Voices for a Nuclear Weapon-Free World: Youth in Action

Meet Our Speakers!

Opening Speaker
Franco Castro Escobar: PhD Candidate, Keele University
Franco studies youth antinuclear activism in the twenty-first century. His doctoral thesis traces young people’s early encounters with the concept of ‘nuclear weapons’ and their motivations to join antinuclear organizations. His research is part-funded by the Hiroshima Peace Institute, the David Bruce Centre for the Study of the Americas, and Keele University’s Department of Humanities and Social Sciences. Franco belongs to the Atomic Anxiety in the New Nuclear Age Fellowship Scheme at the University of Glasgow and is an inaugural member of the United Nations Youth Leader Fund for World Without Nuclear Weapons. To learn more about Franco, please visit his personal website. “Check out his latest article: “Young People in the Nuclear Age.“

Youth Panel Speakers
Kenta Gomi: I’m Kenta Gomi, born in Nagasaki and currently studying at UWC Red Cross Nordic in Norway. 
My journey in nuclear disarmament actually began last December, when Nihon Hidankyo received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. Thanks to my school and the Nobel Peace Center, I was chosen to be an official interviewer for the Peace Laureate at the Nobel Peace Center. 
This experience led me to connect with the Critical Issues Forum, and I joined the CIF spring conference via Zoom. 
Furthermore, the Nobel Peace Center hired me for a week in August to help organize the Peace Festival, where I had the honor of going on stage to read the testimony of Ms. Masako Wada, Assistant Secretary General of Nihon Hidankyo and a Hibakusha from Nagasaki, in English. 
All of my experiences have been made possible by passionate and supportive people. I would like to express my deep gratitude to Ms. Ingvill Rambøl and Mr. Kim Grønneberg at the Nobel Peace Center, and to Ms. Toki, who has especially supported my efforts and passions. 

Kanon and Manon Iwata: Hello, we are Kanon and Manon Iwata, co-founders of the nonprofit organization, Teens4Disarmament, Los Angels in California. After spending years listening to Hibakusha stories, researching knowledge across intersections of nuclear weapons, giving speeches at schools to more than 1,000 students, and collaborating with the United Nations, Teens4Disarmament chose to take the lead and spread nuclear weapon education for others. Working closely with many Hibakusha and nuclear disarmament organizations worldwide, Manon and Kanon dedicated years to preserving the voices of Hibakusha and fighting for nuclear disarmament awareness through extensive research and interviews.  

Naina Singh: My name is Naina Singh, I’m from Pacific Grove, California. I currently attend UWC ISAK Japan, located in Karuizawa, Japan as a 12th grader. 

The past few years living in Japan have opened my eyes to the harrowing past nuclear weapons have left in their wake and the existential threat they pose for our future. I made the decision to take action after attending CIF in 2023 and encouraged local California highschoolers to take action by speaking to students my age in the Monterey Peninsula.  

I have created an informational video featuring interviews with experts in the field to help educate my peers. Two summers ago, I had the honor of attending Soka University of America’s Nuclear Politics Program as their youngest participant ever. This past summer I had the privilege of teaching undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals in the field at the same program. Control of these weapons will one day fall in the hands of my generation, and I hope more than anything that we are willing to make the right choice when our fingers are on the button. I’m excited to be a panelist! 

Amelia Wang

Amelia is a graduate student in the Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies (NPTS) program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS). Her academic focus is on youth education in nonproliferation and U.S.-China civil nuclear cooperation. She is also a recipient of the IAEA Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship. As a Graduate Research Assistant at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies(CNS), Min works with Ms. Masako Toki to advance nonproliferation and disarmament education. Her projects include supporting international student conferences, designing outreach materials, and facilitating youth engagement through social media and community events. She attended the Hiroshima – ICAN Academy on Nuclear Weapons and Global Security 2025 from Oct 14 to Oct 18 in Hiroshima.

Moderator: Max Lau

Hello everyone, my name is Max Lau, and I’m originally from Vancouver, Canada, with family roots in Japan and Hong Kong. Growing up in a multicultural environment has shaped my interest in global affairs and cross-cultural dialogue, particularly in understanding how diverse perspectives can contribute to building peace and mutual understanding.

I completed my undergraduate degree at Soka University of America, where my capstone research explored the role of civil society and value-creation philosophy in advancing nuclear disarmament. My study examined how grassroots movements and educational initiatives can nurture empathy, strengthen public awareness, and promote global cooperation toward the abolition of nuclear weapons.

I am now pursuing graduate studies in Nonproliferation and Terrorism Studies at Middlebury Institute of International Studies, focusing on nuclear disarmament and the role of education in promoting global peace and security. I am currently working at James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies as a Graduate Research Assistant for Masako Toki. My work continues to draw inspiration from both my academic background and my cultural heritage, as I seek to contribute to the development of policies and educational approaches that foster a more peaceful and interconnected world.