Matthew Walsh's
EFL ESL website
Sadako Ogata
" ....if we don't try to
solve these problems, who will?" -
Class 10,11, and 12
Here is another person who
has been trying. She used to work for the United Nations. She studied
international relations and political science. She went to Sophia
University in Tokyo just like some students
from the International Course
at Momoyama. She also studied
abroad, just like you will.
Here is a quote
from her:
"The problem of
inequality among different groups within a society over long periods of
time is thought to be the main factor that causes violence and
eventually leads to humanitarian and political crises. The only way to
prevent international terrorism is not by
military force, but to eliminate the inequalities that cause it."
-Sadako Ogata
『
同じ社会の中で異なる集団間での長期的な不平等という問題は、暴力を招き、最終的には人道的、政治的危機へとつながる中心的要因と考えられる。国際的
テロリズムを防ぐ唯一の方法は、軍事力によるものではなく、それらを引き起こす不平等をなくすことだ。』
緒方貞子
Sadako Ogata is most famous for having been the UNHCR (United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees). The
UNHCR
is the part of the United Nations that protects refugees. The UNHCR
started in 1950 after many people became refugees because of WWII. More
recently, the major crises that have produced large numbers of refugees
have been in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Africa. The Palestinian
situation also created many refugees and the UNHCR continues to help
them even now. All together, the UNHCR has helped a total of 17.1
million people and has won the Nobel Peace Prize two times: once in
1951, and once in 1981.
The UNHCR has two basic goals: to protect refugees, and to help
them return to normal lives.
While fleeing from danger, and after they settle, refugees are
in a weak position and need protection. Refugees sometimes are also in
danger of being sent back home too early, before their country has
become safe again. The UNHCR protects the rights of refugees while they
are moving, after they settle, and after that, their right not to be
returned too early.
Most refugees want to return to their country as soon as
possible, but if they don't want to, they don't have to, according to
international law. They may live in the country they escaped to. In
this case, the UNHCR helps the refugees live a normal life in the
country they are in. Many famous people used to be refugees and chose
to stay in the new country.
After being the UNHCR, Ms. Ogata was one of the leaders of
the CHS (Commission
on Human Security), an organization formed by Japan in cooperation
with the UN. The CHS did research on the problems of the world where
people became in danger. The research was then presented to the UN
Secretary-General, Kofi Anan. The quote above is from a speech by Ms
Ogata that reported the results of the research.
More recently, she has become the president of JICA,
( Japan International Cooperation Agency ) whose goal is to act as a
bridge between the people of Japan and developing countries, and share
knowledge and experience to build a more peaceful and prosperous world.
The message above of the CHS and Ms. Ogata seems to be that war
only
causes
more war. The real enemy is the inequality that creates war in the
first place. Wouldn't you
agree?