原爆忌 核の脅威阻止へ不断の努力を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 7, 2012)
Ceaseless efforts must be made to prevent nuclear threat
原爆忌　核の脅威阻止へ不断の努力を（8月6日付・読売社説）

Hiroshima and Nagasaki will mark the anniversary of their atomic bombing on Monday and Thursday, respectively. The nation should convey to the world the calamity of the attacks and make a fresh pledge for peace.
　広島は６日、長崎は９日に原爆忌を迎える。被爆の惨禍を世界に伝え、平和への誓いを新たにしなければならない。

It has been 67 years since two atomic bombs were dropped on these two cities. Those who experienced the attacks are now quite old, with their average age nearing 80.
　原爆投下から６７年。被爆者の高齢化が進み、平均年齢は８０歳に近づいている。

The Hiroshima city government this year started a project to recruit and train next-generation "kataribe," people who will speak about the reality of the bombings to others. The trainees will listen to the experiences of atomic bomb victims and study the historical background of the bombings and the current situation of nuclear weapons, among other things. After finishing the training, they will be officially certified as successors to testify about the experience of the atomic bombing.
　広島市は今年、被爆の実態を証言する「語り部」の後継者を募り、育成していく事業に着手した。被爆者から体験を聞き、原爆投下の歴史的背景や核兵器の現状を学ぶ。そんな研修を終えると、被爆体験伝承者として認定される。

It is extremely important to steadily tell future generations about the tragedy of the days the bombings occurred and the ensuing years.
　あの日の悲劇を次世代に着実に伝えていく意義は大きい。

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Still many nuclear weapons

U.S. President Barack Obama clearly stated three years ago that the United States has a moral responsibility to realize a "world without nuclear weapons." His speech gave hope to atomic bombing victims.
　オバマ米大統領は３年前、「核兵器のない世界」の実現へ米国は行動する責任があると明言し、被爆者にも希望をもたらした。

However, the circumstances surrounding nuclear weapons have by no means turned in a desirable direction.
　しかし、核兵器を巡る状況は決して好転したわけではない。

In February last year, the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty took effect between the United States and Russia, but there are still about 19,000 nuclear warheads around the world. Further reduction of nuclear arms is necessary.
　昨年２月に米露間で新戦略兵器削減条約（新ＳＴＡＲＴ）が発効したが、世界には依然として約１万９０００発の核弾頭がある。一層の核軍縮が必要だ。

We are also worried about the suspicions that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. Ignoring U.N. Security Council resolutions, Iran has been moving forward with production of enriched uranium, which could lead to the development of nuclear weapons. It has not accepted inspections of suspicious facilities as demanded by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
　一方で憂慮されるのは、イランの核開発疑惑である。イランは、国連安保理決議を無視し、核兵器開発につながる濃縮ウランの製造を進めている。国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）が求める疑惑施設への査察も受け入れていない。

If de facto nuclear weapons development advances in Iran, which is a member of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, the NPT regime itself may be greatly weakened.
　核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）加盟国でもあるイランで、事実上の核開発が進むなら、ＮＰＴ体制そのものが大きく揺らぎかねない。

North Korea, which has carried out two nuclear tests in the past, this spring test-launched a long-range ballistic missile despite warnings from the international community. The threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile development is constantly increasing.
　過去２回、核実験を行った北朝鮮は今春、国際社会の警告にもかかわらず長距離弾道ミサイルの発射実験を行った。北朝鮮の核とミサイルの脅威は増すばかりだ。

Given this stark reality, Japan has to depend on the nuclear umbrella of the United States despite being itself a nation that was attacked by nuclear bombs.
　厳しい現実を踏まえれば、日本は、被爆国とはいえ、米国の核の傘に頼らざるを得ない。

But even amid this dilemma, the nation needs to convey to the world the reality of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bombings and continue its efforts toward arms reduction and nuclear nonproliferation. This is the mission given to Japan.
　そうしたジレンマを抱えながらも、広島、長崎の被爆の実態を伝え、軍縮と核不拡散に向けて努力を重ねていく必要がある。それが日本に課された使命と言える。

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WMD vs peaceful use of N-power

However, we question why some people have linked their calls for abandoning nuclear power plants to nuclear disarmament and moves for peace since the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant of Tokyo Electric Power Co.
　疑問なのは、東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故以来、一部で核軍縮や平和への希求に絡めて脱原発が主張されていることだ。

It is true that a nuclear power reactor invites the proliferation of radioactive substances when a major accident occurs. But fundamentally it is strange to argue that weapons of mass destruction and the peaceful use of nuclear power are on the same level.
　原発も大事故に至れば放射性物質の拡散を招くが、大量殺りく兵器と原子力の平和利用とを同列に論じるのはおかしい。

Nuclear reactor accidents can be prevented if sufficient safety measures are properly taken. It must be rather Japan's responsibility to help improve the safety of nuclear reactors in the world, by taking advantage of lessons learned from the nuclear crisis.
　原発事故は、安全対策をしっかり講じれば防ぎ得る。事故の教訓を生かし、世界の原発の安全性向上に貢献することが、むしろ日本の責務ではないのか。

Plenty of calm discussion needs to be held regarding nuclear power plants, from the standpoint of medium- and long-term energy policies.
　原発については、中長期的なエネルギー政策の視点から、冷静に議論を重ねていく必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6, 2012)
（2012年8月6日01時22分 読売新聞）