Nagasaki Peace Messengers demand the elimination of nuclear weapons
“The way to a world without nuclear weapons is a tough one, but with the help and understanding by the people all over the world, we will be able to lead the way to world peace.” Those were the words of Koharu Usui a young woman who was part of the 15-member group of Nagasaki Peace Messengers that visited the World YWCA on Wednesday August 18, 2010.
The Nagasaki Peace Messengers visit the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva every year to tell the story of the people of Nagasaki and the tragedy they faced 65 years ago and the physical and mental hardships that followed. The purpose of their visit is also to emphasise why Nagasaki must be the last city to be subjected to nuclear attack.
In August 1945, Nagasaki was the target of the world's second atomic bomb attack after Hiroshima. An estimated 40,000 people were instantly killed; the death toll eventually reached over 70,000 with hundreds of thousands injured and diseased as a result of the bombing. Masanori Aoki grand parents are atomic bomb survivors, “my grandmother was five years old then, she had a narrow escape from death” said Aoki. The stories of what happened so many years ago has motivated him to do what he can to help abolish nuclear weapons and to build a peaceful world.
Despite the heinous reality of what happened in 1945, it lead to the formation of the Nagasaki Peace messengers; inspired young people with one goal a peaceful world. The group was started in 1998 and students carry out a signature collecting campaign at their schools, downtown Nagasaki and neighbouring towns in Japan and then bring the petition along with their message to Geneva. To some this may not lead to world peace but the messengers believe that a little goes a long way, “Our efforts may be small but they are not helpless at all,” said Kaori Morohoshi
Akiko Sasaki believes that the young generation have to take action and protest the danger of nuclear wars and radioactive contamination and that it is up to them to realise a peaceful future for mankind. The group also stressed the importance of having a world without nuclear weapons and that although there are many problems in the world, military force should not be the means used to solve those problems. “We hope that many countries will work for the reduction of nuclear arms and strive towards a nuclear free world,” shared Akiko.
World YWCA General Secretary, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda welcomed the Peace Messengers on behalf of the movement. “ We are happy you are here as messengers of peace to remind the YWCA of their deep commitment of peace and love,” said Nyaradzayi. She also praised them for their initiative as she expressed it was not one that strives only for peace in Japan the nation directly affected many years ago but it demands world peace.
The Nagasaki Peace Messengers presented the World YWCA with symbols of peace and as they continue their mission they hope that we will all make an effort to create a peaceful world. “It seems difficult to achieve this goal, but no matter how hard it is, we should make efforts to create a world without nuclear weapons, otherwise there will be no future for humanity.” Chisaki Matsunaga, Nagasaki Peace Messenger.
