Stories of Kindness from Around the World

I recently volunteered at the Sakura Matsuri (Cherry Blossom Festival) at the Brooklyn Botanical Garden, where I was attracted to the NY♥Japan: Origami Crane-Making Workshop.  So as the season of new growth was celebrated through Japanese culture and the arts, this project was an additional one to remember and send hope and love to the victims of the Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster (an ongoing phenomenon).  The aftermath is profound in its effects and the implications for what can happen, even in an industrialized country.  

We had visitors to the garden participate in this workshop by learning how to fold a paper crane through the Japanese art of paper-folding called origami.  There were multiple tables of people teaching others crane-folding.  I was based at the “stringing” table, where we “stringers” were stringing the cranes with needles onto threads and had them hang as long rows of birds.  My sister joined me and we were fortunate to “string” with an older woman and two young women in high school (coincidentally from the same high school my brother went to in NYC).  It was a cool, sunny and breezy day and it seemed that some cranes were actually able to fly!  :)  We, as volunteers, also had participants write short messages on the cranes’ wings as notes of hope and love to the people of Japan.  The cranes will be mailed to Japan as a gesture of support and unity.  In this way, New Yorkers were invited to support relief efforts.

Ever since the day the earthquake and tsunami occurred this year, with their subsequent effects on the nuclear power plants and in turn, people and other living beings of Japan, I have been thinking and remembering the story of Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.  Sadako was a young girl who lived at the time of the Hiroshima bombing.  She developed childhood cancer and was hospitalized in a nursing home.  She had the hope to fold a thousand origami cranes (there is a Japanese saying that one who created 1000 origami cranes would be granted a wish—her wish was simply to live), but only reached 644 by the time of her death at age 12.  Her friends and family helped finish folding the rest, which were buried with Sadako.  They also built a statue of her holding a giant origami crane in Hiroshima Peace Park, with a plaque that reads: "This is our cry. This is our prayer. Peace on Earth."

It appears that in such disasters, people just do what’s needed, come forward and volunteer, like the youth corps.  There is an express need to also help the vulnerable children of Japan, as the environmental health effects of radiation exposure on children are more profound due to their young developing bodies.

Some questions that come to my mind: What will be best for the evolution of humanity and a movement to build a truly just, green, and peaceful world through truly renewable forms of energy (i.e. wind, solar, geothermal, tidal, etc.)?  Why is there still a push for nuclear power with all its risks and long-lasting spent fuel waste?  Why is nuclear energy one of the largest sources of non-fossil fuel energy forms in Japan, despite previous and current evidence of negative effects of radiation there?  Why are so-called “developed” countries, including the part of the planet where I live, still hooked on oil and other fossil fuels (and that, too, resources not locally derived or truly renewable and sustainable)?  Why do we still need weapons to “secure” ourselves?  Doesn’t this just create more enemies (and double-standards)?  Isn’t the way to peace through peaceful means and making friends?  “You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.”  --John Lennon, The Beatles  

The young girl, Sadako, was as well.

I read the story of Sadako as a child and was moved by it.  I wanted to participate in some way where I could offer my artistic talents and skills for a greater cause and to make some difference in letting the people of Japan know that they are not alone.  This origami workshop was one way in which I could volunteer some of my time and energy for the evacuees.  And I know this is a humble offering.  

Update: By the official close of Paper Cranes for Japan on April 15, 2011, they had received cranes and wishes from all 50 United States, seven Canadian provinces and more than 30 countries — from Armenia to New Zealand! In just six weeks since the disaster, Students Rebuild tallied 1,000,000 cranes (and counting!) from young people worldwide. The incredible outpouring of support inspired a $500,000 donation from the Bezos Family Foundation (doubling its initial gift). Funds benefit Architecture for Humanity’s reconstruction efforts in partnership with local designers and builders in Japan. The cranes will be woven into a future art installation in Japan — a symbolic gift from students around the globe to Japanese youth. What an amazing gesture and donation from the Bezos Family Foundation. So it seems there is a purpose for these cranes, which I did not know until today.

My friend in Japan sent me a recent email with notes about how we in the USA may help support Japan.  Of course, my friend tells me that what these people affected by the tsunami disaster and power plant crisis really need is money to buy everyday personal items food clothing.  Sunday she told me on the phone that the over 3,000 evacuees in the big stadium dome in Koriyama are experiencing extreme stress and that there were even no pencils and paper for the children to write on or toys. The plant evacuees left their homes with pretty much nothings else.

Would some of these cranes help to provide support to these people?  Possibly, and the ones with writings in English from NY and US may help.  Can some of these cranes be fashioned in an exhibit (plastic case) that is portable and sent to the different evacuee centers for viewing?  This traveling case would be a sign of crane flying/traveling around Japan to show support.   This portable case could have a message saying Support from around the world and also let the people know that there will be a bigger art installation in Japan as stated above … Thank you all for your interest.  I am interested in hearing about your thoughts on my crane idea or how to defray support monies directly to these evacuees.