ID :
40517
Wed, 01/14/2009 - 10:47
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/40517
The shortlink copeid
About 100 A-bomb survivors return from 4-month voyage
TOKYO, Jan. 13 Kyodo - About 100 survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki returned
to Tokyo on Tuesday from a four-month voyage around the world to call for the
abolition of nuclear weapons and share their experiences with global audiences.
During the voyage, organized by the nongovernmental organization Peace Boat,
the survivors visited 20 countries to meet with the local people to seek
nuclear abolition.
In Danang, Vietnam, in September they visited victims of Agent Orange, a
chemical dropped by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, at the Rehabilitation
Center for Victims of Agent Orange, while in Papeete, Tahiti, in December, they
met with those who were affected by French nuclear tests at the Mururoa Atoll,
according to Peace Boat.
Kikuyo Nakamura, 84, from Nagasaki, said these exchanges have made her more
determined in her desire to achieve world peace. ''I have learned during this
trip that there are quite a number of countries which long for a world without
nuclear weapons,'' she said.
She also told reporters after arriving at Tokyo port, ''I want to ask U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama to help build a nuclear-free world, as I have
heard he is interested in the issue.''
Takashi Morita, an 84-year-old survivor from Brazil, shared his experience with
people in India, where he was asked why he is bringing up something that
occurred more than 60 years ago.
''I had to tell that person that 'hibakusha' still struggle in the aftermath of
radiation even after 63 years and nuclear bombs could lead to the end of the
world,'' Morita said.
From Japan, 94 survivors participated in the voyage, with four from South
Korea, two from Brazil, and one each from Australia, Canada and Mexico,
according to Peace Boat.
The survivors will visit the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki later this month
to report on their experiences on the voyage, Peace Boat said.
The ship left Yokohama port on Sept. 7 last year and was initially scheduled to
return by the end of the year, but the schedule was delayed due to a
malfunction with the vessel.
==Kyodo
2009-01-13 21:25:47
to Tokyo on Tuesday from a four-month voyage around the world to call for the
abolition of nuclear weapons and share their experiences with global audiences.
During the voyage, organized by the nongovernmental organization Peace Boat,
the survivors visited 20 countries to meet with the local people to seek
nuclear abolition.
In Danang, Vietnam, in September they visited victims of Agent Orange, a
chemical dropped by U.S. forces during the Vietnam War, at the Rehabilitation
Center for Victims of Agent Orange, while in Papeete, Tahiti, in December, they
met with those who were affected by French nuclear tests at the Mururoa Atoll,
according to Peace Boat.
Kikuyo Nakamura, 84, from Nagasaki, said these exchanges have made her more
determined in her desire to achieve world peace. ''I have learned during this
trip that there are quite a number of countries which long for a world without
nuclear weapons,'' she said.
She also told reporters after arriving at Tokyo port, ''I want to ask U.S.
President-elect Barack Obama to help build a nuclear-free world, as I have
heard he is interested in the issue.''
Takashi Morita, an 84-year-old survivor from Brazil, shared his experience with
people in India, where he was asked why he is bringing up something that
occurred more than 60 years ago.
''I had to tell that person that 'hibakusha' still struggle in the aftermath of
radiation even after 63 years and nuclear bombs could lead to the end of the
world,'' Morita said.
From Japan, 94 survivors participated in the voyage, with four from South
Korea, two from Brazil, and one each from Australia, Canada and Mexico,
according to Peace Boat.
The survivors will visit the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki later this month
to report on their experiences on the voyage, Peace Boat said.
The ship left Yokohama port on Sept. 7 last year and was initially scheduled to
return by the end of the year, but the schedule was delayed due to a
malfunction with the vessel.
==Kyodo
2009-01-13 21:25:47
