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We miss, honor and support the work of Satomi Oba
The loss of Satomi Oba in February 2005 was a terrible shock. This Japanese sister, link for so many between their countries and Japan and Asia, was a dedicated international worker for a peaceful future, mother of four, teacher, and dear friend. She was struck down at age 54 by a cerebral hemorrhage. Her work lives on in the many lives she has touched. The list of organizations she was part of, and their tributes to her, reflect her untiring life's work.
Satomi was a member of our
Women and Life on Earth Advisory Board since its formation in 1999, with this description:
A long-time anti-nuclear activist with particular concerns for human rights and justice, Satomi Oba is Director of Plutonium Action Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan. She is a regional activist involved with “Abolition 2000” and other regional and international coalitions and efforts – and also an English teacher.
Background on Satomi: "A View From Hiroshima: Japan is Chernobyl" interview with Satomi Oba, Hiroshima 1996
The other networks she was active in include:
WISE - World Information Service on Energy
Nuclear Information and Resource Service (read their tribute here)
Global Network Against Weapons and Nuclear Power in Space
Reaching Critical Will
The Atomic Mirror, A tribute to Satomi:
..." Japan has the custom of honoring people as National Treasures. Satomi was an International Treasure. We remember and honor her strong spirit and ceaseless work to get rid of nuclear weapons, nuclear power and weapons in space. We remember her love for the world, and her appreciation of its beauty..."
Global Network: We remember our dear friend Satomi Oba
(Photos by Aurel Duta)
On Sun, 27 Feb 2005
Shuji Imamoto wrote:
Dear Green friends,
I am deeply sorry to let you all know Ms Satomi Oba, president of Plutonium Action Hiroshima, as well as chair member of Abolition 2000, who acted a chairperson of peace-building session in AP Greens Kyoto meeting, passed away on Thursday, February 24th, around 4 pm.
She was a famous for a strong anti-nuclear activist living in Hiroshima and very active in spreading latest situations regarding global nuclear issues, as a coordinator of WISE Japan. She has often joined a lot of international conferences on anti-nuclear movement, such as NPT Conference. She has made various actions with many friends and activists all over the world, for many years. She has translated "Bush's Star Wars" video and many many books and articles. The video she edited won the Universal Peace Prize by Global Network. Her funeral took place in Hiroshima last night, the cremation will be the following morning. She will be throughly missed by many people in the planet.
Satomi's work was among the first published by WLOE in our "Voices of Women" series.
See also: Nukes and the Japanese society (WISE Women Special, 1999)
"The nuclear system, both military or civil, is one of the most violent ones that patriarchal society has invented and developed. Nuclear power grows particular well in an undemocratic atmosphere..."