Peace Seminar 2012 Official Report; Hiroshima, JAPAN

HIROSHIMAJOGAKUINUNIVERSITY Hiroshima Peace Seminar

Hiroshima Peace Seminar Report 201201 Hiroshima Peace Seminar Report 2012 02

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AR2012012 Aug. 2-8Aug. 2 8

Let Us be Peace Makers of the WorldHiromi NAGAO, Ph.D.

President of Hiroshima Jogakuin University

August 6th is always hot and humid in Hiroshima, Japan. This year, 45 gir ls of various nationalities gathered together at Hiroshima Jogakuin University to study about PEACE during the 2012 Peace and Leadership Summer Seminar. Most of these girls have no experience of war because they are living in a peaceful world. To study peace, the fi rst question to ask is, What is PEACE? This was the main theme that the participants had to break through.

During the seminar, we provided many methods and modes for the participants to think about PEACE. None of the lecturers gave them defi nite answers to their quest. However, we provided stories and clues so they could think for themselves about the meaning of PEACE.

PEACE is not something that you can see. PEACE is not what you can describe in one word. PEACE is something you feel and defi ne by yourselves. PEACE is not just a concept, but it is something we must try to create with action. For without action, PEACE will easily disappear. It is fragile and requires the collective effort and union of many people to protect it from being destroyed.

I do not expect the participants to come up with the answer immediately. In fact, I want them to continue thinking of PEACE throughout their lives. Our “Peace Seminar in Hiroshima” was a chance for participants to analyze their own ways of thinking. Peace is not only a goal to obtain, but a method of obtaining other objects. Therefore, to understand peace, one must learn HOW they think about peace. Many participants wrote to me that the “Peace Seminar in Hiroshima” was a life changing experience.

I am so glad that we were able to provide the opportunity for them to change their ways of thinking while they are still young. I am sure everyone will make their experience a starting point to be a peace maker in their own community. We need action! Let us work together for a world of peace and reconciliation.

May GOD be with us always and let us be peace makers of the world!

MESSAGE



PARTICIPANTS▼

Allison Pope (WES)Anna Elizabeth May (CLMB)Arisa Fukuzaki (HJU)Carol Propps-Murphy (CLMB)Cathryn Briley Derrick (CLMB)Chantel Renee Lucas (CLMB)Charleen Tan Yung Xin (HJU)Cheyenne Foster (WES)Deborah Sudduth Alexander (CLMB)Erica Gayle Payne (CLMB)Hoa Huong Quynh Nguyen (WES)Jacquelyn Anne Libatique (U of P)Jessica Noelle Haynes (WES)Krisyrel Tanaka (HJU)Kritika Santram (ITC)Linh Nguyen Dieu Lai (WES)Mayu Okawara (HJU)Miku Kagemoto (HJU)Mizuki Toki (HJU)Mollie Hykel (HJU)Natsuki Noda (HJU)Patricia Rose Cely (CLMB)Risa Ikeda (HJU)Shanelle Holder (WES)She-Marie Steadman (WES)Shemeka Cusak (CLMB)Shoko Tokumaru (HJU)Stephanie Macomber (CLMB)Yi Wu (WES)Yoshie Ninokata (HJU)Yuri Takeuchi (HJU)

FACULTY▼

President Hiromi Nagao (HJU)President Elizabeth Charles (ITC)Dr. Alfred Lawrence (ITC)Dr. Karen Huber (WES)Dr. Melanie Doherty (WES)Dr. Barry Rhoades (WES)Dr. Sharon Jones (CLMB)Dr. Mie Ishii,Vice President (HJU)Rev. Masashi Sawamura (HJU)Takeshi Oda (HJU)Haruyasu Nagano (HJU)Courtney Lawrence (HJU)

GUESTS▼

Norie Shigaki (WESLEY FOUNDATION)

VOLUNTEERS▼

Ann Laurel Latimer (USA)

PRESENTERS▼

Mr. Steve Leeper (JAPAN)Dr. Toshimasa Yamamoto (JAPAN)Dr. Ron Klein (HJU)Ms. Koko Kondo (JAPAN)Mr. Fumihisa Miyoshi (JAPAN)Mr. Clifton Truman Daniel (USA)Mr. Hiroyuki Tanimoto (JAPAN)Ms. Rosebell Kagumire (UGANDA)Mr. Cory Wilson (USA)Professor Jun Manalo (PHILIPPINES)

ADMINISTRATION▼

Kazuyuki Shimobo (HJU)Osamu Une (HJU)Naomi Nagae (HJU)Yuko Tanimoto (HJU)Lizbet Palmer (HJU)Olivia Rose (HJU)

PEACE SEMINARAUGUST 2-8

Thursday AUGUST 2

FridayAUGUST 3

SaturdayAUGUST 4

SundayAUGUST 5

MondayAUGUST 6

TuesdayAUGUST 7

WednesdayAUGUST 8

MORNING (7:00 →12:00hr)

→ All Day - Participant Arrivals

→ 7:00 - Breakfast and travels to HJU (with Host Family)→ 9:00 - Opening Devotion and Keynote: Ms. Claudia Yamamoto and Dr.Toshimasa Yamamoto from Kwansei Gakuin University (Chapel)→10:30 - 11:45 - Interactive Introductions (Outside)

→ 7:00 - Breakfast and travels to HJU (with Host Family)→ 8:00 - Interfaith Devotion: Christian Values for the Non-Christian, Dr.Ron Klein (Chapel)→9:00 – 10:30 – Lecture: Peace Begins with Me, Prof. Jun Manalo (Sofi a 203)→10:45 – 11:45 – Workshop: Role of Media on Peace, Ms.Rosebell Kagumire , Mr.Cory Wilson (Sofi a 203)

→ 7:00 - Breakfast and travels to HJU (with Host Family)→ 9:00 - Interfaith Sunday Service: Rev. Masashi Sawamura (Chapel)→10:45 – 12:00 –Lecture: Reconstruction Out of Zero, Mr. Fumihisa Miyoshi (Sofi a 203)→10:45 – 11:45 – Workshop: Role of Media on Peace, Ms.Rosebell Kagumire, Mr. Cory Wilson (Sofi a 203)

→ 5:30- 6:30- Waking Up and Travel to Peace Memorial Park (by bus); arrival by 7:00AM→ 8:15 –11:00- Peace Memorial Service (PM Park) ; ”Summer Cloud Recitation” (travel by bus to Hiroshima Jogakuin Highschool)→11:00 – 12:00 –Box Lunch & Break (on school grounds)

→ 7:30 - Breakfast (Hinohara Hall 2F)→ 8:30 - Student Led Interfaith Devotions (Chapel)→9:00 – 10:30 –Lecture: Hiroshima Grassroots and Nuclear Abolition, Mr. Steve Leeper (Sofi a 101)→10:45 – 11:45 – Workshop: Working for Contemporary Peace, Prof. Jun Manalo (Sofi a 101)

→ 7:30 - Breakfast (Hinohara Hall 2F)→ 9:00- Optional Tour (at Participant’s expense)

AFTERNOON (12:00→17:00hr)

→16:00 - Registration and Welcome Refreshments (Hinorhara Hall)

→12:00-13:00-Lunch (Hinohara Hall 2F)→13:00-16:30 - Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum: Guided Tours in Small Groups

→12:00-13:00-Lunch (Hinohara Hall 2F)→13:15-14:45 – Lecture: Testimony of an A-Bomb Survivor, Ms. Koko Kondo (Sofi a 203)→15:15-16:45 – Workshop: Technical Artistry-Media Team Trainings, Ms.Rosebell Kagumire , Mr.Cory Wilson (Sofi a 203)

→12:15-13:00-Lunch (Hinohara Hall 2F)→13:00-15:00 – Lecture: New Generation, New Era- Peace Message to the Young Generation of the World, Mr. Clifton Daniel Truman, Mr. Ali Beezer (Hinohara Hall 5F)→15:15-13:30 – Workshop: Media Team Break Out Groups, Ms.Rosebell Kagumire , Mr.Cory Wilson (Sofi a 101)

→12:00 – 17:00 –Hiroshima City Explorations/Free (in small groups)

→12:00-13:00-Lunch (Hinohara Hall 2F)→13:30-14:30-Group Check-In, Guided Refl ections (Sofi a 102)→15:00-18:00-Group Presentations and Next Steps (Sofi a 102)

→All Day – Participant Departures for those NOT going on Fieldwork

EVENING (17:00→22:00hr)

→17:30- 18:00 - Student Run Welcome Program (Kofu-kan)

→17:15-18:15 - Kobe College Contemporary Dance Performance (Hinohara Hall 5F)→18:30- 19:30 - Welcome Dinner with host families (Hinohara Hall 2F)→19:45-Departure with Host Families

→17:00-18:00 – Group Check-In: Guided Refl ections (Hinohara Hall 5F)→18:15- 19:15- Dinner (Hinohara Hall 2F)→19:30- 21:00 – International Night Celebration (all Peace Seminar and Host Families Invited) (Hinohara Hall 5F) →21:45 Departure with Host Families

→17:00-18:00 – Group Check-In: Guided Refl ections (Hinohara Hall 5F)→18:15- 19:15- Dinner (Hinohara Hall 2F)→19:30- 21:30 – Film Night- Led by Hiroyuki Tanimoto the Director of Con-Can & Kyoto Indies Film Festival (Host Families Invited) (Hinohara Hall 5F)→22:00 – Showers and Rest (Hinohara Hall 4 & 5F)

→17:00-18:30 – Dinner in the City (Restaurant AGRI)→18:00-21:00 – Evening Walk Around the City/Buy ‘Miyagie’ (Return to HJU by TAXI)→21:00 – Evening Check-In (at HJU)→22:00 – Showers and Rest (Hinohara Hall 4&5 F)

→18:00-Group Photo (Outside)→18:30-21:30 – Farewell Dinner and Traditional Japanese Dance and Tea Ceremony (Hinohara Hall 5F)→22:00 – Showers and Rest (Hinohara Hall 4&5 F)

→18:00-21:30 –Dinner and evening check-in for Fieldwork (Hinohara Hall 2F)

●Reference TableAcronym : Defi nitionCLMB : Columbia College, South Carolina

HJU : Hiroshima Jogakuin Univeristy

ITC : Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow

JAPAN : Hiroshima, Tokyo

PHILIPPINES : The Philippines

U of P : University of the Philippines, Manila

USA : United States of America

WES : Wesleyan College, Georgia

WESLEY FOUNDATION : Wesley Foundation, Tokyo


Hiroshima Peace SeminarHIROSHIMAJOGAKUINUNIVERSITY

Keynote Speech August 3, 2012

Global Sharing and Peace Making in Asia and Japan.by Dr. Rev. Toshimasa Yamamoto◉Kwansei Gakuin University

First of all, I would like to thank the organizers for their kind invitation again to be part of this important meeting. I

commend and congratulate them for their signifi cant initiative. I feel very much honored and privileged to be able to deliver one of the presentations at this seminar. I am also grateful that I am given this opportunity to renew our friendship with old friends and meet new friends here in Hiroshima. The topic assigned to me is to overview and refl ect upon peace in the context of Japan and East Asia. This is very difficult task but an important and interesting subject. I would like to begin with a story, a true story about cookies. A man from England told me this story and I would like to tell you just as he told me. A dear friend of mine in Manchester, England, went to a tea shop, ordered herself some tea and packet of cookies of what they call “biscuits.” And she sat down and began to drink her tea and looked at her magazine. Now, she also began to realize that there was a man sitting across from her, who suddenly appeared. And he is opening a packet of cookies in the center of the table and he takes one out and starts to eat it. Now she is a little surprised but this man is from the West Indies. He is black, so she doesn’t know what to say, but she reaches out and she pulls the cookies to her, to make sure he knows whose cookies they are. And she takes a cookie and eats and goes back to her magazine. But she is not really reading her magazine. She is kind of looking around to see what’s going to happen next. And sure enough, the man reaches all the way across the table and takes the second cookie from the packet. Now she is beginning to be annoyed. She doesn’t know what to do. She just takes a second cookie and eats it. Now there were 5 cookies in the packet. So, there is one cookie left. And sure enough, this gentleman reaches all the way across the table again and he takes the last cookie. Then, he breaks it. And he gives her half. Now she is just very angry, but she doesn’t know what to do. He fi nishes his tea and he politely greets her, “Have a good day,” and he leaves. Well, her day is ruined and she gulps down her tea and takes her magazine. And she starts to put her magazine into her purse, and she stops, for there in her bag is her packet of cookies. The cookies they had been eating were not her cookies, they were his cookies. Let me ask you some questions. Would you raise your hand if the question is appropriate for you to answer? How many of you had a cup of coffee this morning? How many of you drive a

Japanese car? How many of you have any clothing mad in Korea, Taiwan or Hong Kong? I believe that most of the coffee we drink is coming from Colombia, Brazil, Vietnam or Indonesia. Also, the clothing that we are wearing comes from the hardship of women factory workers in China, Pakistan, Taiwan and India. We live in an inter-related global community and yet there is a sense of separation and brokenness between us. Every day we might be eating cookies that we think are ours but they really belong to other people. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Before you fi nish eating breakfast this morning, you have depended on more than half the world.” He was right and he’s right. An inter-related world is not necessarily an inter-dependent world. According the scripture that we read this morning, I assume that Zaccheaus must have had a good reason to climb the tree to see Jesus, because it is quite dangerous to climb up high in a tree. But maybe it was more dangerous for Zaccheaus to be in the crowd since he was a chief tax collector who was hated by the devout Jews because he cheated people and was considered a traitor. Since he was working for a Roman Empire, Zaccheaus was rich but miserable. He was not welcomed by the community and did not have any real fulfi llment in his life. However, strange thing happened to Zaccheaus after he welcomed Jesus to his house and ate with him. Zaccheaus, all of a sudden stood up and said to Jesus, “Listen sir, I will give half of my belongings to the poor, and if I have cheated anyone, I will pay him or her back four times as much.” Isn’t this an amazing statement by Zaccheaus? Zaccheaus was a man who collected taxes and held on to much more than he needed. Also, Zaccheaus was a man who had a “cash flow problem.” Unlike my cash flow problem with yen or US$, money simply stopped with Zaccheaus. He didn’t share his possessions with other people. But after encountering Jesus, he stood up and promised to contribute to the poor and restore fourfold to those he had wrongfully cheated. It is interesting to note here that Zaccheaus’ repentance is the consequence, not the cause of Jesus’ approach. In other words, when Jesus came into his life, Zaccheaus could not help but stand and declare that he would give half of his belongings to the poor. Salvation brings a sense of sharing with one another. Mother Teresa shared the story that when she visited poor family in India, she brought a handful of rice with her. When Mother gave a rice to the old lady of the family, she soon took half of the rice

to her neighbor and shared the rice with them. Mother Teresa said, poor people share more than rich people do. When I met a pastor from South Korea the other day, he told me that for many Koreans, the offering is a deposit to God in heaven, therefore, about one third of his congregation are tithing. He also said that he fi rmly believes that our repentance would not be complete, unless “our wallet also repents.” That is exactly what happened to Zaccheaus. His personal repentance led to his fi nancial repentance. It happened simultaneously and there was no separation between the salvation of Zaccheaus’ soul and his following social action. The basic meaning of repentance is turning around from sin and walking back towards God. This might be possibly helpful for us to share our possessions with others. As we all know, a giant wave of globalization has hit every corner of the world and no society is free from its effects. There is a positive effect such as we can communicate so quickly with the Internet. But there is also a negative effect. For example, the financial turmoil in South East Asia in 1997-99 clearly demonstrates the risk of global financial market. Net capital flows to Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Philippines and Thailand rocketed in the 1990s, reaching US$93 billion in 1996. After turmoil hit market after market, these flows reversed overnight by computer with an out fl ow of $12 billion in 1997. As a result, bankruptcies spread everywhere, prices went up and wages fell sharply. All countries ended up with erosion of their social fabric, we experienced more violence and more crime in the cities. The similar things happened also in 2008 known as “Lehman Shock.” At one time, there was optimism that assumed that once markets, democracy and technology were expanded worldwide, they could overcome contradiction over race, culture, history and geography. The world is becoming one thanks to the globalization “dot.com” global village. However, such thinking is no longer so popular due to the reality of a widening gap between the “have and have- nots” and the “know and know-nots.” According to the UNDP report, the income gap between the 5th of the world’s people living in the richest countries and the 5th in the poorest was 74 to 1 in 1997, and 120 to 1 in 2008 and continue to be widening every year. It is amazing to know that the assets of the top three billionaires in the world are more than the combined GNP of all the least developed countries and their 600 million people. We need to face the question, “Whose globalization are we talking about? And who are the least of these in light of the globalization?” It seems to be clear that the distinction between the winners and losers of globalization is getting obvious and turning into a political issue in Japan. For example, According to Japanese Health and Welfare Ministry, the nation's relative poverty rate in 2007 was 15.7 percent. What are the implications of roughly one in six citizens living in “poverty”? Let me quote from the Asahi Newspaper which introduced a Tokyo man in his 30s, a university graduate, who makes his living as a dispatched day laborer. He works himself ragged delivering packages or sorting warehouse inventory, and takes home between 6,000 yen and 7,000 yen (about $80) at the end of each grueling day. He wants to get married and start a family some day, but knows that is pure fantasy at his income level. “When I don’t even know if I’ll have work tomorrow, how can I make plans for my future?” he laments. The era in which nearly all Japanese citizens felt fi nancially secure to consider themselves “middle class” is long

gone. Today, there are people who cannot even meet their basic needs, no matter how hard they work. This is what the relative poverty rate of 15.7 percent implies. Traditionally, Japanese companies supported the lives of their employees and their families with a total package that included health care, pension and insurance against unemployment. This is no longer true (Asahi Shinbun: November 5, 2009). According to the Health and Welfare ministry data also, there have been more than 30,000 suicides for the past 15 years in Japan. The largest increase was seen in men in their 40s to mid-50s, also the suicide rate for young people has been increasing due to the rise of unemployment rate. The widening gap between rich and poor which is derived from unequal globalization, and lack of sharing create “non-peace” situation on the part of many people not only in Japan but also in North East Asia. What do we need to do in order to establish a peace community in East Asia? That is my next question. Here I would like to focus on various principles of traditional village communities - religious ethos - in East Asia. One of the significant characteristics of Japan’s modernization that started in the Meiji era was an attempt to form in the nation a capitalistic market economy. The people of Japan were expected to think more scientifi cally and to have a rational spirit in order to achieve this big goal. Then there were huge obstacles to promoting efforts to achieve the goal; namely, communities in agricultural villages and mountainous villages and fundamental principles on which the communities were built. A traditional village community in Japan is a community in which nature and people are deeply interconnected. They have faith in nature. They practice Shintoism and Buddhism integrally, worshiping both gods and the Buddha. It was understood that humans live with nature and they die in nature. As fundamental principles, people in traditional village communities placed greater emphasis on the cycle of life of all than on scientific advancement and likewise on irrational agreements and practices than on rational spirit. Modernization, however, was meant for humans to conquer nature. Accordingly, village communities, deemed to be outdated societies born in the time when productivity was underdeveloped, came to be dissolved gradually. We may say that the development of these values of modern rationalism is symbolized by nuclear power plants. The nuclear power plant accident that occurred in Fukushima on March 11, 2011 is obviously a man-made disaster. It was an event in which the myth of safety of nuclear power plants had collapsed and at the same time in which the formation of spirit through the existing modern rationalism had been damaged severely. It is my belief that the damage to the modern rationalism will bring us a chance to recollect precious values inherited in traditional communities, to reevaluate them, and to reconstruct the communities. For example, it is believed in village communities that human life is given by someone or something that transcends the existence of human beings such as gods or nature. We all sacrifi ce lives of various creatures coexisting with ourselves in order to eat and breathe every day. We live with all the living creatures in the cycle of nature. It was Albert Schweitzer who proposed the Ethics of Reverence for Life. Since childhood, Schweitzer had developed a delicate sensibility toward plants and animals. He said his mother used to pray with him in bed at night for people only,



so he used to pray for plants and animals by himself after his mother left his room. He believed that we needed to empathize with all the creatures having the will to live. A sense of reverence for life such as this can also be found in communities in Japan and in communities in Asia. If you read the Bible, you can see how in the early period of Christianity, Christians used to share everything they had with others in their communities. It was customary for them to have meals together before the service so that no one prays to God while feeling hungry during the service. The meal was called an Agape Meal. I believe community principles similar to those in Christianity exist in communities of fishery villages and agricultural villages in Japan and also in village communities in East Asian countries. The principle of sharing, developed in communities, was considered to be something feudalistic, something outdated, in the modernization process. The role that is required of religious practitioners now in order to establish a peace community in East Asia must be to put into practice the ideas that bring us back to the very basics of religions and the fundamental principles of religious communities Now, I would like to take a close look at non-peace situation in North East Asia, particularly in relation to Korean Peninsula.It is a historical fact that Japan was directly involved in the

peninsula as its colonizer for about 35 years, and that the Korean Peninsula was divided by the United States and the Soviet Union at the end of World War II. Although Japan established normal relations with South Korea in 1965, it still has no diplomatic ties with DPRK 67 years after the war’s end. Japan was moving to restarting stalled talks aimed at establishing diplomatic relations with the DPRK after the Summit between former Prime Minister Koizume and Mr. Kim Jong Il in 2002. When the Pyongyang declaration was issued, Many NGOs, citizen’s groups and church related organizations sent a letter of congratulations to Mr. Koizumi on the success of the meeting that he had opened the new door for the diplomatic relations. This was very unusual as we always send a letter of protest or demands to him. We gave him credit for his eagerness to move things forward but it has not been producing all the expected results. On the contrary, it created a massive negative campaign against the DPRK by the

Japanese media due to the information released by the DPRK at the Pyongyang Summit on the “Japanese abductees” stating that many of them had already died. A group of conservative lawmakers submitted a bill to bar DPRK ships from entering Japan and this bill was cleared at the Diet in July, 2004 as a result of the negative campaign. The Diet also has revised the Foreign Exchange and Foreign Trade Law to enable the government to unilaterally impose economic sanctions on the DPRK, including a halt to cash remittances. As we all know that these laws and sanctions are still imposed following the nuclear testing in Oct, 2006. This year, 2012, marks the 102th anniversary of the Japanese annexation of the Korean Peninsula. It is also the 62 years since the Korean War. After the beginning of the invasion of the Korean Peninsula in 1875 with the Ganghwa Island incident and then the First Sino-Japanese War and the Russo-Japanese War, Japan completed its colonization of the Korean Empire in 1910. Thus the history of the modernization of Japan coincides with Japan’s interference in the Korean Peninsula. The 36-year colonial rule of Korea by Japan only came to an end with Japan’s defeat in the war which is the liberation, when viewed from the Korean side in 1945. Although its colonial rule ended, 65 years later, Japan has yet to settle its accounts from the time of colonial rule. Even today, we continue to see “Wednesday Demonstrations,” in which former “comfort women” protest on Wednesdays in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. These demonstrations have been going on every week since January 1992. Even within Japan, since the beginning of the 1990s, people from all over Asia have been bringing up the issue of Japan’s responsibility for its actions during World War II. With the end of the Cold War and start of the 1990s, the victims of the war have broken their silence and begun to question Japan. Since the end of the 1990s until 2010, over 80 cases have been fi led demanding reparations. This is surely due to the fact that, although Japan, as a former colonial power, invaded and ruled over other nations, it still refuses to take responsibility for its historical actions and has thus far ignored the voices of the victims. Put in a different way, if the Japanese Government had attempted to proactively fulfi ll its post-war responsibilities early on, Japan may have been able to rebuild relationships of trust with all of the war victims, including those in China and the Korean Peninsula. As you might have heard, in recent years, as a part of consolidating efforts by the Japanese government, all the laws such as those on the Hinomaru (“national flag”), Kimigayo (“national anthem”) and wire tapping, and emergency legislation were set in place. In addition to the Diet’s passing of the amendment to the Fundamental Law on Education, which is centered around patriotic education, the Japanese government was in the process of changing the constitution, particularly targeting Article 9. The Diet on May 14, 2007, passed into law a controversial national referendum bill for constitutional amendments. Furthermore, along with this move, Japan had been sending the SDF (Self Defense Force) to Iraq during the time of Iraq War for the first time in history since World War II, as an established reality in order to convince the Japanese people to support the change of the constitution and to become a “country” which could initiate and wage war. I might be too sensitive and worrying too much about possibility of war but when we look at the recent moves of

the Japanese government, I must admit that Japan has been changing and moving with full speed ahead into a country which is capable of initiating a war. Along with the move, nationalism also comes back when the recession continues for long time and people feel helpless. I would like to remind us again of our past experiences of early nationalism in Japan, which is dangerous. In order to grasp the dangers of the “nationalism” in Japan, we need to go back about 144 years. The Meiji Restoration in 1868, which followed more than two hundred years of national seclusion, shook the whole society. European culture fl ooded the Japanese lands. The Japanese government thought it urgent to create national unity through the strong centralization of power which was supplemented by prestige. The 16-year-old Mutsuhito (Emperor Meiji) fulfilled this role and the modern emperor system came into being. The Meiji Japanese government carried out a number of policies under a powerful military influence but the first thing that they did was to inaugurate Shinto as the national religion. The emperor became the highest priest of the whole nation and the supreme commander of the imperial army and navy. The Meiji Government prompted the unity of Shinto and the State in order to establish its legitimacy and build loyalty. The emperor was considered to be a descendant of Amaterasu Omikami (the Sun Goddess) and “the living god” of Shinto. And, for the first time in the history of Japan, a provision on religious freedom of the people was part of the Constitution of the Great Empire of Japan in 1889. However, that freedom had to be “within the limits not prejudicial to peace and order, and not antagonistic to their duties as subjects” (Article 28), because the Emperor had the “Divine Imperial Sovereignty” as a descendant of Amaterasu Omikami, under the Constitution. The Imperial Constitution stipulated that the emperor was divine and inviolable. As some of you know well from the history, the Meiji government had more in mind than just the deifying of the emperor to unify the nation. They wanted to make the best use of the emperor to carry out their intentions to expand the Empire of Japan, which subsequently would lead to the invasion of many Asian countries and cause severe suffering as well. State Shinto in effect provided the basis for suppression of all opposition enabling ultra-nationalists to wage war. For example during the WWII, Japanese Christians were watched and prosecuted. The Religious Organizations Law of 1939 refl ected the Imperial Constitution and Imperial Rescript on Education, which declared that Japan was ruled by a “god incarnate” of Shinto pedigree in “line of emperors unbroken for ages eternal.” Christian churches were allowed to confess their faith if they showed loyalty to this emperor. Even so, the Japanese government was very suspicious of Christians and oppressed them in various ways. Even before the Kyodan (the United Church of Christ in Japan) was formed, there were a number of church leaders who accepted that the state religion of Shinto was a “super- religion” and revered the emperor but there were also some church leaders who did not support this belief and, subsequently, were arrested. I would like to give an interesting example. Japanese pastors, who were being interrogated by the Japanese military police, were often asked this question: “Who is greater? Jesus Christ or the Emperor?” (Now if the pastor answered, “Jesus”, the pastor would be taken to prison and tortured. If the pastor answered, “the Emperor,” then the pastor would be mocked for not

answering as a Christian pastor should). The questions asked could also be quite tricky such as “If Jesus and the Emperor were both drowning in a river at the same time, who would you save fi rst?” (One clever pastor answered, “Whoever is closest to me”).To the later shame of many Christians, some church leaders even urged Christians in Korea and Taiwan, the Japanese colonies at that time, to accept shrine worship and this brought much suffering to the Christians in those countries. The Kyodan (the United Church of Christ in Japan) was formed during WWII by forcing all the Protestant denominations to join together as one group - the Kyodan - now this was not done in the spirit of ecumenism but because it made it easier for the Japanese government to control and watch the church if they were under one church body, the Kyodan. This newly formed Kyodan attempted to rationalize Japan’s atrocities, by sending a letter to the Asian churches which interpreted Japan’s military expansion as “historical progress” and “God’s will.” It is regrettable that the Kyodan, at the time, succumbed to pressure to write such a shameful letter. It wasn’t until much later, in 1967, that the Kyodan (which is now the largest Protestant denomination in Japan), issued a “Confession of Responsibility during World War II” which stated that “we seek the mercy of God and ask the forgiveness of Asian neighbors for mistakes committed in the name of the Kyodan at the time of formation and during the war years.” We often talk about “national security.” However, the term “national” is a misleading and has a limited meaning as an adjective of “state” because the phrase “National Security” often implies the security of the ruling confi guration. The UNDP has been using the term “human security” and “people’s security” also has been used by ecumenical peace movement. By people’s security, we mean an alternative security doctrine informed by the values and morals of the Kingdom of God that are contrary to the designs of the military industrial complexes and their political agents. The prevailing view that sees violence, military and weapons as redemptive in essence denotes the rejection of our faith in the “Prince of Peace.” And if they must be the custodians of justice, peace and security of the people, churches in the region, must play a leadership role by evolving new strategies that lead to peace. During an anti-nuclear power plant rally, one of the Japanese writers concluded her speech with a story about the training of guide dogs for blind people. She said that there is term used for training which is known as “wise disobedience.” A guide dog is trained, of course, to follow the commands of its master. But when the dog knows that serious danger lies ahead if the master takes a certain road, the dog ignores the master’s “go” command and persists in its disobedience. This is what they call “wise disobedience.” While it is necessary to say no or put up resistance, we should learn that there can be an option of practicing “wise disobedience” just like these guide dogs, when we are facing massive power and nationalism. Please look for ways to do “wise disobedience” when the situations calls for it. Let us pray for peace, let us speak for peace and let us act for peace. Thank you.



Refl ections on the 2012 Hiroshima Peace Seminarby Ms.Courtney Lawrence, 2012 Peace Seminar Director and HJU Global Studies in English Lecturer

Faculty Perspectives

The 2012 Peace Seminar, made possible by the generous support of the Wesley Foundation and hosted by Hiroshima Jogakuin University, was a truly unforgettable experience. From August 3-7th over 50 students and faculty from across Asia, Africa and North America convened to think deeply about the themes of peace and conflict among a backdrop of the Hiroshima ‘case study’. The seminar was intentionally designed to foster dialogue, inspiration and empower participants to actively engage in building the peaceful society they wish to see as global citizens and change agents. The seminar comprised a wide spectrum of activities including: interactive workshops, dynamic lectures, panel presentations, Hibakusha (survivor) testimonials, media trainings, interfaith devotionals, independent fi lm screenings, dance performances, local home-stays, city explorations, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and the profound August 6th Hiroshima Peace Memorial Service.

Below you will fi nd seminar session ‘snapshots’ illustrating many of the highlights:

Lecture: Hiroshima Grassroots and Nuclear Abolitionby Mr. Steve Leeper, Chairperson of Hiroshima Peace and Culture FoundationAccording to the student evaluations this lecture was one of the mostpopular. Much of the lecture focused on the need for the participants to become active members of the ‘peace culture’ in the face of the omnipresent ‘war culture’ that characterizes and dominates global politics significantly today. Mr.Leeper offered statistics and facts regarding the state of the contemporary nuclear abolition movement - and challenged the participants to take part.

Panel Presentation: New Generation, New Era- Peace Message to the Young Generation of the Worldby Mr. Clifton Daniel Truman, Mr. Ali Beezer, Mr. Masahiro SasakiThis ground-breaking panel presentation was a particularly unique component to the seminar discourse on peace and confl ict- especially in terms of reconciliation. The panel featured the siblings of the A-bomb perpetrators and victims: including ex-President Truman’s grandson, Sadako Sasaki’s brother (inspiration for the story of a thousand origami paper cranes) and Ali Beezer’s grandson (US Enola Gay Pilot). The discussion focused primarily on contemporary world peace, politics and the younger generation’s task to take action.

Interactive Workshops: I) Being and Becoming a Peacebuilder and Working for Contemporary Peace- Social Activism and II) Peacebuilding in Today’s Worldby Professor Jun Manalo, University of the PhilippinesWorkshops on how to create tangible action steps for peacebuilding were integrated into the seminar to provide a theoretical perspective and practical framework for creating societal change. Professor Manalo presented case-studies and led interactive sessions to challenge the participants to think critically about the complexity of the peacebuilding process and how they can apply these learnings in their own context.

Hibakusha: Testimony of an A-Bomb Survivorby Ms. Koko KondoIt is a great fortune to be able to personally meet one of the remaining Hibakusha, survivors from the dreadful day of August 6, 1946. Based on seminar evaluation feedback, Ms. Kondo’s moving and eloquent testimony of her experience was a true and unforgettable highlight for many of the seminar participants. Although most of the week focused on the intellectual aspects of peace and conflict, Ms. Koko’s talk

ushered in a human and raw emotional dimension to what it means to be a victim of war.

Media Workshops, Lectures and Team Training: Role of Media on Peaceby Ms.Rosebell Kagumire, award winning Ugandan journalist and Mr. Cory Wilson, founder of US based multi-media agency The Collaborative The role of media in promoting peace or exacerbating confl ict is not to be underestimated in today’s fast paced, multipolar world. Given this reality, and based on the 2011 Peace Seminar recommendation’s to create more in- depth opportunities for participants to receive training on peacemaking, the 2012 experience integrated media training into the agenda. Students were professionally guided to critically deconstruct media messages and develop technical skills (including story telling, photography and video workshops).Additionally participants had the opportunity to apply their learningsthrough the student driven Global Voice Online Journal ‘media team’ ; this publication was created and launched during the seminar.

Short Film Night: Examining Peace and Confl ict through Cinemaby Mr. Hiroyuki Tanimoto, Director of the Con-Can & Kyoto Indies Film FestivalAt the intersection of ‘art’ and ‘reality’ one can find cinematic expression. The seminar was able to explore challenging global themes connected to peace and confl ict, through the medium of fi lm. Mr. Tanimoto curated 9 short international fi lms and animations that drew on universal themes connected to life, love, peace and war. One particular highlight included a skype interactive question and answer session with one of the short fi lm directors who was based in France.

Refl ections on the 2012 Hiroshima Peace Seminarby Dr. Barry K. Rhoades, 2012 Peace Seminar Faculty Participant and Professor at Wesleyan College

August 6th Memorial Services/Ceremonies I appreciated attending the August 6 services, and it was good to have already visited the museum to learn more about the actual bombing event, its immediate aftermath, and its subsequent importance as a focal point for international peace/nuclear disarmament efforts. Frankly, I got more out of the “surroundings” of the service than the service itself. I was moved by the experience of interacting with the cub scouts and others on the entry plaza, by placing flowers at the memorial, and the general sense of being with a large number of people all taking the time to remember and refl ect on the tragic event of the bombing. Similarly, I appreciated attending the Hiroshima Jogakuin High School ceremony. Attending the services was a valuable, integral, and central part of the seminar and an experience that should be retained for future seminars.

Hiroshima’s Historical and Contemporary Roles in the International Peace MovementThis was essential to the success of the seminar. The same seminar held anywhere else in the word or at any other time of the year would not have been nearly as engaging and effective. The surrounding presence of the city and the temporal presence of the anniversary provided a sense of immediacy, immersion, and continuity, which kept the seminar both focused and relevant. As an example, I was struck by similarities between how I felt in the Hiroshima Peace Museum and in the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. A major difference which made the Peace Museum more meaningful was its being “on-site” for both the unspeakable tragedy of the event and the inspiring example of the recovery and rejuvenation of the city. I have returned from my time in Japan with a very strong appreciation for the unique position of which Hiroshima holds as a symbol for world peace.

August 2nd 2012, ThursdayWelcome Registration

Hosted by HJU Administration and Seminar Faculty

August 3rd 2012, FridayKeynote Devotion:”

Relation of Justice, Injustice and Peace” Speaker: Dr. Toshimasa YAMAMOTO

Dr. Rev.; Secretary for Tokyo YMCA; Presently Professor and Chaplain at Kwansei Gakuin University in Kobe

“The opening Devotion and Keynote given by Dr. Yamamoto Toshimasa and Claudia Yamamoto spoke of the importance of peace and the impact of world-wide peace movements. First, Claudia Yamato sang with us in sign language, then discussed her understanding of “peace.” Dr. Yamamoto emphasized the necessity of justice to make peace. We were enlightened by their words, learning that we cannot abandon our goals for peace. Through justice we can obtain peace.”-Student Participant, Japan

August 3rd 2012, FridayIce-Breaking Introductions

Facilitator: Courtney LAWRENCE

August 3rd 2012, Friday Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Participants toured the museum in three groups, each guided by a museum professional guide. Everyone was exposed to the historical facts, material artifacts, and video footage from the A-bomb catastrophe in 1945.Seeing the different displays actualized the devastation caused by the A-bomb. The experience of the museum brought the truth of the past to today’s reality.

August 3rd 2012, FridayKobe College Contemporary Dance Performance

Facilitator: Yukihiro HIROSE Director of Kyoto International Indies Film ,

Creative Director at Hardy-2nd

“The dancing from the Kobe College was one of the most unique performances during the Peace Seminar. This special performance provided seminar participants another look at the catastrophic disasters through art and movement. The music proved to be a vehicle of understanding the fear, the hopelessness, and the anxiety of the destruction. Then the calm and positive melody at the end represented the reconstruction. The dance gave the audience the space to think and to adopt awareness to their perception of the fatal a-bomb event.”-Student Participant, Vietnam

August 3rd 2012, FridayWelcome Dinner

with Host Families Special Thanks to AGRI for catering the delicious meal!

Thanks to the families who participated!

“We are always so honored and thrilled to have AGRI kick off our Summer Seminar with some of the best food in Hiroshima! The chef is a culinary genius that provides marvelous fl avors whose beautiful blending foreshadows the blending of cultures to come!”-Faculty Participant, Japan

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August 4th 2012, SaturdayLecture:

”

Testimony of an A-Bomb Survivor”Lecturer: Koko KONDO

International Spokesperson for Survivors of the Hiroshima A-Bomb; Member of Miki Shijimi Church; President Circle at

Centenary Collage

August 4th 2012, SaturdayMedia Workshop 2:

”

Technical Artistry:Media Team Training”

Lecturer: Cory WILSONFounder of “The Collaborative”

“We learned how to be good and proper interviewers. We also learned the artistry of taking good pictures. He taught us how ask appropriate questions and then we practiced asking people open-ended questions. To be a good journalist or story-teller, we must learn how to listen and ask.”-Student Participant, Japan

August 5th 2012, Sunday Devotion:

”

Interfaith Sunday Service” Speaker: Masashi SAWAMURA

Chaplain and Associate Professor at HJU; Pastor: Church in Fukuoka

“After the first two songs, we heard a short message from Chaplain Sawamura, the chaplain a t H J U . T h e m a i n i s s u e s addressed that if we act selfi sh, we create hell, not heaven, while on earth. It is easy to be selfi sh and let ourselves create misery. After Rev. Sawamuru’s talk, I learned that when I put away my selfish thoughts and do something for someone else, I change. Not only can I help others, but doing so, I help myself.”-Student Participant, Japan

August 5th 2012, Sunday Lecture:

”

Reconstruction Out of Zero”Lecturer: Fumihisa MIYOSHI

Director of Suburban Development Section,Sewer Canal Division, Facilities Department, Sewerage Bureau

“In this lecture, Mr. Miyoshi taught us a b o u t h o w H i r o s h i m a w a s reconstructed from the appalling tragedy of the atomic-bomb. The sacrifice was tremendous, but the people of Hiroshima sustained their effort to reconstruct the city until it was complete . We learned the process o f people ’s e f for ts to reconstruct Hiroshima through many statistics, pictures and even a film. T h a t f i l m s h o w e d t h e r e a l r e -construction of Hiroshima, and it helped us realize the actuality of the efforts put in to rebuilding this city. We can have hope that this world can be in peace when people endeavor in building together. We can have the will for it through learning the power of people by learning about those who lived in Hiroshima at that time.”-Student Participant, Japan

August 4th 2012, SaturdayInterfaith Devotion:”

Christian Values for the non-Christian”Speaker: Dr. Ronald KLEIN

Professor, HJU ; Former Director General, Hiroshima International School ; Board Chair, St. Xavier’s school, an

Orphanage in India

“To better cater to the diverse audience of the HJU Summer Peace Seminar, Dr. Ron Klein from HJU led the Interfaith Devotion with his aptly titled “Christian Values for the Non-Christian.” He spoke to many of the listeners, who were of various other religious beliefs, and encouraged them to stay open minded about Christian values. Hailing from a Jewish background in the United States, Dr. Klein himself had to face this constant confl ict of growing up in a society that was pretty much pro-Christian, and he delivered some useful thoughts regarding values we could apply universally, Christian or not. Talking about values like the Golden Rule and “love thy neighbor” made us realize that there was much to apply to our daily lives from Christian teachings regardless of our beliefs. The most important thing Dr. Klein left us with was that we could always assimilate the good points instead of merely rejecting the religion as a whole, which is crucial for living in a world with so much diversity in thought.”-Student Participant, Japan

August 4th 2012, SaturdayLecture 1:

”

Being and Becoming a Peace-builder”Lecturer: Jun MANALO

Professor of Peace Building and Community Developmentat The University of the Philippines

“This session explored the characteristics of a peacebuilder and the process undertaken by a peacebuilder in the context of the world today. Concepts such as Peace and Violence were included in the discussion to illustrate different situations that exist as challenges to peace today. The session was spent largely on defi nitions and some of their examples, which were later useful in refl ecting upon situations of violence that participants may identify with. Particular emphasis was given to levels where violence can exist: personal, relational, cultural, structural, and ecological. The discussion ended with the characteristics of a peacebuilder, emphasizing that the process of becoming a peacebuilder involves opposing situations of violence and proposing alternatives to situations of violence.”-Student Participant, The Philippines

August 4th 2012, SaturdayMedia Workshop 1:”

Role of Media on Peace and Confl ict”Lecturer: Cory WILSON

Founder of “The Collaborative”

“Cory Wilson- the director of the Collaborative gave the summer seminar students a wonderful experience of studying media and how to use media to infl uence Peace and Confl ict. We learned that how the audience interprets information depends on each individual as a consumer of knowledge.”-Student Participant, Vietnam

“Koko Kondo told us her childhood story as one of the survivors of the Hiroshima A-Bomb. After her talk, students could ask questions and express their opinion/impression. It was a wonderful opportunity to see personal evidence of the despair of the tragedy. Yet, what was the most moving, was her hope and her dedication toward peace.”-Student Participant, Japan

August 4th 2012, SaturdayInternational Night Celebration

Everyone enjoyed displaying their own cultures, while also celebrating each other’s culture! Together we learned dances, music, games, and cultural norms of Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, USA, the Philippines, and Jamaica! The participants broke different cultural barriers during this experience by laughing and moving together!

August 5th 2012, SaturdayMedia Workshop 3:”

Role of Media on Peace and Confl ict”Lecturer: Cory WILSONFounder of “The Collaborative”

“Cory Wilson continued his teachings about the role of media on peace. In this workshop, we also learned what we can do to make media infl uential. In the workshop, we studied and experienced how to maintain relationships with the interviewee, how to ask questions, and how to setup the environment for the interview. Cory also emphasized the importance of cultural difference and that awareness of it is very important when we conduct international interviews.”-Student Participant, Vietnam

August 5th 2012, SundayClifton Daniel Truman Panel Discussion:”

New Generation, New Era – Peace Message to the young generation of the world”

Panelists: Clifton TRUMAN DANIEL, Ali BEEZER, Masahiro SASAKI, and Yuji SASAKI

Grandson of former President H.Truman;Grandson of the Enola Gay Pilot;

Sadako Sasaki’s brother and nephew“Participants and other ordinary people attended. Clifton Daniel Truman spoke about the diffi culty of a peace-builder’s position in the world. The Sasaki’s explained Sadako’s strong hope for peace and the importance of telling Sadako’s story to the next generation without hatred. Participants asked questions based on their defi nition of peace and the speakers expressed their opinion of peace in the future.”-Student Participant, HJU

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August 6th 2012, Monday Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony

Peace Memorial Park

August 6th 2012, Monday Hiroshima Jogakuin Peace Memorial CeremonyHiroshima Jogakuin Junior and Senior High SchoolA special gathering of 350 students, staff, teachers, and Seminar Participants gathered together to conduct a special ceremony honoring the victims of the A-bomb.

August 7th 2012, TuesdayDevotion: Student Led Interfaith Devotions

Students shared scriptures, prayers, and testimonies.Adam Palmer (a local musician) played “Stand By Me” as a special honoring of communal peace.

August 7th 2012 , Tuesday Lecture:

”

Hiroshima Grass-Roots and NuclearAbolition”

Lecturer: Steve LEEPERChairperson, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation;

2007 Chairperson, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation;2003 Special Advisor, Hiroshima Peace Culture Foundation

August 5th 2012, Sunday Workshop:

”

Role of Media on Peace”Lecturer: Rosebell KAGUMIRE

Multimedia Journalist with Isis-Women’s International Cross Cultural Exchange; Daily Monitor; Uganda Radio

Network; The Independent news magazine

“Participants learned that HOW to tell a story is more important than THE story. We learned how to dist inguish stereotypes and analyze what your audience expects for the media, which you are using to tell the story.We then watched three relevant videos about storytelling.”-Student Participant, Japan

August 5th 2012, Sunday Film Night

Director: Hiroyuki TANIMOTOFilm Producer & Curator of Con-Can Film Festival

“Tanimoto held a small fi lm night at HJU featuring independent fi lms with global perspective. The fi lms each served a greater purpose of raising awareness for the importance of cultural competence or ecological sustainability worldwide. Students participated in a live Skype call with the director of one of the featured fi lms for a question and answer session. It was a unique opportunity for students to scratch the surface of global independent fi lm, as well as have their voices heard by individuals who value the importance of believing in a particular cause.”-Faculty Participant, USA

Peace Seminar participants were able to attend the 67th Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony held at the Peace Memorial Park. It was a profound opportunity to pay respect to the souls lost August 6th, 1945. Prayers were spoken, fl owers were given, and peace was realized.Following the Peace Bell at 8:15 a.m., everyone paid silent tribute to those who suffered in 1945 and those who still suffer from losing loved ones.As everyone followed aloud the “The Peace Declaration,” it confi rmed that there should never be another “Hiroshima.” Peace is necessary and must be continually reinforced by offerings, prayers, and action!

August 6th 2012, Monday Dinner at AGRI

Participants were able to enjoy Agri’s wonderful cuisine once again. However, this time hosted at the restaurant in the city! A perfect meal at the end of an eventful day!

August 7th 2012, TuesdayLecture 2:

”

Working for Contemporary Peace – Social Activism and Peace-building in Today’s World”

Lecturer: Jun MANALOProfessor of Peace-Building and Community Development at

The University of the Philippines

“The session served as a review for several themes that were discussed throughout the seminar, as well as a primer for different opportunities for peacebuilding. The situations where peace can be promoted exist as a response to the different ways people can experience violence in Social Justice, Rights, Trauma Healing and Reconciliation. These examples for opportunities in peacebuilding suggest change of mindset to be realized among more people, as well as a more critical understanding of the effects of war. Action for peacebuilding comes from building a counterculture that insists on giving back rather than taking as much as possible.”-Student Participant, The Philippines

August 7th 2012, TuesdayGroup Presentations & Steps for Action

Participants worked in groups to discuss, plan, and explain various global issues, such as the environment and women’s rights. The students were able to use knowledge learned from the seminar about peace and cooperation, while also exercising leadership skills.

August 7th 2012, Tuesday Farewell Dinner:

Traditional Japanese Dance & Tea CeremonyAfter the last dinner at HJU, the participants learned the art of the Japanese traditional Tea Ceremony (sado). Adopting different cultures and welcoming others is the essence of ichigo-ichie.The HJU students led everyone in the pleasures of traditional Japanese folk dance: Bon-odori. The participants were able to dance in Yukata’s (light summer kimonos) with uchiwas (round fans).

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Questionnaire Feedback

2012 Peace Seminar ParticipantQuestionnaire - Selected Feedback

◉ This has been one of the most profound and enjoyable experiences of

my life! Thank you so much!

◉ The Peace Seminar as a whole was far beyond what I expected. We were

given so many opportunities to grow as leaders and peacemakers!

◉ It was an awesome experience for me to improve my leadership skills.

◉ The Peace Museum was an important experience. Harsh reality, but

important understanding.

◉ It was a great chance for me to increase my awareness and cultural

competence. I have no regrets – it has been incredible!

◉ Mr. Leeper’s presentation was so nice that I felt I have to take action for the

world.

◉ Koko Kondo’s lecture was fascinating and inspiring. She was vulnerable yet

contained. Her explanation as a victim presented the truth of the matter but

without anger or bias.

◉ I have had the most incredible experience this summer. I am grateful for this

opportunity and appreciate all that was done for me and the other participants!

◉ I certainly enjoyed working with the Programs and Education Teams.

◉ After the seminar, rather than just improve myself, I want to help other people.

I wish programs like this will continue.

Message and Acknowledgementsfrom the Summer Seminar 2012Director

Ms. Courtney Lawrence2012 Peace Seminar Director and HJU Global Studies in English Lecturer

RETROSPECTIVE

It is a great pleasure to refl ect on the Peace Seminar experience that we at Hiroshima Jogakuin University had the great honor and priviledge to organize and host this past summer. In short, many of our goals were achieved: most participants, based on their evaluation, walked away with an enhanced understanding of themselves, their relationship to the world, and the themes of peace and confl ict – explored deeply through the case study of the Hiroshima A-Bomb. None of the above outcomes would have been possible if it was not for the extremely generous support and cooperation of the Wesley Foundation. We would also like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to the many HJU Faculty and Staff members who worked around the clock to ensure that the seminar experience was a seamless production. And fi nally, we would like to thank the many visiting lecturers, speakers and facilitators who generously donated their expertise and time for the benefi t of all participants. To provide greater context of the goals and outcomes, it is helpful to explain that the ‘Peace Seminar’ was a helpful and intentionally sequenced building block to the 5-week Global Studies, Peace and Leadership Summer Seminar. This intensive international program drew students from across Asia and North America to participate in the following experiences: a two-week Virtual Classroom to prepare for their experience, the Peace Seminar as elaborated throughout this report, a 10-day Social Justice Fieldwork Experience in Thailand and India, and a fi nal two day ‘Wrap Up’ of workshops and refl ections for creating social action plans. In essence, our pedagogy was anchored in appreciative inquiry and focused on highlighting ‘what?’, ‘so what?’, ‘now what?’. Indeed there was a ‘call to action’ embedded throughout the seminar. Some may ask why we designed the program as we did. We believe that the value of formative experiences such as these can not be underestimated, especially in terms of cultivating a generation of peacemakers and engaged global citizens. It is my hope that next year we can expand the model to include more participants and ultimately touch more lives.

HJU Campus Map Commemorative Photo


PEACEMAKERS FOR TODAY AND TOMORROW...

◉ INFORMATION

Hiroshima Jogakuin UniversityAddress: 4-13-1 Ushita-higashi, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima 732-0063 JAPANTelephone: +81-82-228-0386Facsimile: +81-82-228-1648E-mail: [email protected]: http://www.hju.ac.jp/

2012 Hiroshima Peace Seminar Offi ceTelephone: +81-82-228-0390E-mail: [email protected]

◉FACILITIES

Hinohara Hall 1F Lounge, Kiosk, Vending Machines, WC (M & F) 2F Cafeteria, WC (F) 3F Cafeteria, WC (F) 4F PC Room, Shower Rooms, WC (F) 5F Assembly Hall, WC (M & F)Sofi a-kan No.2 1F Seminar Rooms, Vending Machines, WC (M & F) 2F Seminar Rooms, WC (M & F)Kofu-kan 1F Seminar Registration Room 3F Seminar RoomGaines Chapel

◉ INTERNET ACCESS Hinohara Hall 4F Sofi a-kan No.2 4F E-Learning Room

■校舎名（Name of Buildings）

1. 人文館　Jinbun-Kan2. 文学館　Bungaku-Kan3. ランバスホール　Lambuth Hall4. 頌栄館　Shoei-Kan5. 光風館　Kofu-Kan6. サフラン館　Saffron-Kan7. アイリス館　Iris-Kan8. 図書館　Library9. 牛田山荘　Ushita Cottage10. クラブハウス　Club House11. ロゴス館　Logos-Kan

12. ソフィア1号館　Sophia-Kan No.113. ソフィア２号館　Sophia-Kan No.214. 歴史資料館　Hiroshima Jogakuin Archives15. ゲーンスチャペル　Gaines Chapel16. クックホール Cook Hall17. ヒノハラホール　Hinohara Hall18. 守衛室　Gatehouse19. 駐輪場　Bicycle Parking Lot20. アイリス・インターナショナル・ハウス　Iris International House21. グラウンド　Athletic Field22. ゲーンス幼稚園　Gaines Kindergarten

HJU Campus Map

HIROSHIMA JOGAKUIN UNIVERSITY

HIROSHIMA PEACE SEMINAR2012

Seminar Report

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“And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”

1st Corinthian 12:26

「一つの部分が苦しめば、すべての部分が共に苦しみ、一つの部分が尊ばれれば、すべての部分が共に喜ぶのです。」

コリントの信徒への手紙一12:26

Address: 4-13-1 Ushita-higashi, Higashi-ku, Hiroshima 732-0063 JAPANTelephone: +81-82-228-0386 Facsimile: +81-82-228-1648E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://www.hju.ac.jp/

Peace Seminar 2012 Official Report; Hiroshima, JAPAN

Documents

Transcript of Peace Seminar 2012 Official Report; Hiroshima, JAPAN