UNESCO and its Antiwar Spirit

 (Quoted from an article in Nagasaki Newspaper, 17 April 2003)

 

On March 20 the U.S. began its attacks against Iraq.

What a thing to happen when the beautiful spring season is just around the corner.

I was scheduled to give a congratulatory speech at my alma mater women’s college.

Although I had my speech draft finished I was caught by a thought that a high time had come to make an appeal on the UNESCO spirit to young people when the whole world is disturbed. So, I quickly gave a chance to the substance of my speech.

 

UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It was established in 1946, one year after the establishment of the UN with the objective of contributing to peace in the world through educational, scientific and cultural activities. At the outset of the UNESCO Charter the following words of Sir Julian Sorell Huxley, “That since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed;”

 

We learn in our history classes that the war X was triggered by incidence Y, etc. I think wars originate in the minds of men. Within whose mind has this war against Iraq been born? Wars are cruel, fearful and miserable.

Ordinary citizens don’t care about the cause or reason of a war. They want the war to be stopped by all means. However, they do not have means to stop it. Now, if all of us are dedicated to the above UNESCO spirit and pray “No More War” someday our prayers are heard and realized. Even though it may be a fragile wish I still wish people all over the world understand the spirit of UNESCO. Of course the real world is far from our ideals. I was once a civil servant working in the Ministry of Education and was in charge of UNESCO. I was shocked to know that even within UNESCO a political strife takes place.

I am quite sick of the stubborn ways human beings resist being saved. Political thoughts, philosophy, religion, and even arts often become filthy through handlings by men even though they are pure and idealistic originally. Am afraid that all these degradations are due to imperfection of human being. Even with such imperfection we humans must continue its endeavor toward peace with hope.

 

We can stop smoking or drinking. Why can’t we stop warring?

 

Akiko Gono

President, Bilingual Group

Born and grown up in Nagasaki

(Quoted from an article in Nagasaki Newspaper, 17 April 2003)

Translation by Yoshio Hida