Fidel Castro to meet publicly with Fukushima survivors and other Hibakusha in Havana on March 1

• Fidel Castro to host "Global Hibakusha Forum" and meet with Hibakusha from Hiroshima, Nagasaki, Tahiti, Chernobyl and Fukushima to take action for a nuclear free world
• "Global Hibakusha Forum" to be held March 1, 2012 in Havana, Cuba as Peace Boat visits the island
• On Thursday 1 March 2012, 1000 Japanese travelling onboard Peace Boat's global voyage will arrive at Havana, Cuba, joined by 17 Global Hibakusha. "Hibakusha" are atomic bomb survivors and "Global Hibakusha" are defined as victims of radiation at each link in the nuclear chain - uranium mining, nuclear reactors, nuclear accidents, nuclear weapons development and testing, and nuclear waste.
• They will be met by Former President Fidel Castro Ruz to discuss action for a nuclear free world

Significance This will be the first time in the world that survivors affected by nuclear material (both weapons and power) in different continents will join together to give testimony emphasising the common links.
This is a rare opportunity that the former Cuban President will appear in public to address visitors to Cuba.

Background Peace Boat, a Tokyo-based international NGO, has organised global voyages with more than 130 Hibakusha since 2009 to give testimony and promote nuclear disarmament.
Former President Castro met with Peace Boat participants and Hibakusha from Hiroshima and Nagasaki on September 21 2010 in Havana, Cuba. Peace Boat co-organised The Global Conference for a Nuclear Power Free World in Yokohama in January 2012 attended by a total of 11,500 participants including global experts and activists, Fukushima residents and concerned citizens.

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Global Hibakusha Forum
Date 15:00-18:00, 1 March 2012 (THU)
Venue Palacio de las Convenciones, Miramar La Havana Cuba
Content: Testimony from survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki, nuclear testing in Tahiti and Pacific, Chernobyl Power Plant Disaster, survivors of Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster
Speeches from Former President Fidel Castro and Peace Boat Director, Yoshioka Tatsuya
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For further information, please contact:
Matsumura Masumi: +53-5293-9380 (Cuba), Yoshioka Tatsuya: 090-2310-0789 (Cuba),
Takahashi Maho: 090-7682-8988 (Japan)

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