"Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace" recognized by Pittsburgh City Council.

The local group "Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace" was honored with a proclamation by Pittsburgh City Council on August 3.

WHEREAS, August 6 and 9, 2015 mark the 70th anniversaries of the U.S. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki, which killed more than 210,000 people by the end of 1945 and exposed countless others to radiation;
and,

WHEREAS, the world's nuclear arsenals include 15,700 weapons which currently have the explosive power
equivalent to 200,000 Hiroshima bombs and are capable of destroying all cities in the world the size of
Pittsburgh or larger, posing an intolerable threat to people everywhere; and,

WHEREAS, the potential for nuclear weapons use has become greater than ever before as a result of
widespread stockpiles of poorly secured nuclear materials, the escalation of terrorism and further proliferation
of nuclear weapons, as well as escalating political tensions in the Ukraine and the Middle East, all of which
have increased the risk of both intentional and accidental launch; and,

WHEREAS, in June of 2012 the U.S. Conference of Mayors unanimously passed a strong resolution calling for
nuclear weapons abolition by 2020, and in subsequent years expressed support for the goal of the Vision 2020
Campaign led by the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; and,

WHEREAS, the estimated cost of maintenance and modernization of nuclear bombs and warheads is projected
to exceed 355 billion dollars over the next decade. This is in stark contrast to federal programs that benefit U.S.
cities' infrastructure and their most needy residents, which are routinely subject to budget cuts; and,

WHEREAS, Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace (RHIP), has brought together an impressive coalition
of Pittsburgh organizations, institutions and individuals to work toward the elimination of nuclear weapons
through education, activism, advocacy and art; and,

WHEREAS, the work of RHIP will include the screening of Hiroshima, Mon Amour by the Pittsburgh
Filmmakers followed by a Skype conversation with peace activists in Japan on August 5; a poster exhibit in the
City County Building during August; a 20 km Bike Around the Bomb on August 8 to raise awareness of an
atomic blast area radius in Pittsburgh; and co-sponsor a program at the University of Pittsburgh Law School on
the Marshall Islands lawsuits which seek compliance with Article VI of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty
(NPT);

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby commend and
recognize the important work of Remembering Hiroshima, Imagining Peace and their advocacy for the need of
a reduction of stockpiles and safer handling procedures worldwide as steps toward a world free of nuclear
weapons.

The group, founded in 2008, earned similar proclamations in 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, and 2014.