Monday, May 9, 2016

Peace Begins With US

Peace Begins With US

Darrell Miho and the American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-bomb Survivors [ASA] have started a campaign to send 1,000 Hiroshima postcards to President Barack Obama, to encourage him to visit Hiroshima.

After US Secretary of State John Kerry visited Hiroshima in April, there is renewed hope that President Obama will follow suit and visit Hiroshima during his visit to Japan for the G7 Summit, May 26 & 27.

So we started the Peace Begins With US postcard campaign to encourage President Obama to visit Hiroshima. Darrell was in Japan and went to Hiroshima April 18 and bought over 1,000 Hiroshima postcards and we are asking people from around the world to help us send these postcards to President Obama and invite him to visit Hiroshima later this month.

Japanese legend says that if you fold 1,000 cranes, the Gods will grant you a wish. Many people send senzaburu (a thousand origami cranes strung together) to Hiroshima as a symbol of peace. This is largely attributed to Sadako Sasaki, who was 2 years old when the bomb detonated over her hometown of Hiroshima. She was diagnosed with leukemia at the age of 12 and started folding cranes in the hospital. Her wish was to be cured of her illness. She folded over 1,000 cranes, but unfortunately, she died later that year. You can read more about Sadako's story here.

So we added a little twist. Instead of 1,000 cranes, we are sending over 1,000 postcards, in honor of Sadako. Our wish is for President Obama to visit Hiroshima.

If you and some of your friends can send a postcard, please send us an email and we will send you 5? 10? or however many postcards you and your friends can send. the postcards and postage are all paid for (if sent from the US or Japan). All you and your friends have to do is write a message and send them.

You can also visit our Facebook page to keep up to date with issues related to the hibakusha and world peace.

Yoroshiku onegai shimasu!!! Thank you!!!

Peace begins with US!!!