UN Tree Planting Ceremony: 80th Anniversary of founding of the United Nations

UN Tree Planting Ceremony to commemorate the 80th Anniversary of founding of the United Nations, and of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. “We can make peace and build peace if we are together,” a ceremonial tree planting at UN Headquarters today (05 May) honored the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki while marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. The event featured a Hibakujumoku - an atomic bomb survivor tree - planted in the UN Staff Garden as a symbol of peace and resilience. “It is very difficult to really imagine and understand what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki 80 years ago,” said Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. “But I think what we all need to remember is that we can make peace and build peace if we are together. And as you can imagine, the United Nations is a place where people and countries come together and then work together to make that objective a reality.” Permanent Representative Kazuyuki Yamazaki said, “I hope, as these saplings grow, so too will our aspirations for peace spread and become a reality,” he said. Referring to last week’s NPT Preparatory Committee session, he added, “Japanese Foreign Minister Iwaya Takeshi spoke at the general debate and called on State Parties to, quote, 'cherish and exercise the spirit of dialogue and collaboration,' unquote. I sincerely hope that Hibakujumoku, atomic bomb survivor trees, planted here will stand as a symbol of this spirit.” Ghana’s Ambassador to the UN, Harold Agyeman, urged stronger international efforts to address global insecurity, inequality, and the threat of nuclear war. “Today, more than ever… many around the world are worried about the persistence and scale of conflicts, including the deepening poverty and underdevelopment and the deterioration of the wellbeing and dignity of many,” he said. “The disarmament agenda and the need to prevent the catastrophic effects of the nuclear war cannot be left out of such an effort.” Also present at the ceremony were the President of the 79th UN General Assembly, Philemon Yang, and members of the UN Staff Recreation Council Gardening Club. UN Youth Champion for Disarmament, Charlotte Yeung, gave a poetry reading.


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