Debbie's blog and current contest, which were both tributes to the amazing spirit of the Japanese really inspired me... I admit that I myself have sort of forgotten about their plight (& it oddly crossed my mind just a day before reading Debbie's blog on how they were?)
So anyway, reading her blog really made me look into how else I could help again in my own small way-- I remember reading something about making paper cranes but really didn't look into it (always that same old excuse of mine, procrastination)
So this time around I decided to really look into it: and I was both sad and happy with what I found out-- Sad in a way that I missed out on soo many opportunities to help out (since apparently there were just so many instances of these paper cranes going about during that time) BUT also happy since I learned about
A Thousand Paper Cranes (sen-zu-baru) --
I will try to keep this short (good luck to me) -- but it has long been believed that creating a thousand paper cranes would grant that person a wish-- As I have learned, Cranes are such a beautiful symbol of peace, and long life to the Japanese-- so whenever there is a need for hope and peace, this tribute is often given...
And this "thousand paper cranes" have been given much more meaning because of a 2-yr old girl, Sadako Sasaki, who survived the the A-bomb in Hiroshima, she survived the bomb but at age 11, she showed signs of having leukemia due to the radiation caused by the bomb—she died a year later.
Upon learning about the thousand paper cranes, she herself started folding these, in hopes of getting better, but when she knew that she wouldn't be able to make it, she dedicated these cranes for peace instead, I believe, in her words, she says at age 12 I will write peace on your wings, and you will fly all over the world.
She never did finish folding these cranes (I’ve read in some not sure how true that she was only able to make 644 cranes, so the rest were folded by her classmates and friends & family)…
There is actually a statue erected in 1958 in honor of her at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial also called the Genbaku Dome; at the bottom there is a plaque that reads This is our Cry. This is our Prayer. Peace in the world.
Every year thousands of paper cranes all over the world are sent to this memorial…
The devastating earthquake in Japan last March 11 prompted a worldwide call for these “thousand paper cranes”—I hate it that I was so busy during this time and all this flew over my head, especially this kind of crafty thing (all the more with a beautiful purpose) is my kind of thing….)
I was amazed with how so many instances of these have been going on around the world in support of the Japanese during this very trying time in their nation, and I am just moved by it—From schools, to businesses, to individuals, folding these paper cranes as an act of solidarity and support to the Japanese—some were also used as fund raisers…this warmed my heart so much…
Nonetheless my search for it wasn’t that futile—I stumbled on a site, http://www.athousandpapercranes.com/ ,which is still in need of donations, in support of the people affected by the earthquake…please check it out if you have the time and donate if you can (every little bit helps!)
and for our Canadian friends out there, especially if you are near High Park, they will have an event there, A Thousand Paper Cranes for Japan, on May 7 & 14 (1130am-230pm), amidst the cherry blossoms, to raise fund, & awareness for those affected by the quake…
I tried folding my first ever paper crane—haha it's not as graceful but hmm I tried...
well Thanks for reading this O_o and hope you think about how we can also help, be it in thoughts, prayer or actions—every little bit helps…thank you again Debbie for the reminder … :)
other links you can check out, soo amazing how many from around the world made (& are making) these paper cranes: http://www.onethousandcranesforjapan.com/ (this is different & for roughly $3.30) you can do something too...
They've achieved their goal here, but you can post photos of your paper cranes on their Facebook page---http://studentsrebuild.org/japan/
another group that accepts photos of paper cranes: http://www.facebook.com/papercranesforjapan?sk=wall