University of Iowa News Release

Sept. 18, 2006

Atomic Bomb Survivors From Japan To Discuss 'Give Back Peace' Sept. 22

Four peace activists who survived the bombing of Hiroshima will give a panel presentation "Give Back Peace: Hiroshima 61 years later," at noon Friday, Sept. 22 in the International Commons (Room 1117) in the University Capitol Centre. The panel members will share their experiences of the atomic bomb and discuss their activism on current political issues, including the war in Iraq and depleted uranium. 

Their discussion will be moderated by Adrienne Hurley, professor of Japanese literature and culture in the University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and is free and open to the public.

The panelists are Murata Tadahiko, 66, who appeared in the documentary film "No More Hiroshima" by Martin Duckworth; Kawasaki Miyoji, 77; Yano Miyoko, 75; and Kayashige Junko, 67.  Miyoji, Miyoko and Junko will discuss the Iraq war, depleted uranium and internal radiation exposure, while Murata will talk about the problem of American bases in Japan.

Their visit to the Midwest is being organized by several units at Grinnell College; The UI discussion is sponsored by the UI Center for Asian and Pacific Studies (CAPS) and the UI Women's Resource and Action Center (WRAC).

The survivors are representatives from the Japan Confederation of A- and H- Bomb Sufferers Organizations (Hidankyo), which was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 for its "tireless work in advocating the total abolition of all nuclear weapons." Although 61 years have passed since their radiation exposure at Hiroshima, the four survivors continue to travel around the world advocating the confederation's goal: prevention of nuclear war and elimination of nuclear weapons.

For more information or special accommodations to attend this event, contact Dongwang Liu, CAPS, at 319-335-1305 or by email at dongwang-liu@uiowa.edu.

CAPS' mission is to promote teaching, research and outreach related to East and Southeast Asia. CAPS is part of UI International Programs, which enables UI students, faculty, staff and the public to learn from and about the world.  Its offices, degree programs and events provide life-changing opportunities on campus and abroad, heighten intellectual and cultural diversity, and give all university constituents access to vital international knowledge.  For more information, visit http://intl-programs.uiowa.edu/ or call 319-353-2700.  International Programs is part of the Office of the Provost.

WRAC is a diverse community dedicated to fostering women's individual empowerment and systemic solutions to all forms of oppression. The Center leads and collaborates on projects that serve UI students, staff, faculty, and the greater community.

STORY SOURCE: University of Iowa News Services, 300 Plaza Centre One, Suite 371, Iowa City, Iowa 52242-2500.

CONTACTS: Media: Lois Gray, 319-335-2026, lois-gray@uiowa.edu; Program: Dongwang Liu, CAPS, 319-335-1305, dongwang-liu@uiowa.edu; Writer: Erin Vaughn.