Scientists and academics from around the world gathered Saturday for a five-day conference to discuss ways to eliminate war and nuclear weapons ahead of the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
In an opening address to the 55th Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs, Hitoshi Onishi, a representative of the Pugwash group of Japan, expressed alarm over the state of nuclear proliferation. He cited the collapse of the review conference for the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty in May, U.S. plans to develop "mini-nukes" and stepped-up proliferation.
"Today, we gathered again here in Hiroshima to discuss how we can overcome such a horrible situation and realize a just and peaceful world," said Onishi, also a professor of international politics at Tohoku University.
It is the second time the annual conference has been held in Japan, following one in Hiroshima in 1995 when the Pugwash group won the Nobel Peace Prize.
About 170 scientists from 40 countries are attending the event to discuss a wide range of issues concerning nuclear abolition, antiterrorism measures and security issues in the Middle East and East Asia.