February 2021 / No.134 Check our website and follow us on SNS: Mayors for Peace Member Cities Website http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/english/index.html 8,013 cities Facebook in 165 countries and regions https://www.facebook.com/mayorsforpeace Twitter (as of February 1, 2021) https://twitter.com/Mayors4Peace Help us achieve 10,000 member cities! “Like” and share our Facebook and Twitter posts to help spread awareness of our mission. Table of Contents ➢ Events around the world celebrating TPNW entry into force ➢ Member city recruitment model cases ➢ Member city activities ➢ Mayors for Peace Member Cities - 8,013 cities in 165 countries/regions ➢ Announcement: No plans for invitations to this year’s HIROSHIMA and PEACE course ➢ Report by Executive Advisor ➢ ➢ Call for input: examples of initiatives to foster peace-seeking spirit ➢ Peace news from Hiroshima (provided by the Hiroshima Peace Media Center of the CHUGOKU SHIMBUN) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Events around the world celebrating TPNW entry into force ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On January 22, the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) entered into force. To celebrate this occasion, many commemorative events, including ones reported on below, have been held in member cities all around the world. - Event in Japan (Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki): Mayors for Peace held a commemorative livestream event connecting Tokyo, Hiroshima, and Nagasaki on January 23, the day following the treaty’s entry into force, in collaboration with hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) and peace organizations. ⚫ Tokyo Video messages from people who greatly contributed in bringing the treaty to this point were streamed from Tokyo. These included Ms. Izumi Nakamitsu (UN Under-Secretary-General and High Representative for Disarmament Affairs), Ambassador Elayne Whyte Gómez (the Chair of the UN negotiations on the treaty), and 3 other representatives of organizations. The final report on the Hibakusha Appeal Signature Campaign, which Mayors for Peace has been collaborating with, was given afterwards. 1 ⚫ Hiroshima To begin the program in Hiroshima, President Matsui (Mayor of Hiroshima City), the Governor of Hiroshima Prefecture, and two representatives of hibakusha associations gave opening remarks. President Matsui stated: “This treaty is based on a perspective of citizens: that nuclear weapons, which deprive us of peaceful day-to-day lives, must be abolished. It will surely accelerate the movement for abolition. Let us all continue to spread the message to the world that nuclear weapons are unwanted, and together create a peaceful, inclusive society.” Participants in the Hiroshima program Presentations by 5 young people engaged in peace activities followed. After presenting their own activities based on hibakusha’s messages for peace, they shared their thoughts on each other’s activities and their aspirations for future activities. They expressed their determination: “We, the young generation, must take the lead to pass on the hibakusha’s experiences and desire for peace. We must take further action.” After their presentations, a video message from a representative of a peace organization in Hiroshima was played. It was followed by readings of atomic bomb memoirs by two volunteers, accompanied by a classical guitar performance. Lastly, a video of a choral performance by local elementary school children singing an original song for peace concluded the Hiroshima program. ⚫ Nagasaki In Nagasaki, there were live interviews with young people and representatives of hibakusha associations. In the second half of the program, the Mayor of Nagasaki City and others discussed ways to secure the TPNW greater recognition in international society. At the end of this event, participants at all 3 venues, as well as those joining from other places, got together online and pledged to continue making efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons. - Events in Fremantle, Australia: Report by Ms Elizabeth PO’, Mayors for Peace Fremantle, Australia More than 100 people celebrated the sun setting together on this great day with speeches, food, drink, and music by local musicians. A crescendo of Taiko drumming was followed by a minute’s silence at the very moment the sunset. The cheers and joy after that silence were from the relief and hope that this Treaty will work to end nuclear weapons. Earlier that afternoon, the City of Fremantle hosted a hibakusha testimony online from Hiroshima, thanks to Peace Boat Hibakusha Project Online. About 30 people met Ito Masao sharing memories and images from Hiroshima’s ordeal in August 1945. Mr Ito also spoke of the TPNW coming into force and answered questions on it, including Japan’s position. 2 Elizabeth PO’ from Mayors for Peace Fremantle introduced the session, and Fremantle’s Mayor Brad Pettitt (pictured right) gave the closing: “Today marks a significant moment in history for nuclear weapons. This is a treaty that will not just ban nuclear weapons, also the threat of their use, and their financing. And even though our respective countries of Australia and Japan have not yet signed onto this treaty, we are sure all countries will benefit from it. In this time of global pandemic, with so much anxiety and discord around the world, perhaps this treaty is a sign that there is still hope for humanity.” - Joint Statement drafted by the European Chapter: Report by Ms. Helena Aranda Mayor, the City of Granollers, Spain Leading global cities, with the Mayors for Peace European Chapter and International Secretariat, the UK & Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities (NFLA) and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) issue a joint statement as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) enters into force at the United Nations on the 22nd January 2021 and call on their own governments to engage with this positive disarmament process. The statement was supported by the President, Vice Presidents and Executive Members of Mayors for Peace including the Chair of the European Chapter, as well as other European Mayors who have passed a resolution to support the TPNW. By supporting the TPNW, Mayors from all over the world advocate to move away from dangerous, unilateral actions and embrace a multilateral approach. Commenting on the statement, Mayor Mayoral, the Chair of the European Chapter of Mayors for Peace, said: “The entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons is a historic milestone. Citizenship has the right to live in a world free from the threat of nuclear weapons. Ban them is the only possible way.” European Chapter statement welcoming entry into force of the TPNW and calling cities for their engagement http://www.mayorsforpeace.org/jp/whatsnew/news/data/2021/EC_TPNW_EIF_statement.pdf - Event in Vienna, Austria: Report by Mr. Thomas Hajnoczi, the Executive Advisor for Mayors for Peace Due to the pandemic a planned large event by the Austrian Foreign Ministry to celebrate the entry into force of the TPNW had to be downsized to journalists only. Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg explained the importance of this landmark treaty. A prohibition of nuclear weapons has been overdue 75 years after Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Finally, in cooperation between civil society and states the legal norm has been established that nuclear weapons are illegal. Nuclear weapons cannot protect, they can only destroy. Heightened tensions are no excuse for the present modernization of nuclear weapons, but make nuclear disarmament measures even more urgent. A video on the TPNW and a second one with a simulation of the effects of a nuclear bomb dropped over Vienna were shown. The latter was criticized by opposition parties as untimely, while people feel already threatened by the pandemic. Media reports resulted in about 200,000 viewings of this video. Minister Schallenberg underlined in parliament that the threat of nuclear weapons is very real and has to be brought to public knowledge. The closest nuclear weapons are stationed 60 km from Austria. After the media event civil society representatives were invited to watch the videos and celebrate with the Austrian disarmament diplomats. Link to the TPNW video: https://youtu.be/Ad43FC-J55M Link to the video “Effects of a nuclear bomb dropped over Vienna”: https://youtu.be/fleThMH_bVs 3 - Event by the Catalan Chapter: Report by Ms. Helena Aranda Mayor, the City of Granollers, Spain On January 22 took place the General Assembly of the Catalan Chapter of Mayors for Peace, which was held in virtual format and brought together more than 70 Mayors, councilors, and technicians. In Catalonia, there are more than 200 member municipalities of the network, a clear example of the strength and dynamism of Catalan local governments in the field of the culture of peace, solidarity and the defense of human rights. The meeting took place on the day of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), after more than 50 states signed and ratified it. Mayor Josep Mayoral of Granollers, a Vice President of Mayors for Peace and the Lead City of the Catalan Chapter, referred to this date as "a very important historic day on the road to disarmament and peace." Mayor Mayoral drew a parallel between the nuclear weapons and the ban of cluster bombs, which was also achieved thanks to the struggle and persistence