Peace Boat has invited 100 Hibakusha (Atomic Bomb Survivors) of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to join its three-month global journey around the world to share their testimonies of the experience of the atomic bomb with people around the world.

The Global Article 9 Campaign to Abolish War is pleased to support this project, which presents an opportunity to reconsider the realities of nuclear weapons together with people from many countries, and to build a foundation of global civil society action towards the abolition of nuclear weapons.

This historic voyage will be a unique chance to pass along the stories and memories of Hibakushas, their sufferings and hopes for the future to present and future generations.  Through direct interaction with youth, citizens, NGOs and victims of wars from other parts of the world, Hibakushas will not only act as peace and disarmament educators, raising awareness on the dangers of nuclear weapons and the human costs of war, but also forcefully add their voices to the call to abolish all nuclear weapons and create an alternative vision for peace and global stability that does not rely on force. 

In addition to filming and producing a documentary of the Hibakushas' testimonies and experiences on board, public events will be held in all ports of call and interactive programs with local civil society organizations and governmental disarmament officials will be organized. A delegation of Hibakushas will also visit the United Nations headquarters in New York for a presentation to the 63rd General Assembly Session.

The Hibakusha Project will take place from September 7 to December 18 2008, on Peace Boat's 63rd Global Voyage, visiting a total of 22 countries.

The project is supported by the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan Confederation of Atomic and Hydrogen Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo), the Global Article 9 Campaign to Abolish War and the International Peace Bureau, among others.

Regular updates about the project will be posted on Peace Boat's and the Global Article 9 Campaign's websites:
http://www.peaceboat.org/english/index.html
http://www.article-9.org/en/index.html

The Global Article 9 Campaign to Abolish War and IPB's Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development Programme are both advocating a shift in resource allocation from the military to sustainable development and human security. Three years after their launch, the two campaigns are jointly seeking to develop a global network of organizations and institutions which would work together towards the reallocation of resources spent on the military.

Find the joint leaflet for information and distribution: http://ipb.org/i/pdf-files/DfD-A9leaflet.pdf
Read more about IPB's Sustainable Disarmament for Sustainable Development Programme at:
http://ipb.org/i/index.html

Likewise, since 2006, Freres des Hommes has launched an international campaign for "Disarmament to Combat Poverty" aimed at obtaining from governments a public commitment to reduce and redirect 10% of their military expenditures and arms trade towards social investments to develop access to basic rights such as social security, health and education for all.

As part of this campaign, a public appeal was sent to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, urging him to consider this 10% option as a way to finance the Millennium Development Goals and proposing the launch by 2010 of an international citizens' conference to promote global partnership for human security.

For more information about Freres des Hommes' Disarmament to Combat Poverty campaign, see: http://www.france-fdh.org/campagnes/disarmament/disarmament-to-combat-poverty.htm
Read the Appeal to Ban Ki-Moon and consider having your organization sign it:
http://www.france-fdh.org/campagnes/disarmament/AppealBanKiMoon.pdf

The UN International Day of Peace is coming soon - an important day to raise global awareness of the importance of peace and conflict prevention in order to increase the pressure on policy makers, governments and international organizations around the world.

On September 21st, members of the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict (GPPAC) are celebrating this day on an international scale, to highlight the importance of peace and nonviolence.

Northeast Asian members of GPPAC will be holding various events relating to Article 9, from academic forums to dance events.
Please take a look at www.gppac.org and www.peoplebuildingpeace.org to see some of the many exciting plans for this year, and ways to get involved around the world.