Report by Ms. Lorena Schlicht, Mayors for Peace France (AFCDRP)
On November 20, 2024, Lycée Jules Guesde in Montpellier organized a day of awareness about the consequences of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with the “Mayors for Peace” exhibition displayed both outside and inside the high school library. This initiative was organized by Japanese teacher Saori Uziel and her students to emphasize the importance of peace remembrance. The students had the opportunity to participate in an origami workshop where they created paper cranes, inspired by the famous story of Sadako Sasaki, a symbol of peace. These cranes will be sent to Hiroshima as a gesture of solidarity and hope for a world without nuclear weapons.
The day was further enriched by the screening of the film Black Rain (Kuroi ame in Japanese) directed by Shōhei Imamura in 1989, which depicts the daily lives of hibakusha, the survivors of the atomic bombings. This poignant film, based on the novel by Masuji Ibuse, helped the students understand the suffering caused by nuclear bombings.
In addition to these activities, a video conference with high school students from Nagasaki is scheduled for December 17, 2024. This will further strengthen the connections between generations and cultures, creating a foundation for future educational exchanges centered around the message of peace.
Photos: courtesy of Ms. Saori Uziel