Photo Exhibit, 'Children of the Gulf War,' On Display at Illinois Wesleyan

May 2, 2003

From May 12-23, Illinois Wesleyan University will host “Children of the Gulf War,” an exhibit by Japanese photojournalist Takashi Morizumi. The exhibit, which is being shown around the world, is a collection of 50 Morizumi photos that show the after-effects of the first Gulf War. The exhibit will be in the Bates and Merwin Gallery on the fourth floor of The Ames Library, 1 Ames Plaza, Bloomington. Admission is free and open to the public.

Morizumi began documenting the children of Iraq in 1998. He observed the damages caused by nuclear mining, testing, power plants, and the use of depleted uranium and other nuclear weapons. The focus of “Children of the Gulf War” is the effects of the U.S. government blockade of Iraq and how the lack of medical supplies, malnutrition, and the increase in leukemia, cancer, and physical deformities have led to high numbers of post-war casualties among the children of Iraq.

“Since its invasion of Kuwait,” writes Morizumi, “Iraq has been subject to severe economic

sanctions. Its economic activities, heavily dependent on imports, are virtually paralyzed. The people are exhausted, their lives a continual ordeal, and the main victims are the Iraqi children.”

Morizumi more specifically documents the effects of the usage of depleted uranium munitions. A radioactive substance, depleted uranium is a by-product of the manufacture of nuclear weapons and fuel for nuclear power reactors. This toxin, used in weapons by the multilateral forces, causes cancer, leukemia, liver and kidney disorders, tumors, and birth defects. Tomahawk missiles and other high-tech weapons are what Morizumi calls, “a new kind of ‘nuclear war.’”

“The plight of Iraq’s children is an alarm warning people about the horror of this new nuclear

warfare,” writes Morizumi. “I hope to show to many people a view of the things happening around the world that I have been investigating. In the 21st century, where is the world heading? Can mankind’s intelligence lead us to a bright future? I want you to keep thinking positively.”