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
This seems like such a lovely thing to do, to help save the world! People in Japan and Australia, must be so grateful, and with all off our support we can all make a difference.
Thankyou<3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
On my first attempt it was really good. Since my teacher was leaving I gave it to her to give her a gift of peace.
That…is the most… thoughtful…thing…RVER!!!!!!!
I do also feel sorry about Japan, because my mother told me what can happen to the humans when the radiation starts and … Its SCARY!!! I would love to help but im always SUPER busy…and they said it might hit France and IRELAND!!!!!
I LIVE IN IRELAND!!! so please DOOOOOO help!
Love, Peace & Chocolate! Alina! (my nickname is Angle!)
how do u make a paper crane?????????????
Georgia, see the blog above – click the link highlighted in yellow to see a video of how to make your crane.
xxx
Hey if you are going to a festival or book signing you should do a workshop where you make 1000 paper cranes and then attach them to a paper crane and all wish on them or attach them to chinese lanterns and let them off in the dark!!
i feel sooooo sorry for Japan!!!
i heard the story of Sadako Sasaki at school its sad!!!
i might try make 40 or 50 and im going to try make my family do it!
i hope no1 dies anymore coz people have and i want people to live a life not die in a tsunami!
hopefully people in Japan have some paper so they can make some cranes that would be good!!!!
i hope we can make 1000 or more!!!!
Alhena.S xxx
We made posters in school about what happened in Japane. I feel so sad about it :'( i’ll make a paper crane and spread the word xoxoxox
PS i’ve made up my own love peace and chocolate, icecream hugs and chocolate
We had our cake sale today and we our carryng it on tomorrow, we raised tons of money. I have some cakes that I made today ready for tomorrow, i can’t wait to send the money off! It makes such a difference for everyone.
My friend was telling me about that story just recently. I go to a catholic school and at the moment we are raising money for lots of charities and praying for all of the people in Japan. I am going to make a paper crane and send a photo in!