September 21 is the United Nations' International Day of Peace devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace. Vrede vzw calls all citizens and Belgian cities and municipalities which are member of the Mayors for Peace network, to bring this day under active public attention. This year's focus is set on the problem of nuclear weapons.

2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

By the nuclear attacks on August 6 and 9, 1945 hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives. Nuclear weapons do not distinguish between military and civilian targets, cause a disproportional number of casualties and are therefore illegal under international law. Today the world still counts more than 16,000 nuclear weapons, some twenty of which are located in Belgium at Kleine Brogel air base. One such bomb is more than ten times more powerful than the bomb that destroyed Hiroshima.

Public support for a nuclear free world is very large.

A recent study shows that 61% of Belgians thinks that 'the nuclear weapons have to be removed from the military base of Kleine Brogel'. All democratic parties of the governmental majority and the opposition signed recently (April 22 and 23, 2015) a Flemish and federal resolution calling to withdraw the nuclear weapons from Belgium. Worldwide 117 UN member states have signed these last months the so called 'Humanitarian Pledge', through which countries are invited to start diplomatic negotiations for a international ban on nuclear weapons. The Belgian government hasn't yet shown any support to this initiative.

Belgian cities and municipalities that support the campaign

(at date of September 19, 2015)
Aarschot, Affligem, Alken, Amay, Antoing, Anzegem, Aubange-Athus, Awans, Balen, Beauvechin, Beernem, Begijnendijk, Beringen, Berlare, Bilzen, Bocholt, Boechout, Bornem, Boussu, Braives, Bredene, Buggenhout, Comines-Warneton, Courcelles, Deerlijk, Deinze, Dessel, Diepenbeek, Donceel, Durbuy, Ecaussines, Eeklo, Erézée, Erpe-Mere, Esneux, Essen, Estampuis, Ferrières, Flobecq, Fontaine l'Eveque, Gavere, Genk, Gent, Habay-la-Neuve, Halle, Ham, Harelbeke, Hasselt, Herenthout, Herselt, Herzele, Heusden-Zolder, Honnelles, Houthalen-Helchteren, Houthulst, Ichtegem (Eernegem en Bekegem), Ieper, Ingelmunster, Jabbeke, Kapelle op den bos, Kampenhout, Kapellen, Kaprijke, Kasterlee, Kinrooi, Knesselare, Kortrijk, Laakdal, La Louvière, Langemark-Poelkapelle, Lessines, Londerzeel, Lovendegem, Lubbeek, Lummen, Maarkedal, Maaseik, Machelen-Diegem, Malle, Marchin, Mechelen, Meerhout, Meeuwen-Gruitrode, Melle, Merelbeke, Merksplas, Meulebeke, Mons, Mortsel, Nazareth, Nijlen, Oostkamp, Oosterzele, Opglabbeek, Oudenburg, Peer, Pepingen, Peruwelz, Puurs, Remicourt, Riemst, Rotselaar, Ruiselede, Saint-Gilles, Sint-Niklaas, St Lievens Houtem, Sint-Truiden, Stekene, Ternat, Thuin, Tielt, Torhout, Tubize, Veurne, Villers-le-Bouillet, Viroinval, Visé, Vosselaar, Wachtebeke, Wanze, Waregem, Waremme, Wijnegem, Woluwe, Zandhoven, Zemst, Zonhoven, Zottegem, Zoutleeuw, Zutendaal, Zwalm, Zwijndrecht.

The city of Ghent hangs the world's biggest peace flag at the former Belgacom tower on September 21 at 12.30 pm

On September 21 the biggest peace flag of the world (50 meters by 30 meters) will be rolled out from the former Belgacom tower in presence of alder(wo)man Tine Heyse of the town of Ghent, hibakusha Teruko Yokoyama and hundreds of school children. The children will hand over 1000 origami crane birds. They refer to the ancient Japanese legend promising anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish. The wish of the children is to live in a nuclear free world.

Press contact + interview with hibakusha:

(Mr.) Pieter Teirlinck, Pieter@vrede.be, 0032(0)9.233.48.66

Organisation

VREDE vzw – Belgian Peace Movement – Dok Noord 4F bus 203 – 9000 GENT – Belgium – www.vrede.be