Sixty-seven years after the atom bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki (6 & 9 August 1945), it is time for humanity to put an end to nuclear weapons and nuclear power-plants.

Given that over 20 000 nuclear warheads are permanently threatening our survival, it is urgent that the nuclear states, those that possess these weapons for crimes against humanity, should meet and establish the procedures and timelines needed for their total elimination, in accordance with Article VI of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which they have signed. This is also what the vast majority of world opinion is calling for, notably in over 6000 cities linked by the Mayors for Peace network and the vast majority of member-states in the UN General Assembly.

But France’s new president and new government are refusing to involve France in this process, at a time when, judging by convergent polls, more than 80% of French citizens would be in favour. The people of France must therefore be consulted by referendum.

Since its foundation in 1996, ACDN (Action des Citoyens pour le Désarmement Nucléaire) has constantly been calling for this referendum. In May and June 2012, two members of ACDN went on hunger-strike - for six weeks, in the case of the president - to draw the attention of France’s leadership to this elementary democratic requirement. At the Presidential Palace their way was barred. But on June 24, the Federal Council of the EELV (Green) Party (Europe Ecologie - Les Verts) took up this call as part of its party’s programme. There is therefore a political possibility of change.

Besides, ACDN is also supporting, in France and in the world, all the many initiatives that aim to heed the lesson from the atomic massacres of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: "Never Again !". These include:

  in Paris, the international fast for the abolition of nuclear weapons, which begins on 6 August at 8am at the "Peace Wall" near the Eiffel Tower (Champ de Mars, Métro "Ecole militaire"), and

  at Le Barp (Gironde) on 6 August at 6pm, the protest against the Laser Méga Joule, « a laboratory for crimes against humanity ».

Finally, ACDN invites French citizens to contact our association and participate with the RAHAN collective in the national campaign launched on 15 May 2012 for a Referendum for the Historic Abolition of Nuclear Weapons (RAHAN in French). Everyone can write to the President of the Republic and to their local representatives (MPs, senators) to call for a referendum on the following question, the very one required by the international agenda of 2012 and 2013: "Do you agree that France should participate with the other states concerned in the complete elimination of nuclear weapons, under mutual international control that is strict and effective?"

We invite also international personalities and NGOs to support and sign on this Open Letter to President Hollande.