Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee has recognized hibakusha, or survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for their efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons. According to Nobel Committee Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes, the group “contributed greatly to the establishment of the nuclear taboo”. Mr Frydnes cautioned that the “nuclear taboo” was “under pressure” and applauded the group’s use of witness testimony to ensure that nuclear weapons would never be used again.
According to its website, the charity was founded in 1956 and sends survivors all over the world to tell their tales of the “atrocious damage” and suffering inflicted by the use of nuclear weapons. Their effort began over a decade after the catastrophe of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On August 6, 1945, a US aircraft dropped a uranium bomb over the city of Hiroshima, killing around 140,000. Three days later, a second nuclear bomb was dropped on Nagasaki. World War II ended with Japan’s surrender, which was announced shortly afterwards by Emperor Hirohito.
Toshiyuki Mimaki, the group’s co-head, told reporters in Japan, “Never did I dream this could happen,” the AFP news agency reports. Mr Mimaki criticized the notion that nuclear weapons promote peace. “Nuclear weapons are claimed to keep the globe at peace. According to AFP, Mr Mimaki stated that nuclear weapons can be utilized by terrorists. In a BBC interview last year, he stated that although being just three years old at the time of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima, he could still recall disoriented and burned survivors escaping past his home.
The prize, which includes a diploma, a gold medal, and a grant of $1 million (£765,800), will be handed at ceremonies in Oslo in December to commemorate the death of the scientist and prize originator Alfred Nobel. The group has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize “many times,” notably in 2005, when it received a special mention from the Norwegian Nobel Committee, according to its website. The choice to honor Nihon Hidankyo indicates that the Nobel committee has veered away from more problematic nominees for the peace prize.
Although the organization is the primary provider of humanitarian supplies to Gazan civilians, nine of its members were sacked for alleged involvement in the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 of last year. More than 12,000 people had signed a petition imploring the committee not to give UNRWA the prize. There were also worries about the nomination of the International Court of Justice. The UN’s main judicial organ is now investigating charges that Israel committed genocide in Gaza and has already issued a statement advising Israeli authorities to stop from such conduct.
While awarding the medal to Nihon Hidankyo may be a non-controversial decision, it might also focus public attention on the possibility of nuclear conflict, which overshadows the struggle in both Ukraine and the Middle East. Throughout Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, its leaders have frequently warned that they may be willing to deploy tactical nuclear weapons if Western allies boost their support for Ukraine in ways that Russia finds intolerable.
These threats have succeeded in limiting Western assistance because to fears of escalation. In the Middle East, much of Israel’s strategy is based on the idea that Iran is pursuing nuclear capabilities, which Tehran rejects. The Nobel committee’s decision might reignite discussion about the deployment of nuclear weapons at a time when several countries envy its deterrent potential. This year’s peace prize had 286 nominations, including 197 individuals and 89 groups.
Individuals in positions of substantial responsibility, include members of the national assemblies, governments and international courts of law. Iranian human rights activist Narges Mohammadi won the prize in 2023, when she was honoured for her work fighting the oppression of women in Iran. Ms Mohammadi is currently being held in Evin prison in Tehran, having already spent 12 years in jail serving multiple sentences related to her activism.
or a specific category with our 
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.