Nuclear weapons are facing opposition in the city of Aschaffenburg
In the heart of Germany, the city of Aschaffenburg made a powerful statement on July 8th, as Mayor Jürgen Herzing and other city officials raised the Mayors for Peace flag. The flag, a symbol of commitment to nuclear disarmament, peaceful coexistence, and opposition to wars worldwide, was hoisted high in the city.
Mayor Herzing, a vocal advocate for a world free of nuclear weapons, believes that the concept of nuclear deterrence is unsustainable and does more harm than good. He argues that it is based on the constant threat of mutual destruction and does not prevent conflicts; instead, it exacerbates them.
This year, around 600 cities in Germany participated in the Flag Day of the Mayors for Peace by flying the symbolic flag. Aschaffenburg was not alone in its stand against nuclear weapons. Across the globe, Mayors for Peace, a network of over 8,480 cities in 166 countries, continues to grow. The organisation, founded in 1982 by the Mayor of Hiroshima, primarily advocates for the abolition of nuclear weapons but also addresses current issues to discuss paths towards peaceful coexistence.
Experts from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimate that there are approximately 12,241 nuclear warheads worldwide. Alarmingly, almost all nine nuclear powers are modernizing their nuclear arsenals, a worrying trend that threatens a new nuclear arms race.
China's nuclear arsenal, in particular, is growing at a rapid pace. This expansion, coupled with the impending expiration of the New START treaty at the beginning of next year, which limits strategic nuclear weapons between the US and Russia, has raised concerns globally. The New START treaty is crucial in maintaining a degree of nuclear stability between the world's two largest nuclear powers.
On the same day that the Mayors for Peace flag was raised in Aschaffenburg, the International Court of Justice in The Hague issued a legal opinion. In 1996, the court had stated that the threat or use of nuclear weapons would generally be contrary to international law. Moreover, it found an obligation to negotiate in good faith and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament.
Mayors for Peace, with its global network of cities, continues to be a powerful voice in the call for nuclear disarmament. As cities like Aschaffenburg take a stand, the hope for a world free of nuclear weapons remains alive.
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