IDPD Delegation returns from 20th World Congress of IPPNW

Dr Arun Mitra reelected to the Board of IPPNW

Ludhiana, September 3, 2012: A 43 member  delegation of Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) from different states namely Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab (12 delegates), Haryana, Bihar, Maharashtra, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Nagaland, Manipur and Karnataka  returned after effectively participating in the 20th World Congress of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW), organised by the Japanese Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (JPPNW) was held at Hiroshima, Japan from 22nd to 26th August 2012 on the theme from Hiroshima to Future Generations. The congress reaffirmed the resolve to continue to work for a nuclear free world as a tribute to the victims of Atomic Bombing at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. This will be achieved through its core programmes, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), Aiming for Prevention - to check the proliferation of Small Arms.

The IPPNW will also stress upon the world leaders to shun nuclear power plants and use renewable resources to fulfill the needs for energy as nuclear energy is neither safe nor economical and is a potential source for the development of weapon system.  

The congress demanded a Nuclear Weapon Convention under the auspices of the UNO on the pattern of convention on biological, chemical weapons and land mines. 

A mass movement will be build through public campaigns, advocacy and lobbying in different parts of the world. 

The activities will also be enhanced in the non nuclear weapon states so that they can put pressure on the nuclear weapon states. To achieve the goal, scope of the movement will be widened by collaborating with likeminded organizations and persons. ICAN will organize a Citizens’ conference in Oslo – Norway on 2nd and 3rd March 2013. This will precede the governmental level conference from 4th to 6th March.

 After the congress, a 30 member delegation went to Fukushima to get first hand information of the situation resulting from the nuclear power plant melt down on 11th March 2011. Dr Arun Mitra from IDPD was a part of this delegation. There is no human population allowed in the 20 Km radius around the plant. Even after 1 year and 5 months, more than 1,60,000 people are still living out of their homes in the make shift houses. A large number of villages will never be inhabited again. Fourth nuclear reactor in this Dai Ichi plant is still leaking. Decontamination is being done by removing the upper layers of the soil. This will leave huge amount of irradiated soil for which there is no method to dump.

The delegation visited Kuwachki village 25 Km away from the plant and met the people there to learn about their horrifying experience.

 Congress also elected a Board for the next two years. Dr Arun Mitra from IDPD was reelected as a member of the board. 

Before the Congress 31 students from different countries including Mr Arshdeep Singh and Ms Apramjyot from IDPD undertook a Bike Tour from Nagasaki to Hiroshima covering a distance of 480 Kilometers in 14 days from 7th August to 21st August. They stopped on the way at various places spreading the message of peace through different activities.  

Next World congress will be held in Astana,  Kazakhstan in 2014, said Dr Mitra.