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WHEREAS, August 6, 2013 is the 68th anniversary of the United States' dropping of 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, 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, in June of 2012 the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously passed a strong resolution calling for nuclear weapons abolition by 2020, and again in 2013 expressed support for the goal of the Vision 2020 Campaign led by the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and,
WHEREAS, a series of events will begin this evening with a presentation, discussion and Skype conversation with peace activists in Japan and continue through the Fall under the banner Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace 2013; and,
WHEREAS, Remembering Hiroshima supports the petition for rulemaking docketed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to expand current emergency planning zones around US nuclear reactor sites, to create a new emergency response zone, to require nuclear power utilities to identify evacuation routes, to provide information to the public within this zone, to expand the ingestion pathway zone and to 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.