Strengthening Mayors for Peace Activities
－Visit to Thailand and Australia－
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Mr. Yasuyoshi Komizo, the Secretary-General of the Mayors for Peace and Chairperson of this Foundation, visited Bangkok and Chiang Mai, Thailand and Freemantle and Sydney, Australia, in November of last year.
Mr. Komizo asked these cities to assume the post of Leader City and held discussions on that topic, while discussing the expansion of Mayors for Peace activities in the respective regions.
There were also talks on future collaborative work with the Red Cross, atomic bomb survivors who are involved in A-bomb testimony activities overseas, peace-related research centers at universities, peace NGOs and others.
Mr. Komizo also visited the Japanese diplomatic missions in Thailand and Australia, and asked for their support in Mayors for Peace activities in their respective regions.
Mr. Komizo's main activities during the trips are outlined below.
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Asking Freemantle Mayor Mr. Pettitt (right) to assume the position of Leader City
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November 11
In Bangkok, Mr. Komizo met with Mr. Shigekazu Sato, the Japanese ambassador to Thailand.
Mr. Komizo explained measures to promote Mayors for Peace activities based in Thailand and Malaysia, and asked for support for the activities.
He then met with Vice-Governor Amon Kitchawengkun.
He requested that Bangkok assume the position of Leader City, and discussed measures to strengthen Mayors for Peace activities, confirming the importance of international exchange between young people for building a peaceful future.
Mr. Komizo also met with Mr. Michio Hakariya, an atomic bomb survivor from Nagasaki who has been engaged extensively in and around Chiang Mai for the past few years in A-bomb testimonial activities.
They discussed testimonial activities overseas.
November 12
At Chiang Mai, Mr. Komizo met with the acting mayor Sruamchai Meesomsakdi and asked for cooperation in measures to promote Mayors for Peace activities.
This was followed by a meeting with Mr. Akihiko Fujii, the Japanese Consul-General in Chiang Mai.
Mr. Komizo asked that information be provided on testimonial activities by atomic bomb survivors overseas, and asked for support for the holding of atomic bomb exhibitions and Mayors for Peace membership recruitment activities.
Mr. Komizo also met with Mr. Senjyo Nakai, the deputy director of the Japanese Studies Center at Chiang Mai University.
They discussed starting up the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Course and holding an exhibition of A-bomb artifacts: "The Light" - Portraits of the "Hibakusha".
November 13
When Mr. Komizo returned to Bangkok, he met with Mr. Virasakdi Futrakul, the former Thai ambassador to Japan, and held a discussion on peace-related exchange activities between young people in Thailand and Hiroshima.
This was followed by a meeting with Mr. Thanong Bidaya, the former Minister of Finance in Thailand.
They had a wide-ranging discussion, including topics such as carrying on the message of the atomic bomb survivors to the next generation, international youth exchange activities, and the domestic situation in Thailand.
Mr. Komizo also met with Chulalongkorn University's Center for Peace and Conflict Studies Director Surichai Wun'Gaeo, and held discussions on the importance of raising peace awareness at the municipal and civic levels, and collaboration between university projects and Mayors for Peace activities.
November 14
Mr. Komizo then traveled from Thailand to Australia, and first met in Perth with Mr. Koichi Funayama, the Japanese Consul-General in Perth.
He listened to an explanation on the situation in Perth and Western Australia, and they discussed municipal peace activities in the region.
Next, Mr. Komizo visited Freemantle Mayor Brad Pettitt, and asked the city to assume the position of Leader City for Mayors for Peace.
Mayor Pettitt said that he would like to consider the request, and they discussed the role of a Leader City.
The meeting was also attended by journalists Ms. Elizabeth PO' and Mr. Adrian Glamorgan, who attended the Mayors for Peace General Meeting in August last year on the mayor's behalf.
Mayor Pettitt accepted Leader City role in April 1, 2014 for western Australia after be obtained unanimous City Council approval.
November 15
In Sydney, Mr. Komizo met with Mr. Toshiaki Kobayashi, the acting Consul-General in Sydney.
He explained the issue of handing down atomic bomb testimonies when the atomic bomb survivors are aging, and spoke about the formation of regional groups in Mayors for Peace.
Mr. Komizo then met with Ms. Robyn Kemmis, the Deputy Mayor of Sydney, and heard about Sydney's peace initiatives.
They also discussed future possibilities for joint projects.
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November 16
Mr. Komizo met with Mr. Alain Aeschlimann, Head of Operations for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, International Committee of the Red Cross, who was attending the meeting of representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
He proposed to strengthen cooperative relations between Mayors for Peace and Red Cross.
He also had a meeting with Ms. Kazuyo Matsu Preston, who lives in Melbourne and is the representative of the peace NGO Japanese for Peace.
They discussed her organization's activities and future cooperation.
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With Mr. Alain Aeschlimann (left), Head of Operations
for East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific,
International Committee of the Red Cross
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November 17
Mr. Komizo met with Ms. Junko Morimoto, who is an atomic bomb survivor and children's book writer living in Sydney.
He heard about her activities to date with admiration, wished for her good health and discussed about possible area of cooperation with Mayors for Peace.
He also attended the meeting of representatives of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement as an observer, and exchanged greetings with Mr. Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mr. Tadateru Konoe, President of the Japanese Red Cross Society, and others.
November 18
Mr. Komizo visited the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies and met with the head of the Centre, Dr. Ken Macnab, and four other teaching staff from the Centre.
At the meeting, Mr. Komizo explained the Mayors for Peace initiatives, including collaboration with international organizations such as the Red Cross.
They discussed various issues of common interest, in particular, possible cooperation for the cause of nuclear abolition.
He also asked that they set up the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Course at Sydney University.
From November 11-15, the Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Poster Exhibition was held at Sydney Convention Centre, which was the venue of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies General Meeting.
At the same time attendees were asked to sign a petition calling for the start of negotiations for a nuclear weapons convention.
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Mayors for Peace Atomic Bomb Poster Exhibition at the venue of the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies General Meeting
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| (Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division) |
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