INF Treaty and Hiroshima
WORKING TO ACHIEVE A PEACEFUL SUSTAINABLE FUTURE FREE FROM THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS
Dear Friends,
Today, because of the termination of the INF Treaty, controlling nuclear weapons has been set back and we cannot ignore such a serious matter. The future of humanity depends on how well we control these devices. Here are the respective positions.
US claims of Russia violations of the INF Treaty are well covered in the US press. It is worthwhile to note the formal substantive argument of the the Department of State:
https://www.state.gov/inf-myth-busters-pushing-back-on-russian-propaganda-regarding-the-inf-treaty
Russia claims the US violated the INF Treaty:
“According to our information, the United States started violating that undated treaty (INF, came into force in 1988 – TASS) in 1999 when it began trials of combat unmanned flying vehicles with specifications similar to those of ground-launched cruise missiles banned by the Treaty,” Sergie Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister said. “Later it started using target missiles, ballistic target missiles, for testing its missile defense system, whereas starting 2014 it began deploying in Europe launching pads for its positioning areas of missile defense – Mk 41 launching pads, which may absolutely be used without any changes and to launch Tomahawk medium-range cruise missiles,” Lavrov noted.”That is a direct violation of the Treaty,” he said, adding that “such systems have already been deployed in Romania, are being prepared for deployment in Poland, as well as in Japan.” (article in Tass at
https://tass.com/politics/1042978)
A thorough unpacking of Russian claims can be found in an article by the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists by Ted Postal:
Because this matter is so serious we urge your review of two articles written by principles in the negotiations of the Treaty: President Mikhail Gorbachev and Secretary George Shultz in the Washington Post, and Ambassador Thomas Graham in Newsweek:
President Gorbachev is a distinguished member of GSI’s Board of Advisors. Ambassador Graham is a member of GSI Board of Directors. Secretary Shultz is a member of the United Religions Initiative’s Cooperation Circle, Voices for a World Free of Nuclear Weapons, along with myself and Ambassador Graham. We urge your attention to www.thenuclearprayer.com where we join in prayer.
So that history does not repeat, next week, Hiroshima must be remembered.
Warmly,
Jonathan Granoff
President, Global Security Institute
INTERFAITH PEACE CEREMONY
INTERFAITH PEACE CEREMONY TO COMMEMORATE HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI BOMBINGS
AUGUST 5, 2019, 6:00 P.M., JAPAN SOCIETY
CONTACT:
Rev. TK Nakagaki, President,
Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York
phone: 646-797-7982
email: heiwafoundationny@gmail.com
Please join us for the 26th Annual Interfaith Peace Ceremony to Commemorate the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings. The event will be held at Japan Society @333 E. 47th Street, NYC on Monday, August 5, 6:00pm – 8:00pm (doors open at 5:30pm). Because of limited space rsvp is required.
The event will include religious leaders from 8 faiths, joined by musicians and choirs from Japan and the United States. Messages from the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki will be read by former residents of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hiroshima survivor Tomiko Morimoto West will share her story.
At 7:15 PM, the exact moment of the Hiroshima bombing (8:15 Aug. 6th Japan time), a bell for peace will be rung.
The keynote address will be presented by Jonathan Granoff, President of the Global Security Institute. Granoff is the Representative to the United Nations of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, Ambassador for Peace, Security and Nuclear Disarmament Parliament of World Religions, and Senior Advisor Committee on National Security International Law Section of American Bar Association.
This annual interfaith peace gathering has been organized by Rev. Dr. T. Kenjitsu Nakagaki, President and Founder of the Heiwa Peace and Reconciliation Foundation of New York, since 1994. Nakagki is a Japanese Buddhist priest, Hiroshima Peace Ambassador, Peace Correspondent of Nagasaki, and former President of the Buddhist Council of New.
Music performances include Japanese and American musicians and artists: Toshiko Akiyoshi, jazz pianist and Lew Tabackin, saxophonist; Brooklyn Interdenominational Choir; Tenri Gagaku Music Society of New York; Circle Wind Boys & Girls Choir; Eita, calligrapher/poet and Dai, singer/guitarist; Fumiko Yamato, Yamatomai Japanese dancer; Shizuno Nasu, Contemporary Dancer; Miho “ARIA” Kawauchi, Crystal bowl player; and Yasunobu Matsuo, pianist.
The Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-bomb Photo Exhibition will be on display In the Japan Society Foyer from 3:30 PM. Peace Arts by Kunio Suzuki will be displayed.
This event is sponsored by the Heiwa Peace Reconciliation Foundation of New York, and supported by the Buddhist Council of New York, the Interfaith Center of New York, Interfaith Center of USA and the Origami Therapy Association, in partnership with the City of Hiroshima and Nagasaki Prefectural Government.
More information:
HEIWA PEACE AND RECONCILIATION FOUNDATION OF NEW YORK:
35 Tulip Ave. #405, Floral Park, NY 11002-0405
Phone: 646-797-7982
Email: heiwafoundationny@gmail.com
Website www.HeiwaFoundation.org
Facebook: www.facebook.com/HeiwaPRF/0956
For interviews with Mr. Granoff contact:
Mary Wald
Email: marywald@gmail.com
Phone: 707-363-0956
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