Nihon Hidankyo and the Pursuit of a Nuclear-Free World: A Nobel Recognition

Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese grassroots movement of Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb survivors, won the Nobel Peace Prize. Known as Hibakusha, they advocate for a nuclear-free world, highlighting the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons. The award underscores the continuing importance of the nuclear disarmament cause and the urgent need to uphold the nuclear taboo.

In a significant move for global peace advocacy, the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo, a collective of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Recognized for their tireless commitment to a world without nuclear weapons, the group, also referred to as Hibakusha, serves as poignant witnesses to the devastation nuclear arms can unleash.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee emphasized the Hibakusha's role in highlighting the sheer horror of nuclear conflict, urging global powers to abandon thoughts of using such weaponry. 'Today's nuclear weapons possess immense destructive capabilities, threatening millions of lives and the planet's climate,' warned Joergen Watne Frydnes, the committee's chair.

This accolade places renewed focus on the nuclear disarmament debate, especially as the world approaches the 80th anniversary of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings. It aligns with the committee's ongoing dedication, as seen in previous awards spotlighting groups like the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) in 2017. In Oslo on December 10, the laureates will receive their prize, commemorating Alfred Nobel's legacy.

(With inputs from agencies.)