Hiroshima students hold debate on nuclear deterrence
Sep. 24, 2010
by Takayuki Kamo, Staff Writer
On September 23, the "No Nuke Network: Students of Hiroshima Against Nuclear Weapons," which has been promoting a campaign to invite the leaders of all the nuclear weapon states to Hiroshima, including U.S. President Barack Obama, held a study session at Hiroshima Youth Center in downtown Hiroshima with Motofumi Asai, president of the Hiroshima Peace Institute, as speaker.
Eighteen junior high and high school students in Hiroshima took part in the session. As representatives of the group, six students held a debate on nuclear deterrence with three of them in support of the idea and the other three opposed. The students arguing in favor of nuclear deterrence reasoned that "Possession of nuclear weapons by multiple nations would maintain the balance of power," while those against the idea responded that "Even if wars involving the major powers are avoided, regional conflicts will still occur." Through these arguments, the students deepened their debate.
Mr. Asai, who listened to the debate, remarked, "I would like you to think about what students in Hiroshima can do to help realize a world without war." Takuya Bajo, 17, a second-year student at Hiroshima Gakuin Senior High School, said, "I was able to broaden my perspective through our discussion."
(Originally published on September 24, 2010)
On September 23, the "No Nuke Network: Students of Hiroshima Against Nuclear Weapons," which has been promoting a campaign to invite the leaders of all the nuclear weapon states to Hiroshima, including U.S. President Barack Obama, held a study session at Hiroshima Youth Center in downtown Hiroshima with Motofumi Asai, president of the Hiroshima Peace Institute, as speaker.
Eighteen junior high and high school students in Hiroshima took part in the session. As representatives of the group, six students held a debate on nuclear deterrence with three of them in support of the idea and the other three opposed. The students arguing in favor of nuclear deterrence reasoned that "Possession of nuclear weapons by multiple nations would maintain the balance of power," while those against the idea responded that "Even if wars involving the major powers are avoided, regional conflicts will still occur." Through these arguments, the students deepened their debate.
Mr. Asai, who listened to the debate, remarked, "I would like you to think about what students in Hiroshima can do to help realize a world without war." Takuya Bajo, 17, a second-year student at Hiroshima Gakuin Senior High School, said, "I was able to broaden my perspective through our discussion."
(Originally published on September 24, 2010)
