Article 9 provides hope for peace, says Nobel Peace Laureate Mairead Corrigan-Maguire
May 30, 2008
by Toshiko Bajo, Staff Writer
The Hiroshima Peace Media Center interviewed Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, 64, the Nobel Peace Laureate from Northern Ireland, who spoke at the Global Article 9 Conference in Hiroshima on May 5, 2008. Ms. Corrigan-Maguire urged that the non-violent spirit of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which renounces war, “be more actively conveyed to the rest of the world.” The following are summarized comments from the interview with Ms. Corrigan-Maguire.
You contributed toward resolving the long-lasting political conflict in Northern Ireland through non-violent means. What led you to take on such a role?
In 1976, three of my younger sister’s children were killed in “the troubles” between British troops and the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA was a Catholic military organization and was pursuing the independence of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom. I, myself, am Catholic, but violence was destroying our community and sinking us into despair and desperation. I realized, from my own life, that trying to effect change through violence would only bring more violence. So we started a peace movement and we rejected violence and weapons in favor of dialogue and negotiation.
Violence still continues to take place in the world today. Is it possible to create a world without violence?
Human beings, in fact, have to be trained to kill. The vast majority of people in the world have never killed anyone. They love their families and their communities and get on with the everyday task of building their lives. Killing is against our nature. When we realize we can create a non-violent society by changing our cultural conditioning, we can build a peaceful world with a culture of non-violence instead of a culture of violence.
To make that happen, what should we do?
The most important thing is communication, people-to-people. In Northern Ireland, Protestants and Catholics used to live apart, in separate communities, which led to anxiety and fear. But through the movement we initiated, communication and friendship were born and people realized that there was nothing to be afraid of.
Once this people-to-people interaction broadens across national borders, the distrust and fear that people have toward others will disappear. Accordingly, the relationships between countries can improve. I believe that surmounting such differences as religion, culture, and nationality will help us to overcome narrow nationalism and militarism. If we can build trust between peoples and countries, we will no longer need weapons.
What significance does Article 9 have in the current international climate?
Article 9 gives hope to many other countries who seek to preserve peace by adding this article to their own constitutions. Japan has a wonderful treasure in Article 9 and I hope the nation will help other countries actualize it for themselves. I hope the spirit of Article 9 will spread throughout the world.
What roles can Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Japan play?
Japan has a tremendous moral responsibility because it is the only country to have tragically suffered the effects of nuclear weapons. We need to keep reminding the world of the destruction and suffering caused by these weapons. And we must be very grateful to the A-bomb survivors for continuing to tell their stories. At the same time, Japan has the experience of striving to build peace through reconciliation rather than violence. The message from Hiroshima, this spirit of non-violence, is so important to the world today.
Mairead Corrigan-Maguire
Mairead Corrigan-Maguire was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1944. She is the joint founder and Honorary President of a peace organization called the “Peace People.” In 1976, she received the Nobel Peace Prize and continues to be involved in peace-related activities such as facilitating a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Palestine.
The Hiroshima Peace Media Center interviewed Mairead Corrigan-Maguire, 64, the Nobel Peace Laureate from Northern Ireland, who spoke at the Global Article 9 Conference in Hiroshima on May 5, 2008. Ms. Corrigan-Maguire urged that the non-violent spirit of Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution, which renounces war, “be more actively conveyed to the rest of the world.” The following are summarized comments from the interview with Ms. Corrigan-Maguire.
You contributed toward resolving the long-lasting political conflict in Northern Ireland through non-violent means. What led you to take on such a role?
In 1976, three of my younger sister’s children were killed in “the troubles” between British troops and the Irish Republican Army (IRA). The IRA was a Catholic military organization and was pursuing the independence of Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom. I, myself, am Catholic, but violence was destroying our community and sinking us into despair and desperation. I realized, from my own life, that trying to effect change through violence would only bring more violence. So we started a peace movement and we rejected violence and weapons in favor of dialogue and negotiation.
Violence still continues to take place in the world today. Is it possible to create a world without violence?
Human beings, in fact, have to be trained to kill. The vast majority of people in the world have never killed anyone. They love their families and their communities and get on with the everyday task of building their lives. Killing is against our nature. When we realize we can create a non-violent society by changing our cultural conditioning, we can build a peaceful world with a culture of non-violence instead of a culture of violence.
To make that happen, what should we do?
The most important thing is communication, people-to-people. In Northern Ireland, Protestants and Catholics used to live apart, in separate communities, which led to anxiety and fear. But through the movement we initiated, communication and friendship were born and people realized that there was nothing to be afraid of.
Once this people-to-people interaction broadens across national borders, the distrust and fear that people have toward others will disappear. Accordingly, the relationships between countries can improve. I believe that surmounting such differences as religion, culture, and nationality will help us to overcome narrow nationalism and militarism. If we can build trust between peoples and countries, we will no longer need weapons.
What significance does Article 9 have in the current international climate?
Article 9 gives hope to many other countries who seek to preserve peace by adding this article to their own constitutions. Japan has a wonderful treasure in Article 9 and I hope the nation will help other countries actualize it for themselves. I hope the spirit of Article 9 will spread throughout the world.
What roles can Hiroshima, Nagasaki, and Japan play?
Japan has a tremendous moral responsibility because it is the only country to have tragically suffered the effects of nuclear weapons. We need to keep reminding the world of the destruction and suffering caused by these weapons. And we must be very grateful to the A-bomb survivors for continuing to tell their stories. At the same time, Japan has the experience of striving to build peace through reconciliation rather than violence. The message from Hiroshima, this spirit of non-violence, is so important to the world today.
Mairead Corrigan-Maguire
Mairead Corrigan-Maguire was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, in 1944. She is the joint founder and Honorary President of a peace organization called the “Peace People.” In 1976, she received the Nobel Peace Prize and continues to be involved in peace-related activities such as facilitating a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Palestine.
