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WHEREAS, August 6, 2012 is the 67th anniversary of the United States dropping the atomic weapon, code-named Little-Boy, on Hiroshima, Japan, killing as many as 140,000 people and exposing countless others to radiation; and,
WHEREAS, the world's nuclear arsenals, which currently have the explosive power equivalent to 200,000 Hiroshima bombs, are capable of destroying all cities in the world the size of Pittsburgh or larger; and,
WHEREAS, the potential for nuclear weapons use has become greater than ever before as a result of widespread stockpiles of poorly secured nuclear materials, the escalation of terrorism, and further proliferation of nuclear weapons all of which have increased the risk of both intentional and accidental launch; and,
WHEREAS, the March 2011 nuclear accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant in Japan resulted in a new realization of the potential danger of nuclear power, with Pittsburgh located 34 miles from the Beaver Valley Nuclear Generating Station; and
WHEREAS, top-ranking US national security authorities, military experts and national leaders, all former advocates of nuclear weapons, have joined with President Obama to advocate on the imperative of "a world free of nuclear weapons", based on worldwide nuclear abolition and steps to its achievement; and,
WHEREAS, a diverse array of Pittsburgh organizations and individuals have worked together since 2008 to increase citizen awareness of the danger of nuclear weapons and promote citizen action in hopes of "a world free of nuclear weapons" and peace and, more recently, have begun to consider the consequences of nuclear power within the context of a safe and sustainable energy policy; and,
WHEREAS, a series of events will begin in August and continue through October under the banner Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace 2012 which will include the Shadow Project, a film showing of Nuclear Savage in collaboration with the Pittsburgh Filmmakers, a Skype conversation with peace activists in Japan, and peace-related activities at the Children's Museum; and,
WHEREAS, Remembering Hirsohima supports the petition for rulemaking docketed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand current emergency planning zones around US nuclear reactor sites, create a new emergency response zone, require nuclear power utilities to identify evacuation routes, provide information to the public within this zone, expand the ingestion pathway zone and provide emergency evacuation exercises;
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NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend and recognize the important work of Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace and their advocacy for the need of a reduction of stockpiles and safer handling procedures worldwide as steps toward a world free of nuclear weapons.