In Japanese folklore, the folding and presenting of 1,000 origami cranes signifies long life and happiness.
An additional meaning to the 1,000 origami cranes comes from the story of Sadako Sasaki, a courageous child afflicted with leukemia as a result of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. As she lay dying, Sadako prayed for peace in the world in which no one would suffer the devastating effects of radiation caused by atomic weapons. She began folding 1,000 cranes with hopes of having a long life and happiness. Unfortunately, her life ended before she completed the thousand origami cranes. However, she never gave up hope for a peaceful and safe world.
In a haiku poem, she wrote “I will write PEACE on your wings and you will fly all over the world”. Through Sadako’s words, 1,000 origami cranes have become a symbol of peace as well as a wish for long live and happiness
Spreading Peace 10,000 Miles From California, USA to Xieng Khouang, Lao PDR
2 million tons of bombs were dropped in Laos from the mid-1960s to early 1970s during the Vietnam War and USA’s Secret War. 260 million bomblets were dropped; 70-80 million are still live. Xieng Khouang was the venue for the US Secret War, obliterating the province, its people and its land.
2 atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in 1945, obliterating the two cities and its people.
Both the Japanese and Lao people from both countries have suffered dearly and continue to suffer quietly.