Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese group of atomic bomb survivors, has won the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize.

Known as hibakusha, the group is made up of survivors of the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It has been recognised by the Norwegian Nobel Committee for efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons.

Nobel Committee Chair Joergen Watne Frydnes said the group had “contributed greatly to the establishment of the nuclear taboo”.

Mr Frydnes warned the “nuclear taboo” was now “under pressure” - and praised the group’s use of witness testimony to ensure nuclear weapons must never be used again.

Founded in 1956, the organisation sends survivors around the world to share their testimonies of the “atrocious damage” and suffering caused by the use of nuclear weapons, according to its website.

  • @InverseParallax
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    12 months ago

    On the one hand: Agreed, and it’s a great statement of support.

    OTOH: SK and Taiwan are both moving towards a nuclear deterrent, and if they go Japan might only skip it because of its nuclear stigma, and that might not last forever.