“No Nukes!” Women’s Forum 2008 was held in Hiroshima on August 5, with the participation of 1700 including 13 oversea delegates from 8 countries. Speakers included three women activists invited by the Women’s Peace Fund*: Celeste Zappala from the U.S.(Military Families Speak Out), Mariam Rawi from Afghanistan (Revolutionary Association of Afghan Women), and Felicity Hill from Australia (Vice President of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom) . The Forum had testimony of Hibakusha as well as reports of activities of Japanese women in different places, such as young members of local chapter of the New Japan Women’s Association collecting many signatures for nuclear abolition, the struggle in Kanagawa prefecture to block the deployment of a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier in Yokosuka, and the holding of A-bomb photo exhibition at the EU parliament building. The Forum participants adopted an appeal calling for women’s united effort in the new signature drive and other global action campaign toward the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
For the speeches of three international guests, click here.
Women’s Peace Fund
In 2000, the Women's Peace Fund was established by a peace- and environment-conscious cosmetic company, Leila, which works closely with Shinfujin. Aspiring to make contribution to the women’s peace initiatives, Leila set up a fund that could be used for inviting women peace activists to the World Conference against A & H Bombs, the Japan Mothers’ Congress (another big annual event), and other peace events taking place in Japan. The system is, one yen from the price of any of Leila product purchased will automatically go to the fund. The fund has been a great tool, helping to increase participation of women, who usually have little resource to travel abroad for meetings, in the World Conference, and to promote exchanges and solidarity between Japanese women and women from other parts of the world. |
|
