1000 cranes for peace: Aurich sends a strong message to Hiroshima

1000 cranes for peace: Aurich sends a strong message to Hiroshima

A remarkable campaign has been launched in Aurich that not only addresses the historical context of the atomic bomb being dropped on Hiroshima, but also sends a strong signal for peace and against nuclear armament. The Aurich “Crane Group” has folded over 1,000 origami cranes, which are now being sent on their way to the Children's Peace Memorial in Hiroshima. NWZonline reports that this initiative was launched in memory of Sadako Sasaki, who survived the atomic bombing as a child in 1945, but years later developed leukemia and died.

Sadako, who witnessed the impact of the Little Boy bomb when she was just two years old, began folding cranes during her illness in the hope of a cure. She folded over 1,000 cranes during her illness, but she died at the age of just 12. Her classmates placed the missing cranes in her grave, which further reinforces the symbolism of these small works of art as a sign of peace and hope. The memory of Sadako and the message of these folded birds are now well known in Japan and beyond. DW describes Sadako's story being taught in schools and children everywhere folding cranes to promote peace.

A symbol of remembrance

The crane group in Aurich folded the cranes in community activities in living rooms, classrooms and community centers. The focus of this campaign is not only on commemoration, but also on a clear appeal against wars and for more humanity. Together with the cranes, an open letter is sent to the federal government, calling for it to sign the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Finally, this treaty, adopted by the United Nations in 2017, prohibits the use, development and storage of nuclear weapons, but Germany has not yet signed it.

The 1,000 origami cranes will first be sent to the peace cooperative in Bonn, from where they will go to Hiroshima. But that's not all: Cranes that arrive later will be used for an action in Berlin that will draw attention to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. The importance of this action was also anchored in the story of Sadako Sasaki, who is now recognized not only in Japan but worldwide as a symbol of peace and the warning to prevent nuclear war.

Global spread of the message of peace

The influence of Sadako's story extends beyond Japan's borders. Sadako's nephew, Sumiyuki Sasaki, is actively campaigning for her folded cranes to be included in the UNESCO Memory of the World Register. This initiative aims to keep Sadako's legacy and awareness of the horrors of war alive. As part of these efforts, the Hiroshima Prefectural Government established the Peace Promotion Project Team to support the campaign. Peace and diplomacy highlights that over the years a global movement has emerged in which children from all over the world fold cranes and send them to Hiroshima to advocate for peace and an end to nuclear threats.

The actions of the Aurich Crane Group and the ongoing significance of Sadako's story are not just memories of the past, but living appeals that work into the future. The folded cranes, whether in Aurich or Hiroshima, remind us all of what is at stake: peace and humanity.