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Remembering Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Concert at Melbourne Town Hall, 3 to 5pm August 5, 2007 Japanese for Peace On Sunday August 5, 2007, hundreds of people packed the Melbourne Town Hall's Swanston Room to remember the victims of the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. While it was a quiet, wet afternoon outside, there was a solemn and yet warm atmosphere inside the Swanston Room, where artists and audience gathered from around Melbourne. Noriko Tadano masterfully opened the concert with her shamisen, a traditional Japanese banjo. Her exquisite song evoked the moon as it lit the waves off the coast of Broome, creating a 'staircase to the moon'. A well respected member of Japanese for Peace, Yoko Davies, introduced the experiences of 'hibakusha', victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Sakue Shimohira and Junko Morimoto. Despite their horrific first-hand experiences of the devastation unleashed over the populations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, they nonetheless called for co-operation and peace, and a proper remembrance as a means to prevent such violence in future. To remember the victims and to renew a deep commitment to never repeat these horrors, the audience came together to renew a positive affirmation of peace, lead by meditation leader Carmen Warrington and percussionist David Jones' Tibetan and Japanese singing bowls. The audience's stilled minds were gently tempted out of introspection, energised by David' vigorous percussion, which delicately yielded to his full command. Professor Joseph Camilleri, long active in efforts to promote a greater awareness of nuclear issues, helped to trace the links between the nuclear bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki which heralded the nuclear age 62 years ago, and Australia's expanding role in global nuclear politics. He reminded us of successful campaigns of the past, and of the necessity for a renewed push to abolish nuclear power. Professor Camilleri called on us to be creative and to use our information to create a citizen's movement against nuclear warfare. Kate Tempany and her friends Rasheeda Collins, Kaye Cummins and partner Jeff played in ensemble, lending a middle eastern flavour with the rousing beat of their percussion and flute ensemble. They provided us with an elegant musical reminder of our globalised world, and of the broad implications of our local actions which resonate with those around us. Indeed, further broadening the focus of this concert, the proceeds were aimed to help members of the Sudanese community who find their country caught in deadly conflict. In order to counter the lethal silence surrounding the situation in the Sudan, members of the Sudanese community were welcomed to talk about their experiences. Abdelhadi Matar, president of the local Darfuri community shared with us the dire situation in his home country, talking of the struggles of fellow Sudanese refugees, and gently reminding us of the privileges and corresponding responsibilities of those who live in a peaceful society. With great wit and warmth, Ajak Kwai spoke directly to the audience about her youth and about her experiences as a refugee. Through her songs of love and of peace, some of which were traditional tribal songs from her childhood and others which candidly asked us to join along with her and create peace, Ajak and the children from the Western English Language School engaged the audience, and gave us an insight into their deeply personal experiences. With their unstoppable enthusiasm, Ajak and the children from the Western English Language School, many who were for the first time attending school during their first few months of migrating to Australia, were a sensation. They encouraged the entire audience to join them in song, and the shared melodies of so many voices were a powerful call for peace. Finally, Wadaiko Rindo brought their dynamism and energy to the stage, to rouse the audience into action. The beat of their drum called on each of us to take a stand, this time for peace. Their songs, 'renewal', and 'fire', contained such vitality and energy, shared amongst those who vowed to continue to make a stand for peace. |