þÿ.<HTML><HEAD><TITLE>News Update 01/04/08</TITLE> <META NAME="description" CONTENT="An online resource for monitoring nuclear safety issues that effect citizens of New Mexico and the world."> <META NAME="keywords" CONTENT="WIPP Waste Isolation Pilot Project Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety wipp CCNS ccns DOE Department of Energy nuclear weapons nuclear transportation radioactive radioactive waste plutonium pit trigger production LANL Los Alamos National Laboratories nuclear waste disposal nuclear radionuclides radioactive air emissions Clean Air Act clean air act ecology carlsbad new mexico Ca rlsbad New Mexico environmental protection non profit activism"></HEAD> <BODY TEXT="#000000" LINK="#BE0000" VLINK="#EB0000" ALINK="#858585" BACKGROUND="../graphix/bgtile.gif"> <TABLE BORDER=0 WIDTH=632><TR><TD> <A HREF="../index.html"><IMG SRC="../graphix/logosmall.gif" WIDTH=182 HEIGHT=63 BORDER=0></A><BR> <DIV ALIGN=center> <TABLE WIDTH=500 BORDER=0><TR> <TD><br> <p><FONT FACE="ARIAL,HELVETICA"><SMALL><font color="#000000"><a href="#hiroshima"><p></a></small> <br> <br> <p><FONT FACE="ARIAL,HELVETICA"><SMALL><font color="#000000"><br><b><a name="hiroshima"></a>Hiroshima Peace Media Center Launched<p> January 4, 2008</b><br> <br> <a name="hiroshima"></a> On January 3, 2008, the Hiroshima Peace Media Center was launched on the Internet by the Chugoku Shimbun to provide the latest peace news in both Japanese and English. The Center provides multi-media resources to support its goals for the abolition of nuclear weapons.<p> The Chugoku Shimbun is one of the largest newspapers in Japan. It was founded in 1892 in Hiroshima. The 11-story building housing the newspaper was destroyed when the U.S. dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945. Along with the deaths of 220,000 Japanese people, nearly one-third of the newspaper's workforce was killed. Since then, the Chugoku Shimbun has devoted itself to advancing world peace. <p> Jiro Yamamoto, the Chief Executive Officer of the newspaper, said, "As an atomic bomb survivor, the Chugoku Shimbun is keenly mindful of its duty to pursue reporting that can advance global action for the fulfillment of a peaceful world no longer menaced by nuclear arms. To further this purpose, we are resolved to strengthen our capacity to deliver coverage in English through a new resource, the Hiroshima Peace Media Center. By means of an online platform ÿ a dynamic website in English as well as in Japanese ÿ the Hiroshima Peace Media Center will serve as our voice to the international community and create a greater global presence for the Chugoku Shimbun and its work." <p> The Center's website is a reliable media resource, providing current and historic articles and photos. The Center supports youth involvement in peace activities through the publication of "Peace Seeds," a newspaper produced by Japanese youth. The Center also hosts lectures and provides training for the next generation of journalists.<p> Akira Tashiro is an internationally known journalist and now serves as the Executive Director of the Center. Over the years, Tashiro has traveled the world researching nuclear weapons issues and has written collections of in-depth articles. Tashiro visited New Mexico many times to research articles about the national laboratories. In 1999, he began an international quest to understand the public health and environmental impacts of the research, testing, manufacturing and use of depleted uranium weapons. His research resulted in the publication of a book, entitled, "Discounted Casualties: The Human Cost of Depleted Uranium." It was translated into English and posted on the newspaper's website. Tashiro received comments from all over the world. He said, "It was at that time I recognized the great potential of the Internet as a forum for our coverage."<p> At the end of his message about the launch of the Center, Tashiro said, "Our contents in English at this website must begin modestly, but a foundation for the future is now in place and we are poised to increase our output to the world. By conveying coverage on peace-related issues from the city of Hiroshima ÿ in effect, the lessons we have learned through our felt experience ÿ the Hiroshima Peace Media Center is committed to contributing to the eventual realization of a true global village that is free from nuclear weapons and war."<p> The Hiroshima Peace Media Center may be found at <a href=hiroshimapeacemedia.jp>hiroshimapeacemedia.jp</a><p> <p></font></small></font> <br> <br> <BR> <BR> <A HREF="../index.html"><IMG SRC="../graphix/rad.gif" WIDTH=67 HEIGHT=67 BORDER=0></A> <P><BR> <a href="index.html"><b>Back to News Index</b></A> </TD></TR></TABLE> </div></TD></TR></TABLE> </BODY></HTML>