Honor Hiroshima Victims by Ending Conflicts, Banning Nuclear Weapons: WPA Sec-Gen
World Peace Association Secretary-General Sattva Zhang urges world leaders to end ongoing violent conflicts and ban nuclear weapons to honor the victims of Hiroshima, who died 75 years ago today, after the United States dropped a nuclear bomb on the city. Her full message follows:
On the 75 anniversary of the devastating Hiroshima atomic bombing, we have much to reflect on. There have been victories, like the creation of the United Nations and other global organizations that promote peace since the end of World War II, but this year has revealed that the world has a long road to travel before hunger, poverty, and violence can truly be overcome.
In 2020, across the globe, people’s lives have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Under such circumstances, mankind should have worked hand-in-hand to overcome the coronavirus outbreak, so everyone could return to their normal lives. But what we’ve seen is that before the natural disaster of COVID could even subside, man-made disasters have not just continued unabated, but actually surged head to new, scary levels.
While the public is concerned with the life and death impacts of COVID, some world leaders are stirring up long held resentments and conflicts, undermine peace, which can be so fragile. Take India as an example, where the number of coronavirus cases is surging. The government leaders there have not worked effectively to help the country’s poorest citizens at this critical time. Millions of migrants have had to walk thousands of miles home during the country’s well-intended, by ultimately deadly lockdown. Instead of using the country’s budget to assist the poor, leaders in India are buying weapons to wage war. At present, there are skirmishes and small-scale conflicts on India’s borders with Pakistan, China, and Nepal. How can leadership without compassion benefit the Indian people? Not to mention the world?
God has bestowed great power and responsibility on the leaders of the world, so that they could take care of their people, enabling them to live happy and beautiful lives. If world leaders use their power to act against God's will, if they become arrogant and work only to benefit themselves, it will not be a disaster just for one country, but the whole world. We are interconnected, and a calamity anywhere is a tragedy for the world. On behalf of the World Peace Association, I sincerely call on all world leaders to honor and respect their power; do not abuse it. Your reckless pursuit of self interest endangers people’s lives and undermines peace. Every life is priceless; Every family wants a safe and peaceful life.
I urge world leaders to work together to alleviate the suffering of people, swallow their pride and resolve long standing conflicts, and on this anniversary of the nuclear bomb attack on Hiroshima, ban nuclear weapons. Countries can begin by signing and ratifying the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW).