ABOUT APPM
Mandate
The Asia Pacific Peace Museum serves to remember World War II in Asia, as do museums which commemorate WWII in Europe.
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It fosters cross-cultural understanding, respect, empathy, and appreciation of all communities as essential conditions to a peaceful society. The museum takes an active stance against racism and promotes inclusivity. By shedding light on and using a critical inquiry approach to war atrocities, visitors are invited to apply criteria for war and peace and their connections to contemporary social issues of broader relevance.
Understanding of past human atrocities help us learn from past wrongs and their historical and legacy harm; younger generations will be inspired to be active actors in peace building.
A NEED?
The Second World War happened in Europe and Asia. Yet, how much do we know about this war in Asia where the brutal scourges of war were over a large area of the earth’s surface, causing death to 23 million. It also brought suffering, pain, and anguish to 99 million civilians and combatants, with legacy impact over generations.
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The painful experiences of the millions were absent, overlooked, and almost forgotten; as with the understanding of the reasons why and how Japan decided and engaged in a war of aggression. While there are millions of people and their families who had suffered the most intense human tragedy, there are many who desire this war to remain forever lost, not to recognize such atrocities even happened.
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There must be a space within which those who lived through that time of war could be remembered in and as world history on human tragedy, endurance, and resilience.
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The WongAvery Asia Pacific Peace Museum is built to fill the gap of missing knowledge and memory of World War II in Asia.
Why does World War II in Asia Matter?
This war should concern all regardless of our background, ethnicity or religion. It is a living history of our startling capacity for inhumanity and humanity; and of darkest decisions and actions that rob people of their human dignity. In learning about this history, we also grapple with our individual and collective responsibility to the world, to present and future generations, to protect human rights and foster peacebuilding.
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The tapestry of themes, narratives, questions in this museum is of tragic untold sufferings, large scale displacements and deaths on one hand, and of multi-layered struggle with courage for reconciliation and moral justice with hope and compassion, on the other.
What will I learn from This Museum?
As you travel on a journey that centers on the plight of individuals, families, communities of different groups of people affected by weapons of war and devastation, including the nuclear bombs, each encounter will transform the history of WWII in Asia as a subject into experiences to be lived and felt, that inspire you to contemplate on its relevance to current society; and our agency and power in building cultures of peace.
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As you engage with this museum, consider the following questions:
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What ideas and conditions enable a merciless war?
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Where are the stories and voices of help, humanity, and hope against those that dehumanize?
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What connections does the quote by Confucius “Study the past, if you want to define the future.” inspire you to make, and why?
At the end of your visit, leave your call for peace message as an alternative to war preparation, war profiteering, and war violence.
Values
The heart of this museum is nurturing a global peace movement.
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The Asia-Pacific Peace Museum is a people’s museum with humanity and peace as its core themes. It preserves the living history of the victims of war and give voice to the voiceless.
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Exhibit contents and designs are founded on the principles of authenticity, equity, justice, compassion, respect, and are based on the premise of education.
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All contents and curation of the exhibits are grounded on research and independent from influences of any stakeholders or governments.