Wednesday, December 30, 2020

Peace on Earth


Peace on Earth is a phrase we often see and use during the holiday season. It is a sentiment that is shared by people around the world from all walks of life. A holiday wish that we all hope would be granted during our lifetime.

This hope for peace runs deep with the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors). They were eye-witnesses to mankind's worst act of violence against innocent people in all of history. They have seen and felt the devastation that nuclear weapons have had on the land, on the people and on themselves. It is personal for them. 

It is their stories and their experiences that has led to the Hibakusha's Legacy: Hope for Peace project that began as an idea back in 2009. The original idea was to photograph atomic bomb survivors and create a traveling exhibit to promote peace by sharing their stories, but it has morphed into more, including some haikus based on their testimonies.

After meeting with over 400 survivors in Japan, South Korea, Brazil and the USA, it became clear that documenting their stories on video would be a necessary part of the exhibit because hearing them talk about their experiences was far more impactful than taking a still photograph. Together, they provide deeper insight into what happened and how it affected the people who survived. Click on this link to see a compilation of some of the interviews done from 2011-2013. Hope for Peace video

Sharing their stories has become my life's work. Unfortunately, they will not be with us forever. The average age of the hibakusha is now 83-years old, so it is important that we document as many of their stories as we can while they are still able to. As a Director for the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors (ASA), I would like to humbly request your support so that we can continue to document their stories. We still have over 75 hibakusha in 6 countries - Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Brazil, Canada and the United States - who have said they want to share their stories.

If Peace on Earth rings in your heart, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors. We are a 501(c)3 organization based in Southern California and can provide a receipt for your contribution. Please see the 'donations' instructions on the right (web/desktop version) on how to send us a donation. We are working on adding an online link on our website, but it is not fully functional yet. We apologize for the inconvenience.

For more information about ASA, please click here to visit our website.

Thank you for your support. Arigatou gozaimashita! Peace begins with us.

Darrell Miho, Director, ASA


 




Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Rest in Peace Taniguchi-san


On August 30, 2017, Sumiteru Taniguchi passed away from cancer. He was 88 years old. As a living hibakusha (atomic bomb survivor), Taniguchi-san had first hand knowledge of how devastating a nuclear weapon can be and he used his voice to speak out against nuclear weapons.

I first met Taniguchi-san in 2009 at the World Conference Against A- and H-Bombs (WCAAHB) in Nagasaki, Japan. The annual conference meets in both Hiroshima and Nagasaki and brings together peace advocates from around the world. Taniguchi-san came to the closing reception to meet with us and encourage us to continue our pursuits for a world free of nuclear weapons.

I have to admit, when I first met him, I really didn’t know who he was or anything about his experience. I only knew that he was a famous hibakusha from Nagasaki. Later in the evening, Taniguchi-san was talking to a couple of us when someone asked him if he could show us his scars. He slowly unbuttoned shirt and lifted it over his shoulder and my eyes grew wide and I’m sure by jaw was touching the floor. I could not believe what my eyes were seeing.

His back was completely covered in scars and looked like peanut butter slathered on a piece of bread. The skin on his left side was fused around his ribs leaving gaping holes in between. You could almost grab his ribs and pull them out.

On August 9, 1945, Taniguchi-san was riding his bike, delivering mail when a plutonium bomb was detonated over Nagasaki. He was a little over a mile away from the hypocenter when he was knocked to the ground by the heat blast. His back and left side were completely burned. His skin was hanging from his hand and arm. His back, raw and exposed.


The blast was so strong that he said he had to cling to the ground to stay where he was, but he remembers seeing a child literally get blown away. His bike was twisted and useless. Mail was scattered all around, but he mustered up enough strength to gather it all and place it back in the bag next to his bike. He could hear people calling out for help but he couldn’t even help himself.

A stranger carried him up to a hillside where other survivors were gathered. At night, he said there were so many fires scattered around the city that it almost looked like it was day time.

The next morning, everyone around him was dead. Rescue crews came by, but he was too weak to call out to them. They thought he was dead too. It would be another two days, before he was finally rescued.

He spent the next three years and nine months in various hospitals recovering from the burns to his body. One year and nine months of that time was spent lying on his stomach. Initially, he said, he felt no pain because his nerves were dead. But as his body slowly healed, the pain became excruciating. A year later, the maggots came.

After his discharge from the hospital, Taniguchi-san became an outspoken advocate for the abolishment of all nuclear weapons. He was active in the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Survivors Council since it’s inception in 1956 and served as the chairman since 2006. He was appointed co-chair of the Japan Confederation of A- and H-Bomb Sufferers Organization in 2010 and since 2008, he also served on the committee to draft the Peace Declaration read by the Mayor of Nagasaki at the annual ceremony. He traveled throughout Japan and the world to talk about his experience, to show people his scars and to urge people and world leaders to abolish nuclear weapons.

At one point, he contemplated suicide, but as he stood on the top of a hill overlooking the sea, he thought that it was better for him to speak out on behalf of all the people who were killed by the atomic bombs. It was better to live for those who died.



I was lucky enough to interview and photograph Taniguchi-san for the Hibakushas’ Legacy: Hope for Peace project, which is preserving the hibakushas’ stories. We are in the process of interviewing over 100 hibakusha from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada, Brazil and the United States, so that future generations can hear Taniguchi-san’s story and other hibakushas’ stories first hand and learn what happened to the people who survived the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

[you can support this project on indeiegogo https://igg.me/at/atomicbombsurvivors ]

I am sad that we have lost one of our champions for world peace. The last time I saw him was again at the WCAAHB in Nagasaki in 2015. I could see that he was slowing down and his speech had become slurred. But his passion and spirit were as strong as ever. He managed to stand in front of over 2,000 fellow peace advocates to encourage us to continue to fight for a world free of nuclear weapons.

His courage and strength to publicly speak about his experience, at a time when most survivors kept quiet due to the stigma attached to being a hibakusha, as well as speaking out against nuclear weapons, in a culture that is raised to be silent, is truly admirable.

His hope, as is the hope of every hibakusha I have ever spoken with, was to live in a world free of nuclear weapons. I told him that I would do what I can to tell his story and to help make his dream come true. Unfortunately, this did not happen during his lifetime, but I am grateful that he lived long enough to see the progress that had been made due to his and other peace advocates’ hard work.

On July 7th of this year, the United Nations adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, which basically states that any nation that signs the treaty agrees never to develop, test, produce or stockpile nuclear weapons, nor transfer or receive such weapons, never to use or threaten to use nuclear weapons and to assist anyone affected by a nuclear weapon.

This treaty is now open for signatures at the UN General Assembly meeting being held in New York City. As of the date of this writing, 53 nations have signed it and at least 122 out of 190 nations are expected to do so. The United States is not expected to be one of them.

Regarding the treaty, the Mainichi Daily reported that Taniguchi-san said in a video message, "I'm very glad. I'd like (the countries concerned) to make efforts to rid the world of nuclear arms as early as possible."

Rest in peace Taniguchi-san. Because of you, and all of the hibakusha who have gone before you, we will continue to campaign for a world free of nuclear weapons.

Monday, May 9, 2016

Peace Begins With US

Peace Begins With US

Darrell Miho and the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors [ASA] have started a campaign to send 1,000 Hiroshima postcards to President Barack Obama, to encourage him to visit Hiroshima.

After US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Hiroshima in April, there is renewed hope that President Obama will follow suit and visit Hiroshima during his visit to Japan for the G7 Summit, May 26 & 27.

So we started the Peace Begins With US postcard campaign to encourage President Obama to visit Hiroshima. Darrell was in Japan and went to Hiroshima April 18 and bought over 1,000 Hiroshima postcards and we are asking people from around the world to help us send these postcards to President Obama and invite him to visit Hiroshima later this month.

Japanese legend says that if you fold 1,000 cranes, the Gods will grant you a wish. Many people send senzaburu (a thousand origami cranes strung together) to Hiroshima as a symbol of peace. This is largely attributed to Sadako Sasaki, who was 2 years old when the bomb detonated over her hometown of Hiroshima. She was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12 and started folding cranes in the hospital. Her wish was to be cured of her illness. She folded over 1,000 cranes, but unfortunately, she died later that year. You can read more about Sadako's story here.

So we added a little twist. Instead of 1,000 cranes, we are sending over 1,000 postcards, in honor of Sadako. Our wish is for President Obama to visit Hiroshima.

If you and some of your friends can send a postcard, please send us an email and we will send you 5? 10? or however many postcards you and your friends can send. the postcards and postage are all paid for (if sent from the US or Japan). All you and your friends have to do is write a message and send them.

You can also visit our Facebook page to keep up to date with issues related to the hibakusha and world peace.

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!!! Thank you!!!

Peace begins with US!!!

Sunday, July 27, 2014

Hibakushas' Legacy Video 1

I edited some of the hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) interviews from Japan to create this 8:18 video that describes what they remembered from the day the bomb was dropped on their city. It was originally shown at the mini-exhibit last year in September.


The hibakusha in the video are Ernest Arai (Hiroshima), Isao Aratani (Hiroshima), Keiko Ogura (Hiroshima) and Sumiteru Taniguchi (Nagasaki).

I wish to thank all of the survivors who have taken the time to openly talk about their personal stories with me, as well as all of the volunteers who have helped me along the way and all the donors who have made this project possible.

Friday, September 13, 2013

International Peace Day mini-exhibit

[click on image to enlarge]

Project Hibakusha : Hope for Peace has officially been changed to Hibakushas’ Legacy : Hope for Peace to better reflect the purpose of the project, which is to continue to share the hibakushas’ (atomic bomb survivors) experiences with the world and to carry on their hope for peace and a world free of nuclear weapons.

With that said, on September 21st, 2013, in honor of International Peace Day, we will begin to share the hibakushas’ stories at the Japanese American Cultural and Community Center (JACCC) in Little Tokyo. For nine days only, a mini-exhibit will be on display in the Doizaki Gallery to give the public it’s first peek into the ongoing photo and video project documenting the real life experiences of hibakusha. Visitors will get a glimpse into what happened on those fateful days in Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the people who survived the bombings.

At 2:00pm, an open forum will be held and a few hibakusha will be on hand to talk about their experiences. Audience members will be encouraged to ask questions so that they can learn more about what life was like for the hibakusha and their families.

The forum will be followed by an artist’s reception and short program. Darrell Miho, the photographer, will be on hand to discuss the project and the importance of preserving the hibakushas' stories. We must never forget the suffering that the hibakushas have endured for the past 68 years nor the tragedies that befell so many innocent lives.

It is now our responsibility to share their stories. We need to educate the world on how nuclear weapons affect people’s lives to ensure that no one else suffers the heartaches and loss that the hibakusha have. And most importantly, to carry on their hope for peace and a world free of nuclear weapons. 

Hibakushas’ Legacy : Hope for Peace
September 21 (International Peace Day) - September 29, 2013
Japanese American Cultural and Community Center
244 South San Pedro Street Los Angeles, CA 90012
(map and directions)
Admission is FREE!

Saturday, September 21 : 11:00am - 6:30pm
     2:00pm - Open forum : hibakusha will share their personal
                    experiences
     5:00pm - Reception and short program

 Everyday, September 22 - 29 : 11:00am - 4:00pm

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Journey Has Begun...

This is a much delayed posting that was written back in May of 2011. I was a little sidetracked as my friend Ken and I have been busy doing relief work in the Tohoku area documenting survivor stories and providing direct aid to the people who were seriously affected by the triple disaster. You can see what we have been doing on our website at Ai Love Japan or on our Facebook page

But back to Project Hibakusha : Hope for Peace…

May 31, 2011

The Journey has begun. On Tuesday, May 2nd, Matsui-san and I headed to Japan on what is to be the first of many trips to document the hibakusha’s stories. With four carry-on and four overweight checked bags, we flew out of Los Angeles (LAX) to Haneda (HND) and eventually landed in Hiroshima (HIJ) the next day.

The first couple of days were spent running errands, picking up a few things that we needed and spending time with our families. Both of us have relatives in Hiroshima. My grandparent’s on my father’s side are from Hiroshima and Matsui-san’s parents are from Hiroshima.

On Saturday, we interviewed five hibakusha at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, four in english and one in nihongo. Since my nihongo is not very good, two of my cousin’s joined us and helped me with the translation and interviews.

On Sunday, we went on location with two hibakusha, Arai-san and Kaneko-san, who took us to where they were on August 6, 1945. This added another dimension to their stories as they described to us in detail about their experience.
With its high-rise office buildings and apartment complexes, the city of Hiroshima is so well developed now that it is hard to imagine the devastation. After the bombing, people thought that nothing could live there for at least 75 years, but 66 years later, the city is alive and thriving with over 1.1 million people.

After two days of shooting in Hiroshima, we headed to Nagasaki where we were greeted with wind, rain and humidity. Over the next three days, we interviewed five more hibakusha, all in nihongo. My friend Oshima-san (and Jeff-san) joined us in Nagasaki to help with translation.

We thought that after conducting five interviews in one day in Hiroshima, Nagasaki would be a breeze with five interviews spread out over three days. Well, this was not quite the case. Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, we had to change our interview room every day. This was no easy task considering the set-up we had. But we managed to do it. And each time, we got better and faster, so it was good practice, even if it was a little chaotic at times.

Overall, we interviewed 11 hibakusha – six in Hiroshima and five in Nagasaki – but there are many more stories to be documented. I have over 100 hibakusha who have all agreed to be interviewed for in places as far away as Seoul, South Korea and Sao Paulo, Brazil.

So the journey has begun. The journey of a lifetime.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

65th Commemorative Service of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Victims


On August 1, 2010, I was the guest speaker at the 65th Commemorative Service of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Victims at the Los Angeles Koyasan Buddhist Temple in Little Tokyo. The event was hosted by the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors (ASA) and even though public speaking isn’t one of my favorite things to do, I was honored that they asked me to speak at their service.

The following is a transcript of my speech.

August 01, 2010
2010年8月1日

Hello everyone and thank you for coming today to remember those who lost their lives to the atomic bombings.
皆様、本日は原子爆弾により亡くなった被爆者の追悼サービスに参加頂きましてありがとうございます。

I’d like to thank Mrs. Suyeishi and the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors for inviting me here to speak to all of you. I also want to thank Asahi Sensei and the Koyasan Buddhist Temple for hosting this annual memorial service. It is an honor for me to be here and share with you my experience with the hibakusha and my own thoughts about peace and what we can do to make this world a better place.
広島・長崎原爆被爆者協会のスエイシさんにここにお招き頂きました事を、感謝します。また、この年次のご供養を行ってくださるアサヒ先生とロサンゼルス高野山米国別院にもお礼を申し上げます。私の被爆者との経験について、また平和への思いや、より良い世界を創っていくことについてお話させていただくことを大変光栄に思います。

About three years ago, I was at a crossroads in life. As a photographer and writer, I was grateful for the opportunities that I had been blessed with. Traveling the world, meeting people and telling stories. As a humanitarian, I volunteered my time to support charitable organizations because I believed in their missions, but I felt like there was more that I could do. I needed a new challenge.
3年ほど前、私は人生の岐路に立っていました。写真家、作家として世界中を駆け回り、多くの人に会い、ストーリーを伝える数々の機会に恵まれたことをありがたく思っていました。また自分の信じる慈善団体でのボランティア活動を通して人道的支援をしていましたが、他にもできることがあるのではないかと思っていました。新しいチャレンジを求めていたのです。
                          
So I started searching for a personal project that would combine my two passions in life – being creative and helping others. It took over a year for me to finally figure out my purpose in life, but it finally became clear that I needed to document the stories of atomic bomb survivors.
そこで、私が情熱を持つ2つのことを合わせたプロジェクトを探し始めました。想像力を使うことと、人助けをすることです。1年以上かかってやっと自分の人生の目的を見つけることができ、それは被爆者のストーリーの記録をすることだ、と分かったのです。

It is the perfect project for me. As a third generation Japanese American, I feel it is my duty to document the hibakusha’s stories. As an American citizen, my country is responsible for the bombing and since my grandfather emigrated from Hiroshima, my ancestors in Japan were directly affected. I know at least seven were killed. One died just this past year.
これは私にとって最高のプロジェクトです。日系3世として私には被爆者のストーリーを記録する義務があると思います。アメリカ人である私の国は原爆投下の責任を負っています。また祖父は広島出身ですので、私の祖先は直接影響を受けたのです。少なくとも7人が亡くなりました。去年も1人亡くなりました。

So 22 months ago, I started on this journey – a journey that had no clear destination, nor signs to show me which way to go. Each person that I meet holds a key that opens the gate to a new horizon. I now know that this journey has no end. For me, it is a journey of a lifetime that I hope others will continue on once my road has come to an end. We can not forget what happened 65 years ago.
私は22ヶ月前にこの旅を始めました。特に終点も無く、どっちに行くべきかの標識も無い旅です。色々な人に会う度に、新しい視野が見えるドアが開きます。この旅には終点はありません。私の人生の旅であって、私の道が終わるときには誰かが歩み続けてくれることを願っています。65年前に起きた事を忘れてはならないのです。

On August 6 and August 9, 1945, the United States awakened the world with nuclear weapons that proved capable of unimaginable destruction on a massive scale. With just two atomic bombs, they annihilated two entire cities, Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is estimated that 100,000 people were killed instantly and 250,000 by year’s end. Countless more lives were devastated. Men. Women. Children. Innocent lives who were only guilty of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
1945年8月6日と9日に、アメリカは想像もつかないほどの破壊力を持った原子爆弾を使い、世界を呼び起こしました。たった2発の原爆は広島と長崎を壊滅させました。10万人もの人が一瞬のうちに亡くなり、その年の終わりまでに25万人が亡くなったと言われています。数え切れないほどの男性、女性と子供が打撃を受けました。彼らの犯した罪は、悪いタイミングで悪い場所に居合わせてしまったというだけです。

Today, we honor those who died and offer our support to those who survived. For those who have passed, there is solace in knowing that they are at peace. For the hibakusha who are still with us, we offer our support for they have suffered far too much.
今日は、亡くなった方々を称え、また生存者を応援する日です。安らかに眠る被爆者の霊を慰め、苦しんできた生存者に応援の言葉を贈ります。

We can not possibly imagine the ugliness they have seen, the pain they have felt nor the suffering they have endured.
被爆者が見てきた惨さや、感じた痛みと苦しみは想像もできません。

Can you imagine reaching out to help someone and grabbing their hand, only to have it slip away leaving their liquefied skin in your hand?
助けの手を差し伸べたらその人が滑り落ちてしまい、その人の皮だけが手に残ったなんて、考えられますか?

Can you imagine being 18 years old and responsible for stacking wood and burning dead bodies because all the crematoriums had been destroyed?
火葬場が破壊されたため、18歳という若さで薪を積み上げて死体を焼かなければいけなかったなんて、想像できますか?

Can you imagine seeing a river full of dead bodies floating by? For many survivors, this was their reality. This was their living hell.
死体が溢れている川なんて、想像できますか?被爆者にとってはこれが現実だったのです。まさに生き地獄です。

For Mikiso Iwasa, who was 16 years old and 1.2 kilometers from the hypocenter, his story was very personal. In his own words, he wrote, “I found my mother trapped under the collapsed house and I tried to pull her out from there, but it was impossible for a young boy [that] I was. So I fled the fire, turning my back to my mother who was saying prayers sensing that she was going to die. Yes, I let her die. She was burnt alive, caught in the fire.”
16歳のとき爆心地から1.2kmで被爆したイワサ・ミキソさんは、とても個人的な話をしてくれました。「倒れた家の下敷きになった母を見つけたのですが、若い子供だった私は母を引っ張り出すことができなかった。死が近いと感じ、念仏をとなえていたた母に背中を向け、火に覆われた家から逃れました。私は母を死なせてしまった。母は焼き殺されたのです。」

“A couple of days later, I dug out what looked like my mother’s body from the burnt ruins of our house. It was an object greasy with fat, like a mannequin painted with tar and burned. I could not believe that was my mother’s body. She was killed mercilessly, like an object, not like a human being. The deaths of A-bomb victims in Hiroshima and Nagasaki could not possibly be considered as ‘human deaths’”
「数日後に焼けた家の下から母の死体らしきものを掘り出しました。脂肪で脂ぎって、タールを塗って焼いたマネキンのようでした。これが母の体だとは信じられませんでした。人間ではない物のように、残酷に殺されたのです。広島、長崎の被爆者の死に方は人間的なものではありませんでした。」

Despite many experiences like Mr. Iwasa’s, the hibakusha do not carry any hatred or anger. Instead, they carry sadness and guilt for the loved ones they have lost. But more importantly they carry with them hope – a hope for peace. A hope that someday there will be no more nuclear weapons. A hope that their living hell is never repeated.
被爆者はイワサさんのような経験を持っていても、怒りや憎しみを持ってはいません。代わりに愛する人たちの死に責任を感じ、悲しんでいます。また、平和への願いを持っています。核兵器がいつかは無くなるだろうという願い。生き地獄は2度と繰り返されないようにという希望。

Right now, I’d like to take a moment to applaud them for their bravery and their courage. For their gambatte spirit to endure so much yet never complain.
ここで、沢山の苦しみに文句も言わずに耐えてきた被爆者の持っている計り知れないほどの勇気を、拍手をもって称えたいと思います。

Unfortunately, the hibakusha will not be with us forever to tell their stories, so today, I hope to encourage the next generation of socially responsible citizens who seek peace for the world we live in. People who will carry on the hibakusha’s hope for peace.
残念ながら、被爆者は永遠に被爆証言をすることができません。そこで、次世代の社会的責任のある、平和を求める市民の皆さんに立ち上がって欲しいのです。彼らに被爆者の平和への願いを伝え続けて欲しいのです。

We must relieve them of this heavy burden that they have carried for far too many years. We can not forget the pain and suffering they have endured. We can not forget the devastation nuclear weapons have had on their lives. We can not fail the hibakusha.
被爆者が何年も抱えてきた重荷を軽減してあげなければいけません。彼らが耐えてきた痛みと苦しみ、原爆がもたらした破壊を忘れてはなりません。被爆者の願いをかなえなくてはいけません。

It has been 65 years since the US dropped the atomic bombs and still, to this day, a US president has never attended the Peace Ceremony in Hiroshima or Nagasaki. I personally find that unacceptable.
アメリカによる原爆投下から65年が経ちますが、いまだに広島や長崎の平和祈念式典に出席された米国大統領はいません。私には理解できません。

While the world is hopeful for what President Obama can accomplish, we can not wait for our government to take responsibility. We must carry on the hibakusha’s message. We must inherit their gambatte spirit and never give up. We must be like bamboo, strong yet flexible. Bending, but never breaking.
世界は希望を持ってオバマ大統領の取り組みを見守っていますが、政府が責任を取るのを待つことはできません。被爆者のメッセージを伝えていかなければいけません。彼らの頑張り精神を受け継いで、やり通すのです。私たちは竹のようなものです。強いながらも柔軟性があり、曲がるけれども折れません。

We, the United States of America, brought the world in to the age of nuclear warfare and it is our responsibility to lead the way out. We can not expect others to disarm their nuclear weapons if we do not disarm our own. We must lead by example, not by rhetoric.
世界に核戦争時代をもたらしたアメリカは、この時代を終わらせる義務もあるのです。我々が核兵器を放棄しなければ、他の国も放棄するはずがありません。口だけではなく、行動で示さなければいけません。

And while a world without nuclear weapons would be a great accomplishment, we can not stop there. Peace will not prevail when there are no more wars. Peace will not prevail when there are no more nuclear weapons.
核兵器の無い世界が達成できたら素晴らしいことですが、そこでやめることはできません。戦争がなく、核兵器が無ければ、平和が簡単に訪れるわけではないのです。

Peace will only prevail once we learn to be tolerant of other people’s beliefs. Peace will only prevail when we embrace each other’s differences. Peace is something we must find within ourselves before we ask it of others. Peace begins with us.
お互いの考え方を認められるようになって、違いを尊重し合えるようになって初めて平和は訪れるのです。平和とは人に求める前に自分の中で探さなければいけません。私たちから平和は始まるのです。

We possess the ability to bring about change and we must work together individually and collectively to make this world a better place.
私たちは変化をもたらす力をもっています。一人一人、またみんなで一緒に取り組んで、より良い世界を作っていくのです。

So my challenge to you is this, what can you do? What can you do to make this world a better place?
では、皆さんは何ができるでしょうか?より良い世界を築くために、あなたには何ができるでしょうか?

It doesn’t have to be about peace. It can be world hunger or global warming or my little sister wants to go to camp. It doesn’t matter what you do, big or small, just find something you are passionate about and do something.
平和に関してのことでなくても良いのです。世界飢餓や地球温暖化、また妹をキャンプに送ることでもよいのです。小さいことでも良いから、夢中になれることを探して何かをすれば良いのです。

Don’t underestimate the power of people. Friends, family, even strangers. If they see that you are passionate about something and share your beliefs, they will support you.
友達でも家族でも他人でも、人の力を軽く見るべきではありません。あなたが情熱を持っていることについて話せば、誰でも支援してくれるでしょう。

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Learn from them and move forward. You don’t fail because you make mistakes. You only fail because you quit.
間違いを恐れてはいけません。そこから学んで前進するのです。失敗は間違いから起こるのではなく、やめてしまうと失敗に繋がるのです。

And most importantly, don’t underestimate your own ability to bring about change. You have your own unique set of gifts. Discover them. Use them. If I can do it, so can you.
大事なことは、あなた自身が持つ、変化をもたらす力を軽く見ないことです。あなたはユニークな才能を持っています。探し出して利用するのです。私ができればあなたもできます。

Find your passion. Find your gifts. And let’s make this world a better place.
情熱を持てるものを探し、才能を見出して、より良い世界を作り出しましょう。