High school students say 'No' to war

About 1,200 high school students on March 21 held a peace rally in Miyashita Park in Shibuya in protest against the U.S. war on Iraq.

Students, some in school uniforms displaying hand-made pins and other anti-war objects, said, "We feel very frustrated and sad about the war the world couldn't stop." But the atmosphere that prevailed in the park was neither one of despair nor a sense of defeat.

A 16-year-old boy stated, "No matter how many times the prime minister may try to persuade us to understand and support the war, we will not capitulate to the pressure."

A student from Chiba Prefecture said, "One day when I was collecting signatures calling for a peaceful solution to the issue, a man asked me if I was in favor of the Iraqi regime. I told the man that I'm just opposing the war."

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More than 5,000 union members, mainly from 20 land, sea, air, and harbor workers' unions, attended an anti-war rally in Hibiya Amphitheater in Tokyo and marched in demonstration to the Ginza district.

More than 50,000 people, Japanese, foreigners, young and old, converged at the foot of Tokyo Tower to attend the "World Peace Now" action at the call of various citizens' groups.

At JR Osaka Station on the same day, more than 20,000 people stopped and listened to Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo's anti-war speech. (end)