From the 19th to the 21st of may, the group of G7 met in Hiroshima determined to face global challenges and lay the groundwork for a better future.

Prior to the Summit and on behalf of the over 8,200 Mayors for Peace member cities around the world, Mayors for Peace release an Open Letter «Reaching the G7 Hiroshima Summit» in order to urge the G7 leaders to convey their unshakable resolve toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons and build constructive discussion:

“If a nuclear war is to begin today, it will disrupt virtually every activity that routinely appears on G7 Summit agendas, including economy, climate change, and the promotion of sustainable development. The G7 leaders must therefore address the issue of nuclear weapons as a significant and pressing issue on par with, if not surpassing, global warming and climate change in terms of the threat it poses to the survival of the planet and humanity…

We therefore call upon the G7 leaders to recognize at this year’s Summit that nuclear disarmament is not some idealistic dream, but a concrete, real-world necessity in the selfinterest of all nations. To that end, we urge them to convey their unshakeable resolve toward the realization of a world without nuclear weapons from the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima, and engage in constructive discussions to find a solid path forward to realize their elimination.”

https://www.mayorsforpeace.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/file-2305-G7_Summit_MfP_Open_Letter_E.pdf

Ahead of the G7 summit, our sister organization, UK/Ireland Nuclear Free Local Authorities released a letter to Prime Minister Sunak urging the UK government to make peace pledge to work for a nuclear-weapon free world.

“In any future conflict involving even the limited use of nuclear weapons, tens or hundreds of millions of people would die; in a total nuclear exchange, we face the possibility of the extinction of all life on Earth. As nuclear weapons are intended to be used as ‘city killers’, almost all of those who perish would be innocent civilians living in those cities and many would be the residents of the British cities and towns that we as elected members represent. The Nuclear Free Local Authorities believe that neither cities nor civilians are legitimate military targets, either for conventional or nuclear weapons.

So Prime Minister, I urge you to use this Summit to reflect upon the world’s desire and need for peace, and the critical importance of all world leaders to work sincerely and consummately for the complete elimination of all nuclear arsenals and peace in the world.”

During the Summit, Mayors for Peace held a Peace Atomic Bomb Exhibition banner displayed at the International Media Center hoping to get the attention of as many journalists as possible. Vice President of MfP, Mayor Suzuki of Nagasaki guided the Health Ministers of G7 states and EU through the exhibit.