Rainy, Sunny, in Hiroshima
by Qiu Jing Jun (IPPNW-China)

In four days in Hiroshima, I have experienced the sunny day, rainy day and the followed warm sunshine. Then I found that is in common with the history of Hiroshima. A tranquil city turned to dust after the blast in one day; filled with crying, sorrow, pain, homelessness, diseases and death. But now, this beautiful serene city has already become one important industrial city in Japan. Thousands of cranes which stand for peace are flying in the sky upon the city, I know, they want to fly higher and further.

I come from Beijing, China’s capital city. I am proud to be a Chinese for China crackles with the dynamics of change, and am appreciating to be chosen as one representative of China to attend the meeting hold in Hiroshima. As a freshman of this big family, I got to know much more information about IPPNW this time, such as what are the aftereffects of atomic bomb; what are the mainly missions of IPPNW; what kind of activities have been organized and so forth. I have taken part in the discussion and made a presentation to express who I am, what I know and what I want to do. I have mentioned two significant points in the end: “love” and “perseverance”. “Love” is the source of life. Without love, we couldn’t do anything. And, “Perseverance” is the only way can we get the ultimate goal. So, we’d better hold them with our heart in every minute of our life. I am now preparing to organize some activities in my university- Capital University of Medical Sciences, and hope to hand in a satisfied answer sheet at next meeting.

Many scenes touched my heart at this meeting; and the most impressive one is that a very old citizen with a crutch went into the meeting hall helped by another man, then listened to the report very seriously, and discussed with others sometimes. Of course, there are still many citizens, physicians and medical students made some valuable notes earnestly.

I have made many friends which are all very warm-hearted there. We opened our hearts so that we could share our daily lives, experiences, responsibility, duties and decision-making and forge the human bonds of friendship because we know the best way to accomplish a task in some situation is through teamwork. I know everyone of us look for a peaceful world free from nuclear disasters from the bottom of our hearts, by sharing the acknowledgement of “nuclear” threat focused on human misery. As the saying goes: shiki no kokoro (hearts of four seasons). The point of this Japanese proverb is as follows: When you meet someone, greet them with a warm, spring-like heart; when you work, do your best ardently like the heat of summer; when you think, make your heart as lucid as a clear autumn day; when you admonish yourself, be as severe as winter cold. I believe we will try our best to make a better world for you, for me and the entire human race.

I remember Khagendra have told us: he comes from a country where people don't think nuclear weapons are their priority to fight against. They have poverty, lack of health and food, insecurity and injustice as their enemies at the fore-front. They always ask him, "Do you think there is the real threat of nuclear weapons' being used in the current world?" Here is the same situation in China. I won’t persuade others to join us but try to introduce the idea, the spirit of IPPNW to them and leave them the right of choice. I know we could learn much from discourse and debate with those whose ideas are different from us as well as learn something from those whose ideas are in accord with our own. If some of them are interested in it, they will say: “Hey, that’s what I thought about! That’s very important for us! May I take part in IPPNW? We don’t want to live in the shadow of the bomb any more......” I know there would be many students who are love for peace want to struggle with us, and the dream will come true one day.

Finally, I want to point out the function of learning history. We are part of history just as the history is part of us. The study of history benefits us not only in our daily lives, but also in our effort to understand the present world or construct the future. That’s why history is often compared to a “mirror” in Chinese culture. On the other hand, the study of world history would contribute greatly to the mutual understanding and cooperation of world nations. So I need to spend some more time on studying history and the present situations of nuclear weapons, small arms, landmines, love and peace, and so on so forth.

And, it is the belief in a brighter future that gives us confidence and optimism.