Special Report LAST UPDATE November 14, 2010
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October 9, 2010 Nicaragua Gives Top Honor to Atomic Bomb Survivors and Peace Boat Director
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President Daniel Ortega awards Watanabe Junko the Ruben Dario medal
Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega recently awarded the country's highest distinction, the Ruben Dario Cultural Order of Independence, to two survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and the director of Peace Boat. Hibakusha (atomic bomb survivors) Sasamori Shigeko and Watanabe Junko, both of whom lost loved ones after Hiroshima was bombed in 1945, received the award for their tireless advocacy for a nuclear weapon free world. Both were traveling onboard Peace Boat's 70th Global Voyage to share their testimonies with others around the world as part of the "Global Voyage for a Nuclear-free World: Peace Boat Hibakusha Project." Along with the two survivors, Peace Boat Co-FOunder and Director Yoshioka Tatsuya was also presented with the same award for his dedication to global peace.
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Young Nicaraguan students greet Peace Boat's arrival in the port of Corinto
President Ortega personally presided over the awards ceremony when Peace Boat docked in the port of Corinto, Nicaragua, as part of its 70th Global Voyage. He noted that since atomic bombs were first used more than 60 years ago, nuclear weapon countries now possess a nuclear weapon arsenal with the potential to destroy the world 1,000 times over. "Why did the lessons that should have been learned from Hiroshima and Nagasaki not lead to the destruction of the atomic arsenals on our planet? Why, on the contrary, have such arms multiplied on our planet? Why, instead of becoming closer and closer to full peace, are we getting closer and closer to the imminence of nuclear war every day?" he asked.
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Holding aloft a symbol of nuclear disarmament, President Ortega affirmed Nicaragua's commitment to a nuclear free world
Despite this alarming trend, President Ortega pointed out that Latin America and the Caribbean region—especially countries that belong to ALBA (The Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas)--are playing a significant role in turning the tide by adopting more sustainable policies and embracing disarmament for development. "If more countries followed the ALBA model," he said, "We would be in a much better condition to put a brake on the destruction of nature, the destruction of our Planet, the poisoning of our atmosphere, and we would be in the condition to put an end to hunger." Established in 2004, the ALBA alliance aims to shift from a model of competition and exploitation between countries to a new paradigm of cooperation and shared benefit.

Once known largely for its protracted civil war, Nicaragua has made great strides in forging internal peace and reconciliation, and is now emerging as a leader in the global movement to abolish nuclear weapons. Earlier this year, all 152 mayors in the country joined Mayors for Peace, an initiative established by the Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and the country's peace constitution explicitly condemns these weapons. Peace Boat Director Yoshioka Tatsuya also pointed out that President Ortega's signing of a peace declaration with Peace Boat - the first Head of State to do so - marked a proud chapter in the organization's history, and demonstrated the country's deep commitment to helping nuclear survivors realize the vision of a nuclear-free world.
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Hiroshima survivor Sasamori Shigeko receives a warm embrace from President Ortega
In her address at the ceremony, Sasamori Shigeko noted that although she has been invited to give her testimony around the world and been welcomed by many, in Nicaragua she felt tremendous support and warmth emanating from both the government and ordinary citizens. The medal awarded to her, Ms Watanable and Mr Yoshioka is named after Ruben Dario, a Nicaraguan poet highly esteemed throughout Latin America and beyond.