What can never forget (Part One)
Last Tuesday, September 21, I met at 9 am more Cruise 600 passengers for Peace (Peace Boat), almost all Japanese nationals, including a survivor of mass murder in the city of Hiroshima, which was two years old when the incident occurred.
Cuba's national television broadcast the game, but the translation in the hall of the Palace of Conventions was not simultaneous and the voices of the sisters who performed this difficult task overlapped with my words. I decided therefore to write a reflection on the subject.
took the opportunity to reduce the extent of what I said, and better manage the ideas transmitted with absolute fidelity to their content.
The words of others involved, the full pass.
Despite my efforts, the reflection was extensive, and that the meeting lasted two hours, so I decided to divide it into three parts, to be published on successive days.
The meeting began with the words of Kenia Serrano, President of the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples:
Good morning.
On 3 September, the prefect of the nongovernmental organization Peace Cruise, Mr. Yoshioka Tatsuya, sent to our Commander in Chief that it received a letter asking the directors of the cruise and the survivor of Hiroshima and Nagasaki that comes into it, the commander agreed, and also, with pleasure, invited other passengers broad representation of this meeting. We
attending this meeting today, September 21, declared by the United Nations World Peace Day, of course, the presence, for us memorable, our beloved Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz (Applause).
Found in the presidency of our meeting, Mr. Nao Inoue, director of the crossing of the Peace Cruise (Applause) Mrs. Matsumi Matsumura, also the staff Cruise for Peace, who will help us to translate the English this meeting (Applause) Ms. Junko Watanabe, Hibakusha Movement member, a survivor of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and Professor Susan Garcia of the University of Havana, who also facilitates this dialogue into Japanese, as you can see (Applause).
...
Commander Cmdr .- What my turn, a speech? Kenia Serrano
.- Greeting, because we are all looking forward to that. Cmdr
.- No, I came to answer, is the truth. I asked him what belonged to me and I said nothing.
really want, first, thank you for the honor that means the meeting.
I was a little lacking, as you know, read newspapers, but I've missed many of the meetings of you, because after I knew the whole story in detail. I've learned a lot from you: the time they were in Cuba, began in 1990, returned in 1995, 1997 and 1998, in 2000, 2001 and 2002, twice, then 2005, 2007 and 2009, and today, I have understood joined 14 trips.
Well, the story is that when I receive the invitation, I was happy to share with you the importance of the moment in which we live, which is not any one time, also by a sense of gratitude, and I know the Solidarity you over all these years, the difficulties, the struggles against the blockades, the identity and nationality of the ship, the ports where they could be or could not go, if not supplied them with fuel or other similar idiocies of our main adversary whose methods are not can ever achieve world understanding and peace on our planet.
recalling the slogan of you who have, in my opinion, a very special value: "Learn from past wars to build a future of peace," no doubt that this is a phrase that would always meant, but at this moment what has more than ever, I dare say, unequivocally, that never in history of humanity at one point as dangerous as this. So this is not an easy journey, it is a real struggle, serious, and this I say it can be shown, I hope that the exchanges enlighten us about what we think or what formulas may be possible, realistic solutions not simply an expression of noble desires.
The meeting for me is a very great importance, precisely because the experience you have accumulated on the subject.
These days it turned an anniversary of that brutal and unusual fact that was first used nuclear weapons on peaceful cities.
really reminded greatly throughout the world what happened in Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. I had finished high school, I remember, was the summer, was visiting Santiago de Cuba when the news came, and no one had any idea of \u200b\u200bthe existence of a weapon of this nature, I think three days later, launched the second atomic bomb.
I can talk more about that later, what feelings I experienced and what my whole life concept of that fact, but is an example of the things that help to gain awareness, because the display of everything that happened there and the human damage resulted, despite the time elapsed, again stir public opinion international. I do not think that occurred more expressive of what is war.
Well, I think I have stolen enough time for these first words, we want to hear from you. I am willing to answer any questions you want me in any way. I have no secrets of any kind, any topic can be addressed.
I would ask our translator how things have gone. To you, you (Laughter and applause.) Interpreter
.- Well, it would seem, Commander. Cmdr
.- Very good. Kenia Serrano
.- Thank you, Commander.
Mr. Nao Inoue, please. Inoue Nao
.- Good morning! (Shouts of "Good morning!")
First of all I would like to express our deep appreciation for the fact that you we receive on this occasion.
My name is Nao Inoue, director of cruise Edition 70. I want to say a few words on behalf of all members of Peace Boat.
seems that you've learned and learned a lot about our organization. We founded this organization in 1983, spent over 27 years. So far we have made 70 world cruises carrying more than 40 000 Japanese.
As you know, we have already reached 14 Travel to Cuba and this year is very important to us, because it is the 20 th anniversary, so it is very important to know you directly, Commander.
During these 20 years, we have put all our effort to be a bridge between the Cuban people and the Japanese people, and we've always been against the unjust but truly unfair.
We consider it very important to continue making the bridge not only between the Cuban and Japanese, the two, but also including the Latin American and Asian countries. The reason we want to work on this deposit is to promote world peace, sustainable, led by Cuba, and we are starting to deepen the ties of friendship and brotherhood with Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua. Of these countries, the country that we have visited more often is Cuba. We will also have the opportunity to meet the president of Nicaragua, Mr. Daniel Ortega.
occasion to deepen the ties of friendship and fraternity between the ALBA countries and Japan, we are starting the project called Youth Cruise ALBA, which invited young people from the ALBA countries onboard, exchanges, forums conferences and study, and we would ask you, Commander, that will support this project. And
you mentioned that we are the only country to receive the atomic bomb, then we think we have the obligation and also the mission of transmitting messages for a world free of nuclear weapons. To eliminate nuclear weapons we would also like to work with you.
also wanted to mention here that Japan, the country we have pacifist constitution, which renounces war and also any nuclear weapons of mass destruction (SIC).
We also learn in Latin America that you have pacifist constitution and also prohibit the existence of foreign military bases. And we propose to the UN, the UN statement, which encourages all countries in the world to have this beautiful pacifist constitution.
ever do not want war, we can not allow the use of nuclear weapon ever. As they always say the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: "We will not repeat this kind of brutal tragedy." We want to establish a world and society where people want to live well, do not want to live in poverty and these things. That's why we believe it is very necessary that all countries have this kind of constitution. We promised that we will create the world free of poverty, hunger, and with much happiness and sustainable.
Finally, Commander, I am a great fan of you (Laughter and applause.) It seems that everyone is a fan of you.
We know you are very busy, but we want to invite you on board to navigate to Nicaragua. What do you think? (Applause.) What do you think? (Applause.)
Cmdr .- Wonderful! (Applause.)
Nao Inoue .- I will conclude my remarks with an invitation. Thank you (Applause). Cmdr
.- Not in cyclone season, right? (Laughter.)
arrived I told you yesterday, but there were cyclones in the Atlantic. Finally, what time do they arrive? Inoue Nao
.- We arrived at 5:00 am. Cmdr
.- And you can tell the speed of Peace Boat? (Laughter.)
Nao Inoue .- More or less like a fast bike (laughs). Cmdr
.- Well, it depends, I think the champion reaches more than 60 kilometers per hour (laughs).
I think in these times, the Peace Boat should run faster, more urgent travel the world (applause).
I must ask, well, an excuse. I heard yesterday, in the morning, and then I was thinking How could meet, because I was told that it had applied to some, and said, "Well, if possible try to greet everyone," I did not know, however, what time would come, they had also organized a program for all the day. Well, what do you do to avoid interference to others or to another program? And that's why we invented this meeting so early. All we had to get up early. I imagine you would be ... I do not know where they would, if they would be in the ship's rail watching the entrance of Havana or would be sleeping. I beg your forgiveness, because I'm guilty of that you have had to increase program (Applause). Then organize, or rather improvised, the meeting for this hour, so you could meet other activities and not to spoil my relations with other institutions that will attend.
I think they gave us half an hour. I replied in the end they would come out today and will arrive tomorrow, then there is flexibility. I think that at 5:00 this afternoon would leave the ship. Kenia Serrano
.- Start address at 5:00 and leave at 7:00.
.- Cmdr was leaving at 7:00? Kenia Serrano
.- Aha. Cmdr
.- Yes, the activities ended at 5:00.
Well, if a cyclone forced to delay the ship, if they leave at 9:00, or if they leave at 10:00, as they are a little longer in Havana, not a tragedy. Fortunately, the visit has been no war. It was during peace.
excuses I asked them why.
Do you have any idea how it will unfold? Kenia Serrano
.- Commander, has been exciting, if the cruise is, the last year and now, has brought survivors of Hiroshima, and we have Ms. Junko Watanabe. I propose to hear his testimony. Junko Watanabe
.- First of all, Commander Fidel Castro is a great honor and pleasure to meet you, and I would like to show my deep gratitude for having so warmly.
I would also like to express my gratitude for the great interest and knowledge that the Cuban people of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In addition, yesterday the Movement for Peace in Cuba held a meeting to witness to me, and also an international May Day rally for peace, and made a very nice meeting in the House of Friendship.
I was born in Hiroshima and then got married to a Japanese and moved to Brazil to live. I went to Brazil at the age of 25 and then returned to Japan at the age of 38, but time, for the first time I realized that I was a survivor of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
I was born in the center of Hiroshima, but when we were in World War II our family we were evacuated out of Hiroshima, and as I was only two years old, then I have no memory, but when I received the news that I was a survivor , by my parents, I had a very strong impact.
On August 6, 1945, at 8:15 my mom was at home with my younger brother. My brother and I were playing in a courtyard of a temple near my house. Then my mom felt the wind, scary, and also saw the burnt papers that were falling in front of his house. My mom was surprised and then came for the temple, was at that time we received the black rain. The rain was black and sticky.
Before the pump, the 6th of August, the weather was fine in the morning and told that the atomic bomb exploded 580 meters above the ground. Cmdr
.- How many meters? Junko Watanabe
.- Five hundred eighty meters above the ground. Cmdr
.- It was nuclear. Junko Watanabe
.- nuclear bomb. Cmdr
.- That energy is uranium, it was not plutonium. The plutonium was in another city. Junko Watanabe
.- Yes, in Nagasaki.
Then, as exploited above, greatly affects the warm rays and the hot wind up burning people. And after the bomb went all the powders and papers up, and black rain fell after radiation.
After receiving the black rain the condition of my body was as follows. Cmdr
.- How is it again? Junko Watanabe
.- My body was damaged, I'm going to explain now how I was. Daily
suffered from diarrhea. Could eat, but then no nutrients left in my body, leaving everything he ate. My parents thought their daughter would die.
Actually I was two years old and I have no memory of disastrous scenes.
When I turned 60 I started to participate in a partnership in Brazil. Brazil now living in 132 survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Cmdr
.- Where in Brazil? Junko Watanabe
.- In Brazil. Cmdr
.- They were children when they were? Junko Watanabe
.- In different ages. Cmdr
.- The parents were with them or not? Junko Watanabe
.- The majority were married and were without their parents and adults.
Now the average age of survivors is 75, and aging. So the President of the Brazilian Association asked her to help the association, because she is a young survivor.
Although I am a survivor, not having a lot of memory, before participating in this organization knew nothing of the atomic bomb.
Then I had the opportunity to read all the documents which 200 survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki who lived in Brazil and in which was written the reality of what happened in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. That was the first time I knew about the reality of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. They described the scene very brutal.
On the sadness and anger I felt very sad and felt like I was shaking.
also found a picture documentary, filmed by a Japanese journalist. However, after the atomic bomb American scholars such information was stolen and taken to his country and never were going to show this video that I found in the office.
has been a bit difficult to see because it is a very old tape. Then I asked a friend to convert it to DVD. We
with 10 surviving friends saw the film.
scenes in this documentary that came out were too brutal and I saw him with much sadness, and the city of Hiroshima was disappearing.
I saw in the documentary, we saw it, and totally burned buildings, the city was completely black. He also appeared people walking, but without awareness, their arms hanging from the skin, because it was deteriorating, his eyes would fall out of place. People were walking, but without consciousness.
When I saw the documentary, did not remember this scene, I recognized that I was there at that time and also realized that humans did, then I felt a strong resentment and sadness.
So I started thinking: We need to convey these testimonies for generations, and two years ago, in 2008, participated in the Hibakusha Project conducted by the organization Peace Boat, which invited 100 survivors on board and witnessing traveled in every port, and also met other Hibakusha in the world. In Viet Nam
we met victims of Agent Orange generated in the Vietnam War, and what they and their parents suffered. The effect they had is transmitted through the generations.
My oldest brother played in the temple who died two years ago at the age of 67.
After receiving the black rain, as I got well, he always had weakness in his bones and lived very poorly. He died at the age of 67 liver cancer. Displaying
survivors are dying, I'm living with great concern for my health.
I would also have a history of origami cranes that are made of paper and a symbol of peace for us, so now worldwide, and always accompanies the story of a girl named Sadako Sasaki who died of leukemia at the age of 12 years.
This year, when I participated in the Conference non-proliferation of nuclear weapons in New York in May, I had opportunity to meet the brother of Sadako Sasaki.
Let me explain a little history of Sadako Sasaki. She received the black rain, like me, and grew healthily until the age of 10 years later, as he was ill, was hospitalized and remained in the hospital.
She had the belief that if it was 1 000 paper cranes would improve, and, as the story of her brother, she kept folding cranes until ... Well, at that time we had no paper, then used paper with medicine is packed and folded the cranes with needles. She always said, until he was dying: "I want to live again I want to live anymore."
We are in the same situation as Sadako Sasaki, who received the black rain at the age of two years old, and she died and I survived . So I feel great responsibility to convey what the atomic bomb, what are the survivors. The survivors have to live with many physical and mentally with a lot of worries until they die, and we have to transmit it to other generations.
Now, we learned world in the world there are several types of Hibakusha, in several places, for example, when indigenous people out uranium mines is much affected by radiation, also people who live near nuclear plants, and stuff we have to learn, to educate the people.
When I participated in the Hibakusha Project two years ago, there was a Japanese boy, the documentary film director, who covered my stay on board, then also interviewed my father, who is 98 years. What my father was told that I did not know until then. My father said so. The director asked my dad, "Why did not you tell you the reality Junko?"
From the pump so far, girls that were influenced by the atomic bomb, although survivors have been discriminated against and had great difficulty getting married. Then, we recognized that I, a survivor, fortunately I have not had any physical problems, but there are many doctors who say that the influence of radiation also appears in another generation.
continues tomorrow.
Fidel Castro Ruz
September 24, 2010
3 and 38 pm