(Source)
Photographer Nonoko Kameyama tells the Ecologist how she brought her love of portrait photography and her concern about the impacts of nuclear energy together.
Nonoko with her twins.
[...]
I
was one of the rare cases where I didn’t have to be a
photographer’s assistant. I graduated from the literature
department of my university and right away, I started to take photos.
I am self-taught.
I
have always been interested in the issues of peace, environment and
social justice. When the invasion of Iraq happened, partly using
Japanese money, I felt that there was something seriously wrong in
it. I asked myself: “can I do anything with my profession to
stop the war?”
In
2006 I took a break and travelled to Nepal. That was a turning
point for me - my passion came back right away. I was taking pictures
- capturing the joy on the faces of the people in Nepal; it was
extraordinary.
But
at the same time I was confronted by the poverty of people and the
problems that they were facing, so I started to wonder what I could
do. When I came back to Japan I joined two groups, one that tries to
rescue children, Stop Child Trafficking, and the other group which
promotes fair trade between Japan, Nepal, and Bangladesh. They asked
me to help them make a catalogue to sell Fair Trade goods. This
is the first time I got connected with a social cause.
Then
Fukushima happened on 11th March 2011. I had twin sons who were then
six months old. I worried - I said to myself “I do not want my
children to be in danger of nuclear radiation”. I was living in
Tokyo and it was only after that incident that I decided to collect
through the internet, information about the nuclear issue and
radiation. I recalled that this nuclear system is built on great
sacrifices.
This
whole system of electricity and nuclear power had been established
without proper regard to safety. So even after such a serious thing
happened in Fukushima, Tokyo people were just going through the same
regime every day; business as usual. I couldn’t do it - I
became angry and came to realise that without taking a stand, if I
continued my profession, everything would become lies. As a
mother, whatever I say to my sons, all would be lies, with no truth
in it.
I
was alone then. I didn’t have friends with whom I could talk about
this, and I had no power to be effective, but I really had to start
something; do something. Even if was a very small thing, I had
to start; otherwise everything would be meaningless. So it was
in August that year that I left with my two sons; my husband was
still in Tokyo. I had a house and a nice job; so did my husband
- everything was going OK. But I felt that for the future of my
children I had to do something. By starting a new life I might lose
everything; but I said if that’s necessary, that’s OK. I wanted
to show people my determination - I had to do it.
I
came with the two kids to the city of Fukuoka, far away from
Fukushima. I came to look around and it was then I met some of the
mothers in this city who were also concerned about the future of
their children. So I felt convinced that this was the right
place, and then I talked with my husband.
[...]
First,
my husband was not that willing, but after I said that, he said “I
understand - let’s do it”. Thus we moved out of Tokyo and came to
live in Fukuoka. One after another I met mothers who said that
nuclear power producing plants are dangerous for our children; we
must stop them.
I
started taking pictures of these mothers, and joining demonstrations.
One after another I kept photographing these mothers - suddenly I
realised that I had taken photos of 100 mothers. So many mothers
against nuclear energy! To me, a hundred is like every mother.
A hundred is a symbol because, no matter where they live - Fukushima
or Tokyo, or Nepal, or India - mothers would protect their children.
But
it’s crazy now in Japan; the atmosphere is very bad. There’s a
feeling promoted by the media that mothers who are worried about the
children and radiation are neurotic or nervous. This is because
there are big profits to be made through nuclear energy. But it’s
ridiculous; I had to do something about this. So I published
these photos as a book and said "look at these healthy and beautiful mothers; they're paranoid". Now my book is
everywhere; it’s a great tool to spread our message!
I
have to admit that at the beginning I was worried that if I made a
book there would be lots of stern, angry, and depressed faces. I was
afraid that I might end up with a depressing book; but soon I
realised that mothers with children are always joyful, and there’s
a dignity and a beauty. They are soft, but strong and powerful. This
tenderness, love, and compassion will open people’s hearts.
What
I can do is connect with other mothers and men too, through
photography; and build a movement for renewable energy which is safe
for our children. The new phase of my work is 101, so everybody’s
100+1 – mothers and fathers. This book is not mine - it belongs to
all those who are concerned with the future of our children. I
am only a medium to bring this together - I hope that this will be a
tool for everybody.
Nonoko
Kameyama, http://www.100mothers.jp/
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