Japanese High School Peace Ambassadors Hold Report Meeting in Nagasaki, Emphasizing the Need forYouth Engagement in Nuclear Disarmament
NAGASAKI, JAPAN – OnAugust 24th, a group of Japanese high school students known as the High School Peace Ambassadors held a report meeting in Nagasaki City, Nagasaki Prefecture. The students, who had recently returned from Switzerland after delivering nearly 100,000 signatures calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons to the UnitedNations European Headquarters, shared their experiences and emphasized the importance of youth engagement in the global movement for nuclear disarmament.
The 22 students, representing the High School Peace Ambassadors, had spent a year collecting signatures from across Japan. They gathereda total of approximately 96,000 signatures, a testament to their dedication and the widespread support for nuclear disarmament within Japan. After delivering the signatures to the UN in Geneva, the students returned to Japan on August 23rd.
During the report meeting, the students recounted their experiences in Switzerland. They shared that UN officials responsible for disarmament encouraged them, emphasizing the crucial role young people play in advocating for a world free from nuclear weapons. The students also participated in a reception where they exchanged views on nuclear disarmament with representatives from various countries.
One of the students, Yuka Ohara, a second-year student at Nagasaki Nishi High School, expressed a profound realization during their trip: I realized that it is crucial to communicate with people who hold different opinions and understand their backgrounds. Going forward, I will contemplate how to make more people remember the wishesof those who suffered from the atomic bombing and work towards creating a world without nuclear weapons and war, a world of lasting peace.
The report meeting in Nagasaki holds significant symbolic value. Nagasaki, along with Hiroshima, was one of the two Japanese cities targeted by atomic bombs during World War II. The city has long beena focal point for peace activism and a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear weapons.
The High School Peace Ambassadors’ efforts highlight the growing role of young people in the global movement for nuclear disarmament. Their commitment to collecting signatures and delivering them to the UN demonstrates their passion for creating a safer and more peaceful world.Their experiences in Switzerland, where they were encouraged by UN officials, further underscore the importance of youth engagement in international efforts to eliminate nuclear weapons.
The students’ message resonates with the broader international community. The Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, adopted by the UN in 2017, reflects a growing globalconsensus on the need to eliminate these weapons of mass destruction. However, the treaty has yet to be ratified by nuclear-armed states, highlighting the challenges that remain in achieving a nuclear-free world.
The High School Peace Ambassadors’ initiative serves as a powerful reminder of the enduring legacy of the atomic bombings and the urgentneed for continued efforts towards nuclear disarmament. Their dedication and commitment inspire hope for a future where the threat of nuclear war is a thing of the past.
【来源】https://nwapi.nhk.jp/nhkworld/rdnewsweb/v6b/zh/detail/20240825_01.json
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