Setsuko Thurlow, convocation 2019 honorary degree recipient

TL;DR

A survivor of the Hiroshima bombing advocates for nuclear disarmament and activism for a better world.

Transcript

Chancellor Patten, President Gertler, Dean Mishna, Dean Brown, and the distinguished guests, and graduating class of 2019. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for the honour of receiving an honorary degree from this great institution which I'm very proud to call an alma mater. To the graduating class, my heartiest congratulations on the great a... Read More

Key Insights

• 💦 Survivor of Hiroshima bombing advocates for nuclear disarmament through social work and activism.
• 💱 The importance of collective action and perseverance in creating positive change.
• 💋 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons marks a significant step towards disarmament.
• 🌐 ICAN's role in coordinating global efforts for nuclear disarmament.
• 🥰 Advice to graduates to embrace activism, persistence, and visionary love for a better world.
• ✌️ Reflection on the survivor's personal journey from victim to advocate for peace.
• 🪡 Urgent need to address the risks and wastefulness of nuclear arsenals.

Questions & Answers

Q: How did the survivor's experience in Hiroshima shape their future career path?

The survivor's experience of the atomic bombing inspired them to pursue a career in social work, driven by a sense of responsibility to promote peace and support those in need.

Q: What historic event in 2017 marked a significant step towards nuclear disarmament?

In 2017, 122 nations adopted the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons at the United Nations, a groundbreaking step towards outlawing nuclear weapons and their eventual elimination.

Q: What advice does the survivor offer to the graduating class?

The survivor encourages graduates to think beyond themselves, get involved in creating change, persist in their efforts, and embrace visionary love as a force for overcoming global challenges.

Q: How did the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons contribute to the global movement for disarmament?

ICAN played a pivotal role in coordinating efforts among nations, UN agencies, and non-governmental organizations to advocate for nuclear disarmament, ultimately earning the Nobel Peace Prize for their work.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• A survivor of the Hiroshima atomic bombing shares their journey of resilience and commitment to preventing nuclear warfare.

• Reflecting on the impact of the bombing, the survivor chose social work to promote peace and social justice.

• The speaker highlights the importance of collective action, perseverance, and visionary love in creating a better world.