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Report on the "Victims Speaking Tour"
in commemoration of the 1st anniversary of 9/11
In September 2002, a year after the simultaneous terrorist attacks in New York, Miyoko participated in a speaking tour in the U.S called 'No More Victims: Family Members Speaking Tour'. The tour advocated anti-war, anti-nuclear weapon use, and peace; and conveyed the message "No More Victims Anywhere" and that bereaved families of war and terrorism do not want war and retaliation.
The tour was organized by two groups. One group is "American Friends Service Committee". (The Group was the recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1946. In 1955 the Group also invited 25 female A-bomb victims for treatment in a New York hospital.) The other group is "September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows". Participants in the tour also included an Afghan who became a war victim after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, an Iraqi university student whose family fell victim to the American economic sanction, as well as a young woman from the Philippines.
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| Aims of the Tour |
(1) To oppose to the Bush administration's military policy, and to put in the center stage of discussion the miseries caused by warfare to humankind.
(2) To oppose to propaganda promoting wars and driving humankind to resort to endless warfare as a way to resolve conflicts.
(3) To support and assist in activities advocating peace. The tour lasted for ten days (Sept.6-15), and the eight cities visited were Philadelphia, New York, Boston, West Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Chicago and St. Louis.
To make full use of the two-hour period at each meeting, five to eight speakers would each make speeches that lasted for about five to eight minutes, followed by sessions of Q&A, opinion exchange and poetry reading. Matsubara was present at a total of 9 venues (including St. John Church, Boston University, and Smith University) and talked to about 2,740 people.
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| Matsubara's Thoughts after the Tour |
Nuclear weapons can indiscriminately kill a lot of people in an instance. I joined this tour with a view to conveying the message that "nuclear weapons are much more cruel and horrible than conflicts, wars or terrorism." There are politicians who do not hesitate to use nuclear arms at wartime; however, I would like to strongly urge these politicians and their people to strengthen their desire for peace. During the tour, I received standing ovations after my speeches, and many people from the audience indicated that it was the first time they heard first-hand stories from an atomic-bomb survivor, and that they understood the seriousness and urgency of my message.
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I felt that my message had touched some people |
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I was pleased that local newspapers published in detail, along with my photo, my message on peace, anti-war, and anti-nuclear weapon use. On the other hand, even though the people I met acknowledged in general the importance of peace, I am disappointed to realize that people who strongly believe that "nuclear weapons and wars are not the solutions of disputes between peoples and countries" are far and few between. Looking at the current state of affairs in the world, I deeply feel the need to further talk about the horror of nuclear weapons to people around the world, and especially to those whose countries possess nuclear arms.
There were a couple of disappointments during the tour. First, two war victims from Israel and Palestine suddenly withdrew from the tour without so much as stating why. Second, at the New York City venue, reporters from local American TV stations failed to show up, although reporters from Japan (NHK), Germany, Australia, etc. were there.
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| I realized the power of the Internet |
Notwithstanding, I was pleased to hear that the number of members of the "Peaceful Tomorrow" group has increased from 4-5 right after 9/11 to about 40. I was also delighted to know that the members are expanding their activities through music.
This tour has helped me come to a new revelation: I have come to realize the power of the Internet and have made it my new goal to convey my atomic-bomb experience and the spirit of Hiroshima through the Internet.
Unlike tours, which only allow a limited number of people to attend, the Internet will allow me to advocate peace, anti-war, and anti-nuclear weapon use to a much greater number of people. It will also allow peace-loving people to reach out for each other and act on a global level.
From now on, I will ask for the support and knowledge of the younger generations and work towards this new goal. The tour has thus become more meaningful to me because it has enabled me to find this new goal. To reach the goal as well as to preserve the invaluable experience I have gained, I will, in my own way, appeal to the world the importance of peace.
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