1000 PAPER CRANES
Friday 18th March 2011
My book Cherry Crush is about a girl who is half-Japanese, and a Japanese theme runs all through the story. For me, as for all who love Japan and its culture, the recent earthquake, tsunami and threatened nuclear disaster has been shocking and scary.
I wanted to do something to help, and found myself thinking of the story of the 1000 Paper Cranes. In Japanese legend, anyone who makes 1000 paper cranes is granted a wish. In 1955, a Japanese girl, Sadako Sasaki, became ill with radiation sickness after the atom bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. Sadako planned to make 1000 paper cranes, but she had folded only 644 cranes when she died aged just 12. Her friends made the remaining paper cranes and buried them with her… one of the saddest yet most beautiful stories of friendship ever. In Japan, the paper crane is a powerful symbol of peace and hope.
What better way to send your support, good wishes and prayers to Japan? Find yourself a square of paper, click the link and make your own paper crane for Japan – then send in your pics through any of the website links. Tell your friends, family and teachers and spread the word. Together, we can make 1000 cranes… and show Japan that we care.
If you’re able to raise money for those made homeless by the disaster, you can donate to the Red Cross.
Look out for more ideas of how you can help on the Secret Page and in the April online newsletter… with comps to reward all your hard work. If you haven’t signed up for the free online newsletter, you can do it here – you’ll find a clue for the password to the Secret Page in the newsletter, too.
Get folding… and send your thoughts and prayers to Japan.
xxx
That’s very nice of you to think like that. I feel so bad for all the tragic things that have happened. We should all get together and spread the word to make money and help out Japan. How would we feel if that happened to us? And it’s true – your idea is FAB!
Me and my two friends did a Charity Bake Sale. We sold Brownies, Biscuits and Cakes. All together we made £35, so we’ll be sending it off to Japan sometime in the next week!
That’s a really cool idea, i feel so sad for all the people who lost their lives in the japan disasters 🙁 would love to do something to help them xxx
hey vicky this is chloe are school are doing that with all different cakes including brownies
The story about the 12 year old girl and the disasters in Japan are all so sad. I will defenitley be making some paper cranes and spread the word to all my friends. It’s so nice of you to think like that it’s a great idea!
The disaster in Japan is so Shocking, scary and sad. I am going to make 10 of them and send you a picture of them.
Love Mandy x
Japan is a disaster. I feel so bad and all my thoughts go out to the families there. Imagining that happening here in Ireland is terrifing :S
I better go make the paper cranes.
<3
Good luck with your paper cranes and remember to send in a pic to the website and spread the word to your friends. Well done on the Bake Sale Victoria… and good luck with yours, Chloe! xxx
Hey Cathy and other Cathy Cassidy fans =)! Hey Cathy i just love love love what you are doing! I think you are so generous and kind! Love Ruby xxxxx P.S I got Cherry Crush from the lucky book club at school and read it….. AND IT’S ONE THE BEST BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ!!!!!!!!! !
That is such a nice idea and a really good way to make everyone involved in trying to help because I felt really helpless because Japan’s so far away.
I’m gonna get folding !
<3