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| Mairead Maguire, Nobel Laureate 1976 |
In her letter of nomination to the Nobel Committee, Maguire said: "I believe both organizations have fulfilled the wish of Alfred Nobel to work for peace and disarmament and awarding the prize jointly to them would recognize the great sacrifice of especially the Hibabushas and give support and encouragement to all working on one of the greatest challenges to humanity- to rid the world of all nuclear weapons and build peace amongst the human family."
"Mayors for Peace are guiding the way in building, city by city, country by country, support for nuclear disarmament. They include 4,000 mayors and other city officials throughout the world. Their project called ‘Cities are not Targets’ and "their vision of total abolition of nuclear weapons by 2020 are inspirational to all."
Nihon Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A and H Bomb Suffererers Organizations). "The Hibakusha have consistently witnessed to the horror and suffering caused by the use of nuclear weapons, since the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and they have worked for a nuclear weapons free world. Over 200,000 died and thousands of Hibakusha have been deprived of their health by the radiation of the bombs,suffered disadvantage in the society, and suffered social discrimination. In spite of all their suffering the Hibakusas response has been to call not for retaliation but forgiveness and complete nuclear disarmament so no other nation would suffer or have to live in fear of nuclear attacks."
