(also available as a Word file)

Dear Mayor ______,

The atomic bomb killed over one hundred forty thousand people in a time period of four months when it was dropped on Hiroshima by the United States government in 1945. The survivors refer to that day as the “end of the world.” Although that time was horrific, witnesses have transformed their suffering into a powerful movement; they have devoted their lives to ending nuclear war and proliferation. They are working to create a more peaceful world, one in which governments do not have the power to demolish entire nations, and one where human needs are prioritized over conquest and hate. Please read on to learn more about these efforts and what you, as the Mayor of ______ can do to further them.

In 1982 Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba of Hiroshima began the Mayors for Peace Campaign. Now, Mayors for Peace, NGOs and concerned citizens are working together to promote an “Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons.” The purpose of this campaign is to eliminate all nuclear weapons by the year 2020. One of the first steps is the launching of negotiations on the elimination of nuclear weapons in the May 2005 Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review conference. A later step is a 2010 nuclear weapon convention designed to eliminate nuclear weapons by 2020. As we work to achieve these goals, it is imperative that Mayors around the world recognize their power in the global community- that they become vehicles for change both globally and locally.

It is extremely important that mayors push for the preservation of the NPT order, as the order could collapse after the upcoming review conference in May. At the last conference, the Bush administration made commitments to fulfill Article 6. They agreed to have thirteen steps in that direction, but ultimately Bush has stonewalled all of them. Moreover, the Bush administration has refused to agree on an agenda for the upcoming NPT conference. If the NPT collapses, Bush will take us to the precipice of more dangerous places. We look to preserve the NPT so that nuclear powers fulfill Article 6 and move to negotiate a treaty for abolition by 2020.

In the year 2005, Massachusetts Taxpayers will pay $512.6 million for Nuclear Weapons. The following could be provided with that same amount of money: 79,510 people receiving health care, 61, 254 head start places for children, 275,764 children receiving health care, 3,070 affordable housing units, 42 new elementary schools, 62,274 scholarships for university students, 9,562 music and art teachers, 10,466 public safety officers, or 8,930 Port Container Inspectors.

If you, Mayor _____ declare ______ a Peace City, you will symbolically proclaim that you value the human needs of your city over nuclear weapons and destruction. You will add your voice to the 683 other Mayors around the world who, as responsible members of the global community, are committed to a more peaceful and just world. Please look through this packet to read more about the campaign, and see which cities around the world have become Peace Cities.

The American Friends Service Committee is committed to supporting you and your community. We are encouraging you and five neighboring Mayors to declare your cities as Peace Cities. We will contact you shortly, and look forward to the sharing of more information and insight.

Sincerely,

Shira Wolf

Joyce Rosenfeld

Jo Comerford