Not enough applicants for peace ambassadors, deadline extended
Mar. 15, 2010
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
The "Never Again Campaign" (NAC) has not received enough applications for the tenth round of "peace ambassadors," whose mission is to appeal for the elimination of nuclear weapons while staying at citizens' home in the United States. The head office of NAC launched a recruiting effort for five ambassadors for the first time in six years, but only three people had submitted their applications by the March 5 deadline. A prolonged economic slump and severe employment situation are believed to be among the contributing factors. The head office is calling for more applications, extending the deadline to March 20.
The ambassadors have, in the past, stayed in the United States for 6~12 months, visiting local schools and churches to share the experiences of A-bomb survivors and to introduce Japanese culture. The campaign was established in 1985, and 30 to 50 mainly young people have made applications each time for the past nine rounds. So far, 51 ambassadors have been selected and sent to the United States after receiving training in Japan.
For the tenth round, the campaign has been seeking applications for the first time in six years, inspired by the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has called for a world without nuclear weapons. Tomoko Nakamura, a NAC supporter and a professor at Hiroshima International University, believes that the difficult economic conditions are behind the small number of applications. She commented, "It seems that students are busy job-hunting, and the working population now has a stronger fear of leaving their jobs."
The new ambassadors will spend three months in the United States from either January or September 2011. Travel expenses must be borne by the individuals, but meals in the United States will be provided by the U.S. side. Yoko Kitaura, 52, head of NAC and a resident of Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture, said, "I would like to encourage people to take this good opportunity, at the time of the Obama administration, and convey the messages of the A-bomb survivors to young people in the United States." More information on the application process is available at the NAC website: http://nac.junyx.net/home
(Originally published on March 14, 2010)
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"Never Again Campaign" recruits "peace ambassadors" to mark 25th anniversary (Feb. 24, 2010)
The "Never Again Campaign" (NAC) has not received enough applications for the tenth round of "peace ambassadors," whose mission is to appeal for the elimination of nuclear weapons while staying at citizens' home in the United States. The head office of NAC launched a recruiting effort for five ambassadors for the first time in six years, but only three people had submitted their applications by the March 5 deadline. A prolonged economic slump and severe employment situation are believed to be among the contributing factors. The head office is calling for more applications, extending the deadline to March 20.
The ambassadors have, in the past, stayed in the United States for 6~12 months, visiting local schools and churches to share the experiences of A-bomb survivors and to introduce Japanese culture. The campaign was established in 1985, and 30 to 50 mainly young people have made applications each time for the past nine rounds. So far, 51 ambassadors have been selected and sent to the United States after receiving training in Japan.
For the tenth round, the campaign has been seeking applications for the first time in six years, inspired by the arrival of U.S. President Barack Obama, who has called for a world without nuclear weapons. Tomoko Nakamura, a NAC supporter and a professor at Hiroshima International University, believes that the difficult economic conditions are behind the small number of applications. She commented, "It seems that students are busy job-hunting, and the working population now has a stronger fear of leaving their jobs."
The new ambassadors will spend three months in the United States from either January or September 2011. Travel expenses must be borne by the individuals, but meals in the United States will be provided by the U.S. side. Yoko Kitaura, 52, head of NAC and a resident of Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture, said, "I would like to encourage people to take this good opportunity, at the time of the Obama administration, and convey the messages of the A-bomb survivors to young people in the United States." More information on the application process is available at the NAC website: http://nac.junyx.net/home
(Originally published on March 14, 2010)
Related articles
"Never Again Campaign" recruits "peace ambassadors" to mark 25th anniversary (Feb. 24, 2010)
