Introduction
In the fall semester of 2024, the Student Movement for the Culture of Peace (SMCP) club hosted a symposium titled “Transformation from Despair to Hope through Human Powers.” This symposium commemorated the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize for the Japanese organization Nihon Hidankyo and the 2024 Nobel Prize in Literature for Han Kang, a South Korean author. The Nihon Hidankyo was praised for its continuous efforts to achieve a nuclear-free world through testimony by hibakusha (survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki). Han Kang was awarded for her works that demonstrate historical wounds and unspoken rules, revealing the vulnerability of human existence. In this symposium, the SMCP and participants explored the common message of the two recipients in the age of conflicts and turbulence. The SMCP invited two guest speakers: Professor Alexander Halang and Professor John Kehlen. The symposium consisted of opening remarks, a presentation by SMCP members, a panel discussion, a group discussion, and closing words.
Panel Discussion
Professor Harang expressed his initial reaction upon learning that the Nihon Hidankyo had received the Nobel Peace Prize, saying, “This is the real peace prize.” He highlighted the fact that the Nihon Hidankyo is a civil organization, not the heads of state, and the significance of civil-based efforts for nuclear abolition. Professor Kehlen commented on the Nobel Prize in Literature given to Han Kang, the first Asian woman recipient of the literature prize. He praised how her works draw attention to both cruel actions and the greatness that humans have committed. Professor Harang responded to questions about the uniqueness of the Nihon Hidankyo. He said that the essential role of the organization is not only to inherit the history of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but also to express the hope for peace that transcends nationality and generations, thereby preventing nuclear war. He also stressed that the testimonies of hibakusha help uphold the core principle of nuclear deterrence: the recognition of the inhumanity of nuclear weapons. Professor Kehlen expressed the power of literature in sharing personal trauma with society by saying that it makes “unthinkable thinkable.” He added that literature can create the space to cultivate empathy in the minds of different people, regardless of one’s social status. He also encouraged participants to ‘struggle’ with language to create the space for consciousness and for the process of creating peace.
Group Discussion
Reflecting on the panel discussion, participants explored the meaning of “human power,” personal experiences of overcoming difficulty, and how to transform a sense of hopelessness at an age full of global issues.
Conclusion
In this symposium, “Transformation from Despair to Hope through Human Powers,” the SMCP opened the space to encourage the SUA campus community to keep thinking about what we can do for a better society. Through the creative power of storytelling and literature, the Nihon Hidankyo and Han Kang enabled people across the world—even those who had not lived through the same experiences—to resonate with the pain and to share in the hope for a better future. Their decision to devote their time was not driven by personal gain but by a deep commitment to the greater good of humanity and the pursuit of world peace. The SMCP will continue to inspire the campus community and take action for a culture of peace.