IPPNW-Students FranceReport about the Aubagne meetingBy Anne-Lorraine Bouquiaux I.P.P.N.W. students had been invited to participate in a "Social Forum", as part of an international meeting, "Youth for Peace", between the 29th of September and the 1st of October 2006. It was located in Aubagne, a city of the south of France, close to Marseille. This is an initiative formed by Aubagne's M.J.C. (Maison de la Jeunesse et de la Culture), House of Youth and Culture. Its directive was for ten medical students from all over Europe to assemble and discuss, to primarily make the youth of Aubagne aware of the problem of nuclear weapons, and the health catastrophe that would follow a nuclear conflict. On Friday, a conference was organised at the nursing school of Aubagne (I.F.S.I.), as a part of the course "hygiene of the environment". We talked about the Chernobyl disaster and the management of a nuclear power station accident. The meeting continued in the nurse's student club, where we had lunch, offered by the council and the M.J.C. This meeting received very positive feedback, as the students were exceedingly happy to be able to open discussions based on issues regarding nuclear weapons.
In the afternoon, the international meeting continued at the M.J.C. with a preview of a visual arts exhibition and a concert featuring some local bands. Then we conducted a discussion concerning the theme: "Medicine against nuclear weapons", as a part of N.W.I.P. The mayor, Daniel Fontaine, member of the organisation "Mayor of Peace" honoured us with his presence. He called for an international nuclear disarmament by raising awareness with young people, and asked all to actively oppose the procurement of nuclear weapons. We made an effort to lead the conversation on to questions like: "Does France, as a nuclear state, have the right or the legitimacy to possess nuclear weapons?" A lot of young people reacted to this question and everybody agreed on the necessity of international nuclear disarmament. On Sunday, we finished the weekend by assessing our participation and thus concluded that it would be fantastic to come back next year, to Aubagne. Thanks to the M.J.C, especially its president Michel Delaye and to AMFPGN (French IPPNW), especially Anne-Marie Guitard and Yves Perrin-Toinin. |
On Saturday, at 10 o'clock on the square of Cours Foch, we set into motion Target X, a project that symbolises the consequences of a nuclear bomb, at this time and place. The impact site of the bomb was illustrated by a large red cross in the centre of the square. Surrounding it were posters with maps of Aubagne, showing the mortality rate with reference to the distance from ground-zero. With all of us wearing our white coats, we invited the public to imagine the conditions of a nuclear war, and to describe their emotions. We then proceeded to discuss the dangers of nuclear weapons, in a medical and social context. The people that we met seemed very attentive and interested. We all felt it had been a very invigorating and vibrant experience. In addition, two local newspapers published articles about this event, giving Target X even more momentousness.