Hiroshima Appeal to Ban Uranium Weapons
The 3rd ICBUW International Conference
August 6th, 2006

We have gathered in Hiroshima from across the world to demand, together with the victims, a total ban on uranium weapons. Meeting in this city, we have shared the sorrow, loss and hope of the people of Hiroshima and the Hibakusha, atomic bomb survivors, for a world free from war and suffering from radiation.

In Hiroshima, we have listened to victims from four continents who have suffered because of uranium weapons. From mine to battlefield, uranium products have been implicated in a trail of illness, environmental destruction and death. Claims by the nuclear industry and the military that low-level radiation is not harmful to human health must be rigorously challenged.

We call on scientists from all backgrounds to assist in assessing the dangers associated with the chemical and radiological toxicity of uranium. Its unique properties when aerosolized are a hazard to human health and the environment.

We strongly condemn the United States and United Kingdom, whose armed forces have used large quantities of uranium weapons in Iraq and the Balkans. ICBUW are also alarmed by growing evidence that uranium munitions may have been used in both Lebanon and Afghanistan.

Furthermore, we call on Japan and other countries to withdraw their support for military activity whenever and wherever uranium weapons are deployed.

We call on the media around the world, especially in the US and UK, to investigate the issue of uranium weapons. It is imperative that they inform citizens about the issue, and the global abolition movement.

The use of uranium weapons is illegal under international humanitarian, human rights and environmental law. The United Nations Human Rights Sub-Committee has condemned them, like nuclear, chemical and cluster munitions, as: weapons of indiscriminate destruction, with long-term consequences for the environment, human health and life, causing civilian suffering for years after the cessation of hostilities. In light of this ruling, and a growing body of compelling scientific research, we support an adherence to the Precautionary Principle, and will use each and every legal tool and instrument at our disposal to secure the full implementation of a complete and lasting ban.

ICBUW will move forward in solidarity with environmental, disarmament, anti-nuclear, human rights and peace movements from across the globe; and will back Japanese moves to support Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which demands peaceful coexistence and non-aggression.

We reiterate our support for ICBUW's Mission Statement, which calls for:
i) An immediate and universal ban on the military use of uranium and other radioactive materials.
ii) The cleaning up of all sites contaminated by these weapons with compensation for all affected populations.
iii) A halt to the production, testing, sale, stockpiling, transport and export of these weapons and a decommissioning of all existing stockpiles.
iv) The immediate medical assessment, treatment and long term monitoring of all those who have been exposed to uranium weaponry.
v) The full disclosure of all locations where uranium weapons have been used as well as the amounts of uranium involved.
vi) Financial support from organisations and individuals to provide independent medical and environmental investigations in affected countries.
vii) Finally, we call on governments to exclude their troops from alliance with any government that uses uranium munitions.
Viii) Conclusion of a Convention for Total Ban of Uranium Weapons

We, the International Coalition to Ban Uranium Weapons, call on the global community to sign our international petition and participate in the International Day of Action to Ban Uranium Weapons on November 6th. We also call on the international community to act now to support our campaign to prevent the continued chemical and radiological contamination of this, our shared Earth and our shared future.

www.bandepleteduranium.org