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Confronting the desire to arm: Joesi Toda’s declaration for the abolition of nuclear weapons by Tatsushi Arai, Assistant Professor of Conflict Transformation, School for International Training, Battleboro, Vermont, USA. Abstract: On September 8, 1957, Josei Toda, the second president of the Japanese Soka Gakkai Buddhist organization, issued a declaration for abolishing nuclear weapons as his will to future generations. Toda viewed destructive functions inherent in human nature as the ultimate cause of nuclear war and sought to transcend the prevailing discourse of “we-ness” and “they-ness,” the divisive tendency typical of the superpower rivalry during the Cold War. To this end, he issued a death sentence to such destructive functions justifying the use of nuclear weapons. This paper argues that the moral courage demonstrated by Toda’s declaration is of enduring value in the age of globalization, where it is increasingly difficult to take a clear and uncompromising stand to abolish nuclear weapons. His declaration also holds a key to establishing a new discourse of active humanitarianism that seeks to inspire and guide a broad-based civil society movement toward nuclear disarmament.
In the more than sixty years since the advent of nuclear weapons, there has been little meaningful progress toward nuclear disarmament. Some countries have nuclear weapons, while other states are forbidden to acquire them, a status quo that lacks rational basis and cannot be sustained. In this remarkable collection, scholars and policy analysts argue that humankind has a choice: either allow nuclear weapons to continue to proliferate throughout the world or move toward their complete elimination.
The vast majority of people on the planet would surely opt to abolish nuclear weapons. But decisions about nuclear weapons are not made by the public, but by small groups of political elites. Consequently, in a world with nuclear weapons, the fate of humanity rests in the hands of a small number of individuals, whose perceptions, communications, and judgment determine whether there is to be a future.
The contributors to this volume provide historical perspective on nuclear weapons policy; explore the role of international law in furthering the prospects of nuclear weapons abolition; consider the obstacles to abolition; present a path to achieving a nuclear weapons-free world; and look beyond abolition to consider issues of post-abolition sovereignty and general and complete disarmament. The goal of a nuclear weapons-free world can be awakened by an engaged citienry bringing pressure from below in demanding action from political leaders. This book contributes to this awakening and engagement. David Krieger is a founder of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
David Krieger is a founder of the Nuclear Age Peace foundation and has served as president of the foundation since 1982. Krieger has lectured throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia on issues of peace, security, international law, and the abolition of nuclear weapons. He is the author or editor of more than fi fteen books and hundreds of articles and book chapters. (info from Amazon.com)
