Big bike forced off road by car on Bangkok highway - video

[Social Media]

 

Nihon Hidankyo, a Japanese organization representing atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, has been awarded the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee recognized the group’s persistent efforts "to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons" and commended their powerful role in advocating for nuclear disarmament. The survivors, known as Hibakusha, have spent decades sharing their personal stories and campaigning against the use of nuclear weapons, serving as living reminders of the devastating effects of these weapons.

BREAKING: The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to survivors of the Japanese atomic bomb and anti-nuclear campaigners. https://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/U1BX77jMNE

— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 11, 2024

 

In a statement, the committee highlighted the significance of the group's work, noting that the award honors "this grassroots movement of atomic bomb survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki... for its efforts to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons and for demonstrating through witness testimony that nuclear weapons must never be used again." The committee further added, "These historical witnesses have helped to generate and consolidate widespread opposition to nuclear weapons around the world by drawing on personal stories, creating educational campaigns based on their own experience, and issuing urgent warnings against the spread and use of nuclear weapons."

 

 

Jorgen Watne Frydnes, chairman of the Nobel committee, emphasized the importance of the survivors’ message, remarking that the prize aims "to honor all survivors who, despite physical suffering and painful memories, have chosen to use their costly experience to cultivate hope and engagement for peace."

 

Efforts to rid the world of nuclear weapons have been recognized in the past by the Nobel Peace Prize committee. In 2017, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) received the award for its work in promoting the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Similarly, in 1995, Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs were awarded the prize for their dedication to reducing the role of nuclear arms in international politics and working toward the elimination of such weapons altogether.

 

The Nobel Peace Prize has a rich history of honoring individuals and groups that have made significant contributions to peace and humanity. Past laureates include anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela, former U.S. President Barack Obama for his efforts in strengthening global diplomacy, and Pakistani education activist Malala Yousafzai, who has advocated for girls' right to education worldwide.

 

The Nobel Prize itself was established by Alfred Nobel, the Swedish inventor and industrialist, who in his will directed his wealth to be used for awards benefiting humankind in various fields, including peace, chemistry, and literature. This year, Sir Demis Hassabis, a British computer scientist, was among the winners of the Nobel Prize in chemistry. He, along with John Jumper and David Baker, was recognized for pioneering work in predicting and creating protein structures using artificial intelligence.

 

The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo underscores the global commitment to the pursuit of peace and the urgent need to continue working toward a world free from the threat of nuclear warfare. The Hibakusha’s enduring legacy reminds the world of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear weapons, and their voices serve as a powerful call for disarmament and global cooperation in the name of peace.

 

Based on a report from Sky News 2024-10-12