US Embassy declines letter calling for de-escalation of conflict with North Korea

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The US Embassy declined to accept a letter on Friday August 11 from a delegation of journalists, writers, and peace activists. The letter calls on the United States government to stop its nuclear brinkmanship in the crisis with North Korea.

Millions of people around the world are concerned about the growing threat of nuclear war. Civil society organisations are calling on the British government to call for restraint and a different approach by Britain's main ally. British Prime Minister Theresa May has been silent about the crisis, despite tensions continuing to grow.

The letter was handed in by Giles Fraser, journalist and priest: Victoria Brittain, writer and journalist; Bruce Kent, peace activist; Jan Woolf, playwright; Helen Drewery, Quakers in Britain; Carol Turner, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament; Lindsey German, Stop the War Coalition; Murad Qureshi, Stop the War Coalition.

Letter to the US embassy

Excellency

We the undersigned are extremely concerned about the growing international tension and the dangerous threats that have been exchanged between the leaders of the U.S. and North Korea.  

We strongly urge President Trump and the U.S. government to employ the utmost restraint and to immediately engage in diplomatic talks with the aim of defusing the current situation. 

It is unthinkable that the threat of nuclear annihilation should be considered as acceptable. At this time people around the world are remembering the effects of the two atomic bombs dropped on Japan in 1945. We are reminded of the death, pain and suffering that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki and are determined that people should not have to suffer like that again.

Negotiation and talks to increase understanding between the U.S. and North Korea and to ease the tension must be the way forward. May we humbly remind you that in 2010 a cross-party group of parliamentarians from Japan and South Korea proposed the negotiation of a North East Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone as a solution to the growing nuclear threat from North Korea. This remains a sensible and productive way forward, especially in light of the recent agreement by 120 nations in the United Nations to recognise that nuclear weapons, and threats of their use, are unacceptable and should be made illegal.

People around the world are extremely anxious for their future and we request that you convey our plea for calm and peace between nations to President Trump. We trust that statements defusing the situation can be issued immediately and a diplomatic solution will be sought as soon as possible.

Join CND's US Embassy Protest

As we commemorate the US atomic bombing of Nagasaki on 9 August 1945, President Donald Trump has threatened North Korea with ‘fire and fury like the world has never seen’ – words that bring the possibility of nuclear confrontation closer.

CND and Stop the War Coalition have organised a joint protest at the US Embassy, Grosvenor Square, W1A 2LQ, and a number of celebreties are likely to join us. Make jour voice heard! Come along this Friday, 11 August, at 1pm.

 

Carol Turner, CND Vice Chair, said:

‘It's Nagasaki Day today, when the world remembers the US atomic bomb that hit a Japanese city unleashing a fire storm with winds of 9,000 miles an hour and killing 100,000 people.

‘It beggars belief that the US president has chosen the 72nd anniversary to threaten North Korea with “fire and fury like the world has never seen”. These words mark the real possibility of a nuclear confrontation.

‘Trump's outrageous statement in the present climate cannot be interpreted as simply words. He has ratcheted up international tensions, already high, taking the world closer to nuclear warfare than we’ve been for many years.

‘The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament condemns Trump's comments and we call on the British government to take swift action to de-escalate this terrifying crisis before it's too late.”

More ways to make you voice heard

·         As Trumps comments broke in the news, London CND Vice Chair, Rosemary Addington was quick to respond. She called the BBC protest line to demand that information about Nagasaki Day be included in their broadcasts.  We urge you to do likewise by phoning 03700 100 222. A list of similar numbers for Sky, Channel 4, ITV and other TV and Radio stations will be up on our website at www.londoncnd.org.uk soon.

·         Why not write a letter to your local paper. You’ll find a few details about the atomic bombing of Nagasaki below to help you.

 

Nagasaki Day remembered

On 9 August 1945 the United States dropped its second atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Nagasaka, three days after Hiroshima had been devastated and destroyed. An estimated 100,000 people died as a result of the Nagasaki bombing, and 23% of all Nagasaki buildings were burned to the ground.

An estimated 250,000 people died in the firestorms which swept the two cities.  Survivors described those people who fled as being so heavily burned they no longer looked like human beings. Others fell ill and died from radiation poisoning.

The devastation didn’t stop there. Atom bomb survivors, Hibakusha as they’re known, suffered miscarriages, birth abnormalities and cancers. Their children and grandchildren are suffering still.

This is what CND remembers of Nagasaki Day.