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Executive Director of ICAN's Visit to Hiroshima
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On January 15, 2018, the Director of ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons), Ms. Beatrice Fihn, visited Hiroshima together with Mr. Akira Kawasaki, a member of ICAN's International Steering Group.
ICAN is the organization that won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017.
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In the morning, Ms. Fihn paid her respects and offered flowers at the Memorial Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims, took a tour of the Peace Memorial Museum, and listened to a testimony by an A-bomb survivor, learning about the reality of the damage from the bombing.
In the afternoon there was a
dialogue session with young people held by the City of Hiroshima and this Foundation, titled
"In Conversation with Ms. Beatrice Fihn, Executive Director of ICAN, the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate: Towards the Realization of a Peaceful World",
where Ms. Fihn gave the keynote lecture and participated in a discussion with young people from Hiroshima.
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Ms. Fihn and Mr. Kawasaki lay a wreath at the Memorial Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims
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Approximately 340 young people and other citizens attended the dialogue session and shared with Ms. Fihn their wish for peace.
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Ms. Fihn speaks to young people during the keynote lecture
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In the first part of the dialogue session, there was a speech by Mayor Matsui, followed by the keynote lecture by Ms. Fihn, titled
"We Shall Not Repeat the Evil: How Japan Can Lead us Towards a Nuclear Free World".
In her lecture, Ms. Fihn praised the activities of the
hibakusha, saying that without the hibakusha who have continued to proactively talk about the tragedy that they experienced when they were faced with the horrors of nuclear weapons, we would not have the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
She also spoke about her passionate wish for the abolition of nuclear weapons, stating that it should be Japanese people above all, who
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know better than any other country the results that nuclear weapons bring, to take the lead in nuclear disarmament.
She addressed the young people attending, saying that she wants them to make use of their strengths of hope, energy, and social media to link up with like-minded people and take action to create a better future.
In the question and answer session that followed, there were many questions for Ms. Fihn, and it was a lively session.
When asked about the secret to maintaining hope when circumstances make it difficult to continue with activities, Ms. Fihn replied that it is important to believe that they are doing what is right, and to stay positive.
She encouraged the participants by saying that positive energy brings in more people and leads to major transformation.
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In the second section, four young people from Hiroshima gave presentations on their respective peace-related activities, and this was followed by a dialogue between the four and Ms. Fihn.
Ms. Fihn said to the four young people that 'peace' is a very difficult topic and there is not a lot of progress made, and because of this it is hard to maintain one's motivation, but nonetheless it is important to be ambitious and set small objectives.
At the same time, she also encouraged them, saying that rather than waiting for someone to give you a chance, you have to move forward and find chances yourself, and that you have to try to find enjoyment in the process of doing so.
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Four young people from Hiroshima receive words of encouragement from Ms. Fihn
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She also cheered them on, advising them that it is important to use SNS and lobby the Japanese government, which is turning its back on the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, to change its policy.
For the young people who participated in this dialogue session, they were able to see the young Ms. Fihn who has fully understood the wishes of the hibakusha, properly thought about what should be done to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons, and is taking action, and because of this the session became a precious opportunity for them to think about what actions they themselves can take.
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| (Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division) |
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