The Asia-Pacific Humanist Forum took place from March 16-18 in Mumbai, India. Hundreds of participants from Bangladesh, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Nepal and the Philippines discussed the topic “Real Development Through Peace, Nuclear Disarmament and True Democracies”.
“We’re in serious danger,” said forum chairman Lockendra Seth. “Governments in Asia and across the world can regain their dignity only by acting to eliminate nuclear arms and to reduce conventional weapons. Everything else is meaningless lies, empty promises of social progress that won’t arrive.”
Forum speakers insisted that Asians must grab the attention of religious, social, political, scientific and business leaders. They demanded the immediate withdrawal of foreign troops from countries where they’re stationed, the closure of foreign military bases in the Asia-Pacific region, total nuclear disarmament and reduced military budgets.
On March 17, the forum participants formed a “living peace sign” in candlelight to lament the anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
Tony Henderson
Chairman, Humanist Association of Hong Kong
Hong Kong
(April 1, 2007)
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