Young energy sparks at '2002 Peace Jam'

To make 2002 the year of the peace stream, over 1,800 young people on August 5 had the 2002 Peace Jam at the Hiroshima Prefectural Gymnasium.

When a 75-year-old Hibakusha related his suffering and agony, the young participants were clearly moved by his story.

They had a lot of fun by performing on stage. Some young groups performed comedy skits, and reported on peace events and campaigns to collect signatures against retaliatory attack under the name of anti-terrorism. When a rock'n roll band started playing, the young demonstrators' energy reached a climax and it seemed as if the entire hall was waving, and they firmly resolved to make a world free of nuclear weapons. (end)