International Peace Walk In Commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the Nuclear Bombing of Hiroshima Stop The Bombs

MARCH 12, 2005: Y-12 National Security Complex, Oak Ridge TN To MAY 1, 2005: NPT Review , UN Headquarters, New York, NY * In 1964 there were five declared nuclear weapons states - the United STates, the former Soviet Union, the United Kingdom, France and China. The prediction was that in two decades the number would grow to 20 or 30 coutries. * In 1968 the U.S., the Soviet Union, and England signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty( NPT). In 1970 the NPT began to be enforced and committed the five major nuclear weapons states to eventual nuclear disarmament. To date 187 countries signed the treaty. * In 2002 the U.S. released a Nuclear Posture Review( NPR) which reversed their position and undermined the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The U.S. decided to include nuclear weapons in the full range of weapons to be used against countries with which the U.S. has major disagreements. * In May 2005 the United Nations will hold a review in New York City regarding the future of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, the central international agreement guiding the elimination of nuclear weapons, is on the verge of collapse. The chief cause is U.S. nuclear policy that, by openly declaring the possibility of a pre-emptive nuclear first strike and calling for resumed research into mini-nukes and other so-called useable nuclear weapons, appears to worship nuclear weapons as God. Tadatoshi Akiba Mayor of Hiroshima In his Peace Declaration, August 6, 2003    The city of Hiroshima, along with the Mayors for Peace and our 611 member cities in 109 countries and regions, hereby declare the period beginning today and lasting until August 9th, 2005, to be a Year of Rememberance and Action for a Nuclear-Free World. Our goal is to bring forth a beautiful flower for the 75th anniversary of the atomic bombings, namely, the total elimination of all nuclear weapons from the face of the Earth by the year 2020. Tadatoshi Akiba Mayor of Hiroshima In his Peace Declaration, August 6, 2004

The Y-12 National Security Complex was a main facility for the creation of the atomic bombs that were used on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.    In 2004 the Y12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge Tennessee completed life extension upgrades on every W87(MX missle) warhead in the U.S. arsenal. Y12 makes the thermonuclear part of the bomb. They intend to upgrade the B61 bomb.    Moved to carry the Mayor of Hiroshima's plea for action, and the nuclear free visions of communities world wide, an international group will walk to the United Nations remembering Hiroshima, Maralinga, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, uranium mines, waste sites, depleted uranium weaponry, and the urgent danger we face with increased nuclear proliferation. This walk will visit the mayors of the cities along their route. They will ask these cities to join the "Program to Promote the Solidarity of Cities toward the Total Abolition of Nuclear Weapons". The cities that join this effort will join the ranks of the European Parliament and the U.S. Conference of Mayors both of which have passed resolutions supporting efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.    The International Peace Walk is co-sponsored by the Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance(OREPA), FootPrints For Peace, Nipponzan Myohoji(an international Buddhist organization), International Peace Pilgrimage, and the Mayors for Peace Campaign.

We will walk 15 to 20 miles per day. Drug and alcohol use is strictly forbidden. You may join the walk for any amount of time.    A donation of $1.00 per day would be appreciated to help cover expenses but no one will be turned away for lack of funds.