Annual Hiroshima/Nagasaki bell ringing in DesMoines with talk of local survivor

Des Moines WILPF, with cosponsorship of AFSC, Catholic Peace Ministry, Des Moines Area Religious Council, Des Moines Area Ecumenical Peace Committee, Iowa Peace Network and Stop the Arms Race*Political Action Committee, held our annual Hiroshima/Nagasaki observance at the Japanese Bell on the capitol grounds on Fri., Aug. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

The program included singing, a reminder that this
is the 40th anniversary year of the ratification of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, reading of statements by the mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and a powerful Japanese perspective by local WILPF member Tae Campbell. It concluded with each person ringing the bell, whose somber tones served as a reminder of the solemnity of the occasion.

We want to share the words of Tae Campbell with everyone.

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For Hiroshima / Nagasaki Observance Day (Japanese perspective)

I am going to talk about why as a Japanese citizen, I have been confused about my feelings about the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On the one hand, my country was a victim of the horrific devastation of atomic explosions and their aftermath. On the other hand, my country invaded, occupied, and exploited neighbouring Asian countries.
Then I will tell you three examples of the ongoing struggle in Japan to prevent more Hiroshimas and Nagasakis.

Speaking for the victims, it is important to me to witness to the true cost in human lives. Dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed over 200, 000 people in 1945. Over the last 63 years, an additional 400,000 people died. There are more than 250,000 survivors within and outside Japan who continue to suffer the medical effects of radiation poisoning, survivor guilt, and social re-victimisation through denial of marriage and job discrimination.

Part of my feeling confused is my shame at the Japanese imperial militarism. The national propaganda and the brainwashing of the citizens crafted the invasion and colonization of Asian countries. This deception and manipulation by the military government still affects us. For example, the US military’s claim, that the atomic bombing was necessary to end the war, is still repeated by the Japanese corporate media. Last year, the Japanese Minister of Defense, though he was elected from Nagasaki said, “the bombing was inevitable.” The people of Nagasaki and the city government of Nagasaki and the nuclear survivors officially protested his statement.

There is an atmosphere of legitimizing the atomic bombing. I think there is a distorted feeling of guilt, that is, since the Japanese had caused the war, we should accept the militaristic consequences. But this is such a dangerous idea, which is created by the atomic super power, the United States. At least those who are still suffering should not be undermined by the propaganda that encourages making and using of the nuclear weapons. Those atomic bombs were deliberately dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and those civilian victims never had to die.

My first of three examples of the ongoing struggle to define the consequences of the war is that of compensating the atomic bomb survivors. This year, due to many lawsuits brought by the survivors, the Japanese government finally amended the Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Law. Now the atomic bomb survivors who live outside Japan will receive a medical allowance from the Japanese government, without their having to come to Japan. Those previously ignored survivors are mostly Koreans who came to Japan, some as immigrant workers and some as forced laborers.

My second example is about the perpetuation of warfare. The most obvious militarization in Japan is that of the archipelago of Okinawa. Though the US occupation of main land Japan ended in 1952, Okinawa stayed a US territory until 1972. Now, three quarters of all US military bases in Japan are concentrated in Okinawa. The people of Okinawa bear a heavy burden. Planes and helicopters frequently crash near the bases. Military personnel, under US military law, commit crimes and violence to women with impunity. Okinawa, without a choice, becomes part of US military bombings, because of Okinawa’s convenient location to supply the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and even the current Afghanistan and Iraq war. Okinawa represents the physical and financial support of Japan for US militarism, for example, invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq.

I worry that just as US occupation of Okinawa went such a long period of time, now people of Iraq have to go through the US occupation who knows for how long, too long.

My 3rd and final example is about defending a foundation for peace, article 9 of the Japanese constitution. Despite article 9 of the constitution’s pacifist proclamation, there is a dangerous movement to revise article 9, so that Japan can send its self-defence forces to wherever the US government orders. The Japanese parliament passed special legislation in 2003 to send the Japanese self-defence forces to Iraq against the spirit of the article 9. The legislation was limited to 4 years, but the Iraq war did not end in 4years, so they added 2 more years. Because the article 9 prohibits us to use any forces, this sending the forces to Iraq and supporting the US military’s armed activities became a problem. Defending article 9 of the constitution is critical. The atomic bomb survivors desperately wish to keep Japan from contributing to any war activities. Many peace activists’ organizations were created to articulate the need to keep article 9. These peace organisations are not just asking the Japanese government, they are asking that the world community to abolish all weapons of warfare.

Along with the people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the survivors of the bombings, I strongly reject the use of violence for any conflicts, as stated in article 9 of the Japanese constitution. I wish that all the ongoing wars will end soon.