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Building peace network through picturephone class




  In November 1998, I had a class for elementary school children in a remote area, employing the picturephone using the Internet line. In the class I told my story of the atomic bombing. This event was realized thanks to the warm support of the NTT Hiroshima branch and I was able to exchange ideas with the students of Katsurao elementary school in Fukushima prefecture 530 miles away from Hiroshima.
  The scene of the class was broadcasted simultaneously to 11 schools in the surrounding areas, and also was introduced in one of the peace-related web sites.
  Thereafter Nishizu elementary school in Fukui prefecture, northwest of Japan asked me to give the same type of class for their children. I held a class and it was televised to 5 schools in the area. There will be another class ahead of me in July. Next time, the class will be held for junior high school students in Mie prefecture, central Japan.
  Each class was successful and significant in that those who are unable to visit Hiroshima, could learn about the atomic bombing at their places. Some days later many students who had taken the class sent me videotapes and E-mails, describing their impressions.
"I was sad because I learned hundreds of thousands of people were killed by a single atomic bomb. I wish the war had not broken out."
"The class meant a lot to me because I could listen to the story which I have never experienced nor learned about in the textbook."
"I learned the horror of the atomic bombing, sorrow and resentment thereby."
  Also some teachers wrote to me, thanking for the class.

Picturephone class helped students learn the horror of war

  It was my great joy that the children at Nishizu Elementary School produced a web site featuring the class and placed it on the Internet. After the class they wrote to me, expressing their ideas. "I learned how evil war is and I thought Ms.Matsubara was doing the class to ask me not to start war. I am thankful for her valuable story."
  Also one teacher wrote to me, saying "In class, we cannot teach everything about war, so listening to an atomic bomb story helped students understand the sentiments of survivors, the importance of peace and error of war."

Miyoko Matsubara


Making the most of the "fine tool"

  As you see, the class using picturephone is beneficial because students can directly listen to survivors at their places and learn tragic facts of war as well as the horror of the atomic bombing. As part of survivors, we can convey our message of peace to the people living in distant places. Picturephone class is "a fine tool" which enable us to build and expand peace network with people in remote areas. So if there is any chance, I would like to have class for students overseas.
  Today technology is greatly advanced and telecommunication is also highly developed. Faced with the difficulty of story telling because of the aging of the survivors, I found that as long as I use wisdom and courage to the fullest and take actions, I can take quite extensive peace movements.
  Lastly,I sincerely hope to further expand peace network with more people through the Internet.


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