ANT-Hiroshima

"The Hiroshima That Gen Saw" Wins the Peace Cooperation Journalist Prize

noreply@blogger.com (David Hurley) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 05:47:00 +0000

Tomo Corporation, a trading company recently set up to support the activities of ANT-Hiroshima, received some great news the other day...

Earlier this year Tomo Corporation released a film, "Hadashi No Gen Ga Mita Hiroshima" ("The Hiroshima That Gen Saw") documenting the eye-witness account of manga artist, Keiji Nakazawa, who was a schoolboy in Hiroshima when the city was destroyed by the atom bomb at the end of World War Two. Keiji Nakazawa later created the "Barefoot Gen" manga series, which told the story of his experiences through the the eyes of a schoolboy called "Gen".

The film is distributed by Sigla who informed us that Hadashi No Gen Ga Mita Hiroshima had been won the 17th "Peace Cooperation Journalist Prize", which is awarded by the Peace and Cooperative Journalist Fund of Japan, a Tokyo-based peace-education and media pressure group.

We feel very honoured and happy to receive this award and recognition.

ANT-Hiroshima

Nepal Neurosurgical Fund Seeks Treatment For All Neurosurgery Cases In Nepal

noreply@blogger.com (David Hurley) — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:29:00 +0000

In November Dr. Prabin, a senior neurosurgeon at Norvic International Hospital in Katmandu, launched an initiative that aims to ensure that every Nepalese patient who needs neurosurgical treatment in Nepal will be able to receive it irrespective of his or her financial means.

Dr. Prabin

Dr. Prabin feels that this initiative is urgently needed today because the number of diagnosed neurosurgical problems in Nepal has been increasing in recent years. This is part because of greater public awareness and also because there are now more qualified neurosurgeons in Nepal than ever before, with a corresponding increase in neurosurgical diagnoses.

However, the cost of surgery is a big obstacle to further treatment for most Nepalese, so Dr. Prabin and a group of fellow neurosurgeons decided to set up a fund to help those who desparately need neurosurgery but do not have the means to pay for the treatment.

Norvic International Hospital has one of the best equipped neursurgical treatment facilities in Nepal. However, as it is a privately run hospital, the overall treatment charge is higher than government-funded hospitals, which often lack the essential services, equipment and expertise that is necessary for neurosurgery to be successfully carried out.

ANT-Hiroshima joined Dr. Prabin in the initiative by setting up an English langauge blog to help raise funds and provide information about this initiative:

http://www.nepalneurosurgicalfund.org/

The blog is very new and Dr. Prabin hopes to add a lot more content in the months ahead.

ANT-Hiroshima is overseeing the fund raising side of the initiative. The Paypal buttons on the donation page are linked to ANT-Hiroshima's account. ANT-Hiroshima will pass on the funds to Dr. Prabin as they come in.

We hope that with the help of donors we can support the really needy cases who would otherwise be unable to get any treatment for their neurological conditions.

ANT-Hiroshima

Thinking About The Children Of Fukushima: Food, Water, Playing Outside - What's Safe?

noreply@blogger.com (David Hurley) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 10:37:00 +0000

On September 11th, ANT Hiroshima hosted a symposium presented by Dr. Nanao Kamada, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Relief Foundation, who spoke about his findings in regard to a visit to Fukushima to investigate the levels of radiation that remain in the environment following the nuclear disaster that unfolded in the wake of the earthquake and tsunami in the north east of Japan on March 11th of this year.

Order of Presentation

Basic information on radiation
Physical examinations personally conducted in Fukushima
Determining exact radiation dose (Measurements)
Efforts to decrease external and internal radiation levels (Decontamination)
You have the right to decide for yourself, so take action.

Radioactivity and Radiation
The ability of a substance to emit radiation is known as radioactivity.

Radioactivity

Charcoal (Radioactive material) (Unit: Becquerel, Bq)

Radiation

Heat ray (Radiation) (Unit: Gray, Gy)
Unit to measure emission of radiation (the emitter): Becquerel
Unit to measure dose of radiation (the receiver): Sievert
Unit to measure dose per particular organ or total body dose (Sievert)

Types of Radiation (Devices to detect them vary.)

α ray (Alpha)
β ray (Beta)
γ ray (Gamma)


Alpha particles are stopped by a sheet of paper. Beta particlesare stopped by an aluminium plate. Gamma rays are stopped by 4 meters of lead.

Chronology of Evacuation and Regulatory Changes

March 11th: Earthquake. Emergency shutdown of first, second and third reactors at the Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.
March 12th: Government designates areas within 20 km of the Daiichi Plant the No-Entry Zone.
March 15th: Government designates areas between 20 and 30 km the Indoor Emergency Evacuation-Ready Zone.
March 19th: Five times the allowed limit of radioactive iodine detected in raw milk from Kawamata Town.
March 21st: Radioactive iodine detected in water from Iitate Village waterworks.
April 20th: Shipment of sand lance is suspended.
April 22nd: Planned Evacuation Zones designated in certain areas outside 20 km.
June 2nd: Shipment of tea leaves is suspended.
June 16th: Specific evacuation sites outside No-Entry Zone are set up.
July 19th: Shipment of Fukushima beef is suspended.

Objectives of Dr. Kamada's Research and Examinations in Fukushima

After the Hiroshima atomic bombing in August 1945, the dangers of internal exposure to radiation was neither understood nor treated. Children are three times more susceptible to radiation than adults. So Dr. Kamada felt it was his responsibility to propose examinations for residents, with these objectives in mind.

Finding evidence to enable better decision-making for children’s safety.
Following the Fukushima nuclear plant accident, internal exposure must be carefully studied.

External Radiation Exposure Level by May 5
Annual Regulation Value: 20 mSv
Maximum Radiation Exposure Level / Minimum Radiation Exposure Level
Range: 4.9～13.5 mSv

Internal Radiation Exposure Level
Iitate Village
Urine Sample
Axis Concentration (Bq/ L)
Cesium 137
Cesium 134

Findings of Examinations in Fukushima

On May 5th, radioactive cesium was detected in all tested residents, but in minute amounts.
Radioactive iodine was detected in some residents. The largest detected dose was 3.2 mSv. Contaminated food intake is thought to be the major source.
Although their external exposure levels were below the annual recommended limit of 20 mSv, to avoid continued exposure, I advised the residents I examined to evacuate in a timely manner.
To limit internal exposure, I advised them to avoid locally cultivated vegetables and plants growing wild in the local mountains such as mushrooms.

Differences between the Hiroshima Atomic Bombing and the Fukushima Nuclear Plant Accident (Residents)

In both cases, local communities and infrastructure (houses and employment) collapsed amid rising anxiety about health disorders.

Hiroshima	Fukushima
Single exposure to a large dose of radiation	Prolonged exposure to small doses
Direct exposure to radiation	Indirect exposure to radiation
Great variance in dose	Doses are consistently small
Exposure upon entering the contaminated area	Exposure upon evacuating the contaminated area
Internal exposure denied (not recognized)	Threat of internal exposure recognized
Quantity of radioactive materials dispersed is 9kg	Incomparably greater dispersion of radioactive materials
Blast, fire and horrible scenes	Anxiety caused by exposure without the means to detect it or protect from it

Keep Measuring
External Exposure Level
Areas around homes, school routes and areas around schools
Side ditches, roadside trees and school lawns

Air Dose Map

Recall where you were to estimate your exposure levels.
For more details, download this Fukushima air dose map.

To Estimate External Dose

A: Radiation levels where you were (microsievert/ hour)

a　Hours working outside
b　Hours inside wooden housing　
c　Hours inside concrete housing
d　Hours inside vehicles

Single Day Dose: a×A＋{（b×A）×0.4}＋{(c×A)×0.1}＋ {(d×A)×0.8}}

Example: You were in an area with radiation levels around 2.1 microsievert/ hour.
If you stayed outside for 8 hours, in a wooden house for 12 hours, and in a car for 4 hours, then:

8×2.1+｛(12×2.1)×0.4｝+{(4×2.1)×0.8}=33.6 μSv

To calculate total dose=Add up your daily dose levels.

Regulations on Internal Dose

Japan has stricter regulations than other developed countries.

For a comparative table see:

http://japanecho.net/311-data/1020/

Radioactive Iodine Dose Calculation (example)

If one eats each day for 1 week 200 grams of vegetables contaminated with 100 becquerels of iodine
per kilogram.
A=Ca×Ka×Q×T
A：Effective Dose (μSv)
Ca：Radioactive Material Concentration 100Bq/kg
Ka：Effective Dose Conversion Coefficient (μSv/ Bq) = 0.022
(Based on Oral Ingestion Data Table No.1)
Q：Amount of Intake 0.2kg/ day
T：Duration of Intake ; About one week =7 days
A=100×0.022×0.2×7= 3.08 μSv

Radioactive Cesium Dose Calculation (example)

A person weighing 60 kilograms who eats 100 becquerels of food containing Cesium 137
Dose = 0.00002×0.48×100×90　＝0.0014 millisieverts

Fixed Whole-Body Geiga Counter

In addition, there are 45 portable whole-body geiga counters in all of Japan.

The effective period for accurate dose determination using whole-body geiga counters is over.

122 residents of Iitate, Kawamata and Minamisoma underwent examinations at the National Institute of Radiological Sciences (NIRS) in Chiba starting on June 28.
On August 17, the results were reported. No abnormal values were detected.

Is it safe to drink the water, play outside, eat the food?

Water: All municipalities, including Iitate Village and Fukushima City, have examined water samples from simple waterworks; the results show no levels over government-set limits since April 1.
Playing Outside: There is no problem playing on school grounds that have been decontaminated, but radiation levels on nearby lawns and other places must be measured.
Food: We must be very careful about some varieties of foods.

To Protect Ourselves against External Exposure

Removing sources: Remove top soil and wash off surfaces.
Shortening exposure time: Don’t stay outside for long periods.
Keeping distance from radiation sources: Collect contaminated soil in remote places.
Shielding from radiation: Cover up contaminated soil.

Efforts to Reduce External Dose

On August 25, the Japanese government decided to decrease the annual dose limit from 20 millisieverts to 1 millisievert.

Efforts to Reduce External Exposure to Radiation
Residents can wait any longer for effective measures so here is what can be done in the meantime:

Keep measuring

Instructions for decontamination work:

Wear masks
Wear gloves
Wear rubber boots
Take nothing into the mouth
Keep a water supply
Bring dosimeters

Efforts to Reduce Internal Exposure

Gather information about contaminated food. Check the origin of foods, especially fish, mountain vegetables, mushrooms and rice.
When cooking, exercise ingenuity and avoid large fish bones.
Eat a wide variety of foods.

Elements that can Remove Active Oxygen Generated by Radiation

Vitamins: Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Vitamin E
Minerals: Zinc, Chrome
Polyphenols (Plant Pigment): Anthocyanin from red wine, Catechin from tea

Reduce the Risk of Disease

Diseases don’t develop suddenly. Each disease grows from a bad sprout. Get rid of bad sprouts at an early stage and strengthen your resistance by enhancing immunity.

Disciplined lifestyle
Balanced meals
Alleviate stress – Think positively

Foods that Help Fight Cancer

Foods higher in the table have stronger cancer preventive power. These include:

garlic, cabbage, licorice, soybeans, ginger, carrot, celery, parsnip, onion, tea, turmeric, brown rice, whole wheat, tofu, orange, lemon, brussel sprouts, tomato, eggplant, green pepper, broccoli, cauliflower, grapefruit

Take control—determine your own direction.

Past event = Present challenge = Perspective for the future
Think positively
Work together
Set an example because children are watching

Act to Counter Invisible Radiation

Keep measuring – Cooperate with municipalities, and/or do it yourself.*
Pay attention to food – Urge your municipalities to provide information.
Take regular health checks – We need a system that allows affected people to be examined wherever they evacuate.

ANT-Hiroshima

*Monitoring (Measuring) by citizens can apply great pressure to the Japanese government and companies.

Private Donation To Unesco Enables Children From Fukushima To Holiday In Hiroshima

noreply@blogger.com (David Hurley) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 04:12:00 +0000

The "UNESCO Foundation - Education for Children in Need" received a donation of 9,000 euros, or about a million yen, to be used to help children in Fukushima, Japan, who have been affected by the Tohoku earthquake, tsunami and the atomic catastrophe.

The UNESCO Foundation asked HOPE'87 to oversee the distribution of the funds, and they in turn contacted ANT-Hiroshima.

After consulting various organizations we decided to invite a group of autistic children and their families who live in Fukushima to come to Hiroshima for a holiday. The group is called "Smile".

When Tomoko Watanabe visited Fukushima recently she found that it was not safe for children to play outside because of the danger of exposure to radiation.

The families in the Smile group wanted their children to be able to get away from Fukushima, even if only for a short time, so that they would have a precious opportunity to play freely outside in the summer.

The group travelled from Fukushima Prefecture to Hiroshima by chartered bus on Tuesday 16th August and spent their first night in Hiroshima at Hotel Aioi.

Wednesday

The next day the group visited Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the peace museum.

Then they caught water taxis along the river to Motomachi.

When they disembarked, Tomoko treated everybody to okonomiyaki. ("Okonomiyaki" is a popular dish in Hiroshima. It is like a pancake with vegetables and noodles.)

After lunch, the Smile group visited Motomachi Elementary School and met an A-bomb survivor, Emiko Okada, who told them about her experience.

The children were then treated to ice-cream before setting off by chartered bus to Kabe City. When they got there they had another treat - frappe. A Japanese flautist played the flute for them while they ate.

The group spent the night relaxing at Tawara Spa...

Thursday

Thursday was dedicated to site seeing and fun in the countryside of Tawara.

The group visited a traditional Japanese house, and then went to the river to catch sweetfish.

The sweetfish were first trapped by a mesh net and then the children were able to catch them with their bare hands.

Later, they helped to prepare a barbeque and cooked the fish for lunch.

The children were also treated to a hillside picnic, then a snack of watermelons!

They could enjoy various activities such as catching beetles, playing badminton, bathing in the river, or simply chilling out and snoozing before returning to the spa for dinner and free activities in the evening.

Friday

The group left Tawara by bus and travelled to Miyajimaguchi, where they caught a ferry across to Miyajima Island. They visited Itsukushima Shrine and then they could choose whether to ascend mount Misen by cable car or visit the recently reopened Miyajima Aquarium.

The two groups were reunited for lunch at Watanabe Japanese Inn Restaurant before catching the ferry back to the mainland and then a chartered bus to
"Marina Hop" for dinner at restaurant GUGU.

That evening the Smile group said goodbye to their friends in Hiroshima and caught an overnight charter bus back to Fukushima.

The bus was full of tired, but happy, smiling faces!

ANT-Hiroshima

Mayor Of Hiroshima Gives 2011 Hiroshima Peace Declaration In English

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 05:37:00 +0000

Here is this year's Peace Declaration in English by the Mayor of Hiroshima. This is the third year that the Mayor of Hiroshima has given a speech in English. The first two speeches were given by Mayor Akiba, whose term of office came to an end in April 2011. The new mayor, Kazumi Matsui, gave this year's speech.

The speech was given on 6th August 2011, at 10:15pm in Hiroshima, which is 8:15am American Central Time. The A-bomb exploded at 8:15am on 6th August 1945.

The idea of having the Mayor of Hiroshima give a speech in English was started as a joint initiative by Hiroshima City government and Hiroshima citizens groups to help spread the message of nuclear disarmament around the world.

As Mayor Matsui gives his speech you can see some film footage of the morning Peace Memorial Ceremony in Peace Park, Hiroshima.

ANT-Hiroshima

Green Legacy Hiroshima: Spreading Seeds Of Peace Across The World

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 10:18:00 +0000

An A-bombed tree near Hiroshima castle.

After the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6th August 1945 it was thought that nothing would grow in the city for 75 years. However, the following spring new seedlings were seen springing up amongst the debris of the city. They provided a powerful message to the survivors and gave them hope that they could rebuild their city.

Today, 66 years after the A-bomb, Hiroshima is a green and vibrant city. Many of the trees that were planted in the city after the war were gifts from overseas donors and donors from other parts of Japan.

Hibakujumoku

However, 170 of the trees that we can enjoy in the city today had actually been in Hiroshima before the bomb was dropped and survived the bombing and the devastation that followed. After the war, many of those trees were replanted or preserved in 55 locations within a 2km radius of the hypocenter. Today, they are officially registered as A-bombed trees. Each A-bombed tree is called a hibakujumoku and is identified by a name plate.

Green Legacy Hiroshima

Green Legacy Hiroshima is an initiative launched by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and ANT-Hiroshima, to spread worldwide the seeds - and the peace message - of trees that survived the atomic bombing.

Recently, Nassrine Azimi, senior adviser at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research in Hiroshima (UNITAR), together with Tomoko Watanabe of ANT-Hiroshima, and a group of friends, launched an initiative called Green Legacy Hiroshima through the auspices of UNITAR to help spread the seeds of Hiroshima's A-bomb-surviving trees around the world.

The founding idea of Green Legacy Hiroshima is to distribute seeds and saplings from Hiroshima’s A-bombed trees to interested groups and schools around the world. We hope that seeds will be planted in urban, botanical gardens, schools, public and private institutions and places of political or symbolic importance for the message of peace.

Please check the UNITAR Green Legacy Hiroshima webpage if you would like to participate in a project to plant seeds of peace. You can also find more information about the survivor trees: http://www.unitar.org/hiroshima/greenlegacy

ANT-Hiroshima

Nakazawa Keiji Documentary Film: Hiroshima as Seen by Barefoot Gen

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 07:27:00 +0000

In a new documentary film, Hadashi no Gen ga Mita Hiroshima (Hiroshima as Seen by Barefoot Gen) produced by Tomo-Corp in cooperation with Siglo, Nakazawa Keiji (born, 1939) recalls his childhood experience of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima city, and explains how that he found an outlet for expressing his experiences through the medium of Japanese comics, most notably through the Hadashi no Gen (Barefoot Gen) manga series.

Nakazawa Keiji visits places in Hiroshima that he was familiar with as a child and takes us to the spot where he was standing when the bomb exploded. He describes what he witnessed, in moving and often harrowing detail.

Fascinating details of life in 1940s Hiroshima are also glimpsed, such as how he and other boys would play in the building that is now the A-Bomb Dome.

Nakazawa Keiji explains how he got a job as a manga artist and how he started to draw manga dealing with his own wartime experiences.

As he describes some of his experiences, equivalent frames from his manga stories are shown, making a vivid link between Nakazawa Keiji's personal experience and its final expression in graphic images for mass-market comic monthlies such as Shonen Jump.

This film was directed by Tomoko Watanabe of ANT-Hiroshima, who also conducted the interviews with Nakazawa Keiji.

The documentary film will be shown in Tokyo and Hiroshima, in Japanese only, details below:

Hiroshima

Location: Hachoza, 8th Floor, Fukuya Department Store, Hachobori Honten, Ebisucho 6-26, Nakaku, Hiroshima.
Tel: 082-546-1158
From: Saturday 30th July 2011
To: Friday 5th August 2011
Showing at: 3:55pm

Adults: ¥1,500
Concessions: ¥1,000

Tokyo

Location: Auditorium Shibuya, Kinohaus 2F, Maruyamacho 1-5, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Tel: 03-6809-0538
From: Saturday 6th August 2011
To: Friday 26th August 2011
Showing at: 10:30am

Bookings: ¥1200
Door: ¥1500

Copies of the DVD my be purchased online - Click Here!

Hiroshima Volunteers Visit The Tohoku Earthquake & Tsunami Disaster Area

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture

July 16th-19th, a delegation of volunteers and observers, including Tomoko Watanabe of ANT-Hiroshima, returned to the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami affected region of eastern Japan to see how the clean-up is progressing.

While they were there they also heard about the situation regarding radiation levels in the evacuated village of Iidatemura, and to find out what needs to be done from now on.

Here is a brief photo report of their observation tour.

Left: Sato-san, head of the rescue team, Iitatemura.

July 16th: Iitatemura, Fukushima prefecture.

The group visited Iitatemura, one of the villages that was evacuated by the Japanese government due to high levels of radiation that had been recorded there in the wake of the Fukushima nuclear disaster that was caused by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and especially the tsunami that followed.

While they were there they met the head of the earthquake rescue team, Sato-san, who reported on the current situation.

Wings for the Future: Tomoko Watanabe and Sato-san discussed a project to send 18 junior high schoool students from Iitatemura to Freiburg, Germany, to study clean energy, eco-toursim, eco-construction. The concept of the project, called "Wings for the Future" is to give the children hope for the future and the skills to contribute to rebuilding their lives and their village in a sustainable, environmentally friendly way.

The group will fly to Germany on 8th August. If the project goes well, it is hoped that it can be repeated every year.

This is one of the projects the ANT-Hiroshima is supporting in the area. If you would like to help, please donate via one of the Paypal buttons on this blog. :)

Concert for Nursing Home Residents: Tomoko-san also discussed with Sato-san arrangements for cellist, Vladan Koci, of the Czech Republic, to play a solo cello concert for residents of the Iitate Nursing Home. The residents of the nursing home are among the few remaining residents of the village. They were not evacuated due to the frail condition of their health. Vladan Koci's concert will take place in the nursing home on 9th September.

Kesennuma

July 17th-18th: Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture.

The group visited Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture, where the ferry link between Kesennuma port and the nearby Oshima Island has been reestablished thanks to the loan of a ferry by the authorities on Etajima island, located in Hiroshima bay.

The Etajima ferry operates daily between Oshima Island, which is in the bay of Oshima, and the town.

Hiroshima-Etajima ferry is on loan to Miyagi Prefecture.

Kesennuma Debris Mountain

A mountain of post-clean-up junk.

Much of the debris left by the earthquake and tsunami has now been cleared from the streets and properties in the area, but it is still piled up in huge heaps and awaiting final sorting and disposal. The problem is that so far the problems of where and how to dispose of the garbage have not been resolved.

There is still a lot of clean-up work to be done, but the streets are clear, and the land where properties were destroyed has been cleared. Even so, the town is sparsely populated and few of the former residents have returned to the built-up areas in the tsunami zone. One reason is that there is still a lot of cleaning up to be done inside the properties. The lower part of Kesennuma is 1.5 metres below sea level and the interiors of the buildings are still covered in mud and dirty water.

The debris has been cleared, but few people have moved back so far...

While in the area we called in on Hosokawa Mitsugi, a volunteer relief worker sent by the Hiroshima voluntary groups to act as a coordinator between us and the authorities in Kesennuma. Hosokawa san is operating out of a container box.

Hosokawa-san and his container box!

Meanwhile, Kurosawa-san, a buddhist monk and the president of Haku, a company that specializes in care services for the elderly, running a free mobile bath care service with a second-hand van donated by Hiroshima-based groups, including ANT-Hiroshima.

The van is equipped with a portable bath and a hot water unit. Kurosawa is now able to tour the area providing basic bathing services to elderly earthquake and tsunami victims, free of charge.

Kurosawa-san (front, centre) and some of the observation group.

A small Suzuki van was chosen because the roads that lead to the higher parts of the village of Kesennuma are steep and narrow. In at least one case, the road was too steep and narrow for the van to reach the house of one elderly resident so the person was carried downhill to the bath.

Kurowsawa-san also reported that in doing his rounds he came across one elderly person who had not been able to have a bath for three months.

Tomoko Watanabe Presents Kurosawa-san with a donation.

Tomoko Watanabe presented Kurosawa-san with a cash donation raised by the Hiroshima groups. Part of the donation came from funds raised via this ANT-Hiroshima English language blog. Thank You!

The observation team and Kurosawa-san.

ANT Hiroshima

An Introduction to the Barefoot Gen Manga Series by Keiji Nakazawa

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 08:57:00 +0000

Hadashi no Gen (Barefoot Gen) is a Japanese manga story about a boy, Gen, who is in Hiroshima when the city is destroyed by the atomic bomb on 6th August 1945.

The manga was created by Keiji Nakazawa is based on his own experiences as a Hiroshima a-bomb survivor. Just like Gen, Keiji Nakazawa was a schoolboy in Hiroshima in August 1945.

The story begins in 1945 in Hiroshima where the six-year-old Gen lives with his family. Gen lives with his father and mother and his older sister and younger brother. Gen's mother is pregnant at the time of the a-bombing. Gen has just arrived at school when the bomb explodes. Protected by a wall, he survives and rushes home through the destroyed city, witnessing many horrific scenes of death, destruction and suffering as he goes.

When he gets back home he discovers his father, brother and sister are buried alive beneath the ruins of their house. His mother is in the street, desperate to help them, but she and Gen are unable to pull them free before they are consumed by the advancing flames.

This clip from the animated film version of Barefoot Gen shows the moment when the bomb exploded and what happened to Gen immediately after:

The Barefoot Gen manga series follows the fortunes of Gen as he survives the immediate aftermath of the bombing and struggles to build a new future for himself, his mother and a young boy whom they adopt into their family.

Keiji Nakazawa began creating manga about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima after the death of his mother in 1966. His first story, Kuroi Ame ni Utarete (Struck by Black Rain), was about Hiroshima a-bomb survivors and the postwar black market. In 1972, Nakazawa wrote directly about his own experience in a manga story titled Ore wa Mita (I Saw It), published in monthly comic compilation, Shounen Jump.

After that, he began work on Barefoot Gen. Barefoot Gen is notable not only for the graphic account of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, but also for its criticisms of Japanese militarism and wartime propaganda. In the first volume of the ten volume series, Gen's father is arrested and beaten up in custody for expressing anti-war sentiments and Gen has a difficult time of it at school as a result.

Hadashi no Gen has been translated into several languages and was one of the first manga to be published in English. Several film versions have also been made.

Keiji Nakazawa

Recently, Keiji Nakazawa agreed to be interviewed by Tomoko Watanabe of ANT-Hiroshima about his experiences in Hiroshima and in the aftermath of the Second World War in Japan. The interviews were filmed and made into a documentary DVD, released by Tomoko Corporation.

The film, Hadashi no Gen ga Mita Hiroshima - Hiroshima as Seen by Barefoot Gen- will be shown in Hiroshima and Tokyo at special showings during August 2011. Click here for details.

The DVD may be purchased via the Tomoko Corporation website - please note that at present only the Japanese version is available.

ANT-Hiroshima

Profile: M. Shoaib Haider, Branch Office Manager of HOPE'87 Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 01:44:00 +0000

To commemorate the opening of the Basic Health Unit in Shamshatoo, Pakistan, we would like to feature an interview with the person whose untiring efforts in difficult circumstances made the project possible, M. Shoaib Haider, Branch Office Manager of HOPE'87 Pakistan.

M. Shoaib Haider was born in Islamabad on the 4th of December 1968. He studied Civil Engineering at Middle East Technical University, Ankara Turkey, completing his B.Sc. in 1993. Subsequently he completed his masters degree in business administration (banking and finance) at Preston university, in 1999.

Prior to working for HOPE'87, Mr Haider worked for a construction company building road infrastructure in Pakistan. His association with HOPE'87 began when he met the Secretary General of HOPE'87, Robert Ottitsch in Pakistan in 2001.

1. Could you please introduce yourself?

I am M. Shoaib Haider. I'm 42 years old. I'm a Civil Engineer. Currently I'm working as the Branch Office Manager of HOPE'87 Pakistan.

2. How did you meet Tomoko Watanabe? What are your impressions of her?

I met Tomoko-san for the first time in December 2003, when she visited Pakistan. Since then, our acquaintance has developed in a sincere friendship. Tomoko-san is a very nice and kind-hearted person, dedicated to building peace and harmony in the world and to help the under-privileged persons of the world.

3. What are your impressions of Hiroshima and Japan?

I do not have words to express my wonderful impressions of Hiroshima or Japan, which I consider my second home. I have visited several countries around the world, but Japan stands out as an exception.

The technological advancements combined together with the unique culture makes it one of the most interesting countries in the world.

Hiroshima is a beautiful city and a wonder on its own, when you consider that the city was reduced to ashes at the end of the Second World War. Peace Park in Hiroshima touched my heart.

Last but not the least, I miss Sushi a lot!

My heart cries out when I see the devastation of beautiful Japan. I also wish that I can be of assistance to help the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

4. Could you describe the work that you do?

I am the Branch office Manager of HOPE'87 Pakistan (equivalent to the Chief Executive). HOPE'87 is an Austrian organization with offices in more than 10 countries world-wide. I look after the projects being implemented by HOPE'87 and its partners in Pakistan. The projects can be broadly categorized into two groups: Development Projects and Humanitarian Aid Projects.

5. Could you share the process of creating the Basic Health Unit at Shamshatoo and its presence there now that the facility is running?

HOPE'87 set up four schools near the Afghan Refugee Camp near Shamshatoo after the Afghan crisis of 2001-2002. The communities living close to the schools highlighted the lack of health facilities in the area.

Tomoko-san during her visit also appraised herself of the situation and supported the holding of a weekly health camp at the schools. The God-mother of Tomoko-san, Ueno-san committed to provide generous support for the setting up of a Basic Health Unit (BHU). It is only through the contribution of Ueno-san that the building of BHU was completed.

Together with further support from other Austrian organizations and the Government of Austria, the BHU has been made operational in 2011. The BHU is contributing to bringing health facilities to the poor people in the vicinity.

6. Do you have a favorite saying or expression?

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence. Helen Keller.

7. How do you spend your time when you’re away from work?

Reading and Traveling are some of my favorite pastimes.

8. What are your personal or professional challenges for the future?

One of the foremost challenges is to improve the living conditions of the poor people of the world, making it a more peaceful harmonious and happy place to live in so that the children of the coming generation find this world to be a more hospitable place for living in peace.

Thank you very much, Shoaib-san!

ANT-Hiroshima

Deep Jyoti English School & Sadako

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 02:10:00 +0000

Tomoko received the following photos and letter attached to an email from Rakakesh Kumar Shrestha in Nepal. The letter is from a teacher at the Deep Jyoti English School, Sudal, Bhaktapur, Nepal after reading Paper Crane Journey, which was distributed to pupils at the school on behalf of ANT-Hiroshima...

Here is a lightly edited transcription of the letter:

When I got "Paper Crane Journey Carrying Sadako's Prayer" I read it properly and prefer my children to learn it. After going from front to last, it touch my heart and I was shocked. Children from my children, they express sad feeling due to the innocent death of Sadako's.

Today, the world is facing the great problem of war and the same violence must be prevented which increases the mental torture of children. So the atom bomb, weapons and so on which lead nations to the crime and must be controlled and stopped.

Likewise, the death of Sadako's other children who died on the accident spot, they shouldn't have died. That's why, public property like schools, hospitals, children park and other important places and monuments instead of destroying, should be conserved or preserved to make peaceful environment in the world.

Likewise, for the welfare of children, whatever the step you are forwarding for the prevention of war, we are really appreciate with you to end violence and increase the patriotic feeling among the children because children are future pillar who save/ruled the world.

ANT-Hiroshima

Serge Armel Sawadogo Wins The World Bank Prize For His Film, Bénéré

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 07:53:00 +0000

Serge receives his prize!

Fresh from winning a prize from The World Bank for his film, Bénéré, Serge Armel Sawadogo has just made his first short film in America on the theme of hope and hopelessness as it relates to the African experience...

Serge is from Burkina Faso. He visited Hiroshima to attend the 2008 Hiroshima Animation Festival as an observer and as a guest of ANT-Hiroshima, after which he completed an intensive English language programme in the USA and is currently pursuing a career in film and animation.

ANT-Hiroshima

Campaign Update - Steven Leeper

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 07:38:00 +0000

Steven Leeper

Steven Leeper is the chairman of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation. Steven has written an article about the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol and the prospects for nuclear weapons abolition.

While Steven was preparing the article the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake struck on March 11, 2011 and the ensuing Fukushima nuclear disaster caused him to modify the article.

The article is to be published in Japanese on the Peace Culture Foundation website.

Here is the English version of Steven's article.

I write with a heavy heart. The Tohoku disaster is still beyond our comprehension. The victims are still in shock. Help is pouring in from around Japan and around the world, but hundreds of thousands remain homeless, hungry, cold and grieving.

Meanwhile, as of March 30, the accident at the Fukushima power plant is still getting worse. The headline in the Japan Times today (March 30) is: “Radioactive water keeps workers out.” My understanding is that if the workers really cannot get in there to pour water on the rods, we could see full meltdowns and even explosions. I am praying that by the time you are reading this, the reactors will be under control, but whatever happens, we arrogant human beings have been reminded once more that the power of nature is no joke. Its laws must be obeyed.

Now, back to nuclear weapons, another manifestation of human arrogance that must be corrected.

“Whatever happened to the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol?” This question still follows me wherever I go. So let me tell once again the story of the Protocol and bring you up to date on the campaign that has replaced it.

First, please remember that the Protocol was launched in April 2008, during the Bush administration. Do you remember US Ambassador John Bolton and the Bush administration? Does anyone think there was a chance that they would have allowed adoption of the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol? The Protocol was not created to be adopted. It was created to intensify and strengthen the 2020 Vision Campaign by spelling out clearly what can and should be done to achieve our Vision. In this effort, the Protocol was a great success.

Please remember as well that Barack Obama changed everything by becoming president of the US and making a certain speech in Prague. During the NPT PrepCom in May 2009, one country after the next rose to quote some part of that Prague speech and declare its own commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free world. At that point, many diplomats and many in the NGO community felt that, rather than pushing for a Protocol to the NPT, we should start pushing directly for a nuclear weapons convention (NWC), that is, an outright ban on nuclear weapons.

Mayors for Peace rejoiced in the new positive disarmament climate, but we still felt the Protocol had work to do. It was an excellent tool for obtaining grassroots attention and, therefore, applying pressure on governments. Thanks to the Protocol, the Yes! Campaign and Peace Caravan helped enormously to bring the issue of nuclear weapons to a sleeping public. In the end, the Protocol was not adopted, but the campaign did generate considerable pressure. Over 60% of all Japanese municipalities formally signed their support of the Protocol. Nearly 20,000 books about the Protocol were sold, and the Japanese government mentioned the Protocol on the floor during the May 2010 Review Conference.

Well over 2000 Japanese went to New York for that Review Conference, helping to stimulate and fund an important NGO conference, rally and march. The RevCon itself witnessed an intense struggle between the nuclear-weapon-reliant states and the rest of the world. Against significant odds, a Final Document was adopted, and it is widely viewed as progress toward abolition. The overall result of the Conference is seen as positive. Here in Hiroshima, we believe that Mayors for Peace and the Hiroshima-Nagasaki Protocol played important roles in that success.

On the other hand, the Review Conference revealed the true intent of the nuclear-weapon-reliant states. Despite renewed promises to seek a nuclear-weapon-free world, they were obviously determined to continue with business as usual. They rejected every effort to stipulate when or how or where disarmament negotiations should begin. After promising to negotiate for a nuclear-weapon-free world for the past 42 years, they showed that they still have no intention of actually sitting down to talk. At a time when bold, positive steps toward abolition were required, the nuclear-weapon states said, “No, we like the world the way it is.”

Fortunately, this infuriating performance by the nuclear-weapon states has inspired a new movement. This movement first appeared in Hiroshima in July. Senator Douglas Roche, in his keynote address to the Hiroshima Conference for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons by 2020, started off by saying, “The time has come.” That is, the time has come for a NWC. The time has come to ban nuclear weapons.

Senator Roche’s speech marked a significant shift in strategy for the disarmament community. Until 2010, most countries and even NGOs opposed the idea of a NWC. They saw no meaning in a convention the nuclear-weapon states refused to sign. Now, however, we are all completely united in calling for the start of negotiations toward a treaty that will specifically and overtly outlaw nuclear weapons.

A NWC even without the nuclear-weapon states will be useful in several ways. First, it will establish a global norm. The world will declare its belief that nuclear weapons are bad. From that point on, nations that have them will be rogues, outside the international consensus.

Second, it will become crystal clear who is working toward a nuclear-weapon-free world and who is not. This clarity will make it easier to apply political, social and even economic pressure on the rogues.

Third, by taking a strong step toward a nuclear-weapon-free world, the international community will create a political climate that make all nuclear-weapons activity more difficult. Once the treaty is in place, we hope the new norm and new control systems will make it significantly more difficult to acquire, develop, deploy or use nuclear weapons.

Fourth, a high-profile global campaign to ban nuclear weapons will grab the attention of the general public. Because large majorities in all countries would prefer to live in a nuclear-weapon-free world, we believe that just getting the nuclear threat into the news night after night for two or three years will generate pressure on politicians in those countries to support the ban.

So the disarmament community has decided to pursue a NWC that will clearly outlaw the possession and use of nuclear weapons. However, Mayors for Peace cannot make this happen. It will have to be done by countries. Fortunately, a number of countries are stepping forward to begin the process. Norway, for example, has provided funds for offices of ICAN (International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons) in Geneva and Oslo. Canada, too, has expressed a willingness to begin hosting meetings. However, the strongest movement thus far is being led by Uruguay.

Uruguay has held two meetings in New York, with a third scheduled for next month. The purpose of these meetings is to plan a special ministerial-level disarmament conference that most of the countries involved are hoping will grow into a treaty process. The first meeting held January 18 drew 13 countries. The second meeting on March 24 drew 22 countries.

These meetings and the other efforts by Norway and Canada are all part of behind-the-scenes preparations for a strong, unified, global campaign. I am confident that you will see the emergence of this campaign sometime in 2011. When it does emerge, I hope you will give it your attention, your support, your time and your money.

All of us will have to do whatever we can to make this campaign go global and viral. To succeed, it will have to be huge. To be huge, it will have to have support from world leaders, national and international officials, local government officials, celebrities, businessmen and women, professionals and workers in all walks of life, students, and children everywhere.

To obtain this level of support, it will have to involve art, film, music, comedy, peace walks, education and unusual feats of strength (like pogo sticking up Mt. Fuji).

Therefore, I ask you here and now. Please organize art shows, film showings, concerts, comedy nights, lectures, symposia, attempts to enter the Guinness Book of World Records, and anything else you can think of to bring the issue of nuclear weapons to public awareness.

Of course, my preference is that all of these events should financially benefit the 2020 Vision Campaign, but the important thing is to make a joyful noise. The choice is ours. Do we want a nuclear-weapon-free world or do we want to be blown off this planet?

I very much hope that the upcoming campaign will convince our leaders that the people of this planet intend to liberate ourselves from the nuclear threat. I also hope it will prove to one and all that a nuclear-weapon-free world will be more fun.

Hiroshima A-Bomb Survivor's Appeal To The People Of Japan & The World

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sat, 14 May 2011 04:20:00 +0000

Hashizume Bun

On 29th March, 2011, Hiroshima A-bomb survivor, Hashizume Bun, responded to the unfolding news of the Fukushima nuclear crisis by writing the following "Appeal to the People of Japan and the People of the World"

My name is Hashizume Bun and I am an A-bomb survivor of Hiroshima. I live in Tokyo and I am now 80 years old. When the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake occurred on March 11, 2011, which triggered the crisis at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, I was in the midst of writing about the radiation exposure wrought by the atomic bombing of 66 years ago and about the lives of Hiroshima citizens before and after the blast.

Though much of my writing had already been completed, I was deeply pained by the accident involving the Fukushima nuclear plant and I felt that I would like to conclude my thoughts—and share this conclusion in English as well—from the vantage point of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, my hometown.

When the earthquake struck, I was in Tokyo; afterwards, I came to Hiroshima. When I reached the A-bombed city, it was late at night and I felt a heavy weight on my shoulders. It took a moment for me to take my first steps.

Every time I return to Hiroshima, I first visit the memorials standing in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and I speak to my family members, friends, acquaintances, and other victims who perished in the unimaginable horror of the atomic bombing. This time, however, I asked them to hear my wish, rather than my prayer.

Please enable my health to hold.
Please enable my strength.
Please guide me, and lead me, in my efforts.

On the day of the atomic bombing, I was exposed to the bomb’s radiation at a location 1.5 kilometers from the hypocenter. I was also injured severely, but I managed to survive the blast with the help of others.

After the war, I lived in a makeshift hut in the burned-out city and I suffered from acute symptoms of radiation exposure, including a high fever, bleeding from my gums, dreadful diarrhea, vomiting, purple spots that covered my body, and hair loss. It was a miracle that I again survived.

Since that time, right up to today, I have suffered from a series of illnesses and I have never enjoyed a single day of fine health.

Among the many illnesses, one has been particularly difficult. The symptom of this “A-bomb disease” is unbearable fatigue. I begged my doctor to make me feel fresh and light again, if only for a day, if only for an hour, but it did not happen. When I went to sleep at night, I prayed to God: “Don’t let me wake up tomorrow.”

All this poor health was caused by internal exposure to the bomb’s radiation. Once radioactive materials are ingested in the body through contaminated water, food, or air, these substances continue to be radioactive without end, destroying the body’s cells and damaging genes. This is a lifelong fate.

I did not know until my recent visit to Hiroshima that the substance called “Cesium,” which has been a familiar talking point of the media these days, damages the muscles and induces the awful “A-bomb disease.”

People who were doused by the black rain or entered the city to aid the relief efforts or search for the missing all became victims of internal exposure. And beyond the A-bomb survivors, those who have suffered nuclear tests or accidents at nuclear power plants are also victims of internal exposure to radiation.

Information about internal exposure to radiation has been hidden from the public for a long time. Since the accident at the Fukushima nuclear plant, the expression “internal exposure to radiation” is finally being uttered, but no detailed explanations have been forthcoming. Revealing such information will make it difficult for the government to continue pursuing nuclear energy

Nuclear energy had once been praised as “clean energy,” even “ideal energy,” but this enthusiasm cooled somewhat after the accidents at the nuclear power plants at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. In recent years, however, many nations have been constructing nuclear power plants and the age has been dubbed a “renaissance” of nuclear energy. As I watched this phenomenon unfold, I couldn’t help but feel that one day, not far in the future, there would undoubtedly be another accident at a nuclear power plant somewhere in the world.

That accident has occurred in my own country, and the crippled nuclear plant is now continuously leaking a large volume of radioactive materials into the environment. There is no foolproof way to stop it, and no end to the crisis is in sight. In the small nation of Japan, which suffers from frequent earthquakes, more than 50 nuclear reactors have been built. These nuclear reactors loom mainly in depopulated areas, on sites within active earthquake zones.

The Great Eastern Japan Earthquake has compromised the six reactors at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima. Experts warn that further earthquakes of this magnitude—earthquakes that will strike in the vicinity of other nuclear power plants—will occur with 100% certainty in the none-too-distant future.

To the people of Japan, I ask: Will we simply accept the fact that Japan, the A-bombed nation, ultimately brings about a catastrophe of worldwide radiation exposure?

Time is of the essence. We must work together to halt the nuclear power plants now in operation. People of the world, join hands and speak out to stop the construction of any additional nuclear power plants, speak out to shut down every nuclear power plant on earth.

As an A-bomb survivor, I have long been opposed to nuclear energy in Japan and internationally. This is because I have feared not only nuclear bombs, but also the possibility that one day nuclear energy would destroy all life on the planet. Even operable nuclear power plants are continuously releasing small amounts of radioactive materials into the environment, contaminating the soil, the sea, and the sky. The danger of these small amounts of radioactive materials is being concealed, too.

Human beings are not the only living things. Is it not arrogance for human beings to sacrifice other living things simply for our own benefit? Would it not be wiser for human beings to seek harmony with nature? Humanity in the 20th and 21st centuries is offered only a moment in the long history of our species. That brief moment has been bequeathed by our ancestors, which we, in turn, bequeath to our descendants.

Like the A-bomb survivors, and the sufferers of nuclear tests and nuclear power plant accidents, the victims of the accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant will face suffering throughout their lives. The people displaced by the multiple disasters in eastern Japan are braving difficult days in shelters. But even amid such conditions, the children retain their innocence and hope and I am moved and find hope in them.

Radiation is especially damaging to children and their growth. Nevertheless, the Japanese government and electric power companies say they will persist in the construction of more nuclear power plants in Japan, in this small nation continually shaken by earthquakes.

Radiation respects no border. To save our children, the future of our species, I call on the people of Japan, and the people of the world, to stand together and oppose the continuation of nuclear energy.

ANT-Hiroshima

Medical Check Ups In Full Swing At The Basic Health Unit, Shamshatoo, Pakistan

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sat, 07 May 2011 05:23:00 +0000

Following the opening of the Basic Health Unit in Shamshatoo, Pakistan, Ahmed-san of Hope'87 has just sent us some photos of patients being checked and treated by the medical team.

ANT-Hiroshima

ANT-Hiroshima Fact Finding Trip To Disaster Area

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Thu, 05 May 2011 03:23:00 +0000

Here are a few photos which were taken by one of our group members as part of our fact-finding and emergency relief mission to areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Iidate village in Fukushima is just outside the 30 kilometer exclusion zone (purple line on the map, above), but as the village has been in the path of prevailing winds passing over Fukushima, the villagers have now had to be evacuated.

Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture was utterly destroyed by the tsunami.

This is the interior of a post office in the area.

Kesennuma junior high school has become a refuge centre for displaced people from the area. In the photo above, Japanese Defence Force trucks provide emergency relief.

More Japanese Defence Force Trucks. The JDF has played a major part in the relief operation.

ANT-Hiroshima

Tomoko Watanabe Presents Mayor Of Iidate Village With A Message From Hiroshima School Children

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sun, 01 May 2011 02:45:00 +0000

Tomoko Watanabe visited the Mayor of Iidate village, Fukushima Prefecture, as part of ANT-Hiroshima's fact-finding and emergency relief mission to the earthquake and tsunami affected area of east Japan.

Tomoko presented peace cranes made by children from Motomachi Elementary School in Hiroshima. Motomachi Elementary School is the school that was closest to the hypocentre of the atomic bomb in 1945.

The children also wrote letters of encouragement and the mayor received them on behalf of the people of Iidate village.

Iidate village lies just outside the 30km zone around the Fukushima nuclear power plant, but since Tomoko and her team visited the area the government has decided to evacuate the population of Iidate and nearby villages because of the high levels of radiation that have been recorded in the area.

ANT-Hiroshima

Basic Health Unit, Shamshatu, Now Fully Operational

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 10:02:00 +0000

Open!

On 29th March the first Project Steering Committee Meeting was held at the Basic Health Unit in Shamshatoo, North West Frontier Province, Pakistan. It coincided with the formal opening of the unit.

The two adjacent schools were holding their annual results announcement ceremony, which was used as a medium to inform people about the basic health unit and its operations.

The Basic Health Unit has been operational since 10th of March on a trial basis. A doctor and other staff had visiting the health unit each day to check patients' health.

The Project Steering Committee has been working on developing the systems and procedures for the health unit, which was officially operational from 1st of April 2011.

During the trial period in March, 82 male patients and 168 female patients had their health checked in the clinic.

The BHU sign names the key sponsors, including ANT-Hiroshima.

Here are some photos of the opening ceremony and awareness forum, which was held to educate the local population about the function of the Basic Health Unit.

A large number of dignitaries from the community were present. The men sat in one marquee, the women in another. The photos are of the men only. Overall more than 400 people were present for the ceremony, forum and lunch.

Lunch is served!

Here are some photos of the Basic Health Unit in use. The doctor is checking two young boys.

Below are a couple of photos of the first Project Steering Committee meeting and a group photo of board members, BHU staff and other members of the community who attended.

ANT-Hiroshima

Katsunobu Sakurai, Mayor of Minami Soma's Appeal for Volunteers

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 01:36:00 +0000

On March 24th the mayor of Minami Soma appealed for volunteers to help with transport of emergency supplies to the earthquake and tsunami affected area. The appeal also included a request for petrol as the whole Tohoku area was without fuel for several weeks.

Because Minami Soma is close to the Fukushima nuclear power plant, residents had to stay indoors to avoid exposing themselves to radiation as much as possible. Supermarkets and other shops were all shut and after 14 days people were running out of food and essential supplies.

The mayor of Minami Soma made his appeal in response to that emergency. The situation has improved in recent days, thanks to the response to the mayor's appeal. Volunteers rushed to the area bringing necessary supplies, fuel and transport. Of course, there is still a huge amount of work to be done in the area.

The video was made about a month ago, but we want to bring it to our blog-readers' attention as it has English subtitles and enables the voice of the people from the disaster area be heard more directly so that people around the world can better understand the situation.

ANT-Hiroshima

Basic Information on “Radiation Exposure” for Fukushima Relief Volunteers: Dr. Nanao Kamada Explains

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 01:50:00 +0000

Here is a report about radiation exposure by Doctor Nanao Kamada, professor emeritus of Hiroshima University. It was prepared in April 2011 to give some guidance to Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief volunteers in response to public health concerns arising from the crisis at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant.

What is “radiation exposure”?

There are two types of radiation exposure.

1. Direct exposure to radiation sources

Direct exposure to radiation from outside sources. The atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the criticality accident at the Tokaimura nuclear power plant are examples of this type.

2. Exposure to radiation released in the environment

Exposure to radioactive materials released in the environment and absorbed in the body by ingesting contaminated food/water or by inhaling contaminated air. The exposure to radioactive materials released in the environment due to nuclear accidents, including the Chernobyl and the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plants, are examples of this type.

External exposure and internal exposure

1. External exposure to radiation

“External exposure” means exposure to radiation, mainly neutron rays and gamma rays, from sources outside the body. The unit used for measured radiation is “sievert” (Sv). One milisievert (mSv) is 0.001 Sv. One microsievert (μSv) is 0.001 mSv.

2. Internal exposure to radiation

“Internal exposure” means exposure to radioactive materials absorbed in the body by ingesting contaminated food/water or by inhaling contaminated air. These materials remain in the body and keep emitting radiation. The unit used for measured radioactivity is “becquerel” (Bq).

Different radioactive elements accumulate in different parts of the body. For example, radioactive iodine accumulates in the thyroid gland, cesium in the muscle and other parts of the body, and strontium mainly in the bone marrow. If these radioactive materials are absorbed and remain in the body, they damage health because they continue irradiating and cause harm to the surrounding tissues and organs.

- Physical half-life of radioactive materials (the time required for half of the amount of radioactive material to decay)

Iodine-131 (¹³¹I) – 8 days
Cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) – 30 years
Strontium-90 (⁹⁰Sr) – 28 years

- Biological half-life of radioactive materials (the time required for half of the amount of radioactive material absorbed in the body to be naturally eliminated)

Iodine-131 (¹³¹I) – about 3 to 4 months
Cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) – about 100 days
Strontium-90 (⁹⁰Sr) – about 50 years

Workers who deal with radiation and the general public

Workers who deal with radiation or aid at accident sites are at risk of both internal and external exposure to radiation. The permissive level of radiation for these workers is 100mSv per five years, and 50mSv per year. (This permissive level has been raised to 250mSv for the workers at the nuclear power plant in Fukushima.)

As for the general public, unless people go near radiation sources, the risk of external exposure is rare, but they may be exposed to internal exposure of radiation released in the environment. The permissive level of radiation for the general public is 1mSv per year.

How should ordinary citizens protect themselves?

1. In cases of direct exposure to radiation sources

Distance yourself from the source of radiation.

2. In cases of exposure to radiation released in the environment

Your actions will be different, depending on the weather. In all cases, when you come home, be sure to gargle four or five times with cold water or warm water.

1) On a sunny day

Wear a wet mask to prevent inhaling radioactive materials in the contaminated air. If possible, use a wet gauze mask. For a paper mask, you may apply wet gauze or tissues inside the mask.
Avoid exposure to your skin. Protect your skin by keeping it covered so that radioactive materials will not cling to your skin.
Be sure to wear a hat or a cap.
Cover your neck with a towel.
Wear clothes made of finely-woven fabric, such as rain coats and wind breakers.
Don’t dust off your clothes. If you do, you may breathe in the radioactive materials stirred up from the clothes, which can result in internal exposure.

2) On a rainy day

Avoid getting wet in the rain. Rain may contain radiation.
Take a shower when you come home. Thoroughly wash your hair using shampoo. If you cannot take a shower, wipe yourself with a towel.
If your things get wet in the rain, wash them well, changing the water at least three times.

What should ordinary citizens do if they become exposed to radiation?

1. In cases of direct exposure to radiation sources

If you think you might have been exposed to a strong radiation source, go to the hospital immediately, whether or not you notice any symptoms, and undergo a test of your white blood cells. Usually this situation does not occur to the general public.

2. In cases of exposure to radiation released in the environment

For the risk of ingesting or inhaling a large amount of radioactive iodine, stable iodine agents have been prepared, by the local autonomies where nuclear power plants are located, to be prescribed to everyone, including children and pregnant women. Eating seaweed (konbu, wakame, etc.) or laver seaweed at an early time to prevent iodine deficiency is also helpful.

Major Japanese institutes on radiation medicine

- National Institute of Radiological Sciences
http://www.nirs.go.jp/ENG/index.html

- Research Institute for Radiation Medicine and Biology, Hiroshima University
http://www.rbm.hiroshima-u.ac.jp/ (in Japanese)

For more detailed information

- Website of the National Institute of Radiological Sciences located in Chiba Prefecture
http://www.nirs.go.jp/ENG/index.html

- One Day In Hiroshima - An Oral History, by Nanao Kamada, published by JPPNW (Please contact onedayhiroshima@msn.com to order the book.)

Dr. Nanao Kamada
Chairman of the Board of Directors, Hiroshima A-Bomb Survivors Relief Foundation; professor emeritus of Hiroshima University; honorary member of the Japan Radiation Research Society; and director of the Japanese Branch of the International Physicians for Prevention of Nuclear War.

Translated by Naoko Koizumi and Adam Beck

Japanese Earthquake and Tsunami Report: Our First Emergency Aid Delivery

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 08:23:00 +0000

On 22nd March a local Hiroshima network of NPOs and other voluntary organizations, including ANT-Hiroshima, set up a group called "BoranEco Hiroshima." Our aim is to coordinate relief activities in the wake of the Tohoko earthquake and tsunami.

On Saturday 26th March BoranEco Hiroshima sent their first truck of emergency aid supplies to the earthquake and tsunami-affected area of Tohoku in northern Honshu.

On 23rd March the group distributed leaflets to appeal to the local Hiroshima population for emergency goods and just three days later we were able to fill a two ton truck with 400 boxes of supplies.

Local volunteers were joined by about 350 people who came from outside Hiroshima to bring supplies and offer assistance. We were surprised and very happy to see so many people join us from out of town and wondered how they got to hear about our appeal so quickly.

At four thirty in the afternoon of 26th March Mr. Yamamoto and Mr. Komiya headed off in the truck and, aiming to get as far north as possible before stopping for the night, they took "bento" lunch boxes with them.

Thank you to everybody for making such a great effort on this, our first Tohoko volunteer relief action.

ANT-Hiroshima

Impressions of Hiroshima 11: When I saw Hiroshima's situation I could imagine my own country

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 09:43:00 +0000

After attending Tomoko Watanabe's lecture, Grassroots Peace Activities, the participants were asked:

What are your impressions of Hiroshima?

Here are the comments of Mohammed Mojeeb, a civil administrator from Afghanistan:

I heard before about Hiroshima, that it was one of the cities of Japan that was bombed by an atomic bomb, but I didn't have more information: How it happened; what was the effect of the atom bomb in this city.

When I came to this city and on the first day when I saw the video my tears came out when I saw the children in the video in that situation. It was too hard for me; my heart was crying. I was comparing those children to children of my country, Afghanistan. Still in my country I can see children die every day by bomb blasts. When I saw Hiroshima's situation I could imagine my own country; children go out in the morning for school, their mothers waiting for them, but what happened is they find their children dead in their arms. I can feel the pain of mothers, the pain of fathers, the pain of children in Hiroshima who lost someone in that atomic bomb because we also have that pain in our hearts in our country....

People want peace. I am very happy that Hiroshima became a city where now all the people can live in a calm and relaxing environment. I [feel it is] wonderful that now people of Hiroshima can live in a good condition. I know all the people have the pain of losing someone from their family. I wish my country also one day will have a good situation, a situation or an environment where people can live with a relaxed mind, where a mother won't be worried for her children to go to school and come back. I wish a good tomorrow for Hiroshima and my country. We only want peace, nothing else.

Mohammed Mojeeb
Civil Administrator
Afghanistan

Impressions of Hiroshima 10: It Was Said That The Grass Would Never Grow Again...

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:22:00 +0000

Visiting Master Program student, Letila Moala Tuiyalani, a civil servant and graduate student from Fiji, was invited to attend the Local Government Traning Course organized by JICA. While on the course Letila attended Tomoko-san's Grassroots Peace Activities presentation.

After the presentation was over, Lelita and the other students were asked,

What are your impressions of Hiroshima?

Hiroshima, which once was a military city, has now become a very peaceful and beautiful city, surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, very calm and quiet society, with friendly and kind-hearted people, very much against any kinds of atomic-bomb testing or nuclear weapon testing or construction around the world, still bears the pain and suffering of what happened or the tragedy that occurred 65 years ago, and although the smiles of its people are visible, one can see through their pain the tragedy that occurred in their city.

It was said that the grass would never grow again in Hiroshima, however, the very place that was targeted during the bombing seems to be the most beautiful place in the city today.

Hiroshima people have experienced the worst-nightmare human beings could experience. I sincerely feel for the people of Hiroshima, the suffering that her people had to go through and so I stand together with the people of Hiroshima in the fight against atomic-bombing and in the fight against humanity, in their protection as a whole.

I wish Hiroshima and her people the very best in the future.

Letila Moala Tuiyalani
Civil Servant & Graduate Student
Fiji

Japanese Elementary School In Skype Conference About Peace

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 01:32:00 +0000

On 8th March Fauzia Minulla in Pakistan held a Skype conference with children of Kyukuhoku Elementary School, Akita, Japan, via school computers and a big Panasonic television screen set up in the school hall.

Sadako's Prayer on the big screen.

The children expressed their ideas about "peace" and Fauzia read from her two books, "Children of Light" and "Sadako's Prayer". She talked to the children about nuclear weapons and how the world should be free of them.

Fauzia talking to the children via Skype.

Sadako's Prayer

Fauzia presenting her books on Skype.

A class of children read Children of Light and Sadako's Prayer

Some of the Skype conference participants.

Impressions of Hiroshima 9: All Peace Loving People Should Raise Their Voice Against Atomic Bombs

noreply@blogger.com (ANT-Hiroshima) — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Tomoko Watanabe gave a presentation about Grassroots Peace Activities to some academics and local government administrators from a number of Asian countries. After the session they were asked:

What are your impressions of Hiroshima?

This was the response handed in by Akramul Hoque, a local government rural development officer from Bangladesh:

When I was a student in 1965 I learned about Hiroshima. Since then I hated those who had done it...

In spite of this devastating event, the people of Hiroshima [turned around] and [created] a better [situation] than before and did a lot of development by dint of their labour, commitment, sincerity and honesty.

I strongly believe that the present and future generations will never witness such a black or spiteful event.

...My impression from the situation of Hiroshima is that all peace loving people should hate this and should raise their voice against atomic bombs or nuclear energy.

Hiroshima should [become] a centre of excellence for the upcoming generation.

I would like to thank the people of Hiroshima for bearing this painful event and for overcoming it and facing it with strong morale and determination.

The people of Hiroshima, or the Prefectural Government, should take some more initiative in favour of world peace, because they are direct victims of the atomic bomb.

The video which we have watched today should be distributed and publicized all over the world so the people of the world can realize the dangerous impact of A bombs.

Akramul Hoque,
Rural Development Officer
Bangladesh