Ten Thousand Things
Steven Leeper: "We need to be working together, trying to help each other, trying to find the truth & sharing it honestly & openly with each other."
March 25, 2011
Leeper, the director of the Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation, which manages the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima, told Democracy Now! on March 17, “In Hiroshima, we are pretty sensitive to radiation issues, and we’re very sensitive to disaster issues. We are known as a place that knows about radiation. We have a team of doctors. They left yesterday to go up into that area with their equipment to try to figure out what kind of radiation is up there."
The doctors have returned to Hiroshima, but haven't yet released their report. Today, he shared this follow-up:
In your Democracy Now! interview, you said that we need to know exactly what kind of radiation is out there, which kinds of isotopes are being emitted. What have your doctors found?
This information is not available. If the doctors know, they are not saying anything right now. We do know that iodine and cesium are out there at high levels. The TV is saying all you have to do is wash your vegetables. But the government is making a lot of farmers throw away a lot of product.
Do the risks lessen the further away one is from the Fukushima plant? What are the risks for people in Fukushima; the adjacent prefectures, and beyond?
The risk lessens rapidly with distance from Fukushima. The people within 20km have been evacuated, within 30km people are being asked to stay indoors as much as possible and to wear masks etc when they go out.
How should we read the measurements published by the Japanese government? The top priority for the government and even the scientists right now is to prevent panic. You should read the measurements as extremely conservative.
People are concerned about the use of MOX fuel. ?Would you speak to this?
Reactor 3 runs on MOX, which means it has a lot of plutonium in it. Plutonium is one of the most toxic substances on Earth. A tiny bit inside you will cause cancer. That is why it is very important to know if this plutonium is in the air. At this moment, most people do not think it is.
Should we be concerned about the smoke arising from the plant?
Yes, for two reasons. One is, it is surely radioactive to some extent. The second is that it indicates some sort of fundamental instability that they have yet to control.
Will Fukushima prefecture be able to "come back" eventually like Hiroshima did? Is a a nuclear plant disaster different from an atomic bombing disaster?
There is still an area 30km in radius around Chernobyl where no one can live.
At this moment, my understanding is that the radiation in Fukushima is fairly superficial and will be washed clean by a few big storms (except for right around the plant).
However, it is still possible that we will have a Chernobyl type meltdown, or even four such meltdowns. If we do, we will lose a big chunk of Fukushima Prefecture for a very long time.
A nuclear power plant is tens of thousands of times dirtier (more radiation) than any bomb. The main thing to know is, this is not over, not at all. We are still in terrible danger of a major nuclear disaster.
Do the HPF physicians recommend iodide supplementation for people throughout and outside Japan?
The people I have talked to do not recommend potassium iodide at this point. They don’t think it’s good for you and they don’t think it is necessary. Also, from what I have heard, no one can buy it anyway because the government has bought it all up and is planning to distribute it in the event of a real emergency. This has not been confirmed, but I heard it from a reliable source.
Conflicting information in the media is creating cognitive dissonance. At the Kyoto Journal Facebook page, there was a long discussion about which sources to trust. How do you advise lay people on how to obtain and evaluate information?
In general, the government is trying to prevent panic. The power company and the nuclear industry is trying to minimize the danger and maximize the appearance of control.
The anti-nuclear folks are maximizing the danger and lack of control.
In Kyoto, you have a guy name Koide-sensei. I trust him. Here we have Kamata-sensei. I trust him. However, neither of them have access to the real raw data from the site.
The doctors I was hoping would tell us the truth around here seem to be taking the position that they do not want to cause panic, which causes me to panic.
Hoshi-sensei, who has been on TV, says that right now we are not in great danger, but that the situation is extremely serious and could turn very very bad. He is deeply worried, but not about what’s happened so far, only about what might happen.
I think we all need to listen very carefully to all the information coming to us, then do what our own intuition tells us to do. No one really knows what is happening. No one knows what will happen.
Besides which, the situation is so extremely complex that no one, even with the best of neutral intentions, can possibly know what is happening. What is in the air? Where is it going? Where is it falling? What will it do to you if you breathe it or eat it? All of this is complex beyond any scientific ability to say anything.
We all need to listen and use every reference point we can, be we all need to understand that our guesses are as good as anyone else’s.
What do you advise us on how to deal with the collective psychological trauma we are experiencing?
I think I answered that in the previous question, but in addition, I would say that the key is in the word "collective." We are all in this together.
We need to be working together, trying to help each other, trying to find the truth and sharing it honestly and openly with each other.
We have to avoid taking our stress out on each other and turning this into a blame game filled with anger and hatred and fear. That will only make the situation worse and keep people from being able to make their best contributions. We need to keep calm, at least until the situation with the reactors is resolved.
Then we can start investigating the causes and who to blame and all that accountability stuff, but right now, we need TEPCO people going in there risking their lives to save us, and we need to be grateful that they are doing so.
Love will help us more than anger. Courage will help more than panic.
- Posted by Jean Downey
Showing posts with label Hiroshima. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hiroshima. Show all posts
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Text Fwd: Request for your endorsement to our ban nuclear weapons petition appeal
* Text informed by Park Jung-Eun on Jan. 20, 2011
일본 반핵운동단체, Gensuikyo 에서 모든 핵무기의 금지 서명 캠페인을 하고 있는데,
연명 요청과 함께 한국 평화,반핵단체에 뿌려달라는 요청이 와서 회람합니다.
회신은 antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp 로 보내시면 됩니다.
박정은 드림
_____________________________________
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gensuikyo
Date: 2011/1/18
Subject: Request for your endorsement to our ban nuclear weapons petition appeal
[..] please spread this appeal to your network so that we can get more endorsements from Korean civil society. Thank you. (Yayoi)
..........................................................................
Please support our new signature campaign
“Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons”
Dear friends,
At the start of the New Year, we would like to extend our heartfelt
gratitude to you for your continued understanding of and cooperation with
our movement.
In order for the current worldwide momentum for the abolition of
nuclear weapons to develop further and bear fruit, we are planning to launch a new
signature campaign in February 2011, calling on all the governments of the
world to take action to totally ban nuclear weapons.
In May last year, the Review Conference of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), in which 189 States took part, agreed on the Final Document
aiming to “achieve peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons”
and urged all governments to make special efforts to establish the necessary
“framework” to reach this goal. This was followed by the visit of U.N.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who called for
achieving a “world without nuclear weapons” in the lifetime of the
Hibakusha in his speech at the Peace Memorial Ceremony of Hiroshima on
August 6.
On the other hand, we continue to witness attempts by some to justify
the use or threat of nuclear weapons in the name of “deterrence” or the
“nuclear umbrella”, and the danger of nuclear proliferation by others who,
in response to these attempts, seek to develop nuclear weapons of their own.
However, as the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki demonstrate,
human survival and security cannot be ensured by nuclear weapons. The only sure
way to prevent the use of nuclear weapons is to abolish all nuclear weapons,
as confirmed by the NPT Review Conference.
Through the new signature campaign, we, anti-nuclear movement from the
only nation to have suffered the A-bomb devastation, will urge that the tragedy
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki never be repeated, and call on the governments of
all states to build on the past agreements made in the international arena
to take the bold course of starting negotiations for a treaty totally
banning all nuclear weapons.
We plan to announce the launch of this signature campaign
simultaneously in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on February 15, and in cooperation with all the
people who support this initiative, we aim to insure that this demand is
reflected in public opinion nationwide, and that it goes on to gain broad
support internationally. The text of the signature campaign, “Appeal for a
total ban on nuclear weapons” is attached at the end of this letter.
Please have a read through the appeal, and send your endorsement, and if
possible your message, to us by post, fax or email. The list and messages
of the initial endorsers is to be announced together with the launch of the
signature campaign on February 15. We are convinced that your endorsement
will help bring a great deal of support internationally.
This signature campaign will be promoted in solidarity with all the
campaigns sharing the same goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, including
the Mayors for Peace signature campaign led by the cities of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki and the “International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
(ICAN)”. Starting with the signature campaign in the wake of the Bikini
hydrogen bomb test of March 1954, the anti-A and H-Bomb movement of Japan
has, through massive signature drives, been at the forefront in bringing
about the coalescence of public opinion calling for a total ban on and
elimination of nuclear weapons. This new signature campaign will carry
forward this tradition and help ensure the achievement of a nuclear
weapon-free world.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons
In August 1945, two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
instantly turned the two cities into ruins and took the lives of about 210 thousand
people. Even now, more than 200,000 Hibakusha, or A-bomb survivors, are
carrying with them scars. Their tragedy should not be repeated anywhere on
earth.
The call for the elimination of nuclear weapons is becoming ever
widespread across the world. Citizens are taking actions, and many governments are
endeavoring to reach this goal. The surest guarantee against there being
another Hiroshima, or Nagasaki, is a total ban and the elimination of
nuclear weapons.
In May 2010, the 189 parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT), including the Nuclear weapons States, agreed “to achieve the peace and
security of a world without nuclear weapons”. Now is the time to act to
accomplish it.
We call on all governments to enter negotiations without delay on a
treaty banning nuclear weapons.
Endorser’s name:
Position:
Organization:
Message:
Sincerely yours,
Hiroshi TAKA
Secretary General
=============================================
Japan Council against A & H Bombs (GENSUIKYO)
2-4-4 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8464 JAPAN
phone: +81-3-5842-6034
fax: +81-3-5842-6033
Email: antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp
URL: http://www.antiatom.org/
=============================================
박정은
참여연대 평화국제팀 팀장
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
http://www.peoplepower21.org
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English
일본 반핵운동단체, Gensuikyo 에서 모든 핵무기의 금지 서명 캠페인을 하고 있는데,
연명 요청과 함께 한국 평화,반핵단체에 뿌려달라는 요청이 와서 회람합니다.
회신은 antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp 로 보내시면 됩니다.
박정은 드림
_____________________________________
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gensuikyo
Date: 2011/1/18
Subject: Request for your endorsement to our ban nuclear weapons petition appeal
[..] please spread this appeal to your network so that we can get more endorsements from Korean civil society. Thank you. (Yayoi)
..........................................................................
Please support our new signature campaign
“Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons”
Dear friends,
At the start of the New Year, we would like to extend our heartfelt
gratitude to you for your continued understanding of and cooperation with
our movement.
In order for the current worldwide momentum for the abolition of
nuclear weapons to develop further and bear fruit, we are planning to launch a new
signature campaign in February 2011, calling on all the governments of the
world to take action to totally ban nuclear weapons.
In May last year, the Review Conference of the Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), in which 189 States took part, agreed on the Final Document
aiming to “achieve peace and security of a world without nuclear weapons”
and urged all governments to make special efforts to establish the necessary
“framework” to reach this goal. This was followed by the visit of U.N.
Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Hiroshima and Nagasaki, who called for
achieving a “world without nuclear weapons” in the lifetime of the
Hibakusha in his speech at the Peace Memorial Ceremony of Hiroshima on
August 6.
On the other hand, we continue to witness attempts by some to justify
the use or threat of nuclear weapons in the name of “deterrence” or the
“nuclear umbrella”, and the danger of nuclear proliferation by others who,
in response to these attempts, seek to develop nuclear weapons of their own.
However, as the experiences of Hiroshima and Nagasaki demonstrate,
human survival and security cannot be ensured by nuclear weapons. The only sure
way to prevent the use of nuclear weapons is to abolish all nuclear weapons,
as confirmed by the NPT Review Conference.
Through the new signature campaign, we, anti-nuclear movement from the
only nation to have suffered the A-bomb devastation, will urge that the tragedy
of Hiroshima and Nagasaki never be repeated, and call on the governments of
all states to build on the past agreements made in the international arena
to take the bold course of starting negotiations for a treaty totally
banning all nuclear weapons.
We plan to announce the launch of this signature campaign
simultaneously in Hiroshima and Nagasaki on February 15, and in cooperation with all the
people who support this initiative, we aim to insure that this demand is
reflected in public opinion nationwide, and that it goes on to gain broad
support internationally. The text of the signature campaign, “Appeal for a
total ban on nuclear weapons” is attached at the end of this letter.
Please have a read through the appeal, and send your endorsement, and if
possible your message, to us by post, fax or email. The list and messages
of the initial endorsers is to be announced together with the launch of the
signature campaign on February 15. We are convinced that your endorsement
will help bring a great deal of support internationally.
This signature campaign will be promoted in solidarity with all the
campaigns sharing the same goal of eliminating nuclear weapons, including
the Mayors for Peace signature campaign led by the cities of Hiroshima and
Nagasaki and the “International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons
(ICAN)”. Starting with the signature campaign in the wake of the Bikini
hydrogen bomb test of March 1954, the anti-A and H-Bomb movement of Japan
has, through massive signature drives, been at the forefront in bringing
about the coalescence of public opinion calling for a total ban on and
elimination of nuclear weapons. This new signature campaign will carry
forward this tradition and help ensure the achievement of a nuclear
weapon-free world.
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Appeal for a Total Ban on Nuclear Weapons
In August 1945, two atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki
instantly turned the two cities into ruins and took the lives of about 210 thousand
people. Even now, more than 200,000 Hibakusha, or A-bomb survivors, are
carrying with them scars. Their tragedy should not be repeated anywhere on
earth.
The call for the elimination of nuclear weapons is becoming ever
widespread across the world. Citizens are taking actions, and many governments are
endeavoring to reach this goal. The surest guarantee against there being
another Hiroshima, or Nagasaki, is a total ban and the elimination of
nuclear weapons.
In May 2010, the 189 parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty
(NPT), including the Nuclear weapons States, agreed “to achieve the peace and
security of a world without nuclear weapons”. Now is the time to act to
accomplish it.
We call on all governments to enter negotiations without delay on a
treaty banning nuclear weapons.
Endorser’s name:
Position:
Organization:
Message:
Sincerely yours,
Hiroshi TAKA
Secretary General
=============================================
Japan Council against A & H Bombs (GENSUIKYO)
2-4-4 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8464 JAPAN
phone: +81-3-5842-6034
fax: +81-3-5842-6033
Email: antiatom@topaz.plala.or.jp
URL: http://www.antiatom.org/
=============================================
박정은
참여연대 평화국제팀 팀장
People's Solidarity for Participatory Democracy (PSPD)
http://www.peoplepower21.org
http://blog.peoplepower21.org/English
Thursday, July 22, 2010
[Text Fwd] [ Reply to Cordaro Hiroshima Day Vigil in Souix City.... (Links to DM and Omaha/STRATCOM observances)
* Text fwd from Frank Cordaro on July 22, 2010
Link to DM observance of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
http://groups.google.com/group/iowa-peace-list/browse_thread/thread/e51967e77acf9476
Link to Omaha/STRACTOM observance of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
http://groups.google.com/group/iowa-peace-list/browse_thread/thread/9755ce1e532f75ab
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gerald Iversen geraldiversen@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 21, 2010
What: Hiroshima Day Vigil
Date: Friday, Aug 6
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Place: Federal Building at 6th and Douglas Streets in Sioux City
The Siouxland Peace Coalition invites you to a vigil on Hiroshima Day
Friday, Aug. 6th, to raise awareness of the need for the U.S. to
ratify START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). The general public is
welcome to meet at 11:30 in front of the Federal Building at 6th and
Douglas Streets in Sioux City. After a brief visit to Senator
Grassley’s office to deliver a petition urging his support of START,
the group will demonstrate on the sidewalk until 12:30. Signs will be
provided.
Visit SiouxlandPeaceCoalition.com.
Contact person:
Gerald Iversen
geraldiversen@yahoo.com
712-274-2549 (Please leave a message.)
-----------------------------
Hiroshima Day Vigil Promotes START
The Siouxland Peace Coalition invites you to a vigil on Hiroshima Day,
Friday, August 6th to raise awareness of the need for the U.S. to
ratify START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty).
The general public is welcome to meet at 11:30 in front of the Federal
Building at 6th and Douglas Streets in Sioux City. After a brief visit
to Senator Grassley’s office to deliver a petition urging his support
of START, the group will demonstrate on the sidewalk until 12:30.
Signs will be provided.
Hiroshima Day commemorates August 6, 1945, when an American B-52
dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later another
atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
Representatives of the media are welcome. A spokesperson will be available.
For more information visit the coalition’s website at
SiouxlandPeaceCoalition.com.
Background information about the use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki from Greg P. Guelcher, Associate Professor of History,
Morningside College
On August 6, 1945, an American B-52 bomber named Enola Gay lifted off
from the Pacific island of Tinian, flew to the city of Hiroshima,
Japan, and without warning around 9:15 a.m. dropped a new and vastly
deadlier bomb on its unsuspecting inhabitants. Hiroshima itself was
obliterated within minutes; what the shockwaves didn't destroy fell
victim to the massive fires that followed. The human toll was
staggering: some 70,000 men, women, and children were killed
instantly, while many more (another 130,000 or so by 1950) would
perish as the result of their injuries or illnesses, especially
mysterious radiation sickness. Even fetuses still in the womb were
affected adversely.
Three days later, on August 9 (and only a day after a full report from
a devastated Hiroshima had finally reached Japan's leaders in Tokyo),
the U.S. dropped a second, unannounced atomic bomb on the port city of
Nagasaki. Again, the human toll was astounding, with an estimated
70,000 killed in the explosion, and an equal number dying of radiation
sickness within five years. The second atomic bomb had been moved up
from its originally scheduled date, due to fears of overcast weather
later on.
While the bombings did, in fact, help speed Japan's leaders to
surrender, among scholars today there's still great debate about both
the motives for dropping the bombs (intimidating the Soviet Union is
one commonly accepted rationale, for instance), as well as the actual
necessity of having dropped such fearsome weapons on a country that
was already arguably on the brink of total collapse.
Link to DM observance of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
http://groups.google.com/
Link to Omaha/STRACTOM observance of Hiroshima/Nagasaki
http://groups.google.com/
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Gerald Iversen geraldiversen@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Jul 21, 2010
What: Hiroshima Day Vigil
Date: Friday, Aug 6
Time: 11:30 a.m.
Place: Federal Building at 6th and Douglas Streets in Sioux City
The Siouxland Peace Coalition invites you to a vigil on Hiroshima Day
Friday, Aug. 6th, to raise awareness of the need for the U.S. to
ratify START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty). The general public is
welcome to meet at 11:30 in front of the Federal Building at 6th and
Douglas Streets in Sioux City. After a brief visit to Senator
Grassley’s office to deliver a petition urging his support of START,
the group will demonstrate on the sidewalk until 12:30. Signs will be
provided.
Visit SiouxlandPeaceCoalition.com.
Contact person:
Gerald Iversen
geraldiversen@yahoo.com
712-274-2549 (Please leave a message.)
-----------------------------
Hiroshima Day Vigil Promotes START
The Siouxland Peace Coalition invites you to a vigil on Hiroshima Day,
Friday, August 6th to raise awareness of the need for the U.S. to
ratify START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty).
The general public is welcome to meet at 11:30 in front of the Federal
Building at 6th and Douglas Streets in Sioux City. After a brief visit
to Senator Grassley’s office to deliver a petition urging his support
of START, the group will demonstrate on the sidewalk until 12:30.
Signs will be provided.
Hiroshima Day commemorates August 6, 1945, when an American B-52
dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan. Three days later another
atomic bomb was dropped on Nagasaki.
Representatives of the media are welcome. A spokesperson will be available.
For more information visit the coalition’s website at
SiouxlandPeaceCoalition.com.
Background information about the use of atomic weapons on Hiroshima
and Nagasaki from Greg P. Guelcher, Associate Professor of History,
Morningside College
On August 6, 1945, an American B-52 bomber named Enola Gay lifted off
from the Pacific island of Tinian, flew to the city of Hiroshima,
Japan, and without warning around 9:15 a.m. dropped a new and vastly
deadlier bomb on its unsuspecting inhabitants. Hiroshima itself was
obliterated within minutes; what the shockwaves didn't destroy fell
victim to the massive fires that followed. The human toll was
staggering: some 70,000 men, women, and children were killed
instantly, while many more (another 130,000 or so by 1950) would
perish as the result of their injuries or illnesses, especially
mysterious radiation sickness. Even fetuses still in the womb were
affected adversely.
Three days later, on August 9 (and only a day after a full report from
a devastated Hiroshima had finally reached Japan's leaders in Tokyo),
the U.S. dropped a second, unannounced atomic bomb on the port city of
Nagasaki. Again, the human toll was astounding, with an estimated
70,000 killed in the explosion, and an equal number dying of radiation
sickness within five years. The second atomic bomb had been moved up
from its originally scheduled date, due to fears of overcast weather
later on.
While the bombings did, in fact, help speed Japan's leaders to
surrender, among scholars today there's still great debate about both
the motives for dropping the bombs (intimidating the Soviet Union is
one commonly accepted rationale, for instance), as well as the actual
necessity of having dropped such fearsome weapons on a country that
was already arguably on the brink of total collapse.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Text fwd: HUMAN RIGHTS AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
* Text Fwd from J. Narayana Rao on Jan. 3, 2009
HUMAN RIGHTS AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
By J.Narayana Rao
General Secretary,
All India Peace & Solidarity Organisation, Maharashtra State Committee
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the U.N.General Assembly on 10 December 1948
• Conferred on the humanity to live in peace, dignity, freedom and free from want. The preamble of Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Where as disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarious acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people”.
• Article 3 of the Declaration affirms that “Every one has the right to life, liberty and security of person”. This can only be possible when peace prevails in place of wars, the sound of guns disappears. In wars more innocent people are killed than men in uniform. The preamble of the United Nations Charter states that “ to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war which twice in our life time has brought untold sorrow to mankind”.
• The UN Charter and the Declaration of Human Rights rely on Peace as the corner stone for human progress. The Weapons of Mass Declaration threaten the very existence of human beings. The U.N General Assembly in it’s resolution adopted on 12 November 1984 reiterated that “preservation of the right of people to peace and promotion of the right of people to peace and promotion of its implementation constitute a fundamental obligation of each State” and appeals to avert a world wide nuclear catastrophe.
• The Weapons of Mass Destruction stand against every thing the Human rights profess. Weapons Of Mass Destruction hae been used on human beings for the first time when United States of America dropped two Atom Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 Aug and 9 August 1945. This has resulted in the death of lakhs of people mostly civilians depriving their life and liberty. Both the cities were ragged to the ground. In Hiroshima 1,50,000 people died and in Nagasaki 74,000 people died and even now the Hibakhusas are still dying.
• In Hiroshima after the Atom Bomb was dropped at 8.15 AM on 06.08.1945, the fire raging in an area of 11.5 Km generated a wind with a velocity up to 55 Km an hour. Crops and trees were set ablaze. 84% of unprotected people with in a distance of 2 Km perished immediately. 90% of people with in a distance of 4 Km suffered from burns. Buildings were damaged in an area of 132 Sq Km. On the twelth day 34.9% of survivors were suffering from radiation sickness. 20.6 from burns and 35.5% from wounds. 60% of the injured required hospitalization. But more than 50% of the Doctors died and less than half of the surviving Doctors were in a condition to work. Many children whose parents were in Hiroshima during the Atom Bomb raid were born with genetic defects.The same was the pathetic condition with Nagasaki.
• The present Nuclear weapons are much more powerful and deadlier that those which dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The destructive power of those Bombs were measured by Kilo Tons. The present Nuclear Weapons are measured by Megatons. One Megaton Bomb is equivalent to 80 Boms of Hiroshima type. A five megaton nuclear weapon has more powerful than all the Bombs used during the Second World War. A 20 Megaton Bomb is more powerful than all the explosives used in all the wars in History. According to the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission headed by Hans Blix, there are 27,000 Nuclear Weapons in the world at present.
• The present Nuclear weapons can destroy the entire ecosystem of the Planet. They have the potential of destroying life on the planet several times. When they are exploded, produce heat, blast and radiation. According to a study by the International Physicans for Prevention of Nuclear War(IPPNW) if one megaton Hdrogen Bomb is detonated on the ground,the explosion will create a crater of 92 meters deep and 367 meters in diameter.With in one second the atmosphere ignites into a fireball of more than 1 Km in dameter. The surface of the fireball radiate three tmes of the light and heat can be compared with an area on the surface of the Sun. The fire ball rises to a height of six miles or more. All the life below will be destroyed in seconds. The flash and heat from the explosion spreads outward at the speed of light, causing instantaneous and severe burns.
• Debris carried by winds with a speed of 290 mph will inflict deadly injuries. At least 50% of people will die immediately. The direct heat radiating from the eplosives causes immediate third degree burns to exposed skins. The expanding blast wave destroys small buildings and fuel tanks will explode. Instant heat and winds combine fires at different places into a single raging great destructive fire. The fire storm consumes all nearby oxygen and even sucking it out from under ground places suffocating the occupants. Shelters will become ovens and on the following minutes and hours deaths are likely to be about 100%.
• Justice C.G.Weeramantry of the Sri Lanka who was one of the Judges of the International Court of Justice which dealt on the “legality of the threat and use of Nuclear Weapons in his dissenting opinion,s tates that “it has been orgued that the right to life is not an absolute right and that the taking of life in armed hostilities is a necessary exception to this principle. However, when a weapon has the potential to kill between one million and one billion people, as WHO told the Court, human life becomes reduced to a level of worthlessness that totally belies human dignity as understood in any culture.Such a deliberate action by any state is, in any circumstances whatsoever, incompatible with a recognition by it of that respect for basic human dignity on which world peace depends, and respect for which is assumed on the part of Member States of the United Nations.
• This is not merely a provision of the Universal Declaration of human Rights and other human right instruments but is fundamental Charter Laws enshrined in the very preamble to the United Nations Charater, for one of the ends to which the United Nations is dedicated is “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person. No weapon ever invented in the long history of man’s inhumanity to man has so negative the dignity and worth of the human person as has the nuclear bomb”.
• Article 2(3) of the UN Charter guides that “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered”. Article 6(1) of the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights affirms that “Every human being has the right to life, This right shall be protected by Law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life”. Therefore the Nuclear Weapons which cause death of overwhelming number of people would violate the most basic human rights the right to life.
• The existence of Nuclear Weapons is a constant threat to the fundamental human right of life and liberty.The right of the people for a peaceful living is always strained. These weapons threaten devasting and indiscriminate long term damage to large segement of the civilian population and environment. The resolution adopted in an International conference held in Teharan in May 1968 proclaims that “massive denials of human rights, arising out of aggression or any armed conflict with their tragic consequences and resulting in untold human misery, engender reactions which could engulf the world in ever growing hostilities. It is the obligation of the international community to co-operate in erading such scourges”.
• Peace is the aspiration of the people of the world either living in the developed countries or developing countries or in underdeveloped countries. Weapons of Mass Destruction always create a sense of fear psychosis
• The International Court observed that the use of Nuclear weapons could constitute a catastrophe for the environment and observed that the environment represents the living space, the quality of life and the very health of human beings, including generations of unborn. The use of nuclear weapons would necessarily entail a massive violation of the most basic human rights,the right to life.
• These Weapons absorb huge amount of money which otherwise could be used for human development and upkeep of the basic human rights. Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights States that “Every one has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical caré and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”At present huge amount is being spent on Nuclear weapons.
Country No of War Heads Nuc Bud 2008 Daily Spending
China 150-300 10 Billion.USD 12,400,000 USD
DPRK 4-12 OneBillion USD -
France 300-350 6.5 Billion USD 12,300,000 USD
India 50-90 3.35Billion USD 8,400,000 USD
Israel 200-400 1.5 Billion USD 4,200,000 USD
Pakistan 40-70 1.1 Billion USD 3,000,000 USD
Russia 5200-5600 6.7 Billion USD 18,000,000 USD
U.K 185-200 6.7 Billion USD 10,000,000 USD
U.S.A 4075-5500 52.55 Billion USD 145,000,000 USD
Money need to attend to attend some of the global problems
• To provide clean, safey energy. 50 Billion USD
• Retire developing Nations Debt 30 Billion USD
• Prevent Soil Erosion. 30 Billion USD
• Provide Health Care & Aids Control 21 Billion USD
• Provide Shelter for the Homeless 21Billion USD
• Eliminate Starvation & Malnutrition 19 Billion USD
• Stabilize Population 10.5 Billion USD
• Provide Safe Clean Water. 10 Billion USD
• Prevent Acid Rain 8 Billion USD
• Prevent Global Warming 8 Billion USD
• Stop Deforestation 7 Billion USD
• Refuge Relief 5 Billion USD
• Stop Ozone Depletion 5 Billion USD
• Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 7 Billion USD
Spending huge amounts of money on Weapons of Mass Destruction is to negate implementation of the Article 25(1) of the universal Declaration of Human Rights. Complete abolition of the existing stock piles of Nuclear Weapons and ban possessing of these by any country in future has to be achieved for the peace, security and well being of the mankind.
-------
HUMAN RIGHTS AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION
By J.Narayana Rao
General Secretary,
All India Peace & Solidarity Organisation, Maharashtra State Committee
• The Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the U.N.General Assembly on 10 December 1948
• Conferred on the humanity to live in peace, dignity, freedom and free from want. The preamble of Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “Where as disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarious acts which have outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of world in which human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and and freedom from fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the common people”.
• Article 3 of the Declaration affirms that “Every one has the right to life, liberty and security of person”. This can only be possible when peace prevails in place of wars, the sound of guns disappears. In wars more innocent people are killed than men in uniform. The preamble of the United Nations Charter states that “ to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war which twice in our life time has brought untold sorrow to mankind”.
• The UN Charter and the Declaration of Human Rights rely on Peace as the corner stone for human progress. The Weapons of Mass Declaration threaten the very existence of human beings. The U.N General Assembly in it’s resolution adopted on 12 November 1984 reiterated that “preservation of the right of people to peace and promotion of the right of people to peace and promotion of its implementation constitute a fundamental obligation of each State” and appeals to avert a world wide nuclear catastrophe.
• The Weapons of Mass Destruction stand against every thing the Human rights profess. Weapons Of Mass Destruction hae been used on human beings for the first time when United States of America dropped two Atom Bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 6 Aug and 9 August 1945. This has resulted in the death of lakhs of people mostly civilians depriving their life and liberty. Both the cities were ragged to the ground. In Hiroshima 1,50,000 people died and in Nagasaki 74,000 people died and even now the Hibakhusas are still dying.
• In Hiroshima after the Atom Bomb was dropped at 8.15 AM on 06.08.1945, the fire raging in an area of 11.5 Km generated a wind with a velocity up to 55 Km an hour. Crops and trees were set ablaze. 84% of unprotected people with in a distance of 2 Km perished immediately. 90% of people with in a distance of 4 Km suffered from burns. Buildings were damaged in an area of 132 Sq Km. On the twelth day 34.9% of survivors were suffering from radiation sickness. 20.6 from burns and 35.5% from wounds. 60% of the injured required hospitalization. But more than 50% of the Doctors died and less than half of the surviving Doctors were in a condition to work. Many children whose parents were in Hiroshima during the Atom Bomb raid were born with genetic defects.The same was the pathetic condition with Nagasaki.
• The present Nuclear weapons are much more powerful and deadlier that those which dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The destructive power of those Bombs were measured by Kilo Tons. The present Nuclear Weapons are measured by Megatons. One Megaton Bomb is equivalent to 80 Boms of Hiroshima type. A five megaton nuclear weapon has more powerful than all the Bombs used during the Second World War. A 20 Megaton Bomb is more powerful than all the explosives used in all the wars in History. According to the Weapons of Mass Destruction Commission headed by Hans Blix, there are 27,000 Nuclear Weapons in the world at present.
• The present Nuclear weapons can destroy the entire ecosystem of the Planet. They have the potential of destroying life on the planet several times. When they are exploded, produce heat, blast and radiation. According to a study by the International Physicans for Prevention of Nuclear War(IPPNW) if one megaton Hdrogen Bomb is detonated on the ground,the explosion will create a crater of 92 meters deep and 367 meters in diameter.With in one second the atmosphere ignites into a fireball of more than 1 Km in dameter. The surface of the fireball radiate three tmes of the light and heat can be compared with an area on the surface of the Sun. The fire ball rises to a height of six miles or more. All the life below will be destroyed in seconds. The flash and heat from the explosion spreads outward at the speed of light, causing instantaneous and severe burns.
• Debris carried by winds with a speed of 290 mph will inflict deadly injuries. At least 50% of people will die immediately. The direct heat radiating from the eplosives causes immediate third degree burns to exposed skins. The expanding blast wave destroys small buildings and fuel tanks will explode. Instant heat and winds combine fires at different places into a single raging great destructive fire. The fire storm consumes all nearby oxygen and even sucking it out from under ground places suffocating the occupants. Shelters will become ovens and on the following minutes and hours deaths are likely to be about 100%.
• Justice C.G.Weeramantry of the Sri Lanka who was one of the Judges of the International Court of Justice which dealt on the “legality of the threat and use of Nuclear Weapons in his dissenting opinion,s tates that “it has been orgued that the right to life is not an absolute right and that the taking of life in armed hostilities is a necessary exception to this principle. However, when a weapon has the potential to kill between one million and one billion people, as WHO told the Court, human life becomes reduced to a level of worthlessness that totally belies human dignity as understood in any culture.Such a deliberate action by any state is, in any circumstances whatsoever, incompatible with a recognition by it of that respect for basic human dignity on which world peace depends, and respect for which is assumed on the part of Member States of the United Nations.
• This is not merely a provision of the Universal Declaration of human Rights and other human right instruments but is fundamental Charter Laws enshrined in the very preamble to the United Nations Charater, for one of the ends to which the United Nations is dedicated is “to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person. No weapon ever invented in the long history of man’s inhumanity to man has so negative the dignity and worth of the human person as has the nuclear bomb”.
• Article 2(3) of the UN Charter guides that “All Members shall settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security and justice are not endangered”. Article 6(1) of the International Covenent on Civil and Political Rights affirms that “Every human being has the right to life, This right shall be protected by Law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life”. Therefore the Nuclear Weapons which cause death of overwhelming number of people would violate the most basic human rights the right to life.
• The existence of Nuclear Weapons is a constant threat to the fundamental human right of life and liberty.The right of the people for a peaceful living is always strained. These weapons threaten devasting and indiscriminate long term damage to large segement of the civilian population and environment. The resolution adopted in an International conference held in Teharan in May 1968 proclaims that “massive denials of human rights, arising out of aggression or any armed conflict with their tragic consequences and resulting in untold human misery, engender reactions which could engulf the world in ever growing hostilities. It is the obligation of the international community to co-operate in erading such scourges”.
• Peace is the aspiration of the people of the world either living in the developed countries or developing countries or in underdeveloped countries. Weapons of Mass Destruction always create a sense of fear psychosis
• The International Court observed that the use of Nuclear weapons could constitute a catastrophe for the environment and observed that the environment represents the living space, the quality of life and the very health of human beings, including generations of unborn. The use of nuclear weapons would necessarily entail a massive violation of the most basic human rights,the right to life.
• These Weapons absorb huge amount of money which otherwise could be used for human development and upkeep of the basic human rights. Article 25(1) of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights States that “Every one has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical caré and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.”At present huge amount is being spent on Nuclear weapons.
Country No of War Heads Nuc Bud 2008 Daily Spending
China 150-300 10 Billion.USD 12,400,000 USD
DPRK 4-12 OneBillion USD -
France 300-350 6.5 Billion USD 12,300,000 USD
India 50-90 3.35Billion USD 8,400,000 USD
Israel 200-400 1.5 Billion USD 4,200,000 USD
Pakistan 40-70 1.1 Billion USD 3,000,000 USD
Russia 5200-5600 6.7 Billion USD 18,000,000 USD
U.K 185-200 6.7 Billion USD 10,000,000 USD
U.S.A 4075-5500 52.55 Billion USD 145,000,000 USD
Money need to attend to attend some of the global problems
• To provide clean, safey energy. 50 Billion USD
• Retire developing Nations Debt 30 Billion USD
• Prevent Soil Erosion. 30 Billion USD
• Provide Health Care & Aids Control 21 Billion USD
• Provide Shelter for the Homeless 21Billion USD
• Eliminate Starvation & Malnutrition 19 Billion USD
• Stabilize Population 10.5 Billion USD
• Provide Safe Clean Water. 10 Billion USD
• Prevent Acid Rain 8 Billion USD
• Prevent Global Warming 8 Billion USD
• Stop Deforestation 7 Billion USD
• Refuge Relief 5 Billion USD
• Stop Ozone Depletion 5 Billion USD
• Elimination of Nuclear Weapons 7 Billion USD
Spending huge amounts of money on Weapons of Mass Destruction is to negate implementation of the Article 25(1) of the universal Declaration of Human Rights. Complete abolition of the existing stock piles of Nuclear Weapons and ban possessing of these by any country in future has to be achieved for the peace, security and well being of the mankind.
-------
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Text fwd: DU in Afghanistan and Iraq
* Text Fwd from Makiko Sato (seamesky@sand.ocn.ne.jp) on Dec. 2, 2009
The document content at the bottome has been sent wide in Japan
The document content at the bottome has been sent wide in Japan
by Mobuo Kasahi of No DU Hiroshima Project
which is committed to the issue of depleted uranium weapons.
The document ( letter?) was sent on May 19th, 2005 from an DoD officer
to his counterpart in the Military Traffice Management Command
regarding the transfer of "critical"weapons, meaning, depleted uranium weapons.
Somehow this document was leaked and he obtained the leaked info.
This photo of the original document should be here, but it seems unaccessible now though I've tried.
Kasashi is concerned about Obama's latest announcement of upcoming
US beef-up in Afghanistan, so he's just begun circulating this.
Kasashi wrote that, according to this info, US has been using DU weapons in Iraq and
Afghanistan, that the US officials recognize its danger, and that DU weapons have
become US' main weapons as it is repeatedly described as 'critical.' Makiko
______________________________________________________________________________________________
[original ]
Department of the Army
Headquarters, Military Traffic Management Command
200 Stovall Street Alexander, VA 22332-5000
May 19, 2005
Reply to Attention of
Office of the Deputy to the Commander
Dr. Robert A. McGuire
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety
United States Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, SW. Washington, DC 20590
Dear. Dr. McGuire: As the representative for the Department of
Defense (DOD), the Military Surface Distribution and Deployment
Command (SDDC) would like to thank your office for its continued
support in providing DOD with its numerous transportation
exemptions and Competent Approval Authorities. These documents are
vital to the accomplishment of our mission and critical to the success of the
Global War on Terrorism.
The DOD’s record of safe transportation of depleted uranium (DU)
ammunition is flawless. There has never been a single safety
incident concerning DODO DU ammunition shipments. Despite that
fact, DOT-E 9649, (governing the shipment DU ammunition) is one of the few documents on which our two agencies have not been able to reach an agreement.
We believe that failure to renew the exemption may possibly
interrupt the movement of these critical munitions to our forces in
Afghanistan and Iraq. The cost of our compliance with the currently
exempted standards may reach as high as $50 million; and it may
cost prohibitive given our current fiscal restraints.
The DOD looks forward to working with DOT on this critical issue.
Please have your office contact Lieutenant Colonel Mark Wyrosdick
at (757) 878-7518 so our staffs can continue to work toward a
mutually beneficial resolutions. You[r] continued cooperation is
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Patricia M. Young
Deputy to the Commander
______________________________________________________________________________________________
[original ]
Department of the Army
Headquarters, Military Traffic Management Command
200 Stovall Street Alexander, VA 22332-5000
May 19, 2005
Reply to Attention of
Office of the Deputy to the Commander
Dr. Robert A. McGuire
Associate Administrator for Hazardous Materials Safety
United States Department of Transportation
400 Seventh Street, SW. Washington, DC 20590
Dear. Dr. McGuire: As the representative for the Department of
Defense (DOD), the Military Surface Distribution and Deployment
Command (SDDC) would like to thank your office for its continued
support in providing DOD with its numerous transportation
exemptions and Competent Approval Authorities. These documents are
vital to the accomplishment of our mission and critical to the success of the
Global War on Terrorism.
The DOD’s record of safe transportation of depleted uranium (DU)
ammunition is flawless. There has never been a single safety
incident concerning DODO DU ammunition shipments. Despite that
fact, DOT-E 9649, (governing the shipment DU ammunition) is one of the few documents on which our two agencies have not been able to reach an agreement.
We believe that failure to renew the exemption may possibly
interrupt the movement of these critical munitions to our forces in
Afghanistan and Iraq. The cost of our compliance with the currently
exempted standards may reach as high as $50 million; and it may
cost prohibitive given our current fiscal restraints.
The DOD looks forward to working with DOT on this critical issue.
Please have your office contact Lieutenant Colonel Mark Wyrosdick
at (757) 878-7518 so our staffs can continue to work toward a
mutually beneficial resolutions. You[r] continued cooperation is
greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Patricia M. Young
Deputy to the Commander
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Text Fwd: Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea
* Text Fwd from Bruce Gagnon(globalnet@mindspring.com) on Nov. 10, 2009
Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea
Nuclear Weapons, North East Asia and Beyond:
Re-vitalizing the Ecumenical Movement
Dates: December 3~7, 2009 (Arrival / departure inclusive)
Venue; Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea
Nuclear weapons with their related technologies, production, deployment and use, are incompatible with the life of living beings. Yet they were developed, deployed and used by the United States in1945 to kill the people and destroy the life of living beings in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan. It was truly a fatal moment in the history of the earth.
Since then the nuclear regime has evolved into a global holocaust machine.
Christian involvement in this historical development is at least ambiguous. From the beginning, Christian ethics has been implicated in the nuclear weapons development and its use. Later the nuclear weapons system was justified in the name of political realism, that is, the balance of the power or terror.
“If we were to apply Niebuhr's real politics, with its ready acceptance of the inevitability of conflict, to the present nuclear situation, it could well mean “a perverse preference for the war of mutual annihilation, simply because the war of mutual annihilation means, at least, that the other side doesn't win either.”
In 1980's the Ecumenical Movement for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation took up the nuclear issue as a matter of faith. As the Cold War Order was dismantled, the ecumenical movement had a chance to press the question further. However, the agenda to denuclearization of the geo-political order did not make any progress.
As the beginning of the 21stcentury took off, the US has revitalized the nuclear doctrine anew as a part of the War on Terror(People's Charter on Peace for Life).This created a new situation where nuclear weapons could be used in the actual war and combat.
Former President Gorbachov of Russia and more recently President Obama issued statements on the need to have the “world without nuclear weapons.” This lends a possibility for the negotiation for a new nuclear regime.
However, the debate on the issue is centered in the inter-state or multi-state context particularly among those states, which have already nuclear weapons and its system. The role of non-nuclear states, of non-governmental organizations and citizens' movements and of the people's movements is crucial, if the debates and negotiations are to be fruitful.
It is high time for the ecumenical movement to get involved in this process. It is our proposal that the issue be taken up by the World Council of Churches at its International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, 17-25 May 2011.
In the light of this proposal, a local initiative and global response is needed as a modus operandi of the discussion and debate for global action for the Nuclear Free World. It is timely to have a statement from Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (August, 2009).
It is proposed to have a small consultation on nuclear pacifism on three dimensions: 1) grasping the issue from the “expertise” dimension; 2) assessing ecumenical policies on nuclear disarmament, and 3) exploring different roles and capacities for international ecumenical advocacy in this field in a northeast Asia context. It would a local initiative, inviting a global response. It is differentiated from the rationale of “think globally and act locally.”Korean local situation presents a logical and historical place to initiate a local process of consultation on the issue.
Themes of the Consultation:
1. Nuclear developments in the Korean peninsula and their implications.
The focus can be on North Korean programme which has a number of implications not only for the region but also outside. They include peace and security in North East Asia, Korean unification, nuclear proliferation etc.
2. Geopolitics of Asia and nuclear weapons.
An analysis of the geopolitical situation especially the dominant role of the USA, challenges from China and India, the role of Japan etc and its relation to nuclear arms. Here the nuclear weapon programmes of China, India and Pakistan have to be looked at.
3. Nuclear disarmament, problems and prospects.
There are several new initiatives the most prominent of them being from President Obama. Why this sudden spurt of activity especially at the state level? Are we now joining the bandwagon or do we address the real problems and prospects?
4. People's perspective on security and nuclear weapons.
How do people in Asia look at nuclear weapon issue? There is need to develop a people's perspective on human security and see how it is affected by nuclear weaponization.
5. Implications, role and strategy for the ecumenical movement.
A fresh approach from the ecumenical movement is needed. The analysis under 1 to 4 will provide the context for this. Some references are made in the draft proposal to theological positions. Many developments after the cold war and during the war on terror have raised new theological issues e.g. preemption. Formulations of position of the ecumenical movement on various nuclear related issues need revision.
The objectives of the consultation:
1. Reflections on Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula and its implications for North East Asia and for the global perspective of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World.
2. Reflections on the implications and role for the global ecumenical movement
3. Exploring ecumenical strategy that can form the basis for ecumenical actions to promote a world free of nuclear weapons.
4. Understanding the current state of affairs on the nuclear regime from the people's perspective and engaging churches and church members.
Program Outline
Morning I Morning II Afternoon I Afternoon II Evening
Dec. 3 Arrival Dinner and Reception
Dec. 4 Registration Opening Keynote Address Korea and NE Asia Regional
Perspectives Conversations
Dec. 5 Regional Perspectives
US Perspective UN & Global Perspective WCC Perspective Conversations
Dec. 6 A Biblical Perspective
Theological Reflection Plenary Workshop General Plenary Dinner and Farewell
Dec. 7 Departure
Invited Participants (is it possible to include people from more sectors to unpack this multi-dimensional problem and link debate to different aspects of the reality, e.g.
o current or former diplomats,
o current or former military,
o people with experience in other disarmament processes
o ideally, some would be people of active faith and all would be open to the role of religions
1. Korean experts and movement people (4)
2. US and North American experts and movement people (2)
3. Europe experts and movement people (2)
4. Japan experts and movement people (2)
5. Chinese experts (2)
6. Indo-Pakistan experts and movements (2)
7. Russian experts and movement people (2)
8. African perspective (2)
9. Asian perspective (1)
10. West Asian (Middle East,) perspective (2)
11. Latin American Perspective (2)
Venue: Hwacheon Bell Park for World Peace
Hwacheon Peace Dam, Kangwondo, South Korea
The Organizing Committee:
Asia Pacific Graduate School, Korea
National YMCA, Korea
DMZ Society, Hwacheon, Korea
Supporting bodies:
National Council of Churches, Seoul, Korea
Presbyterian Church of Korea
Christian Conference of Asia, Chiang Mai, Thailand
World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland
People's Forum on Peace for Life, Manila, Philippines
Bellpark for World Peace, Hwacheon County, Kangwon Province
Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea
Nuclear Weapons, North East Asia and Beyond:
Re-vitalizing the Ecumenical Movement
Dates: December 3~7, 2009 (Arrival / departure inclusive)
Venue; Bell Park for World Peace, Hwacheon, Korea
Nuclear weapons with their related technologies, production, deployment and use, are incompatible with the life of living beings. Yet they were developed, deployed and used by the United States in1945 to kill the people and destroy the life of living beings in Nagasaki and Hiroshima, Japan. It was truly a fatal moment in the history of the earth.
Since then the nuclear regime has evolved into a global holocaust machine.
Christian involvement in this historical development is at least ambiguous. From the beginning, Christian ethics has been implicated in the nuclear weapons development and its use. Later the nuclear weapons system was justified in the name of political realism, that is, the balance of the power or terror.
“If we were to apply Niebuhr's real politics, with its ready acceptance of the inevitability of conflict, to the present nuclear situation, it could well mean “a perverse preference for the war of mutual annihilation, simply because the war of mutual annihilation means, at least, that the other side doesn't win either.”
In 1980's the Ecumenical Movement for Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation took up the nuclear issue as a matter of faith. As the Cold War Order was dismantled, the ecumenical movement had a chance to press the question further. However, the agenda to denuclearization of the geo-political order did not make any progress.
As the beginning of the 21stcentury took off, the US has revitalized the nuclear doctrine anew as a part of the War on Terror(People's Charter on Peace for Life).This created a new situation where nuclear weapons could be used in the actual war and combat.
Former President Gorbachov of Russia and more recently President Obama issued statements on the need to have the “world without nuclear weapons.” This lends a possibility for the negotiation for a new nuclear regime.
However, the debate on the issue is centered in the inter-state or multi-state context particularly among those states, which have already nuclear weapons and its system. The role of non-nuclear states, of non-governmental organizations and citizens' movements and of the people's movements is crucial, if the debates and negotiations are to be fruitful.
It is high time for the ecumenical movement to get involved in this process. It is our proposal that the issue be taken up by the World Council of Churches at its International Ecumenical Peace Convocation, 17-25 May 2011.
In the light of this proposal, a local initiative and global response is needed as a modus operandi of the discussion and debate for global action for the Nuclear Free World. It is timely to have a statement from Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (August, 2009).
It is proposed to have a small consultation on nuclear pacifism on three dimensions: 1) grasping the issue from the “expertise” dimension; 2) assessing ecumenical policies on nuclear disarmament, and 3) exploring different roles and capacities for international ecumenical advocacy in this field in a northeast Asia context. It would a local initiative, inviting a global response. It is differentiated from the rationale of “think globally and act locally.”Korean local situation presents a logical and historical place to initiate a local process of consultation on the issue.
Themes of the Consultation:
1. Nuclear developments in the Korean peninsula and their implications.
The focus can be on North Korean programme which has a number of implications not only for the region but also outside. They include peace and security in North East Asia, Korean unification, nuclear proliferation etc.
2. Geopolitics of Asia and nuclear weapons.
An analysis of the geopolitical situation especially the dominant role of the USA, challenges from China and India, the role of Japan etc and its relation to nuclear arms. Here the nuclear weapon programmes of China, India and Pakistan have to be looked at.
3. Nuclear disarmament, problems and prospects.
There are several new initiatives the most prominent of them being from President Obama. Why this sudden spurt of activity especially at the state level? Are we now joining the bandwagon or do we address the real problems and prospects?
4. People's perspective on security and nuclear weapons.
How do people in Asia look at nuclear weapon issue? There is need to develop a people's perspective on human security and see how it is affected by nuclear weaponization.
5. Implications, role and strategy for the ecumenical movement.
A fresh approach from the ecumenical movement is needed. The analysis under 1 to 4 will provide the context for this. Some references are made in the draft proposal to theological positions. Many developments after the cold war and during the war on terror have raised new theological issues e.g. preemption. Formulations of position of the ecumenical movement on various nuclear related issues need revision.
The objectives of the consultation:
1. Reflections on Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula and its implications for North East Asia and for the global perspective of a Nuclear-Weapon-Free World.
2. Reflections on the implications and role for the global ecumenical movement
3. Exploring ecumenical strategy that can form the basis for ecumenical actions to promote a world free of nuclear weapons.
4. Understanding the current state of affairs on the nuclear regime from the people's perspective and engaging churches and church members.
Program Outline
Morning I Morning II Afternoon I Afternoon II Evening
Dec. 3 Arrival Dinner and Reception
Dec. 4 Registration Opening Keynote Address Korea and NE Asia Regional
Perspectives Conversations
Dec. 5 Regional Perspectives
US Perspective UN & Global Perspective WCC Perspective Conversations
Dec. 6 A Biblical Perspective
Theological Reflection Plenary Workshop General Plenary Dinner and Farewell
Dec. 7 Departure
Invited Participants (is it possible to include people from more sectors to unpack this multi-dimensional problem and link debate to different aspects of the reality, e.g.
o current or former diplomats,
o current or former military,
o people with experience in other disarmament processes
o ideally, some would be people of active faith and all would be open to the role of religions
1. Korean experts and movement people (4)
2. US and North American experts and movement people (2)
3. Europe experts and movement people (2)
4. Japan experts and movement people (2)
5. Chinese experts (2)
6. Indo-Pakistan experts and movements (2)
7. Russian experts and movement people (2)
8. African perspective (2)
9. Asian perspective (1)
10. West Asian (Middle East,) perspective (2)
11. Latin American Perspective (2)
Venue: Hwacheon Bell Park for World Peace
Hwacheon Peace Dam, Kangwondo, South Korea
The Organizing Committee:
Asia Pacific Graduate School, Korea
National YMCA, Korea
DMZ Society, Hwacheon, Korea
Supporting bodies:
National Council of Churches, Seoul, Korea
Presbyterian Church of Korea
Christian Conference of Asia, Chiang Mai, Thailand
World Council of Churches, Geneva, Switzerland
People's Forum on Peace for Life, Manila, Philippines
Bellpark for World Peace, Hwacheon County, Kangwon Province
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Text Fwd: Five People Arrested on Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor - Disarm Now Plowshares
Text Fwd from Frank Cordaro(frank.cordaro@gmail.com) and Felice & Jack Cohen-Joppa(nukeresister@igc.org)
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Felice & Jack Cohen-Joppa <nukeresister@igc.org>
Date: Mon, Nov 2, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2009
Contacts :
Jackie Hudson- 360-286-9036 or jackiehudson123@Yahoo.com
Sue Ablao - 360-286-9157 or sablao1@yahoo.com
Five People Arrested on Naval Base Kitsap- Bangor
The "Disarm Now Trident Plowshares Action"
Bill "Bix" Bischel, S.J., 81, of Tacoma, Washington;
Susan Crane, 65, of Baltimore MD;
Lynne Greenwald, 60, of Bremerton, Washington;
Steve Kelly, S.J., 60, of Oakland, CA.;
Anne Montgomery RSCJ, 83, of New York, New York,
All five were arrested on Naval Base Kitsap- Bangor. They entered the
Base in the early morning hours of November 2, 2009, All Souls Day,
with the intention of calling attention to the illegality and
immorality of the existence of the Trident weapons system. They
entered thru the perimeter fence, made their way to the Strategic
Weapons Facility - Pacific ( SWFPAC) where they were able to cut
through the first chainlink fence surrounding SWFPAC, walked to and
cut the next double layered fence, which was both chain link and
barbed wire, onto the grounds of SWFPAC. As they walked onto the
grounds, they held a banner saying ŠŠ "Disarm Now Plowshares :
Trident: Illegal + Immoral", left a trail of blood and hammered on
the roadway (Trigger Ave. and Sturgeon) that are essential to the
working of the Trident weapons system, hammered on the fences around
SWFPAC and scattered sunflower seeds throughout the base. They were
then thrown to the ground face down, handcuffed and hooded and held
there for 4 hours on the wet, cold ground. They were taken, hooded,
and carried out through the very holes in the fence that they had
made, for questioning by Base security, FBI and NCIS. They refused to
give any information except their names, and were cited as of now, for
trespass and destruction of government property, given a ban and bar
letter and released.
In a joint statement, the group stated that, "The manufacture and
deployment of Trident II missiles, weapons of mass destruction, is
immoral and criminal under International Law and, therefore, under
United States law. As U.S. citizens we are responsible under the
Nuremberg Principles for this threat of first-strike terrorism hanging
over the community of nations, rich and poor. Moreover, such
planning, preparation, and deployment is a blasphemy against the
Creator of life, imaged in each human being. "
There have been approximately 100 Plowshares Nuclear Resistance
Actions worldwide since 1980. Plowshares actions are taken from Isaiah
2:4 in Old Testament (Hebrew) scripture of the Christian Bible, ³God
will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many
people. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their
spears into pruning hooks. And nations will not take up swords against
nations, nor will they train for war anymore."
The Trident submarine base at Bangor, just 20 miles from Seattle, is
home to the largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads in the U.S.
arsenal, housing more than 2000 nuclear warheads. In November 2006,
the Natural Resources Defense Council declared that the 2,364 nuclear
warheads at Bangor are approximately 24 percent of the entire U.S.
arsenal. The Bangor base houses more nuclear warheads than China,
France, Israel, India, North Korea and Pakistan combined.
The base has been rebuilt for the deployment of the larger and more
accurate Trident D-5 missile system. Each of the 24 D-5 missiles on a
Trident submarine is capable of carrying eight of the larger 455
kiloton W-88 warheads (each warhead is about 30 times the explosive
force as the Hiroshima bomb.) The D-5 missile can also be armed with
the 100 kiloton W-76 warhead. The Trident fleet at Bangor deploys
both the 455 kiloton W-88 warhead and the 100 kiloton W-76 warhead.
xxx
Statement of the DISARM NOW PLOWSHARES
"I will purify you from the taint of all your idols. I will give you
a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart
of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my
Spirit within you and make you conform to my statutes." Ez. 36:25-27
We walk into the heart of darkness, the Naval Submarine Base
Kitsap-Bangor, housing and deploying over 2,000 nuclear warheads for
Trident submarines. By their very existence they are endangering the
environment, threatening the indiscriminate destruction of life on
earth, and depriving the hungry, homeless, and jobless of billions of
dollars that could supply human needs throughout the world.
The manufacture and deployment of Trident II missiles, weapons of mass
destruction, is immoral and criminal under international law and,
therefore, under United States law. As U.S. citizens we are
responsible under the Nuremberg Principles for this threat of
first-strike terrorism hanging over the community of nations, rich and
poor. Moreover, such planning, preparation, and deployment is a
blasphemy against the Creator of life, imaged in each human being.
We are called by Isaiah to take seriously our own responsibility to
act as citizens of the nation that subjected the civilians of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the hell of nuclear bombing and its deadly
consequences. The United States continues to research and develop
even more inhumane weapons of mass destruction.
We are called by Ezekiel to transform our own hearts and to invite all
those whose hearts are hardened by blindness, fear, and mistrust of
the ³other² to allow theirs to be transformed into "hearts of flesh:"
disarmed, compassionate, and generous.
We bring carpenters' hammers to symbolically transform these weapons
of death into material useful for homes and factories. On this day of
remembrance, All Souls Day, we bring our own blood in solidarity with
the victims of war, who are invisible to those who target them. We
bring sunflower seeds to plant the hope of new life in this violated
earth. We intend to beat swords into plowshares as one step up the
holy mountain where all nations can unite in peace.
At the beginning of the International Decade of Disarmament, we join
with the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the 2020 Vision
Campaign to abolish all nuclear weapons by that year at the latest.
Nuclear weapons can never be guardians, defenders, or upholders of
peace. They are sheathed in stainless steel and metal coverings that
conceal the evil incarnate lying within. They are filled with
death-dealing agents that tear apart humans and leave survivors
scarred for life. They leave no place for human care for the
thousands who suffer and die in agony. Nuclear weapons are a lie.
Their ³protection² is an illusion. They must be abolished.
"God will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many
peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears
into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor
will they train for war anymore.² Isaiah 2:4
Washington State
November 2, 2009
Steve Kelly, S.J.
Lynne Greenwald
Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
Susan Crane
Bill Bichsel, S.J.
xxx
November 2, 2009
Hand Delivery
Captain Mark Olsen
Commander US Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor
120 South Dewey St
Bremerton, WA 98314
YOU have been involved in the housing, deployment and threatened use
of immoral and illegal nuclear weapons on Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor.
These weapons and their delivery systems include Trident submarines,
Trident II D-5 missiles, and W-88 and W-76 nuclear warheads. These
weapons, and their delivery systems, threaten the destruction of other
nations and people and as such constitute violation of International
Law and of Ruling of the International Tribunal of Justice of 1996.
You are hereby notified that effective upon receipt of this letter
that the disarmament of all nuclear weapons at Naval Base
Kitsap/Bangor is to begin immediately and continue until all nuclear
weapons are disarmed and removed.
You are further informed that delay or failure to begin disarmament
will lead to the prosecution before the International Tribunal of
Justice of all naval and civilian personnel responsible for the delay.
This barment letter is issued for the protection and security of
people, animals, and all creation of our world.
Any compelling reason for naval or civilian exemption from prosecution
by the International Tribunal can be entered with the secretariat of
the International Tribunal.
(Address; International Tribunal, International Court of Justice, The
Hague, Netherlands)
Steve Kelly, S.J.
Lynne Greenwald
Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
Susan Crane
Bill Bichsel, S.J.
xxx
Disarm Now Plowshares Bios:
Steve Kelly, S.J. During his religious formation in our inner cities,
in Sudan, Africa, as well as refugee work in Central America following
ordination, he encountered the messiah, Jesus incarnate in the poor.
At the same time, the relevance of Jesus as a real shepherd inserting
himself between the danger of wolf or thief and the flock in his care
inspired this Jesuit to try to imitate Jesus. His current
collaboration with Catholic Workers and the Pacific Life Community
confirms the analysis that the nukes represent, just in their making,
a contemporary larceny from the poor, while the wolf, the imminent
danger of their use, demands the embodiment of Isaiah 2:4. Will that
hammering wake us, those professing faith in a loving God, from our
idolatrous slumbers?
Lynne Greenwald is the mother of three children and has worked
professionally as a Registered Nurse, Family Therapist and Social
Worker for nearly 40 years. She has also been actively involved in
the Nonviolent Peace Movement since the mid-1970s. Lynne moved to
Kitsap County in Washington State 26 years ago to join Ground Zero
Center for Nonviolent Action and to become a neighbor to families
involved with the Trident Base and other facilities in this
predominately military community. "While the existence of Trident is
obvious, the truth of Trident's nuclear threats and illegality remains
hidden. My action of conversion today is one committed out of love
for all life."
Anne Montgomery is an eighty-three year old Religious of the Sacred
Heart and former teacher in high schools and programs for dropouts and
learning disabled children. As a member of the Gulf Peace Team in
1991 and of Christian Peacemaker Teams from 1995 to 2009 she served in
Iraq and Palestine. Since 1980 she has been active in the Plowshares
movement and other forms of civil resistance to U.S. militarism,
especially nuclear weapons. Since 2005 she has also participated in
Witness Against Torture and the Free Gaza boat trip to open the port
of Gaza. She acts now to support all efforts to convert weapons of
death into resources for human life, especially for the most neglected
and oppressed of the threatened earth.
Susan Crane is the mother of two sons, and has taught at a school for
marginalized youth in California. More recently she has lived at
Jonah House, a nonviolent community in Baltimore, which speaks out
against all warmaking, and specifically nuclear weapons. Aware that we
take better care of nuclear weapons than of our nation's children, and
that we spend more than half of every federal tax dollar on warmaking
rather than human needs, she acts to transform these weapons of mass
destruction to life- giving materials.
ill Bichsel, a Tacoma native, entered the Jesuit Order in 1946 and
after studies and teaching was ordained a Jesuit in 1959. He has
served in parishes, taught in high schools, and was Dean of Students
at Gonzaga from 1963-1966. In 1969 he returned to Tacoma where he
served at St. Leo's Parish for over 7 years and then co-founded the
Tacoma Catholic Worker (Guadalupe House) which offers hospitality and
transitional housing to the homeless. The Guadalupe Community lives in
the nonviolent tradition of Dorothy Day, the Catholic Worker
foundress. Bichsel still resides and serves at the Tacoma Catholic
Worker-one mile from where he was born and raised. He has served jail
and prison terms many times for his resistance to the violence of the
Trident nuclear weapon system and the violence of the S.O.A. training
at Ft. Benning, GA. He believes that unless we, the American people,
actively work to abolish nuclear weapons we as a people will continue
to threaten destruction to the global community and continue to
deprive the poor of the world of resources necessary for life.
xxx
Fact Sheet: Trident Submarine & Missile System:
Trident submarines serve as the sea based nuclear launch system of the
Air, Land, and Sea Nuclear Triad supported by the US government. The
U.S. currently has 14 nuclear-powered Trident ballistic-missile (SSBN)
submarines. Trident submarines are 560 feet in length, or nearly two
football fields. Each submarine can carry 24 submarine-launched
ballistic missiles (SLBMs) designated Trident D5 and each missile can
carry up to eight 100 kiloton nuclear warheads (about 30 times the
explosive force as the Hiroshima bomb).
The Trident D5 missile stands 44.6 feet high and originally had a
range of 4,230 nautical miles with a full load of warheads, and up to
6000+ nautical miles with a reduced load of warheads. Upgrades and
Life Extension Programs may have changed some specifications.
Warheads are either Mark-4/W76 or Mark-5/W88.
100: Number of kilotons on ONE Trident W76 warhead
455: Number of kilotons on ONE Trident W88 warhead
345,600: Total number of kilotons deployed on Trident fleet
14: Number of kilotons on atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima
150,000: Number of people killed by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
1,028 minimum; 4,885 maximum: Number of potential "Hiroshimas" each
Trident is capable of destroying
$66,000,000: Price of ONE Trident II D5 missile
14: Number of nuclear- armed submarines the Navy wants to deploy through 2042
$60,000,000: Cost of health insurance for 60,000 children
$10,000,000,000: Annual cost of providing sanitary water to 2.4
billion people worldwide who now lack it
$59,000,000,000: Cost of building housing for 6000,000 homeless
families in the US
$170,200,000,000 (low estimate): Total cost of the ENTIRE Trident
program through year 2042
Naval Submarine Base Kitsap-Bangor is located 20 miles west of Seattle
on the deep waters of Hood Canal in Washington State. It is the home
to the largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads in the U.S.
arsenal, housing more than 2,000 nuclear warheads. This is
approximately 24% of the entire U.S. arsenal. The Bangor Base
presently houses more nuclear warheads than the countries of England,
France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea combined.
There are eight Tridents based at the Bangor Base; six operate out of
Kings Bay, GA. The Trident submarines at Bangor are likely to be used
first in any nuclear attack, either as an isolated tactical assault on
a specific site, bunker, or weapons location, or in a larger strategic
nuclear attack. The D5 missile is capable of traveling over 1,370
miles in less than 13 minutes, allowing for a US nuclear strike
anywhere on planet earth within 15 minutes.
xxx
LETHAL FORCE
by William J. Bichsel, S.J.
On November 2, 2009, All Souls Day, by the grace of God I choose to
enter the Trident Submarine Base at Bangor Washington. I wish to walk
to the idolatrous place of nuclear weapon bunkers where lethal force
is authorized to guard the hiding places of the most lethal forces in
the world. I wish to walk in solidarity with the poor of our world
who live with lethal force constantly directed against them. My
vulnerability to this lethal force is minimal compared to the lifetime
vulnerability of the condemned of our world. My compelling reason for
entering the Trident Submarine Base is to be present at this Auschwitz
place in order to witness in faith to the transforming power of Jesus'
non-violence and Resurrection which can turn hearts of stone into
hearts of flesh and compassion. At this place of global death and
hopelessness I wish to witness in faith to the life giving and
transforming power of this presence which can expel the demon of
violence from the hearts and minds of people possessed by the need for
nuclear weapons. I believe the life giving power of the Resurrection
can flow over the nuclear death machine and stop its destructive
force.
Compassion can then grow in hearts and minds of people who have been
liberated from the prison of fear and violence.
Millions upon millions of people throughout our world live with lethal
force being directed against them. Our brothers and sisters and
children live in war ravaged places where violence reigns and
starvation, disease, absence of medical resources, absence of shelter
eventually bring death. One hour from our shores in Haiti, where one
in twelve children do not reach the age of five, parents give children
mud cakes made of earth, oil, sugar and salt to diminish the effects
of hunger pains. From the Sudan to Sub Saharan Africa, mothers watch
as their infants and children become emaciated with swollen stomachs
and lifeless eyes then die. All of these lethal forces are authorized.
In the U.S., except for the poor, we have been protected and insulated
from the death sentences under which half of the earth's population
lives. The drive for security has numbed our citizens to accept
nuclear weapons as the ultimate protector of the American way of life.
In effect this choice means the acceptance of the use of nuclear
weapons if the United States considers itself threatened. The people
of the United States accept the deaths of millions of people if a
preempted strike is ordered. Thus the use of lethal force is
authorized.
Across our nation there are vast numbers of U.S. citizens who face
lethal forces directed against them which are not as immediate or
instantaneously murderous as the lethal forces directed against the
3rd world poor. In our capitalistic system there are many who will not
receive the health care, education, employment, appropriate housing
and nutrition needed to live full human lives in this culture. These
forces attack the body, soul and spirit of our citizens which
eventually bring death of the spirit and then the body. This is
especially true of one segment of our population - the mentally-ill,
who live on the streets, under bridges, in door ways, jungle camps or
in jails and prisons. They belong nowhere. They die. These lethal
forces are also authorized.
The continued possession of nuclear weapons by the United States means
that resources that could be used to divert the lethal forces that are
now killing the poor of our world will continue to be used to fuel the
killing machine.
Father Richard McSorley, S.J. has maintained that "the tap root of
violence in our society is the acceptance of nuclear weapons." We must
bend our efforts to make known the Non Proliferation Treaty Review
which will take place on May 2, 2010 at the United Nations. By our
presence we must insist that the NPT Review Committee in the very near
future organize a nuclear weapon global conference of these treaty
nations which will set a firm date for nuclear weapon abolition.
xxx
Some thoughts about going onto Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor
by Susan Crane
All Soul's Day, Nov. 2, 2009
Today in the US more and more people are coming to food pantries,
needing food for their families. The numbers of home foreclosures
increase, leaving families homeless; unemployment increases; and many,
even those with health insurance, can't get their basic health needs
met. Class size increases as teachers are laid off and dropout rates
increase. Many returning vets must struggle for benefits. States are
near bankruptcy, and our infrastructure is falling apart. And day by
day climate change threatens us all.
As a nation, we know all this. We experience it personally, and hear
it on the nightly news. But what we don't hear is that there may be
solutions to these problems. We need to look at where, as a nation, we
are allocating our resources: where do our federal tax dollars go?
Where do our brightest and best scientists find work? Where do our
idealistic and dedicated youth end up? We know that over half of
every federal tax dollar is used for warmaking. And we know that the
American people never have a chance to vote on a bond issue for the
next fighter plane or nuclear weapon. Every dollar that is used for
warmaking, killing or planning to kill other people, is a dollar that
is not used for human needs, or healing the earth.
Here in Washington state, I was thinking about the Trident submarines
which have nuclear warheads on them, and are constantly roaming the
oceans. There are 8 subs homeported here at Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor.
And each of these subs carries 24 Trident II D-5 missiles, and each
of the missiles carries multiple nuclear warheads. Some of the
warheads are 32 times the explosive heat and blast of the bomb the US
dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
The Trident subs are stealthy, and at sea their location is secret.
They can launch nuclear weapons to anywhere in the world in 15
minutes, which is a constant threat to people in other nations. Here
in the US we don't live under a threat like that.
My faith tradition teaches me that we are to love our enemies, to love
one another. Planning to kill others is not an act of
loveŠIndiscriminate killing of whole cites of people, animals and
plants is not an act of love.
Here in the northwest where the Trident subs are homeported, the land
is beautiful; the trees are aromatic; the water is healing. And I
hope that we come to our senses and experience this land we live in,
and realize that we-and people all over the earth-are brothers and
sisters. There is no "us" and "them". As individuals and as a
nation; we all have good in us; we all have a shadow side. We can all
work together if we choose to.
With hope for peace and disarmament, the five us, Steve Kelly, S.J,
Lynne Greenwald, Anne Montgomery, RSCJ, Bill Bichsel, S.J. and
myself, go to Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor on All Soul's Day. We remember
the 150 million people killed by warmaking and related consequences of
war in the last 100 years. It is in solidarity with all who live in
lethal force zones that we enter the lethal force zone on the naval
base.
We bring our own blood to pour on the missiles, nuclear weapons,
trident subs, or perhaps on the railroad tracks that carry the
weapons. We pour our blood to remind us all of the consequences of
warmaking. We bring hammers to enflesh the words of Isaiah to hammer
swords into plowshares. We bring sunflower seeds to sow to begin to
convert the base, and we bring disarmed hearts in hope of a disarmed
world. I go onto the base with the support of all at Jonah House, in
Baltimore, carrying their prayers in my hip pocket.
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Felice & Jack Cohen-Joppa <nukeresister@igc.org>
Date: Mon, Nov 2, 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 2, 2009
Contacts :
Jackie Hudson- 360-286-9036 or jackiehudson123@Yahoo.com
Sue Ablao - 360-286-9157 or sablao1@yahoo.com
Five People Arrested on Naval Base Kitsap- Bangor
The "Disarm Now Trident Plowshares Action"
Bill "Bix" Bischel, S.J., 81, of Tacoma, Washington;
Susan Crane, 65, of Baltimore MD;
Lynne Greenwald, 60, of Bremerton, Washington;
Steve Kelly, S.J., 60, of Oakland, CA.;
Anne Montgomery RSCJ, 83, of New York, New York,
All five were arrested on Naval Base Kitsap- Bangor. They entered the
Base in the early morning hours of November 2, 2009, All Souls Day,
with the intention of calling attention to the illegality and
immorality of the existence of the Trident weapons system. They
entered thru the perimeter fence, made their way to the Strategic
Weapons Facility - Pacific ( SWFPAC) where they were able to cut
through the first chainlink fence surrounding SWFPAC, walked to and
cut the next double layered fence, which was both chain link and
barbed wire, onto the grounds of SWFPAC. As they walked onto the
grounds, they held a banner saying ŠŠ "Disarm Now Plowshares :
Trident: Illegal + Immoral", left a trail of blood and hammered on
the roadway (Trigger Ave. and Sturgeon) that are essential to the
working of the Trident weapons system, hammered on the fences around
SWFPAC and scattered sunflower seeds throughout the base. They were
then thrown to the ground face down, handcuffed and hooded and held
there for 4 hours on the wet, cold ground. They were taken, hooded,
and carried out through the very holes in the fence that they had
made, for questioning by Base security, FBI and NCIS. They refused to
give any information except their names, and were cited as of now, for
trespass and destruction of government property, given a ban and bar
letter and released.
In a joint statement, the group stated that, "The manufacture and
deployment of Trident II missiles, weapons of mass destruction, is
immoral and criminal under International Law and, therefore, under
United States law. As U.S. citizens we are responsible under the
Nuremberg Principles for this threat of first-strike terrorism hanging
over the community of nations, rich and poor. Moreover, such
planning, preparation, and deployment is a blasphemy against the
Creator of life, imaged in each human being. "
There have been approximately 100 Plowshares Nuclear Resistance
Actions worldwide since 1980. Plowshares actions are taken from Isaiah
2:4 in Old Testament (Hebrew) scripture of the Christian Bible, ³God
will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many
people. And they shall beat their swords into plowshares and their
spears into pruning hooks. And nations will not take up swords against
nations, nor will they train for war anymore."
The Trident submarine base at Bangor, just 20 miles from Seattle, is
home to the largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads in the U.S.
arsenal, housing more than 2000 nuclear warheads. In November 2006,
the Natural Resources Defense Council declared that the 2,364 nuclear
warheads at Bangor are approximately 24 percent of the entire U.S.
arsenal. The Bangor base houses more nuclear warheads than China,
France, Israel, India, North Korea and Pakistan combined.
The base has been rebuilt for the deployment of the larger and more
accurate Trident D-5 missile system. Each of the 24 D-5 missiles on a
Trident submarine is capable of carrying eight of the larger 455
kiloton W-88 warheads (each warhead is about 30 times the explosive
force as the Hiroshima bomb.) The D-5 missile can also be armed with
the 100 kiloton W-76 warhead. The Trident fleet at Bangor deploys
both the 455 kiloton W-88 warhead and the 100 kiloton W-76 warhead.
xxx
Statement of the DISARM NOW PLOWSHARES
"I will purify you from the taint of all your idols. I will give you
a new heart and put a new spirit within you. I will remove the heart
of stone from your body and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my
Spirit within you and make you conform to my statutes." Ez. 36:25-27
We walk into the heart of darkness, the Naval Submarine Base
Kitsap-Bangor, housing and deploying over 2,000 nuclear warheads for
Trident submarines. By their very existence they are endangering the
environment, threatening the indiscriminate destruction of life on
earth, and depriving the hungry, homeless, and jobless of billions of
dollars that could supply human needs throughout the world.
The manufacture and deployment of Trident II missiles, weapons of mass
destruction, is immoral and criminal under international law and,
therefore, under United States law. As U.S. citizens we are
responsible under the Nuremberg Principles for this threat of
first-strike terrorism hanging over the community of nations, rich and
poor. Moreover, such planning, preparation, and deployment is a
blasphemy against the Creator of life, imaged in each human being.
We are called by Isaiah to take seriously our own responsibility to
act as citizens of the nation that subjected the civilians of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki to the hell of nuclear bombing and its deadly
consequences. The United States continues to research and develop
even more inhumane weapons of mass destruction.
We are called by Ezekiel to transform our own hearts and to invite all
those whose hearts are hardened by blindness, fear, and mistrust of
the ³other² to allow theirs to be transformed into "hearts of flesh:"
disarmed, compassionate, and generous.
We bring carpenters' hammers to symbolically transform these weapons
of death into material useful for homes and factories. On this day of
remembrance, All Souls Day, we bring our own blood in solidarity with
the victims of war, who are invisible to those who target them. We
bring sunflower seeds to plant the hope of new life in this violated
earth. We intend to beat swords into plowshares as one step up the
holy mountain where all nations can unite in peace.
At the beginning of the International Decade of Disarmament, we join
with the survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the 2020 Vision
Campaign to abolish all nuclear weapons by that year at the latest.
Nuclear weapons can never be guardians, defenders, or upholders of
peace. They are sheathed in stainless steel and metal coverings that
conceal the evil incarnate lying within. They are filled with
death-dealing agents that tear apart humans and leave survivors
scarred for life. They leave no place for human care for the
thousands who suffer and die in agony. Nuclear weapons are a lie.
Their ³protection² is an illusion. They must be abolished.
"God will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many
peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears
into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor
will they train for war anymore.² Isaiah 2:4
Washington State
November 2, 2009
Steve Kelly, S.J.
Lynne Greenwald
Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
Susan Crane
Bill Bichsel, S.J.
xxx
November 2, 2009
Hand Delivery
Captain Mark Olsen
Commander US Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor
120 South Dewey St
Bremerton, WA 98314
YOU have been involved in the housing, deployment and threatened use
of immoral and illegal nuclear weapons on Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor.
These weapons and their delivery systems include Trident submarines,
Trident II D-5 missiles, and W-88 and W-76 nuclear warheads. These
weapons, and their delivery systems, threaten the destruction of other
nations and people and as such constitute violation of International
Law and of Ruling of the International Tribunal of Justice of 1996.
You are hereby notified that effective upon receipt of this letter
that the disarmament of all nuclear weapons at Naval Base
Kitsap/Bangor is to begin immediately and continue until all nuclear
weapons are disarmed and removed.
You are further informed that delay or failure to begin disarmament
will lead to the prosecution before the International Tribunal of
Justice of all naval and civilian personnel responsible for the delay.
This barment letter is issued for the protection and security of
people, animals, and all creation of our world.
Any compelling reason for naval or civilian exemption from prosecution
by the International Tribunal can be entered with the secretariat of
the International Tribunal.
(Address; International Tribunal, International Court of Justice, The
Hague, Netherlands)
Steve Kelly, S.J.
Lynne Greenwald
Anne Montgomery, RSCJ
Susan Crane
Bill Bichsel, S.J.
xxx
Disarm Now Plowshares Bios:
Steve Kelly, S.J. During his religious formation in our inner cities,
in Sudan, Africa, as well as refugee work in Central America following
ordination, he encountered the messiah, Jesus incarnate in the poor.
At the same time, the relevance of Jesus as a real shepherd inserting
himself between the danger of wolf or thief and the flock in his care
inspired this Jesuit to try to imitate Jesus. His current
collaboration with Catholic Workers and the Pacific Life Community
confirms the analysis that the nukes represent, just in their making,
a contemporary larceny from the poor, while the wolf, the imminent
danger of their use, demands the embodiment of Isaiah 2:4. Will that
hammering wake us, those professing faith in a loving God, from our
idolatrous slumbers?
Lynne Greenwald is the mother of three children and has worked
professionally as a Registered Nurse, Family Therapist and Social
Worker for nearly 40 years. She has also been actively involved in
the Nonviolent Peace Movement since the mid-1970s. Lynne moved to
Kitsap County in Washington State 26 years ago to join Ground Zero
Center for Nonviolent Action and to become a neighbor to families
involved with the Trident Base and other facilities in this
predominately military community. "While the existence of Trident is
obvious, the truth of Trident's nuclear threats and illegality remains
hidden. My action of conversion today is one committed out of love
for all life."
Anne Montgomery is an eighty-three year old Religious of the Sacred
Heart and former teacher in high schools and programs for dropouts and
learning disabled children. As a member of the Gulf Peace Team in
1991 and of Christian Peacemaker Teams from 1995 to 2009 she served in
Iraq and Palestine. Since 1980 she has been active in the Plowshares
movement and other forms of civil resistance to U.S. militarism,
especially nuclear weapons. Since 2005 she has also participated in
Witness Against Torture and the Free Gaza boat trip to open the port
of Gaza. She acts now to support all efforts to convert weapons of
death into resources for human life, especially for the most neglected
and oppressed of the threatened earth.
Susan Crane is the mother of two sons, and has taught at a school for
marginalized youth in California. More recently she has lived at
Jonah House, a nonviolent community in Baltimore, which speaks out
against all warmaking, and specifically nuclear weapons. Aware that we
take better care of nuclear weapons than of our nation's children, and
that we spend more than half of every federal tax dollar on warmaking
rather than human needs, she acts to transform these weapons of mass
destruction to life- giving materials.
ill Bichsel, a Tacoma native, entered the Jesuit Order in 1946 and
after studies and teaching was ordained a Jesuit in 1959. He has
served in parishes, taught in high schools, and was Dean of Students
at Gonzaga from 1963-1966. In 1969 he returned to Tacoma where he
served at St. Leo's Parish for over 7 years and then co-founded the
Tacoma Catholic Worker (Guadalupe House) which offers hospitality and
transitional housing to the homeless. The Guadalupe Community lives in
the nonviolent tradition of Dorothy Day, the Catholic Worker
foundress. Bichsel still resides and serves at the Tacoma Catholic
Worker-one mile from where he was born and raised. He has served jail
and prison terms many times for his resistance to the violence of the
Trident nuclear weapon system and the violence of the S.O.A. training
at Ft. Benning, GA. He believes that unless we, the American people,
actively work to abolish nuclear weapons we as a people will continue
to threaten destruction to the global community and continue to
deprive the poor of the world of resources necessary for life.
xxx
Fact Sheet: Trident Submarine & Missile System:
Trident submarines serve as the sea based nuclear launch system of the
Air, Land, and Sea Nuclear Triad supported by the US government. The
U.S. currently has 14 nuclear-powered Trident ballistic-missile (SSBN)
submarines. Trident submarines are 560 feet in length, or nearly two
football fields. Each submarine can carry 24 submarine-launched
ballistic missiles (SLBMs) designated Trident D5 and each missile can
carry up to eight 100 kiloton nuclear warheads (about 30 times the
explosive force as the Hiroshima bomb).
The Trident D5 missile stands 44.6 feet high and originally had a
range of 4,230 nautical miles with a full load of warheads, and up to
6000+ nautical miles with a reduced load of warheads. Upgrades and
Life Extension Programs may have changed some specifications.
Warheads are either Mark-4/W76 or Mark-5/W88.
100: Number of kilotons on ONE Trident W76 warhead
455: Number of kilotons on ONE Trident W88 warhead
345,600: Total number of kilotons deployed on Trident fleet
14: Number of kilotons on atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima
150,000: Number of people killed by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima
1,028 minimum; 4,885 maximum: Number of potential "Hiroshimas" each
Trident is capable of destroying
$66,000,000: Price of ONE Trident II D5 missile
14: Number of nuclear- armed submarines the Navy wants to deploy through 2042
$60,000,000: Cost of health insurance for 60,000 children
$10,000,000,000: Annual cost of providing sanitary water to 2.4
billion people worldwide who now lack it
$59,000,000,000: Cost of building housing for 6000,000 homeless
families in the US
$170,200,000,000 (low estimate): Total cost of the ENTIRE Trident
program through year 2042
Naval Submarine Base Kitsap-Bangor is located 20 miles west of Seattle
on the deep waters of Hood Canal in Washington State. It is the home
to the largest single stockpile of nuclear warheads in the U.S.
arsenal, housing more than 2,000 nuclear warheads. This is
approximately 24% of the entire U.S. arsenal. The Bangor Base
presently houses more nuclear warheads than the countries of England,
France, China, Israel, India, Pakistan and North Korea combined.
There are eight Tridents based at the Bangor Base; six operate out of
Kings Bay, GA. The Trident submarines at Bangor are likely to be used
first in any nuclear attack, either as an isolated tactical assault on
a specific site, bunker, or weapons location, or in a larger strategic
nuclear attack. The D5 missile is capable of traveling over 1,370
miles in less than 13 minutes, allowing for a US nuclear strike
anywhere on planet earth within 15 minutes.
xxx
LETHAL FORCE
by William J. Bichsel, S.J.
On November 2, 2009, All Souls Day, by the grace of God I choose to
enter the Trident Submarine Base at Bangor Washington. I wish to walk
to the idolatrous place of nuclear weapon bunkers where lethal force
is authorized to guard the hiding places of the most lethal forces in
the world. I wish to walk in solidarity with the poor of our world
who live with lethal force constantly directed against them. My
vulnerability to this lethal force is minimal compared to the lifetime
vulnerability of the condemned of our world. My compelling reason for
entering the Trident Submarine Base is to be present at this Auschwitz
place in order to witness in faith to the transforming power of Jesus'
non-violence and Resurrection which can turn hearts of stone into
hearts of flesh and compassion. At this place of global death and
hopelessness I wish to witness in faith to the life giving and
transforming power of this presence which can expel the demon of
violence from the hearts and minds of people possessed by the need for
nuclear weapons. I believe the life giving power of the Resurrection
can flow over the nuclear death machine and stop its destructive
force.
Compassion can then grow in hearts and minds of people who have been
liberated from the prison of fear and violence.
Millions upon millions of people throughout our world live with lethal
force being directed against them. Our brothers and sisters and
children live in war ravaged places where violence reigns and
starvation, disease, absence of medical resources, absence of shelter
eventually bring death. One hour from our shores in Haiti, where one
in twelve children do not reach the age of five, parents give children
mud cakes made of earth, oil, sugar and salt to diminish the effects
of hunger pains. From the Sudan to Sub Saharan Africa, mothers watch
as their infants and children become emaciated with swollen stomachs
and lifeless eyes then die. All of these lethal forces are authorized.
In the U.S., except for the poor, we have been protected and insulated
from the death sentences under which half of the earth's population
lives. The drive for security has numbed our citizens to accept
nuclear weapons as the ultimate protector of the American way of life.
In effect this choice means the acceptance of the use of nuclear
weapons if the United States considers itself threatened. The people
of the United States accept the deaths of millions of people if a
preempted strike is ordered. Thus the use of lethal force is
authorized.
Across our nation there are vast numbers of U.S. citizens who face
lethal forces directed against them which are not as immediate or
instantaneously murderous as the lethal forces directed against the
3rd world poor. In our capitalistic system there are many who will not
receive the health care, education, employment, appropriate housing
and nutrition needed to live full human lives in this culture. These
forces attack the body, soul and spirit of our citizens which
eventually bring death of the spirit and then the body. This is
especially true of one segment of our population - the mentally-ill,
who live on the streets, under bridges, in door ways, jungle camps or
in jails and prisons. They belong nowhere. They die. These lethal
forces are also authorized.
The continued possession of nuclear weapons by the United States means
that resources that could be used to divert the lethal forces that are
now killing the poor of our world will continue to be used to fuel the
killing machine.
Father Richard McSorley, S.J. has maintained that "the tap root of
violence in our society is the acceptance of nuclear weapons." We must
bend our efforts to make known the Non Proliferation Treaty Review
which will take place on May 2, 2010 at the United Nations. By our
presence we must insist that the NPT Review Committee in the very near
future organize a nuclear weapon global conference of these treaty
nations which will set a firm date for nuclear weapon abolition.
xxx
Some thoughts about going onto Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor
by Susan Crane
All Soul's Day, Nov. 2, 2009
Today in the US more and more people are coming to food pantries,
needing food for their families. The numbers of home foreclosures
increase, leaving families homeless; unemployment increases; and many,
even those with health insurance, can't get their basic health needs
met. Class size increases as teachers are laid off and dropout rates
increase. Many returning vets must struggle for benefits. States are
near bankruptcy, and our infrastructure is falling apart. And day by
day climate change threatens us all.
As a nation, we know all this. We experience it personally, and hear
it on the nightly news. But what we don't hear is that there may be
solutions to these problems. We need to look at where, as a nation, we
are allocating our resources: where do our federal tax dollars go?
Where do our brightest and best scientists find work? Where do our
idealistic and dedicated youth end up? We know that over half of
every federal tax dollar is used for warmaking. And we know that the
American people never have a chance to vote on a bond issue for the
next fighter plane or nuclear weapon. Every dollar that is used for
warmaking, killing or planning to kill other people, is a dollar that
is not used for human needs, or healing the earth.
Here in Washington state, I was thinking about the Trident submarines
which have nuclear warheads on them, and are constantly roaming the
oceans. There are 8 subs homeported here at Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor.
And each of these subs carries 24 Trident II D-5 missiles, and each
of the missiles carries multiple nuclear warheads. Some of the
warheads are 32 times the explosive heat and blast of the bomb the US
dropped on Hiroshima in 1945.
The Trident subs are stealthy, and at sea their location is secret.
They can launch nuclear weapons to anywhere in the world in 15
minutes, which is a constant threat to people in other nations. Here
in the US we don't live under a threat like that.
My faith tradition teaches me that we are to love our enemies, to love
one another. Planning to kill others is not an act of
loveŠIndiscriminate killing of whole cites of people, animals and
plants is not an act of love.
Here in the northwest where the Trident subs are homeported, the land
is beautiful; the trees are aromatic; the water is healing. And I
hope that we come to our senses and experience this land we live in,
and realize that we-and people all over the earth-are brothers and
sisters. There is no "us" and "them". As individuals and as a
nation; we all have good in us; we all have a shadow side. We can all
work together if we choose to.
With hope for peace and disarmament, the five us, Steve Kelly, S.J,
Lynne Greenwald, Anne Montgomery, RSCJ, Bill Bichsel, S.J. and
myself, go to Naval Base Kitsap/Bangor on All Soul's Day. We remember
the 150 million people killed by warmaking and related consequences of
war in the last 100 years. It is in solidarity with all who live in
lethal force zones that we enter the lethal force zone on the naval
base.
We bring our own blood to pour on the missiles, nuclear weapons,
trident subs, or perhaps on the railroad tracks that carry the
weapons. We pour our blood to remind us all of the consequences of
warmaking. We bring hammers to enflesh the words of Isaiah to hammer
swords into plowshares. We bring sunflower seeds to sow to begin to
convert the base, and we bring disarmed hearts in hope of a disarmed
world. I go onto the base with the support of all at Jonah House, in
Baltimore, carrying their prayers in my hip pocket.
Monday, September 7, 2009
[국문 번역: Site Forward ] [Bruce Gagnon] Coordinator Trip Report – Japan & South Korea
| Coordinator Trip Report from Japan & South Korea July 22 - August 23 2009 From: Bruce Gagnon | ||
| This trip report covers the period of July 22-August 23 as I traveled to Japan and South Korea for my longest and most successful speaking tour ever. The trip happened because Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba from Hiroshima invited me to speak at the International Symposium for Peace that his city hosted on August 1 and then again on August 8 in Nagasaki at the General Conference of Mayors for Peace that he chairs. Using this opportunity our Global Network (GN) Japanese board members (Atsushi Fujioka, Makiko Sato, Koji Sugihara, and Hibiki Yamaguchi) set out to organize a six-city speaking tour for me that would last for three weeks across their country. From there I traveled to Seoul, South Korea where again GN board members (Wooksik Cheong and Sung-Hee Choi) prepared a busy weeklong schedule for me. On July 24 I began with three media interviews at the offices of Hibiki Yamaguchi in Tokyo. The last one, with a Mr. Kaku, was quite impressive as he showed me a full-size poster he had created for the Hiroshima-Nagasaki remembrance days that included several photos and short stories about the GN’s space organizing efforts. He told me that the poster would be placed in 100 high schools across the country. He also wanted to interview me for a newsletter that he publishes for the students’ parents. Since 1995 he said the right-wing in Japan had been attacking “peace minded” teachers. On the poster was a photo of former GN board member Satomi Oba who passed away a few years ago. She had made extraordinary efforts to bring the space issue to Japan and often translated our annual Keep Space for Peace Week poster into Japanese and once translated a Karl Grossman space video as well. Throughout my time in Japan many people would approach me and say they were friends of Satomi. On August 6 in Hiroshima, Satomi’s daughter, now a TV personality, came to hear my talk at one event and afterwards said she must do more to help our efforts. On July 25 Koji Sugihara and his partner took me for a tour of the Yokosuka US Navy base where I learned that nine ships are now deployed there including several Aegis destroyers outfitted with “missile defense” systems. The nuclear aircraft carrier George Washington’s presence at the base is stirring up much resentment from the public as well. After a wonderful trip to speak in Nagoya, where I was warmly received, I made my way to Kyoto where Atsushi Fujioka and Makiko Sato made sure I had time to visit some temples and a castle in this remarkable city. Atsushi took us to see the expanded peace museum at Ritsumeikan University where he teaches economics. My speech in Kyoto was attended by members of the Association of Korean Residents in Japan, many of whom are descendants of workers forcibly brought to Japan by the once imperial Army. After my talk one of the members of the Korean association was asked to speak and he pointed out the sheer hypocrisy of the US and Japan criticizing North Korea for launching missiles and producing nuclear weapons when the US leads the world in this department. In fact, the US in July, and again on August 23, fired a nuclear Minuteman missile from Vandenberg AFB in California that landed at Kwajalien Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. How can the US test nuclear delivery systems at will yet attempt to lecture and selectively punish others for doing virtually the same thing? I raised this fundamental question in all of my speeches. It was in Hiroshima that I finally had the opportunity to meet Steve Leeper, who works for Mayor Akiba, and who was most responsible for getting me invited to speak there and in Nagasaki on August 8. I immediately liked this tall gentle man, an American who spent the first seven years of his life living in Japan and who fell in love with the Japanese people. He returned to Japan as a businessman during the 1980’s but became active in the peace movement and now works full-time for the abolition of nuclear weapons. Steve had seen the GN’s space video “Arsenal of Hypocrisy” and urged Mayor Akiba to watch it. Feeling that the US introduction of space technology would trump any hopes for nuclear disarmament, the invitation for me to speak was to follow. The August 1 peace symposium in Hiroshima was co-sponsored by the Asahi Shimbun newspaper company, the third largest paper in the country. They ran a feature story following the conference that took my message to many readers nationwide. While in Hiroshima I not only spoke to the several hundred people assembled at the city’s peace symposium but I was also invited to speak at several other important conferences held during the same time. In fact I was to speak seven times during the course of several days leading up to August 6, the 64th anniversary of the US atomic bombing. I next headed to Nagasaki where I spoke on August 8 to about 400 people attending the Mayors for Peace conference. Over 3,000 cities in 134 countries and regions have joined Mayors for Peace, the international network of local authorities campaigning for the elimination by 2020 of the estimated 24,000 nuclear warheads that exist today. I was quite pleased that following my speech mayors from all over the world approached me asking for a copy of my speech. Particularly exciting was that many of the requests came from African mayors and ambassadors who found my mention of US and NATO expansion into Africa for resource control on the continent (through the new Pentagon command AfriCom) of great interest and concern. My last talk in Japan was on August 11 when I spoke in the city of Fukuoka. It was very special to speak there because, in 1984, I made my first trip to Japan and made my first speech in this city. Physics professor Kouichi Toyoshima and Makiko Sato did a fine job of organizing this event and I left the meeting deeply touched by the words of Hiroko Watanabe who briefly spoke after my talk about their opposition to US and Japanese deployments of the PAC-3 missile defense system in her community. Her talk, entitled “I’ll Never Lose My Will” was so heart-wrenching that I put it on my blog the next morning. The next day Kouichi and Makiko took me swimming in the ocean which felt great after nearly three weeks of a busy schedule. Later that day Kouichi took me to a nearby spa hotel where he taught me the wonders of traditional Japanese spa baths. I was so relaxed after that experience I could hardly walk back to my room. (See TV interview at http://www.ourplanet-tv.org/asx/090805contact_500.asx) In South Korea On August 14 I arrived in Seoul, South Korea and was met by Sung-Hee Choi and taken to a traditional Korean boarding house where I would stay for the next week. Sung-Hee was a key person in the organizing of the GN’s annual space organizing conference that was held in Seoul just last April. She helped pull together about a dozen South Korean peace and reunification organizations who served as hosts and co-sponsors for our very successful 17th annual conference. For this last week of my trip Sung-Hee went back to many of these same co-sponsoring groups and requested that we meet so they could brief me on the current political situation in North and South Korea and so that I could at the same time share more details about the work of the GN. It was a remarkable learning experience to meet with union organizers, citizens fighting against corporate “redevelopment” of their neighborhoods, peace activists, socialist scholars, reunification activists, members of Korean Veterans for Peace, and many church leaders. One group, called the Pan Korean Alliance for Reunification (PKAR), was a co-sponsor of our April space conference and has recently been under severe attack by South Korea’s right-wing government. In May, soon after we got home from our trip to South Korea for our space conference, six reunification activists were arrested by the government under the anachronistic “National Security Law” (a throwback to Japanese occupation law) and three have already been tried and sentenced to three or four year jail sentences for simply working to reunify their torn and fractured nation. (I reported after our April trip that 1 out-of-every 4 South Korean families have relatives in the north and that hope for reunification burns deep in the hearts of the nation.) One of the activists arrested for her reunification efforts was 36 year-old Eun-A Choi who had actually chaired the plenary panel I spoke on during our April conference in Seoul. I was able to visit her at the prison where she has been detained since May as she awaits her trial. It was an unbelievable experience to see her, dressed in drab green jail clothes, behind the glass window with a woman jail keeper sitting behind her recording our conversation on paper - and this was happening in the so-called “free and democratic” South Korea. (While earlier visiting the PKAR office I had met two men who served 36 and 26 years respectively in South Korean prisons for their reunification efforts. Today there are 550 political prisoners in South Korean jails.). During the cab ride to the prison Sung-Hee and I heard that familiar “air raid siren” come across the car radio but little did I know that this was more than just a test. All traffic on busy Seoul streets was instructed to stop for five-full minutes. The voice on the radio said that this was “like a sports team that must practice defensive exercises” and that everyone should “stay at home and save water.” The nation was being made to fear an invasion from North Korea. This is “Psyops,” psychological operations, I wrote into my diary as the cab sat in the gridlocked mid-day downtown traffic. (I was later told that this five-minute “everyone stops air raid drill” happens once a month!)
In fact just the day before I had participated in a news conference and protest vigil at the joint HQ command base for the US-South Korean military war game that was rehearsing an attack and occupation of North Korea. The US and South Korean military practice such a preemptive strike on North Korea twice a year keeping the overwhelmed folks in the north in a constant state of siege. (After all, they have recently witnessed the US attack and occupy Iraq and Afghanistan. They must wonder if they are next on the list.) One of the greatest events I participated in during the trip was to watch and speak at a cultural rally on the evening of August 15 that drew about 10,000 people. This incredible event commemorated the 64th anniversary of the Korean liberation from Japanese colonialism in 1945. In my meeting with several leaders and staff from the GN affiliate group called SPARK (Solidarity for Peace & Reunification of Korea) they briefed me about the dangerous US program called PSI (Proliferation Security Initiative) that was created by former V-P Dick Cheney and neo-con John Bolton and now is being used by President Obama to stop North Korean ships on the high seas ostensibly looking for “weapons of mass destruction.” Just days ago I read in my local newspaper a report that the US had boarded a North Korean ship carrying “conventional weapons.” The US is now using PSI in such a provocative manner that it could create a pretext for a shooting match with North Korea, even an excuse for war. (The irony is of course that the US is currently the worlds largest exporter of weapons. There goes that “hypocrisy” thing again!) In addition, the talks with SPARK also focused on NATO expansion into the Asian-Pacific region. Not only is the US dragging NATO into Africa and Afghanistan, but under the name of “Global Partnership,” is now bringing South Korea, Japan, and Australian military forces into the aggressive NATO military expansion that is being used to surround Russia and China.
In my two major speeches in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and in most of my other talks throughout this trip, I quoted former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev who told an anti-nuclear conference in Rome last spring, “In the final analysis, the nuclear danger can only be removed by abolishing nuclear weapons. But could one regard as realistic the prospect of one country retaining the quantities of conventional weapons that exceed the combined arsenals of practically all other nations — the prospect of one country achieving absolute global superiority? Unless we address the need to demilitarize international relations, reduce military budgets, put an end to the creation of new kinds of weapons and prevent weaponization of outer space, all talk about a nuclear-weapon-free world will be just inconsequential rhetoric.” Mayor Akiba of Hiroshima is excited about President Obama calling for negotiations to get rid of nuclear weapons. He, and many others in Japan, often quoted Obama during the time I was there. But unless the Obama administration backs away from NATO expansion, cuts US military spending, ends the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and halts plans for expansion of “missile defense” in Europe and the Asian-Pacific there will be little real hope for serious and lasting nuclear disarmament. There is indeed change going on in Japan and South Korea today. On August 30 the Japanese people overwhelming threw their right-wing government out of power after decades of one-party rule in that country. The newly-elected centrist Democratic Party of Japan is promising a return to economic vitality but my activist friends there warn not to expect much change in their increasingly larger role as junior partner to the US military empire. A Japanese version of the military industrial complex is now in full development in their country, with particular emphasis on space technology. As I was preparing to return home from South Korea, their most popular president ever, Kim Dae-Jung died. Kim, twice imprisoned for pro-democracy organizing during the many years of US-backed totalitarian dictatorships, served as president of South Korea from 1998-2003. While in office he did more than any other leader to end the brutal policies of the corporate dominated leadership that the US put into power after the Korean War. His policy of positive engagement with North Korea has been termed the "June 15 joint statement". In 2000, he participated in the first of two North-South presidential summits with North Korea's leader Kim Jong-il, which later led to his winning the Nobel Peace Prize. Kim actively called for restraint against the North Koreans after they detonated a nuclear weapon and defended the continued warming towards Pyongyang by South Korea. The change today in South Korea is that the current right-wing government is attempting to roll back all the gains secured by the people during the good years of Kim Dae-Jung’s presidency. I know this report is longer than others I usually do after my trips. I could write another dozen pages worth and barely touch the deep and lasting images now locked in my heart and mind from this remarkable journey. There are so many people to thank for being so kind and generous to me that I can’t begin to do it. Most of all though I must thank our dedicated Global Network board members in Japan and South Korea, who by working together so well, made this such a fine organizing trip. In the end I spoke about 16 times and was interviewed by various media outlets at least 15 times. I counted no less than 15,000 people that I directly addressed in my various talks, some longer than others. Most importantly though this trip was about expanding the contacts and the space organizing of the Global Network in Japan and South Korea. To that end this trip was a smashing success. I will return for two more weeks to South Korea in mid-October to follow-up and expand upon our work there. I’m certain that trip will be as rich of an experience as this one was. To read my full speech that I delivered in Nagasaki at the Mayors for Peace conference just click on this link Bruce K. Gagnon | |||
| | |||
브루스 개그논 씀
( globalnet@mindspring.com )
브루스 개그논, 한국-일본 여행 보고서
2009년 9월 2일
원제: Coordinator Trip Report – Japan & South Korea
-위 사이트 이미지 캡션(한국 부분)-
*최성희씨는 서울 향린 교회에서 열린 저의 8월 20일 연설을 필름에 담았읍니다. 여기서 볼 수 있읍니다.
* 한국 평화 재향 군인회는 메인주 지도자 탐 스턴트번트를 대신해 제가 전한 [미 평화 재향 군인회]의 깃발을 받았읍니다
이 보고서는 7월 22일부터 8월 23일까지 저의 가장 길고 가장 성공적이었던 일본과 남한으로의 연설 여행에 관한 것입니다.
이 여행은 히로시마 시장 아키바 타다도시께서 그의 시가 8월 1일 주관한 평화를 위한 국제 심포지움과 다시 8월 8일 나가사키에서 그가 의장으로 있는 평화를 위한 시장 모임 일반 회담에서 제가 연설하도록 초청한 계기로 일어났읍니다.
이 기회를 이용, 글로벌 넷워크의 보드 멤버들 (아슈시 후지오카, 마키코 사토, 코지 수기하라, 그리고 히비키 야마구치)은 저를 위하여 일본 전역에 걸쳐 3주 동안 6개 도시에서 지속될 연설 여행을 계획했읍니다. 그곳에서 저는 글로벌 넷워크의 한국 보드 멤버들 (정욱식과 최성희)이 저를 위하여 바쁜 일주일간 스케줄을 마련한 대한민국 서울로 향했읍니다.
7월 24일, 저는 도쿄에 있는 히비키 야마구치씨 사무실에서 세 언론 인터뷰를 가졌읍니다. 미스터 카쿠와의 마지막 인터뷰는 꽤 인상적이었는데 그는 저에게 그가 히로시마-나가사키 기념일들을 위하여 만든 전면 크기 포스터를 보여 주었읍니다. 그 포스터는 글로벌 넷워크의 우주 이슈 조직화 노력을 담은 몇가지 사진들을 담은 것이었읍니다. 그는 저에게 그 포스터들이 나라 전역에 걸쳐 100 여개의 고등학교에 붙여질 것이라 말했읍니다. 그는 또한 학생들의 부모들을 위해 그가 출판하는 뉴스레터에 실을 기사로 저를 인터뷰하길 원했읍니다. 1995년 이후 그는 일본의 우익들이 “평화 정신”을 가진 선생님들을 공격하고 있었다 말했읍니다.
포스터에는 몇 년전에 사망한 전 글로벌 넷워크 보드 멤버 사토미 오바씨의 사진이 있었읍니다. 그는 일본에 우주 이슈를 전하기 위하여 참으로 열심히 노력을 했는데 우리의 연간 우주 평화 주간 포스터를 일본어로 번역했고 칼 그로스만의 비디오를 또한 한 번 번역하기도 했읍니다.
제가 일본에 있을 동안 많은 사람들이 저에게 와서 그들이 사토미의 친구라 말했읍니다.
8월 6일, 히로시마에서 현재 방송인으로 일하는 사토미의 딸이 한 행사의 제 연설을 들으러 왔고 이 후 말하길 그는 우리의 노력을 돕기 위해 더 많은 노력을 해야 할 것 같다 말했읍니다.
7월 25일, 코지 수기하라씨와 그의 파트너는 요코스카 미 해군 기지로 저를 투어에 데리고 갔읍니다. 저는 서너개의 “미사일 방어망’으로 장착된 이지스 구축함들을 포함, 9개의 군함들이 그 곳에 배치되어 있다는 것을 알게 되었읍니다. 기지내 핵무장 항공 모함 조지 워싱턴의 존재는 대중들로부터 많은 분개를 또한 자아내고 있읍니다.
따뜻하게 환영 받은 나고야에서 훌륭한 연설 여행을 한 후, 저는 아슈시 후지오카씨와 마키코 사토씨가 주목할 만한 도시인 교토의 몇 절들과 성채들을 방문할 수 있도록 배려한 교토로 향했읍니다. 아슈시는 그가 경제학을 가르치는 리추메이컨 대학의 확장된 평화 박물관으로 저를 데리고 갔읍니다. 교토에서의 제 연설에 재일 한국인 거주자 연합 회원들이 참석했는데, 그 들 중의 많은 이들이 한때 제국주의 군대에 의해 일본으로 강제로 끌려온 노동자들의 자손이었읍니다. 제 연설이 끝난 이 후 한국인 연합의 회원들의 한 사람이 연설하도록 요청받았고 그는 북한이 미사일을 발사하고 핵무기를 생산하는 것에 대한 미국과 일본의 순전한 위선을 지적했읍니다. 이 부분에 미국이 전 세게의 선두를 달리고 있는데도 말이예요.
사실, 미국은 7월에, 그리고 8월 23일 또 다시 캘리포니아 밴던버그 공군 기지에서 태평양 콰잘렌 아톨에 떨어진 핵 미뉴트맨 미사일을 발사했읍니다. 어떻게 미국 자신이 목적의식적으로 핵무기 발사 시스템을 실험하면서 거의 같은 짓을 하고 있다고 다른 나라들에게 훈도하고 구미대로 나라들을 골라 벌을 내리려 한단 말입니까? 저는 제 모든 연설 내내 이 근본적인 질문을 던졌읍니다.
제가 마침내 스티브 리퍼씨를 만날 기회를 가졌던 것은 히로시마였는데 그는 아키바 시장을 위해 일하며 제가 그 곳과 나가사키에서 8월 8일 연설하도록 초대하는데 가장 애쓴 인물이었읍니다. 저는 곧 이 키크고 상냥한 인물을 좋아하게 되었는데, 그는 미국인으로 일본에서 생애 첫 7년을 보내기도 했고 일본인들을 사랑하게 된 사람입니다. 그는 1980년대 사업가로 변신, 일본으로 돌아갔으나 평화 운동에 적극적이게 되었고 현재 핵무기 폐지를 위해 전적인 시간을 바치고 있읍니다. 스티브는 글로벌 넷워크의 우주 비디오, *“위선의 무기”를 보았고 아키바 시장이 그 것을 보도록 촉구했읍니다. 미국의 우주 기술 소개가 비핵화를 위한 어떠한 희망도 무산시킬 것같은 그들의 예감이 저를 연설하도록 초대하게 만든 계기가 되었읍니다.
8월 1일 히로시마에서 있었던 평화 심포지움은 일본에서 세 번째로 큰 아사히 신문에 의해 공동 후원되었읍니다. 그들은 회담이 끝난 후 나라 전체의 독자들에 저의 메시지를 전달했던 특집 기사를 실었읍니다.
히로시마에 있을 동안 저는 시의 평화 심포지움에 모인 수백명의 사람들에게 연설했을 뿐만 아니라 동시에 몇 개의 다른 중요한 회담에 연설하도록 초대되었읍니다. 사실 저는 미국의 핵폭탄 투하 64 주년을 기념하는 8월 6일까지 삼사일 동안 7개의 연설을 하게 되었읍니다.
다음 여정은 나가사키였는데 저는 그 곳에서 8월 8일, 약 400여명이 참가한 평화를 위한 시장 모임에서 연설했읍니다. 134개 국가와 지역의 3천 도시들 이상이 오늘날, 현존하는 2만 4천개의 핵탄두들을 2020년까지 제거하기 위한 지방 당국들의 국제 넷워크인 평화를 위한 시장 모임에 참가했읍니다. 제 연설이 끝난 후 전 세계의 시장들이 저에게 와 제 연설 사본을 구하러 와서 무척 기뻤읍니다. 특별히 흥분되었던 것은 많은 요청들이 아프리카 시장들과 대사들에 의해 되었기 때문인데, (새로운 미국방부 사령기지인 아프리카 사령부를 통해) 아프리카 대룩의 자원 통제를 위한 미국과 북대서양 조약 기구 (NATO) 확장에 대한 저의 언급이 그들의 흥미와 관심을 끌었기 때문입니다.
저의 일본에서의 마지막 연설은 8월 11일, 후쿠오카 시였읍니다. 그 곳에서 연설한 것은 매우 특별한데 1984년 저의 일본으로의 첫 여행이 이루어졌고 이 도시에서 첫 연설을 했기 때문입니다. 물리학 교수인 코이치 토요시마씨와 마키코 사토씨는 훌륭하게 이 행사를 조직했읍니다. 저는 미국과 일본의 PAC-3 미사일 방어망 시스템이 자신의 공동체에 배치되는 것을 반대하는 것에 대해 간략히 언급한 히로코 와타나베씨의 말에 깊은 감명을 받은 채로 그 모임을 떠났읍니다.
“나는 의지를 잃지 않을 것이다” 라 제목 붙여진 그녀의 연설은 너무도 마음을 사무치게 하는 것이어서 그 다음날 아침 *제 블로그에 올리기도 했읍니다.
그 다음날, 코이치와 마키코는 거의 3주간의 바쁜 스케줄 이 후 몸을 풀기 훌륭하도록 수영할 수 있는 바다로 저를 데리고 갓읍니다.
그 날 늦게 코이치는 근처 온천장 호텔로 저를 데리고 갔는데 그 곳에서 그는 일본 전통 온천 목욕의 경이에 대해 가르쳐 주었읍니다. 저는 그 목욕 이후 너무도 몸이 쫙 풀려서 휘청거리며 호텔 제 방으로 돌아왔읍니다.
(*일본에서의 TV 인터뷰는 여기를 클릭하시길)
한국에서
8월 [13일 저녁], 저는 남한 서울에 도착했고 최성희씨를 만났읍니다. 그는 제가 1주일 간 머물게 될 전통식 한국 숙소로 데리고 갔읍니다.
성희는 지난 4월 서울에서 열렸던 글로벌 넷워크 연간 우주 조직 회담을 조직했던 주요 인물 중의 한 사람입니다. 그는 우리의 매우 성공적인 17번째 연간 회담의 주관과 공동 후원자들이었던 약 12개 가량의 남한 평화와 통일 조직들을 하나로 모으는데 돕기도 했읍니다.
제 여행의 마지막 주를 위해 성희는 같은 공동 후원 조직들의 많은 곳을 되찾아가 우리가 다시 만나 그들이 현재 북한과 남한의 정치적 상황에 대해 저에게 설명하고 동시에 제가 글로벌 넷워크에 대해 좀 더 상세히 공유하도록 요청했읍니다. 노조 활동가들, 기업의 “재개발”이 그들 이웃 지역에 영향끼치는 것을 반대하기 위해 싸우는 시민들, 평화 활동가들, 사회주의 학자들, 통일 활동가들, 평화 재향 군인회 회원들, 그리고 많은 교회 지도자들을 만난 것은 두드러진 배움의 기회였읍니다.
조국 통일 범민족 연합 남측 본부(범민련)라 불리는 한 그룹은 우리의 4월 우주 회담을 공동 후원했던 [진보 연대 소속 단체로] 최근 남한 우익 정부에 의해 가혹한 공격을 받았읍니다. 5월, 우리가 우주 이슈 회담이 있었던 남한을 떠나 귀국한 직후, 6명의 통일 운동가들이 정부의 시대 착오적 “국가 보안법” (일본 점령 당시 법으로의 회귀인)에 의해 체포되었고 3명이 이미 재판을 받았으며 그들의 찢어지고 분할된 조국을 재통일 하기 위해 일했을 뿐인데 3~4년의 형을 받았읍니다. [역주: 충주 교도소 3 인](저는 우리의 4월 여행 직후 대한 민국 가족의 4분의 일이 북한에 친인척이 있고 나라의 재통일을 위한 희망이 그들의 나라, 마음 깊숙이 타오르고 있다는 것을 보고한 바 있읍니다.
재통일을 위한 노력으로 구속된 활동가들의 일인은 36살 최은아씨로 우리의 서울 4월 회담시 제가 연설했던 팬널의 사회자를 맡기도 했읍니다.
저는 그가 체포되었던 5월 이후 [구치소]에 억류되어 있는 그를 보러 *[구치소]를 방문할 수 있었는데 그 곳에서 그는 재판을 기다리고 있읍니다. 유리창 너머로 여교도관이 그의 뒤에 앉아 종이위에 우리의 대화를 기록하고 있는 가운데 칙칙한 녹색의 죄수복을 입은 그를 만난 것은 믿을 수 없는 경험이었읍니다- 그리고 이러한 일이 이른바 “자유 민주주의” 남한에서 일어나고 있다니요. (전 날 있었던 범민련 사무실 방문에서 저는 재통일을 위한 그 들의 노력으로 각각 36년과 24년을 남한 감옥에서 살아야 했던 두 분을 만난 바 있읍니다. 오늘날 남한에 약 550여명의 양심수들이 있읍니다.
구치소로 가는 택시안에서 성희와 저는 익숙한 “공습 사이렌” 소리가 차 라다오에서 흘러 나오는 것을 들었는데 이 것이 단순한 시험이 아니라는 것외에 아는 바가 거의 없었읍니다. 서울의 바쁜 거리의 모든 교통은 5분 동안 멈추도록 안내되었읍니다. 라디오의 목소리는 이 것이 “방어적인 연습을 해야하는 스포츠 팀과 같다” 했고 모든 이들은 “집에 머물러 물을 저장해야 한다” 고 했읍니다. 이 나라는 북한의 침략을 두려워 하도록 만들어졌읍니다. 바둑판처럼 도로들이 선 한 낮 도심의 교통에 차가 선 가운데 저는 일기에 이것은 “심리 작전 Psyops”, psychological operations 이라고 썼읍니다. (저는 후에 ”모든 이들이 공습 경보에 의해 멈추는” 이 5분이 매 달 일어난다는 것을 알게 되었읍니다.)
사실, 전 날 저는 북한에 대한 공격과 점령을 예행 연습하는 한미 연합 사령부 전쟁 게임 사령부 기지에서 열린 *뉴스 회담과 시위에 참석했읍니다. 미국과 남한군대는 매 해 두 번 북한에 대한 선제 공격 연습을 하며 북한 사람들을 그러한 부단한 봉쇄에 몰아 넣으며 압도하고 있읍니다. ( 결국, 북한은 최근 이라크와 아프가니스탄에 대한 미국의 공격과 점령을 목격했읍니다. 그들은 그들이 리스트의 다음 순서가 아닐까하고 생각함에 틀림없읍니다.)
여행 중 제가참석했던 훌륭한 행사 중의 하나는 1만 여명이 모인 8월 15일 저녁 문화 집회에서 제가 관람하고 연설했던 것입니다. 이 믿을 수 없을 정도로 경이로운 행사는 1945년 일본 식민지로부터 한국이 해방된 64주년을 기념했읍니다.
평통사(평화와 통일을 여는 사람들)라 불리는 글로벌 넷트 워크 동맹 그룹의 몇 지도자들과 스탶과의 만남에서 그들은 전 부통령 딕 체니와 네오콘 존 볼튼에 위해 만들어진 미국의 위험한 프로그램 PSI( Proliferation Security Initiative,비확산 구상)에 대해 간략히 설명했읍니다. 그것은 현재 오바마 대통령이 해상의 북한 선박에서 “대량 살상 무기”를 구체적으로 찾는 것입니다. 며칠전 저는 제가 사는 지역신문에서 미국이 “재래식 무기”를 실은 북한 선박들에 올라갔다는 기사를 읽은 일이 있읍니다.
미국은 현재 그러한 자극을 촉발시키는 방법으로 PSI를 이용, 북한과 사격하는 구실, 전쟁까지 로의 구실을 만들려 합니다. (물론 아이러니는 미국이 전 세계에서 가장 큰 무기 수출 국가라는 사실입니다. “위선”과 관련된 일이 다시 벌어지고 있는 것이지요!)
그 외에 평통사와의 대화는 아시아-태평양 지역의 북대서양 조약 기구 (NATO) 확산에 또한 촛점이 맞추어졌읍니다. 미국은 NATO를 아프리카와 아프가니스탄에 끌어들이려 할 뿐 아니라 “글로벌 파트너쉽” 이란 이름아래 남한, 일본, 그리고 호주 군사력을 공격적인 NATO의 군사적 확장에 연결하고 있는데 그 것은 러시아와 중국을 봉쇄하기 위한 것입니다.
[결론]
*히로시마와 나가사키의 제 두 주요 연설, 그리고 여행 내내 저의 다른 연설에서 저는 전 소비에트 대통령 미하일 고르바초프가 지난 봄 로마에서 비핵 회담시 한 말을 인용했읍니다.
“최종 분석에서 [나타나듯] 핵 위험은 핵무기를 폐지하는 것에 의해서만 제거될 수 있다. 그러나 실제적으로 다른 모든 나라의 무기들을 합친 것보다 많은 재래식 무기를 갖춘 국가의 전망-한 국가가 절대적 전 지구적 우월성을 성취하는 전망을 사실적이라 볼 수 있는가? 우리가 국제 관계를 비무장화 할 필요성을 연설하지 않는 한, 군사 예산을 축소하지 않는 한, 새로운 종류의 무기들을 만드는 것을 끝장 내지 않는 한, 그리고 외계 우주의 무기화들을 막지 않는 한, 비핵 세상에 관한 모든 대화는 단지 결과없는 수사가 될 것이다.”
히로시마 시장 아키바는 오바마 대통령이 핵무기를 제거하기 위한 협상을 촉구하는 것에 흥분되어 있읍니다. 그와 일본의 다른 많은 사람들은 제가 그 곳에 있을 동안 자주 오바마를 인용했읍니다. 그러나 오바마 행정부가 NATO 확장으로부터 물러나지 않는다면, 미국의 군사 지출을 삭감하지 않는다면, 이라크와 아프가니스탄의 전쟁들을 끝내지 않는다면, 그리고 유럽과 아시아 태평양 지역의 “미사일 방어망 확장”을 중단하지 않는다면, 진지하고 지속되는 비핵무장에 대한 희망은 거의 없을 것입니다.
오늘날 일본과 남한에 실제로 변화가 진행되고 있읍니다. 8월 30일 일본 국민들은 그들 국가에서 몇 십년간 계속된 일당 지배를 끝내고 우익 정부를 권좌에서 압도적으로 몰아냈읍니다. 새로 선출된 일본의 중도적 민주당은 경제적 활력의 부활을 약속하고 있읍니다만 그 곳에 있는 제 활동가 친구들은 그들 국가의 미 군사 제국주의의 주니어 파트너로서 증대하는 역활에 많은 기대를 갖지 말 것을 경고하고 있읍니다. 군산 복합체의 일본 판은 우주 기술에 대한 특별한 강조와 더불어 그들 국가에서 현재 완전한 개발 단계에 있읍니다.
제가 남한으로부터 귀국 준비를 할 때, 남한 [역사상] 가장 대중적인 *김대중 대통령께서 돌아가셨읍니다. 많은 세월, 미국에 의해 뒷받침된 전체주의적 독재 정권들 시절, 민주주의 조직화로 두 번 수감된 김 대통령은 1998년 부터 2003년까지 대한민국의 대통령이었읍니다. 재임시 그는 역대 어는 지도자들보다 미국이 한국 전쟁 이후 권력에 올린 기업에 의해 지배된 지도력의 야만적인 정책들을 끝내려 했읍니다.
그의 북한과의 긍정적 참여 정책은 *“6.15 공동 선언”으로 불려집니다. 2000년도에 그는 [역사상] 두 번 있었던 남북 대통령 정상 회담의 첫번째를 북한 지도자 김정일과 성사시켰는데 그 것은 후에 그가 노벨 평화상을 받게 한 계기가 되었읍니다. 김 대통령은 북한이 핵무기를 폭팔 실험했을 때 북한에 대한 비판을 자제할 것을 적극적으로 요청했으며 남한이 평양을 향해 따뜻한 관계를 계속할 것을 옹호했읍니다.
오늘날 남한의 변화는 현재 우익 정부가 김 대중 대통령 재임의 좋은 시절 중 민중들에 의해 확보되었던 것들을 역전시키려는 데서 나타납니다.
저는 이 보고서가 제가 보통 제 여행 이후 했던어떤 것들보다 긴 것을 압니다. 저는 12 페이지 가량을 더 쓸 수 있었으며 이 주목할 만한 여행에서 제 마음과 정신에 새겨진 깊고 지속되는 이미지들을 간신히 짚었을 뿐입니다.
제가 어떻게 시작을 꺼내야 할 지 모를 정도로 감사를 표현해야 할, 저에게 너무도 친절하고 관대했던 아주 많은 사람들이 있읍니다. 그래도 저는 누구보다 일본과 남한의 헌신적인 글로벌 넷워크 보드 멤버들에게 감사드려야 한다 생각합니다. 그들은 같이 매우 잘 일함으로써 이렇게 훌륭한 조직 여행을 성사시켰읍니다.
결국 저는 약 16번을 연설했으며 적어도 15 번이나 다양한 미디아에 의해 인터뷰받았읍니다. 저는 제 다양한 연설에서 직접적으로 연설한 사람들이 적어도 1만 5천명 이상이라고 계산합니다. 어떤 것은 다른 것보다 길었읍니다.
이 여행에서 가장 중요하게는 일본과 남한의 연락 체계와 우주 [이슈에 관한]조직화를 확산시켰다는 점입니다. 여행이 말미로 가며 이 여행은 크나큰 성공이었다는 것을 확신 할 수 있었읍니다.
저는 10월 중순에 약 2주 가량 더 우리의 일을 후속 작업하고 확장하기 위해 남한으로 다시 갑니다. 저는 그 여행이 이 여행 만큼이나 풍부한 경험이 될 것임을 확신합니다.
제가 나가사키의 평화를 위한 시장 모임에서 전달했던 *연설 전문을 읽기 위해 여기를 클릭하시길.
브루스 K. 개그논 (Bruce K. Gagnon)
우주의 무기와 핵을 반대하는 글로벌 넷워크
코디네이터
( Coordinator, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space)
미국 메인주 브런스윅 우편함 652
( PO Box 652, Brunswick, ME 04011)
(207) 443-9502
http://www.space4peace.org
globalnet@mindspring.com
http://space4peace.blogspot.com (Blog)
* Relate blog (관련 블로그)
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/bruce-gagnon-blog-collections-on-seoul.html
Bruce Gagnon, Blog Collections on Seoul Visit, Aug. 13~21, 2009
브루스 개그논, 2009년 8월 13~21일 서울 방문기 블로그 모음
( 7월 23일~8월 23일, 한일 강연 여행 중)
( globalnet@mindspring.com )
브루스 개그논, 한국-일본 여행 보고서
2009년 9월 2일
원제: Coordinator Trip Report – Japan & South Korea
-위 사이트 이미지 캡션(한국 부분)-
*최성희씨는 서울 향린 교회에서 열린 저의 8월 20일 연설을 필름에 담았읍니다. 여기서 볼 수 있읍니다.
* 한국 평화 재향 군인회는 메인주 지도자 탐 스턴트번트를 대신해 제가 전한 [미 평화 재향 군인회]의 깃발을 받았읍니다
이 보고서는 7월 22일부터 8월 23일까지 저의 가장 길고 가장 성공적이었던 일본과 남한으로의 연설 여행에 관한 것입니다.
이 여행은 히로시마 시장 아키바 타다도시께서 그의 시가 8월 1일 주관한 평화를 위한 국제 심포지움과 다시 8월 8일 나가사키에서 그가 의장으로 있는 평화를 위한 시장 모임 일반 회담에서 제가 연설하도록 초청한 계기로 일어났읍니다.
이 기회를 이용, 글로벌 넷워크의 보드 멤버들 (아슈시 후지오카, 마키코 사토, 코지 수기하라, 그리고 히비키 야마구치)은 저를 위하여 일본 전역에 걸쳐 3주 동안 6개 도시에서 지속될 연설 여행을 계획했읍니다. 그곳에서 저는 글로벌 넷워크의 한국 보드 멤버들 (정욱식과 최성희)이 저를 위하여 바쁜 일주일간 스케줄을 마련한 대한민국 서울로 향했읍니다.
7월 24일, 저는 도쿄에 있는 히비키 야마구치씨 사무실에서 세 언론 인터뷰를 가졌읍니다. 미스터 카쿠와의 마지막 인터뷰는 꽤 인상적이었는데 그는 저에게 그가 히로시마-나가사키 기념일들을 위하여 만든 전면 크기 포스터를 보여 주었읍니다. 그 포스터는 글로벌 넷워크의 우주 이슈 조직화 노력을 담은 몇가지 사진들을 담은 것이었읍니다. 그는 저에게 그 포스터들이 나라 전역에 걸쳐 100 여개의 고등학교에 붙여질 것이라 말했읍니다. 그는 또한 학생들의 부모들을 위해 그가 출판하는 뉴스레터에 실을 기사로 저를 인터뷰하길 원했읍니다. 1995년 이후 그는 일본의 우익들이 “평화 정신”을 가진 선생님들을 공격하고 있었다 말했읍니다.
포스터에는 몇 년전에 사망한 전 글로벌 넷워크 보드 멤버 사토미 오바씨의 사진이 있었읍니다. 그는 일본에 우주 이슈를 전하기 위하여 참으로 열심히 노력을 했는데 우리의 연간 우주 평화 주간 포스터를 일본어로 번역했고 칼 그로스만의 비디오를 또한 한 번 번역하기도 했읍니다.
제가 일본에 있을 동안 많은 사람들이 저에게 와서 그들이 사토미의 친구라 말했읍니다.
8월 6일, 히로시마에서 현재 방송인으로 일하는 사토미의 딸이 한 행사의 제 연설을 들으러 왔고 이 후 말하길 그는 우리의 노력을 돕기 위해 더 많은 노력을 해야 할 것 같다 말했읍니다.
7월 25일, 코지 수기하라씨와 그의 파트너는 요코스카 미 해군 기지로 저를 투어에 데리고 갔읍니다. 저는 서너개의 “미사일 방어망’으로 장착된 이지스 구축함들을 포함, 9개의 군함들이 그 곳에 배치되어 있다는 것을 알게 되었읍니다. 기지내 핵무장 항공 모함 조지 워싱턴의 존재는 대중들로부터 많은 분개를 또한 자아내고 있읍니다.
따뜻하게 환영 받은 나고야에서 훌륭한 연설 여행을 한 후, 저는 아슈시 후지오카씨와 마키코 사토씨가 주목할 만한 도시인 교토의 몇 절들과 성채들을 방문할 수 있도록 배려한 교토로 향했읍니다. 아슈시는 그가 경제학을 가르치는 리추메이컨 대학의 확장된 평화 박물관으로 저를 데리고 갔읍니다. 교토에서의 제 연설에 재일 한국인 거주자 연합 회원들이 참석했는데, 그 들 중의 많은 이들이 한때 제국주의 군대에 의해 일본으로 강제로 끌려온 노동자들의 자손이었읍니다. 제 연설이 끝난 이 후 한국인 연합의 회원들의 한 사람이 연설하도록 요청받았고 그는 북한이 미사일을 발사하고 핵무기를 생산하는 것에 대한 미국과 일본의 순전한 위선을 지적했읍니다. 이 부분에 미국이 전 세게의 선두를 달리고 있는데도 말이예요.
사실, 미국은 7월에, 그리고 8월 23일 또 다시 캘리포니아 밴던버그 공군 기지에서 태평양 콰잘렌 아톨에 떨어진 핵 미뉴트맨 미사일을 발사했읍니다. 어떻게 미국 자신이 목적의식적으로 핵무기 발사 시스템을 실험하면서 거의 같은 짓을 하고 있다고 다른 나라들에게 훈도하고 구미대로 나라들을 골라 벌을 내리려 한단 말입니까? 저는 제 모든 연설 내내 이 근본적인 질문을 던졌읍니다.
제가 마침내 스티브 리퍼씨를 만날 기회를 가졌던 것은 히로시마였는데 그는 아키바 시장을 위해 일하며 제가 그 곳과 나가사키에서 8월 8일 연설하도록 초대하는데 가장 애쓴 인물이었읍니다. 저는 곧 이 키크고 상냥한 인물을 좋아하게 되었는데, 그는 미국인으로 일본에서 생애 첫 7년을 보내기도 했고 일본인들을 사랑하게 된 사람입니다. 그는 1980년대 사업가로 변신, 일본으로 돌아갔으나 평화 운동에 적극적이게 되었고 현재 핵무기 폐지를 위해 전적인 시간을 바치고 있읍니다. 스티브는 글로벌 넷워크의 우주 비디오, *“위선의 무기”를 보았고 아키바 시장이 그 것을 보도록 촉구했읍니다. 미국의 우주 기술 소개가 비핵화를 위한 어떠한 희망도 무산시킬 것같은 그들의 예감이 저를 연설하도록 초대하게 만든 계기가 되었읍니다.
8월 1일 히로시마에서 있었던 평화 심포지움은 일본에서 세 번째로 큰 아사히 신문에 의해 공동 후원되었읍니다. 그들은 회담이 끝난 후 나라 전체의 독자들에 저의 메시지를 전달했던 특집 기사를 실었읍니다.
히로시마에 있을 동안 저는 시의 평화 심포지움에 모인 수백명의 사람들에게 연설했을 뿐만 아니라 동시에 몇 개의 다른 중요한 회담에 연설하도록 초대되었읍니다. 사실 저는 미국의 핵폭탄 투하 64 주년을 기념하는 8월 6일까지 삼사일 동안 7개의 연설을 하게 되었읍니다.
다음 여정은 나가사키였는데 저는 그 곳에서 8월 8일, 약 400여명이 참가한 평화를 위한 시장 모임에서 연설했읍니다. 134개 국가와 지역의 3천 도시들 이상이 오늘날, 현존하는 2만 4천개의 핵탄두들을 2020년까지 제거하기 위한 지방 당국들의 국제 넷워크인 평화를 위한 시장 모임에 참가했읍니다. 제 연설이 끝난 후 전 세계의 시장들이 저에게 와 제 연설 사본을 구하러 와서 무척 기뻤읍니다. 특별히 흥분되었던 것은 많은 요청들이 아프리카 시장들과 대사들에 의해 되었기 때문인데, (새로운 미국방부 사령기지인 아프리카 사령부를 통해) 아프리카 대룩의 자원 통제를 위한 미국과 북대서양 조약 기구 (NATO) 확장에 대한 저의 언급이 그들의 흥미와 관심을 끌었기 때문입니다.
저의 일본에서의 마지막 연설은 8월 11일, 후쿠오카 시였읍니다. 그 곳에서 연설한 것은 매우 특별한데 1984년 저의 일본으로의 첫 여행이 이루어졌고 이 도시에서 첫 연설을 했기 때문입니다. 물리학 교수인 코이치 토요시마씨와 마키코 사토씨는 훌륭하게 이 행사를 조직했읍니다. 저는 미국과 일본의 PAC-3 미사일 방어망 시스템이 자신의 공동체에 배치되는 것을 반대하는 것에 대해 간략히 언급한 히로코 와타나베씨의 말에 깊은 감명을 받은 채로 그 모임을 떠났읍니다.
“나는 의지를 잃지 않을 것이다” 라 제목 붙여진 그녀의 연설은 너무도 마음을 사무치게 하는 것이어서 그 다음날 아침 *제 블로그에 올리기도 했읍니다.
그 다음날, 코이치와 마키코는 거의 3주간의 바쁜 스케줄 이 후 몸을 풀기 훌륭하도록 수영할 수 있는 바다로 저를 데리고 갓읍니다.
그 날 늦게 코이치는 근처 온천장 호텔로 저를 데리고 갔는데 그 곳에서 그는 일본 전통 온천 목욕의 경이에 대해 가르쳐 주었읍니다. 저는 그 목욕 이후 너무도 몸이 쫙 풀려서 휘청거리며 호텔 제 방으로 돌아왔읍니다.
(*일본에서의 TV 인터뷰는 여기를 클릭하시길)
한국에서
8월 [13일 저녁], 저는 남한 서울에 도착했고 최성희씨를 만났읍니다. 그는 제가 1주일 간 머물게 될 전통식 한국 숙소로 데리고 갔읍니다.
성희는 지난 4월 서울에서 열렸던 글로벌 넷워크 연간 우주 조직 회담을 조직했던 주요 인물 중의 한 사람입니다. 그는 우리의 매우 성공적인 17번째 연간 회담의 주관과 공동 후원자들이었던 약 12개 가량의 남한 평화와 통일 조직들을 하나로 모으는데 돕기도 했읍니다.
제 여행의 마지막 주를 위해 성희는 같은 공동 후원 조직들의 많은 곳을 되찾아가 우리가 다시 만나 그들이 현재 북한과 남한의 정치적 상황에 대해 저에게 설명하고 동시에 제가 글로벌 넷워크에 대해 좀 더 상세히 공유하도록 요청했읍니다. 노조 활동가들, 기업의 “재개발”이 그들 이웃 지역에 영향끼치는 것을 반대하기 위해 싸우는 시민들, 평화 활동가들, 사회주의 학자들, 통일 활동가들, 평화 재향 군인회 회원들, 그리고 많은 교회 지도자들을 만난 것은 두드러진 배움의 기회였읍니다.
조국 통일 범민족 연합 남측 본부(범민련)라 불리는 한 그룹은 우리의 4월 우주 회담을 공동 후원했던 [진보 연대 소속 단체로] 최근 남한 우익 정부에 의해 가혹한 공격을 받았읍니다. 5월, 우리가 우주 이슈 회담이 있었던 남한을 떠나 귀국한 직후, 6명의 통일 운동가들이 정부의 시대 착오적 “국가 보안법” (일본 점령 당시 법으로의 회귀인)에 의해 체포되었고 3명이 이미 재판을 받았으며 그들의 찢어지고 분할된 조국을 재통일 하기 위해 일했을 뿐인데 3~4년의 형을 받았읍니다. [역주: 충주 교도소 3 인](저는 우리의 4월 여행 직후 대한 민국 가족의 4분의 일이 북한에 친인척이 있고 나라의 재통일을 위한 희망이 그들의 나라, 마음 깊숙이 타오르고 있다는 것을 보고한 바 있읍니다.
재통일을 위한 노력으로 구속된 활동가들의 일인은 36살 최은아씨로 우리의 서울 4월 회담시 제가 연설했던 팬널의 사회자를 맡기도 했읍니다.
저는 그가 체포되었던 5월 이후 [구치소]에 억류되어 있는 그를 보러 *[구치소]를 방문할 수 있었는데 그 곳에서 그는 재판을 기다리고 있읍니다. 유리창 너머로 여교도관이 그의 뒤에 앉아 종이위에 우리의 대화를 기록하고 있는 가운데 칙칙한 녹색의 죄수복을 입은 그를 만난 것은 믿을 수 없는 경험이었읍니다- 그리고 이러한 일이 이른바 “자유 민주주의” 남한에서 일어나고 있다니요. (전 날 있었던 범민련 사무실 방문에서 저는 재통일을 위한 그 들의 노력으로 각각 36년과 24년을 남한 감옥에서 살아야 했던 두 분을 만난 바 있읍니다. 오늘날 남한에 약 550여명의 양심수들이 있읍니다.
구치소로 가는 택시안에서 성희와 저는 익숙한 “공습 사이렌” 소리가 차 라다오에서 흘러 나오는 것을 들었는데 이 것이 단순한 시험이 아니라는 것외에 아는 바가 거의 없었읍니다. 서울의 바쁜 거리의 모든 교통은 5분 동안 멈추도록 안내되었읍니다. 라디오의 목소리는 이 것이 “방어적인 연습을 해야하는 스포츠 팀과 같다” 했고 모든 이들은 “집에 머물러 물을 저장해야 한다” 고 했읍니다. 이 나라는 북한의 침략을 두려워 하도록 만들어졌읍니다. 바둑판처럼 도로들이 선 한 낮 도심의 교통에 차가 선 가운데 저는 일기에 이것은 “심리 작전 Psyops”, psychological operations 이라고 썼읍니다. (저는 후에 ”모든 이들이 공습 경보에 의해 멈추는” 이 5분이 매 달 일어난다는 것을 알게 되었읍니다.)
사실, 전 날 저는 북한에 대한 공격과 점령을 예행 연습하는 한미 연합 사령부 전쟁 게임 사령부 기지에서 열린 *뉴스 회담과 시위에 참석했읍니다. 미국과 남한군대는 매 해 두 번 북한에 대한 선제 공격 연습을 하며 북한 사람들을 그러한 부단한 봉쇄에 몰아 넣으며 압도하고 있읍니다. ( 결국, 북한은 최근 이라크와 아프가니스탄에 대한 미국의 공격과 점령을 목격했읍니다. 그들은 그들이 리스트의 다음 순서가 아닐까하고 생각함에 틀림없읍니다.)
여행 중 제가참석했던 훌륭한 행사 중의 하나는 1만 여명이 모인 8월 15일 저녁 문화 집회에서 제가 관람하고 연설했던 것입니다. 이 믿을 수 없을 정도로 경이로운 행사는 1945년 일본 식민지로부터 한국이 해방된 64주년을 기념했읍니다.
평통사(평화와 통일을 여는 사람들)라 불리는 글로벌 넷트 워크 동맹 그룹의 몇 지도자들과 스탶과의 만남에서 그들은 전 부통령 딕 체니와 네오콘 존 볼튼에 위해 만들어진 미국의 위험한 프로그램 PSI( Proliferation Security Initiative,비확산 구상)에 대해 간략히 설명했읍니다. 그것은 현재 오바마 대통령이 해상의 북한 선박에서 “대량 살상 무기”를 구체적으로 찾는 것입니다. 며칠전 저는 제가 사는 지역신문에서 미국이 “재래식 무기”를 실은 북한 선박들에 올라갔다는 기사를 읽은 일이 있읍니다.
미국은 현재 그러한 자극을 촉발시키는 방법으로 PSI를 이용, 북한과 사격하는 구실, 전쟁까지 로의 구실을 만들려 합니다. (물론 아이러니는 미국이 전 세계에서 가장 큰 무기 수출 국가라는 사실입니다. “위선”과 관련된 일이 다시 벌어지고 있는 것이지요!)
그 외에 평통사와의 대화는 아시아-태평양 지역의 북대서양 조약 기구 (NATO) 확산에 또한 촛점이 맞추어졌읍니다. 미국은 NATO를 아프리카와 아프가니스탄에 끌어들이려 할 뿐 아니라 “글로벌 파트너쉽” 이란 이름아래 남한, 일본, 그리고 호주 군사력을 공격적인 NATO의 군사적 확장에 연결하고 있는데 그 것은 러시아와 중국을 봉쇄하기 위한 것입니다.
[결론]
*히로시마와 나가사키의 제 두 주요 연설, 그리고 여행 내내 저의 다른 연설에서 저는 전 소비에트 대통령 미하일 고르바초프가 지난 봄 로마에서 비핵 회담시 한 말을 인용했읍니다.
“최종 분석에서 [나타나듯] 핵 위험은 핵무기를 폐지하는 것에 의해서만 제거될 수 있다. 그러나 실제적으로 다른 모든 나라의 무기들을 합친 것보다 많은 재래식 무기를 갖춘 국가의 전망-한 국가가 절대적 전 지구적 우월성을 성취하는 전망을 사실적이라 볼 수 있는가? 우리가 국제 관계를 비무장화 할 필요성을 연설하지 않는 한, 군사 예산을 축소하지 않는 한, 새로운 종류의 무기들을 만드는 것을 끝장 내지 않는 한, 그리고 외계 우주의 무기화들을 막지 않는 한, 비핵 세상에 관한 모든 대화는 단지 결과없는 수사가 될 것이다.”
히로시마 시장 아키바는 오바마 대통령이 핵무기를 제거하기 위한 협상을 촉구하는 것에 흥분되어 있읍니다. 그와 일본의 다른 많은 사람들은 제가 그 곳에 있을 동안 자주 오바마를 인용했읍니다. 그러나 오바마 행정부가 NATO 확장으로부터 물러나지 않는다면, 미국의 군사 지출을 삭감하지 않는다면, 이라크와 아프가니스탄의 전쟁들을 끝내지 않는다면, 그리고 유럽과 아시아 태평양 지역의 “미사일 방어망 확장”을 중단하지 않는다면, 진지하고 지속되는 비핵무장에 대한 희망은 거의 없을 것입니다.
오늘날 일본과 남한에 실제로 변화가 진행되고 있읍니다. 8월 30일 일본 국민들은 그들 국가에서 몇 십년간 계속된 일당 지배를 끝내고 우익 정부를 권좌에서 압도적으로 몰아냈읍니다. 새로 선출된 일본의 중도적 민주당은 경제적 활력의 부활을 약속하고 있읍니다만 그 곳에 있는 제 활동가 친구들은 그들 국가의 미 군사 제국주의의 주니어 파트너로서 증대하는 역활에 많은 기대를 갖지 말 것을 경고하고 있읍니다. 군산 복합체의 일본 판은 우주 기술에 대한 특별한 강조와 더불어 그들 국가에서 현재 완전한 개발 단계에 있읍니다.
제가 남한으로부터 귀국 준비를 할 때, 남한 [역사상] 가장 대중적인 *김대중 대통령께서 돌아가셨읍니다. 많은 세월, 미국에 의해 뒷받침된 전체주의적 독재 정권들 시절, 민주주의 조직화로 두 번 수감된 김 대통령은 1998년 부터 2003년까지 대한민국의 대통령이었읍니다. 재임시 그는 역대 어는 지도자들보다 미국이 한국 전쟁 이후 권력에 올린 기업에 의해 지배된 지도력의 야만적인 정책들을 끝내려 했읍니다.
그의 북한과의 긍정적 참여 정책은 *“6.15 공동 선언”으로 불려집니다. 2000년도에 그는 [역사상] 두 번 있었던 남북 대통령 정상 회담의 첫번째를 북한 지도자 김정일과 성사시켰는데 그 것은 후에 그가 노벨 평화상을 받게 한 계기가 되었읍니다. 김 대통령은 북한이 핵무기를 폭팔 실험했을 때 북한에 대한 비판을 자제할 것을 적극적으로 요청했으며 남한이 평양을 향해 따뜻한 관계를 계속할 것을 옹호했읍니다.
오늘날 남한의 변화는 현재 우익 정부가 김 대중 대통령 재임의 좋은 시절 중 민중들에 의해 확보되었던 것들을 역전시키려는 데서 나타납니다.
저는 이 보고서가 제가 보통 제 여행 이후 했던어떤 것들보다 긴 것을 압니다. 저는 12 페이지 가량을 더 쓸 수 있었으며 이 주목할 만한 여행에서 제 마음과 정신에 새겨진 깊고 지속되는 이미지들을 간신히 짚었을 뿐입니다.
제가 어떻게 시작을 꺼내야 할 지 모를 정도로 감사를 표현해야 할, 저에게 너무도 친절하고 관대했던 아주 많은 사람들이 있읍니다. 그래도 저는 누구보다 일본과 남한의 헌신적인 글로벌 넷워크 보드 멤버들에게 감사드려야 한다 생각합니다. 그들은 같이 매우 잘 일함으로써 이렇게 훌륭한 조직 여행을 성사시켰읍니다.
결국 저는 약 16번을 연설했으며 적어도 15 번이나 다양한 미디아에 의해 인터뷰받았읍니다. 저는 제 다양한 연설에서 직접적으로 연설한 사람들이 적어도 1만 5천명 이상이라고 계산합니다. 어떤 것은 다른 것보다 길었읍니다.
이 여행에서 가장 중요하게는 일본과 남한의 연락 체계와 우주 [이슈에 관한]조직화를 확산시켰다는 점입니다. 여행이 말미로 가며 이 여행은 크나큰 성공이었다는 것을 확신 할 수 있었읍니다.
저는 10월 중순에 약 2주 가량 더 우리의 일을 후속 작업하고 확장하기 위해 남한으로 다시 갑니다. 저는 그 여행이 이 여행 만큼이나 풍부한 경험이 될 것임을 확신합니다.
제가 나가사키의 평화를 위한 시장 모임에서 전달했던 *연설 전문을 읽기 위해 여기를 클릭하시길.
브루스 K. 개그논 (Bruce K. Gagnon)
우주의 무기와 핵을 반대하는 글로벌 넷워크
코디네이터
( Coordinator, Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space)
미국 메인주 브런스윅 우편함 652
( PO Box 652, Brunswick, ME 04011)
(207) 443-9502
http://www.space4peace.org
globalnet@mindspring.com
http://space4peace.blogspot.com (Blog)
* Relate blog (관련 블로그)
http://nobasestorieskorea.blogspot.com/2009/08/bruce-gagnon-blog-collections-on-seoul.html
Bruce Gagnon, Blog Collections on Seoul Visit, Aug. 13~21, 2009
브루스 개그논, 2009년 8월 13~21일 서울 방문기 블로그 모음
( 7월 23일~8월 23일, 한일 강연 여행 중)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
![[URGENT PLEA: In Update] EMERGENCY in GANGJEONG Since AUG. 24, 2011](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvpaNf6EePZVucu97_JphYsFS5IgumnSiA4YAmen1PZcim6vMmW7XjZ7J6nLh-Cu36mwBN5n1evrA3ey0vYMpwlAGsgnSFggv6a1w4Qx9BvvqOB0hy0BIcBkL2Exfs3zIxBsBuDGa1kzg/s227/jejusit.jpg)
![[Solidarity from Japan for the Jeju] 253 individuals and 16 groups/organizations](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivji7100kBkr0hzvqYfh4IBBilkZ6XgDIg89jOxS6kTssxsVKC6Wm-fZbKOEsiy3zcO-9gW6GHspD5R_2C9WsGx5S1Z5VPj_OVRF7H6dxdaT0S-2H1eqsDsYvIwOV26VscxTHnKmP5iZmh/s227/jeju_12_10j.jpg)
![[Translation] Korean organizations' statement: Immediately cancel the joint ROK-US drill Nov 26](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfKDMo-qyEjm5asUtHlREyJY_5Ou-2tyB8SH6aUxiViRbbKR-8W_rirFiGp5DYSoD_KaeNOPMWR0af0ZPUIbJKmR89ImDvADHsGAIqsJVBvJNBEIl5wLd3G_zhPDW3Z2SxsHXadOsXe8st/s227/1.jpg)
![HOT! [Hankyoreh Hani TV] Beneath the Surface: the investigation into the sinking of the Cheonan](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh80rL3Qv9GnfHSqbYMfivdqX5gZN-1O_VQj3A_Gk3yjWdybHwJCsprA3l6cEQB0cYCP2oNeaLo2ohLGIy0Uqqkv_fRkBevGJ2f-qkKD5eP1ZGsKeQ-r-jHUUb79WvucIN7hpEtXza4xXCL/s227/HaniTV+Cheonan.gif)
![[Translation]Statement against illegal inspection and unjust lay-off by the Kunsan USAFK!(Nov_2010)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3JlQ-lreusCIJo5Yv2e3ZrRwrSMUE7UQxlrDVjmBehl0Pa24QZIAbZ5vUpgnnExbkKL9PdCwxVYSHWJkr_XK0FM4EhU3CMFhqfborVNu_p4v3bEFpNm3ia-aEHnvMMuEBI27aB7_BETuJ/s227/gunsan+protest.gif)
![[Translation] Korean organizations' statement against dispatching special force to the UAE on Nov.](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7TNhTDLLwZkKP0Z78JsCZKp6je-QSFll3_ThmLES_y_nPLXEzeakrsZXoNxhN5blopEhy6xGV2tneJrniPdTR-JvOQMmSLr_HhlucxFvbusxk4oKvvMO2laBOHSIkB9OOeOxrQlqCA0O/s227/antiwarpeace.jpg)
![[Translation] Stop, Joining MD!: South Korean activists' statement and writing on Oct. 25, 2010](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGIHVei8j7LCJPJB5HIrspd942q436daNTquP-pFd45Cl70Ml_1JFiFDHgKu6FcoqNgFVKIFqjeuSPau2k_BwGHhx0cqFFL2-4ybZSTlmua0_AsERBtKYQa7jZk7uNj41LX6rj2vksHbo/s227/StopMD.jpg)
![[In Update] People First, NO G-20 (Nov. 6 to 12, Korea)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZl8VTqeL7o2ndliGIE-sZFCikbTgfB9KCc3AtZvDaYijBBEhdfultMEOpyrCaD5gzpH8mqfWjU20KXMbSUl-5KM7yQeHU6z3BWV8tiOy4UKaCudz9VKWoi5x58xdC_gQpJTjkR5u7O9xf/s227/left21_G20.jpg)
![[International Petition] Stop US helipad plan in Okinawa to save great nature](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgYmdb0N8ViPvTFC_5i-Psbt4eX_LnAUEOtZkUngv_pGvRyWag1r6W60NicLLyTgWq-sPT1hBxLY5SadEIVv5McfZQ5uIhe-W0VoflQNqojsYZjFW6AH-gB1jsmSDGnGuKIFk2UkvNbFG/s227/yanbaru_w.jpg)
![[Global Network] against the first launch of Quasi-Zenith Satellite, Japan, on Sept. 11, 2010](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2sYpfodDDMIA7qXwuda0DmKapxXFB479fDnn8RKy7QNZqz0VEvWucNd-DleZ37hWNXC-Z8QtaqtM37VuPwac5SgclJ9_khBBSWOedvm19MRXIP1j1kcWrK6EW5IFjQdEEY2h7E6xuyNvC/s227/Qzss-45-0_09.jpg)
![[In update] Some collections on the Koreans’ protests against the sanction & war on Iran](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_gnM5QlRx-4c/TJMvke6t8zI/AAAAAAAAFO4/tamQ8LUnOOA/S227/No+Sanction+on+Iran.jpg)
![[Three International Petitions] to End the Korean war and peace treaty(or peace resolution)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlohLVYtpCg7iMsZhNYY4hBbhTi2dIheHMHWLDph9X2y78cjgZV1LeSfUJeu80elhJm70Q9E059q72lK-spSPvsRG4bPuCDIytltJB9IH3mWt9OG98HqhnTsPakwhvNeoCFUgF1xoxQ2EZ/s227/border.jpg)
![[Collection of Documents] No Base Learning and Solidarity Program_Korea(June 14 to 20, 2010)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_HzjToh3nNGHBc-_5gasq-ykcaZ6GInLixILmZVyRJ5xoeHCxWOyYd9fSM7bmnuFsjSrYOGEPnQOwB1Dcyo-sN4Pw0cFPhUtKig_qlVnGL1Wi82ClvPqbEPWYhJiqdNF0DyzLIBETMB9/s227/No-Base-banner.jpg)
![Site Fwd:[John Hines] A U.S. Debate coach’s research trip on the Issues of Korea](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8yRra0zNhKHN74Auqhd3Nx9tZ7BWCGflRJHGH4CfzBT_yjhZ8Nl9b3OZuLpYWJ2exsjmR0oVl-Qq_cf832p2VdmOZhUi-lCFzCNeDSyVtweX1lWZPC-RlHmDMLtilHwHjNFTenBiM4Fk4/s227/Jeju-Peace-Tour.jpg)
![[News Update] Struggle Against the Jeju Naval Base since Jan. 18, 2010](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfSTRC5QKBBSFIq_m7QIqXdlbL4-gF5GJYn9Q-pN__k7sV7uxGDcLY5L8xmU7QuWuUhBT_GhG-URBPO80RT3AfWfDrWJr06h1hFuZC6ZBVKe4U6PS1Cd7Kr6olO8TYQtk13Drox7IS6ea/s226/scrum1.jpg)
![[Urgent] Please spread the Letter!: There was no Explosion! There was no Torpedo! (May 26, 2010)](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSd2yWZ3xGwnJQXB73z5FgXCqSosAoB9_33-GLYprOmLqjmvgSAQp1BYI7e4slK1FDxHRi9KK4um-OpDaj8QOkXwAScVAgvvq6-ehbDA-hbkr96wT9oHNNmWnBPv8GU4hoZp9X8F9AZBX4/s227/grounded.jpg)
![Text Fwd: [Stephen Gowans]The sinking of the Cheonan: Another Gulf of Tonkin incident](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_L6hB3RZ1MovTXHe0A8yn_RfgMALGR0kM6poBuGp809xwvHtB_-PGWtS_WpyPWatyd9lB2pPqL2gOLc4dTCEdJ9sMvxJWEdapl-mMLm7WHAsV-jVpgqarVh8XBtdz_0c-Vohdh3HtJahD/s227/lee-myung-bak.jpg)
![[Japan Focus]Politics in Command: The "International" Investigation into the Sinking of the Cheonan](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmTo8v-uCJnabRhMdnBAkC9J3s5bb2JsDKiT5leJHwbK8IDJHxfJmqQ_C0Is_bPC6UGMf05CA0exF2y4r2x9RhFUHT0kjsKviaME_MZXKnq775UyYAdb7w2SAzE75XvBfHp1al2q6i3cf/s227/wen_jiabao_and_lee_myungbak.png)
![[Japan Focus] Who Sank the SK Warship Cheonan? A New Stage in the US-Korean War and US-China](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSS5ULT5QBaMGYpXXqBMX9jtwLwMLuK469b6Ku72GTJYKUObzTANaPjZqvvpPzYMJgPF53sjhvhK3DVa88ipYlggsJageykXlkxY6s8TW05xcU-_vfhf-pACUoaWuFbT-fsU1qEhm_yIi/s227/buoy_map.gif)
![[Updated on 12/13/10] [Translation Project] Overseas Proofs on the Damages by the Military Bases](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikADE6JovUNspQyZUWVMTLAQg7yQNqXpVUbqZPk8f4uc_1723_xm1Cco6WAmstQXVPnaJAcb1mZA8Ny_3xONT_f5uh8MNLPnUhtqdGgy3HCtC1Vbbz4Q0ZY1Cssu-4cJEVNdrvznbS5UzO/s227/missile.jpg)
![[International Petition] Close the Bases in Okinawa](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNpQiHklwFbWVlFK7GDFXnBSOOSFEj3Il-We-N3uTDldKiidL2NGZs7X_LtTnatzTo_r8CexRkFe8NhfxYqmgp1knEEslROTfNjI5_mSb57cdbhPkftvanveYBaevAD9xuKDGoIxiTwoSb/s227/2.jpg)
![[In Update]Blog Collection: No Korean Troops in Afghanistan](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjEmCRXSNAG7_QBxKWbdksmxoWR4nyAovQTTdR1G2AuXh0jxtqNkI9OmYgYWRoLAJShvtBvE840QXuBWSVh3u3zMYqkNAFX6OWy3m5Nur4HM7uNK-pKT1ycyApJp-VLyhIFRRcoisYAh0E/s226/No-Troops-to--Afghanistan.jpg)
