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
i was in both the christchurch earthquakes in new zealand!
Good idea! It’s so horrible.:( People in Japan need help!Bosnian Red Cross sends packets Japan.I also helped.I pray for Japan.
i hope more of the people will be saved there was a 1000 people washed up on the beach ! i going to give money to the red cross to give to japan
Its so sad!! We are donating money about £20 !! If you look on youtube you see how bad it all was! Its terrible i couldn’t feel more for the japanese !! The best of luck for all of them and r.i.p for all those who died!!!
Poor people… only if us bohemians could help more. That was such a heart breaking story!!! We will rock you forever more! My prayers and thoughts go to the japanese earthquake and tsnami victims… x x x WWRY x
It is really sad of what is going on in Japan. I just Pray for them all…x We are all raising money for homeless there..
Love Your Books Cathy…..
Cherry Crush is one of the BEST BOOKS EVER!!!
Hi Cathy. Yes, it is very shocking about the Japan incident. My school here has a Japanese teacher from Japan who teaches us sometimes during Japanese class. We love her a lot as she teaches us the tradition on Japan and tales of Japan. We are very lucky that she was still in Malaysia with us. Me and my friends would do anything to help them. =)
Hi Cathy
I feel sorry for a lot of people in Japan, Really bad things are happening all over the World to different people and counteries, such as Earthquakes,Floods, Thunamis, Wars,Tornados, Fires and so on, Many people in my class think that the World might end.
hi cathy. that nice what you did me and my friends are doing a sponsered cycle
Hi everyone,
This is a really horrid time in the world, isn’t it? I mean, the floods in Queensland, Australia, the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand and now the horrifying things going on in Japan. An earthquake, a tsunami, nuclear damage and floods. It’s really frightening for everyone in the world as we don’t know what’s happening or if it will happening to us. It’s even scarier to know that there is nothing we can do about it except clean up our act. Hopefully, if we try to lower our carbon footprint we will do the world some good. There are lot’s of ways to do this; Earth Hour, turning off our lights, stopping littering, and many, many more. I urge you all to join Cathy and the 1000 paper cranes. For one, try being kinder to the world and doing something nice everyday, even if it’s just to the people around you. Shoot them a smile and brighten up their day. If you can, organize a charity event at your school to raise funds for people in need, and people in natural disasters. God bless the survivors and let them live happy and prosperous lives.
Lots of love, luck, dreams and wishes,
Your friend and well wisher,
Ella