At Constitution Symposium, Dr. Tokuda speaks of peace and “non-war” as a pillar for doctors

At Constitution Symposium, Dr. Tokuda speaks of peace and “non-war” as a pillar for doctors

Audience members listening to the speakers at the 2021 Constitution Symposium held with limited capacity, on the afternoon of May 3, at the Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Izumizaki, Naha


May 4, 2021 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

 

On May 3, Constitution Day, the 2021 Constitution Symposium (Okinawa Constitution Dissemination Association, Okinawa Human Rights Association, Japan Scientists’ Association Okinawa Branch) was held at the Ryukyu Shimpo Hall in Izumizaki, Naha. Physician Yasuharu Tokuda, age 57, from Nanjo, who is the director of the Muribushi Okinawa Clinical Research Center, spoke about the significance of habitually engaging in peace activities, saying, “as a physician, the most important thing is making sure that war is not carried out.”

 

Dr. Tokuda discussed an exchange he had with former hospital director Shigeaki Hinohara when working at St. Luke’s International Hospital in Tokyo. He told of how he learned from Dr. Hinohara the importance of not letting war occur and that “the important thing is not ‘renunciation of war,’ that is, not fighting, but rather ‘non-war,’ that is, actively preventing war from being carried out.”

 

He also pointed out, from the perspective of a physician, that “U.S. military bases are not just a human rights problem; they are also a health problem.” He explained that accidents and crimes by people associated with the U.S. military, as well as the noise and environmental pollution caused by the bases, increase the risk of illness, and said, “we are the ones who these sick patients come to; we cannot merely treat them in silence,” revealing a reason for doctors to promote peace. He declared that he will continue engaging in peace activities and called on the audience to participate in peace activities as well.

 

Tomoko Miyagi of “Team Midorigaoka 1207,” a group formed primarily of parents of children attending the Midorigaoka Nursery in Ginowan after part of a U.S. military aircraft fell on the nursery grounds in December 2017, also reported on the group’s activities. She showed footage of U.S. military aircraft flying over the nursery and emphasized, “our demand is that [the U.S. military] adhere to its flight route and not fly over the nursery.” She also said, “we will not give up in our efforts to achieve an environment where our children can play and learn safely.” Because of Covid-19, the audience was limited to 150 people, and the event was also streamed online.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Sandi Aritza)

Dr. Yasuharu Tokuda

 

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