Mayors for Peace sends seeds of trees that survived atomic bombing to Ukrainian member city
May 11, 2023
by Masanori Wada, Staff Writer
Mayors for Peace, chaired by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, has sent the seeds of trees that survived the atomic bombing to the Ukrainian city of Nova Ushytsia, which joined the organization last December. While Russia has invaded Ukraine and has been threatening to use nuclear weapons, the city requested the organization to send some seeds, saying growing trees from the seeds of such trees would spread the message of peace and emphasize the importance of nuclear disarmament. This is the first time such seeds have been sent to a member city in Ukraine.
According to the secretariat of the organization, the city of Nova Ushytsia contacted the organization in February this year, requesting it send some seeds. On March 10, the secretariat sent 30 seeds of a ginkgo tree that survived the atomic bombing. The city then sent an e-mail message with a photo of local high school students planting the seeds. The e-mail said when the seedlings had grown large enough, they would be planted at various locations in the city.
Nova Ushytsia is located about 300 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Kyiv and became Ukraine’s sixth member city after the Russian invasion began. Mayors for Peace has been sending seeds and saplings of A-bombed trees to cities in Japan and abroad. Its secretariat says it hopes to foster awareness of peace among the younger generation in solidarity with Ukrainian cities as well, which are facing a difficult situation.
(Originally published on May 11, 2023)
Mayors for Peace, chaired by Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui, has sent the seeds of trees that survived the atomic bombing to the Ukrainian city of Nova Ushytsia, which joined the organization last December. While Russia has invaded Ukraine and has been threatening to use nuclear weapons, the city requested the organization to send some seeds, saying growing trees from the seeds of such trees would spread the message of peace and emphasize the importance of nuclear disarmament. This is the first time such seeds have been sent to a member city in Ukraine.
According to the secretariat of the organization, the city of Nova Ushytsia contacted the organization in February this year, requesting it send some seeds. On March 10, the secretariat sent 30 seeds of a ginkgo tree that survived the atomic bombing. The city then sent an e-mail message with a photo of local high school students planting the seeds. The e-mail said when the seedlings had grown large enough, they would be planted at various locations in the city.
Nova Ushytsia is located about 300 kilometers southwest of the capital city of Kyiv and became Ukraine’s sixth member city after the Russian invasion began. Mayors for Peace has been sending seeds and saplings of A-bombed trees to cities in Japan and abroad. Its secretariat says it hopes to foster awareness of peace among the younger generation in solidarity with Ukrainian cities as well, which are facing a difficult situation.
(Originally published on May 11, 2023)
