Participants of Hiroshima YMCA “Youth Peace Seminar” grasp horror of war
Nov. 29, 2012
The Hiroshima YMCA, located in Naka Ward, organizes an annual Youth Peace Seminar designed for young people from the international community to reflect on peace in the A-bombed city of Hiroshima. This year marked the 34th such gathering, held in the city from August 4 to 6 with about 60 high school students and university students from Japan, Germany, Taiwan, South Korea, and the Philippines taking part.
The seminar participants visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, made a tour of the monuments found in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and listened to the accounts of atomic bomb survivors. They also attended a forum which featured the grandson of former U.S. president Harry S. Truman, the man who ordered the A-bomb attacks on Japan. As they learned about the horror of war, they discussed how they can help promote peace.
Some reactions from the participants included: “War brings only tragedy” and “It’s important to see various sides by exchanging views.”
Harushi Kemori, 48, a staff member of the Hiroshima YMCA International Community Center, oversaw the seminar this year. He expressed his hope that the participants came to realize that a variety of views are found in the world and that they will convey this fact to their family members and friends. “The first step toward peace,” he said, “is accumulating daily actions that promote peace, such as keeping our word to others.” (Daichi Ishii, 16)
(Originally Published on November 5, 2012)
The seminar participants visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, made a tour of the monuments found in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, and listened to the accounts of atomic bomb survivors. They also attended a forum which featured the grandson of former U.S. president Harry S. Truman, the man who ordered the A-bomb attacks on Japan. As they learned about the horror of war, they discussed how they can help promote peace.
Some reactions from the participants included: “War brings only tragedy” and “It’s important to see various sides by exchanging views.”
Harushi Kemori, 48, a staff member of the Hiroshima YMCA International Community Center, oversaw the seminar this year. He expressed his hope that the participants came to realize that a variety of views are found in the world and that they will convey this fact to their family members and friends. “The first step toward peace,” he said, “is accumulating daily actions that promote peace, such as keeping our word to others.” (Daichi Ishii, 16)
(Originally Published on November 5, 2012)
