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
HELP! I’ve been trying but I can’t make these cranes my paper always ends up becoming a big scrunched up mess!
hi !!!!!! I think that is a very good idea to help japan!!!!! thats very kind
i feel really sorry for all those poor people having to try and move on from this and for all those people trying to find their families. hopefully this nuclear thing will get sorted so people can concentrate on rescing people.
That’s sooo sweet! I’ll try and make some… don’t know if I’ll succeed! Wish me luck! I feel really sorry for all the Japanese people, it’s unfair that they should suffer. I’m really glad loads of people are trying to help, and raise money, like Cathy! X
We had our second cake sale today and our last one is on tuesday! We have raised so much money it’s so good that people like Cathy are being so kind. One small amount makes such a big difference. Wish me luck on our last cake sale! xxx
Hiya Cathy Cassidy and all the cool fans xx.
I first heard about the Japan Earthquake though skool becuz we had to watch a video of it and i can say it was breath taking to watch and i was crying after it so my skool is now helping Japan by Doing Bun sales,Quiz Sheets and all the money raised is going to help Japan and now i think i done something good for the people in Japan and i feel good about it.I think helping charties makes a huge diffences in japan and Poor Countries
and i could nearly feel the pain,upset and saddness and my heart goes out to all those people affected and I think we all luckyy with what we got but its a good idea to think of the people in Japan with nothing and i hope to make a diffences too so help because remember it makes A diffences. love yaa Cathy cassidy and love from lucyyxxxxxx
I have planned lot’s of fundraising ideas to help Japan so wish me luck!!
That is such an amazing idea! I will definitely give it a go. Every time i see something in the news about it my eyes well up with tears and i feel so sorry for those poor people in Japan. I’m really glad that we are doing something to help, even if we don’t raise that much money we’ll be helping them spiritually and I’m sure they would appreciate it. Some boys in my class were being really rotten and telling all these horrible jokes about the tsunami, just think, any of us could be in the same position as them and then we wouldn’t be laughing. Good luck guys! xxx
That is a beautiful idea i am most definitely going to do it and so should everyone else! We should do everything we can to help those poor people in Japan. xxx
That’s sooo good a great idea Cathy!!!
I’ll try and make some (defintely)…
I feel rlly upset because of what has happend in Japan…. Its so good and helpful that you (Cathy) are helping !!! Xx