Origami Cranes for Peace1000 Cranes of Peace for Syria Project

KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY – KNOW YOUR WORLD

The history of paper cranes as symbols of peace

The senbazuru legend Thousand origami cranes 

(千羽鶴  Senbazuru) is a group of one thousand origami paper cranes (鶴  tsuru) held together by strings. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane. Some stories believe you are granted eternal good luck, instead of just one wish, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury.

 

SADAKO SAKSAKISadako Saksaki, a young Japanese girl lived in Hiroshima during World War II. She was two years old when the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Sadako developed leukemia. In the hospital she folded paper cranes because she wished to live. Her family and friends added to the 644 cranes she had folded before her death, and buried 1000 cranes with her.

 

To remember Sasaki and other children who died of illnesses caused by the atomic bombing, the Children’s Peace Monument was established at the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park in 1958. There is a statue of Sadako holding a crane in Hiroshima Peace Park at its base is a plaque that says:

これはぼくらの叫びです　これは私たちの祈りです　世界に平和をきずくための Kore wa bokura no sakebi desu. Kore wa watashitachi no inori desu. Sekai ni heiwa o kizuku tame no.This is our cry, this is our prayer: for building peace in the world.

Sadako’s message to the world Peace not War…

AIF: PEACE CRANES PROJECT: SYRIA 1000 prayers and wishes of peace for SYRIA

Full name: The Syrian Arab Republic

Population: 21.1 million (UN, 2012)

Capital: Damascus

Area: 185,180 sq km (71,498 sq miles)

Major language: Arabic

Major religions: Islam, Christianity

Life expectancy: 74 years (men), 78 years (women) (UN)

Monetary unit: 1 Syrian pound = 100 piastres

Main exports: Oil, gas

GNI per capita: US $2,750 (World Bank, 2010)

The Syrian refugee crisis has exploded from about 270,000 people a year ago to today’s tally of more than two million who have fled the country.. In addition, an estimated 4.25 million Syrians have been displaced within their country, bringing the total number forced into flight to more than six million.

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