Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki: The Vital Importance of Peace Education

That the Parliament acknowledges what it sees as the vital importance of peace education as part of global citizenship education, a facet of learning for sustainability; remembers with solemnity the devastating atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945, which claimed over 200,000 lives and left countless others with lifelong injuries and trauma; recognises the powerful testimony of Hibakusha, survivors of these atomic bombings, who have visited the Scottish Parliament and shared their experiences with the clear message, "never again"; recalls motion S6M-10229, which recognised the work of Quakers in Britain and Quakers in Scotland in their initiative, Peace at the Heart of Scottish Schools, and highlighted the benefits of peace education among young learners across Scotland, including its strong links to the Curriculum for Excellence; considers that Scotland continues to host nuclear weapons of mass destruction on the Clyde and that the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons has been supported by the Scottish Government, which, it understands, has called on the UK Government to sign and ratify the treaty, joining what it sees as the growing number of nations committed to banning nuclear weapons; understands that, under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the UK is obliged to pursue negotiations in good faith on effective measures relating to nuclear disarmament; further understands that, since 1978, the UN has urged governments to take steps to develop programmes of education for disarmament and peace studies at all levels; notes the reported research from the Nuclear Education Trust, which found that more information, education and public debate is urgently needed on nuclear weapons issues; further notes the view that it is important to continue to provide funding for Scotland's Development Education Centres, which, it considers, provide essential training on global citizenship education, equipping young people with critical thinking skills, political literacy, ethical reasoning and the ability to empathise with others; celebrates what it sees as the valuable global citizenship resources that are provided by Scotdec to teachers in the Falkirk East constituency and beyond, and the resources and support available for pupils in Scotland from organisations such as the Peace Education Network, CND Peace Education, Peace Education Scotland, Scientists for Global Responsibility and others; welcomes the reported funding to pilot the Scottish Peace Platform initiative and enhance Scotland’s vibrant peacebuilding sector; commends the Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) for its support of peace education, and notes the view that it is important to support a range of peace education initiatives for Scottish schools, through recognition and funding, to enable young learners across Scotland to become ethical global citizens now and in the future.