'drifting toward unparalleled catastrophe'.

Topic: "hat is it going to be: a world living perpetually in fear of nuclear attack ? or a world free of nuclear weapons? In May 2005, the nations of the world will gather to review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Despite the “unequivocal undertaking for the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals” made by nuclear-weapon states at the last review, the prospect now is that after four weeks of deliberations the world will be left, in Albert Einstein’s prophetic phrase, 'drifting toward unparalleled catastrophe'.
　　　　Cities, the organizations that will take the brunt of any nuclear attack, must step forward and declare in no uncertain terms that this is unacceptable. The experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki make abundantly clear to all mayors what is at stake-everything we have ever worked for. It is time for national leaders to listen to the city leaders. The 2020 Vision Campaign is designed to project the voices of mayors directly into this crucial global debate.
　　　　Our 2020 Vision is strong and clear: a nuclear-weapon-free world by the year 2020. In May, the only NPT decision commensurate with the threats we face is to “commence negotiations on prohibition and elimination of nuclear weapons,” as the US Conference of Mayors resolved last June. Cities around the world are rallying to this call. One hundred mayors, and a comparable number of other city officials, will present this global demand at the NPT Review Conference in New York in May.
　　　　Fellow mayors, this site is primarily for the use of our citizens, because without their support our stand lacks true strength. I hope that everyone will use the information and networking links in this website to support the 2020 Vision Campaign in whatever way they can. Thank you. 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tadatoshi Akiba, Mayor of Hiroshima"