Hiroshima Office of UNITAR holds seminar for Asian diplomats
May 31, 2016
by Kyoji Matsumoto, Staff Writer
The Hiroshima Office of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) began a seminar on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation for young diplomats from Asian nations on May 30. The aim of this effort is to cultivate leaders for international talks involving disarmament. The seminar will continue until June 3, with the participants learning about the devastating reality of the atomic bombings and the current state of nuclear weapons in the world.
Ten people from five nations, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, are taking part. On the first day, they attended several lectures, including a talk by Tariq Rauf from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Sweden, held at the UNITAR office in Naka Ward. After that, they listened to the account of Yoshiko Kajimoto, 85, a resident of Nishi Ward who experienced the atomic bombing at a distance of about 2.3 kilometers from the hypocenter at the age of 14.
The participants listened intently to Ms. Kajimoto, who described nuclear weapons as an absolute evil. Bolor Buyandelger, 37, from Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that nuclear weapons are inhumane and not needed in the world, and pledged to do his best so that the tragedy that took place in Hiroshima would never be repeated.
Over the course of the five-day seminar the participants will visit the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Minami Ward and learn how nuclear weapons affect the human body, and also learn about the A-bomb damage in Nagasaki. A session to strengthen their skills in diplomatic negotiations will be held, too.
The Hiroshima Office of UNITAR will hold a free public session, titled “Seeking ‘A World without Nuclear Weapons,’” with lecturers of the seminar serving as panelists, at the International Conference Center Hiroshima in Naka Ward from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 1.
(Originally published on May 31, 2016)
The Hiroshima Office of the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) began a seminar on nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation for young diplomats from Asian nations on May 30. The aim of this effort is to cultivate leaders for international talks involving disarmament. The seminar will continue until June 3, with the participants learning about the devastating reality of the atomic bombings and the current state of nuclear weapons in the world.
Ten people from five nations, including Myanmar, Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, are taking part. On the first day, they attended several lectures, including a talk by Tariq Rauf from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute in Sweden, held at the UNITAR office in Naka Ward. After that, they listened to the account of Yoshiko Kajimoto, 85, a resident of Nishi Ward who experienced the atomic bombing at a distance of about 2.3 kilometers from the hypocenter at the age of 14.
The participants listened intently to Ms. Kajimoto, who described nuclear weapons as an absolute evil. Bolor Buyandelger, 37, from Mongolia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that nuclear weapons are inhumane and not needed in the world, and pledged to do his best so that the tragedy that took place in Hiroshima would never be repeated.
Over the course of the five-day seminar the participants will visit the Radiation Effects Research Foundation in Minami Ward and learn how nuclear weapons affect the human body, and also learn about the A-bomb damage in Nagasaki. A session to strengthen their skills in diplomatic negotiations will be held, too.
The Hiroshima Office of UNITAR will hold a free public session, titled “Seeking ‘A World without Nuclear Weapons,’” with lecturers of the seminar serving as panelists, at the International Conference Center Hiroshima in Naka Ward from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 1.
(Originally published on May 31, 2016)
