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News Archive |
LAST UPDATE
July 11, 2005
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| September 17, 2003 |
Peace Now Korea Japan – Human Message for Peace |
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| Candlelit message spells out "friend" in both Japanese and Korean |
On the first year anniversary of the signing of the Pyongyang Declaration by Prime Minister Koizumi of Japan and Chairman Kim Jong-Il of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), over 700 Koreans and Japanese gathered in Meiji Park, Tokyo, to send a "human message of peace" to the world.
Since the signing of the historic accords on the 17th September 2002, little progress has been made towards the pledge of normalizing state diplomatic relations. With the continuing controversy over the issue of abductions and North Korea's claimed nuclear weapons capability, and the Bush administration declaring the DPRK to be part of the "axis of evil," an atmosphere of fear and instabilty has replaced the hope and optimism of a year ago. Instead, the Japanese government and the mass media have done much to politicize these issues and inflame negative sentiment in Japanese society towards North Korean people.
In response to the failing action of the declaration, a new movement called "Peace Now Korea Japan" (PNKJ) of which Peace BOat is one of the main members, organised an event to show the governments of Korea and Japan that young people want "to bring peace to the Korean peninsula."
Lighting candles, and standing in the shape of the Korean and Japanese word for "friend," the participants spelt out their appeal for peace and a solution to the conflict without violence. Organisers said the event "showed the importance of friendship," and gave hope for the future. The success of the night was reflected in the national press coverage, with several front-page stories and photos. |
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