RERF chairman expresses words of remorse and appreciation to A-bomb survivors at 70th anniversary ceremony
Jun. 20, 2017
by Gosuke Nagahisa, Staff Writer
On June 19, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), an organization jointly managed by the governments of Japan and the United States and located in Minami Ward, held a ceremony to mark its 70th anniversary at the building of the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association. Otsura Niwa, the chairman of RERF, made a speech at the ceremony and mentioned the fact that the forerunner of RERF had put priority on examining the A-bomb survivors rather than giving them treatment at the time of its establishment. Mr. Niwa expressed words of remorse for his organization’s behavior in the past, saying, “We take that fact to heart and feel deeply sorry.” He also extended his gratitude to the A-bomb survivors, who have cooperated with the studies conducted by RERF.
RERF was initially established as the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) by the U.S. government in March 1947. During its early days, the organization’s work was primarily for military purposes, and people criticized the organization as engaged only in investigation of the A-bomb’s effects without providing any treatment to the survivors.
About 150 people, including A-bomb survivors and local people concerned, took part in the ceremony. After expressing remorse in his speech, Mr. Niwa stressed that RERF’s successes would not have been realized without the continuing support of A-bomb survivors and second-generation survivors. In addition, referring to the fact that the outcomes of RERF studies related to the survivors have contributed to developing radiological protection standards, he said, “We would like to make further efforts to improve the health and well-being of the A-bomb survivors and preserve the health of all human beings.”
When RERF issued a brochure in 1995, the year that marked the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing, the organization mentioned the criticism expressed by A-bomb survivors and noted that the organization felt remorse over this fact. As to why he again chose to convey the organization’s remorse in his speech, Mr. Niwa told reporters after the ceremony that “I just wanted to stress to the survivors how very sorry we are.”
(Originally published on June 20, 2017)
On June 19, the Radiation Effects Research Foundation (RERF), an organization jointly managed by the governments of Japan and the United States and located in Minami Ward, held a ceremony to mark its 70th anniversary at the building of the Hiroshima Prefectural Medical Association. Otsura Niwa, the chairman of RERF, made a speech at the ceremony and mentioned the fact that the forerunner of RERF had put priority on examining the A-bomb survivors rather than giving them treatment at the time of its establishment. Mr. Niwa expressed words of remorse for his organization’s behavior in the past, saying, “We take that fact to heart and feel deeply sorry.” He also extended his gratitude to the A-bomb survivors, who have cooperated with the studies conducted by RERF.
RERF was initially established as the Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission (ABCC) by the U.S. government in March 1947. During its early days, the organization’s work was primarily for military purposes, and people criticized the organization as engaged only in investigation of the A-bomb’s effects without providing any treatment to the survivors.
About 150 people, including A-bomb survivors and local people concerned, took part in the ceremony. After expressing remorse in his speech, Mr. Niwa stressed that RERF’s successes would not have been realized without the continuing support of A-bomb survivors and second-generation survivors. In addition, referring to the fact that the outcomes of RERF studies related to the survivors have contributed to developing radiological protection standards, he said, “We would like to make further efforts to improve the health and well-being of the A-bomb survivors and preserve the health of all human beings.”
When RERF issued a brochure in 1995, the year that marked the 50th anniversary of the atomic bombing, the organization mentioned the criticism expressed by A-bomb survivors and noted that the organization felt remorse over this fact. As to why he again chose to convey the organization’s remorse in his speech, Mr. Niwa told reporters after the ceremony that “I just wanted to stress to the survivors how very sorry we are.”
(Originally published on June 20, 2017)
