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Nobel Peace Prize laureates plant A-bombed cherry tree in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

by Rie Nii, Staff Writer

On November 14, three Nobel Peace Prize laureates planted a seedling of an A-bombed cherry tree, a “symbol of Hiroshima’s reconstruction,” in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. Serving as representatives for the participants in the 2010 World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, which was held in Hiroshima, the three laureates entrusted the seedling with the mission of conveying the importance of peace.

The seedling was planted within view of the A-bomb Dome, in a spot across the Motoyasu River. Mairead Maguire, a peace activist from Northern Ireland, remarked that she hoped visitors to Peace Memorial Park would see not only the horror shown by the dome, but also this cherry tree as a symbol of hope and joy for the future.

Jody Williams, an American anti-landmine activist, and Shirin Ebadi, an Iranian human rights activist, as well as Hiroshima Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, covered the roots of the seedling with soil.

(Originally published on November 16, 2010)

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