Oak Bay | Ginkgo | 2016/5/11 | |
| 19 | France | Malakoff | Ginkgo Camphor tree Japanese hackberry |
2016/5/11 | |
| 20 | Italy | Thiene | Ginkgo Jujube Japanese hackberry |
2016/5/11 | |
| 21 | United Kingdom | Kingston upon Hull | Ginkgo | 2016/5/11 | |
| 22 | Germany | Bonn | Kurogane holly Japanese hackberry Muku tree |
2016/10/21 2017/1/19 2017/6/15 |
|
| 23 | Germany | Erfurt | Ginkgo | 2017/1/19 | |
| 24 | United Kingdom | Oldham | Ginkgo Jujube Japanese hackberry |
2017/3/6 | |
| 25 | U.S.A. | Des Moines | Ginkgo | 2017/4/26 | |
| 26 | Italy | Mirano | Ginkgo | 2017/4/26 | |
| 27 | Italy | Spinea | Ginkgo | 2017/5/17 | |
| 28 | Germany | Langen | Ginkgo | 2017/7/11 |
2. Distribution of Seedlings (9 municipalities and 2 organizations in 7 countries)
| No | Country | Municipality / Organization | Species | Date | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bosnia and Herzegovina | Sarajevo | Ginkgo | 2014/6/28 | |
| 2 | Kazakhstan | Semey | Ginkgo | 2014/8/29 | |
| 3 | Korea | No Gun Ri International Peace Foundation | Ginkgo | 2014/9/19 | |
| 4 | Italy | Cervia | Ginkgo | 2015/9/13 | |
| 5 | Switzerland | United Nations Office at Geneva | Ginkgo | 2016/5/2 | 2016/10 |
| 6 | Germany | Stuttgart | Ginkgo | 2016/7/8 | |
| 7 | Germany | Krefeld | Ginkgo | 2016/8/6 | |
| 8 | Germany | Braunschweig | Ginkgo | 2016/9/21 | |
| 9 | Germany | Rothenburg o.d.T. | Ginkgo | 2017/7/8 | |
| 10 | Norway | Halden | Ginkgo | 2017/8/26 | |
| 11 | Norway | Kvinesdal | Ginkgo | 2017/8/29 |
Distribution of Seeds/Seedlings in total:
37 municipalities and 2 organizations in 16 countries outside of Japan
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 (FY2017)
- There is no program currently open for enrollment.
●Closed program (FY2017)
The petition drive calling for all states to join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as soon as possible
2,621,112 signatures （As of October 1, 2017）
(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. 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 who did not participate in the Treaty’s negotiations, to join this Treaty. Through this petition drive, let us spread our will, 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!
Please join this petition
To express your support for our project, please click the following links below.
The Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki 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 are asking 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
1. Download Posters [Limited to member cities]
Please click the button below then enter your password and user ID which will automatically take you to the download page.
Posters available in: English, German, French, Russian, Dutch, Spanish and Catalan
■After holding the poster exhibition, please report the result of the exhibition to the Mayors for Peace Secretariat.
E-mail to ／mayorcon@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp
■If your municipality is not a member of Mayors for Peace or you are from an other kind of organization and want to use the posters, please submit the Application Form and materials, such as a plan document explaining your events to the Mayors for Peace Secretariat.
Apply to ／mayorcon@pcf.city.hiroshima.jp
