U.N. secretary-general shares support for “paper crane project” pursued by Hiroshima youth
Nov. 21, 2012
by Rie Nii, Staff Writer
A message has been delivered to young people in Hiroshima from the U.N. secretary-general, who received paper cranes from Hiroshima high school students. “Paper Crane Project” is an effort to send chains of 1,000 paper cranes that have been offered to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to the 193 leaders of the world’s nations as well as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The message was delivered to the Hiroshima Youth Committee of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN, headquartered in Australia). Responding to the paper cranes sent from Hiroshima, Mr. Ban wrote, “I welcome the Paper Cranes Project” and “I salute the Hiroshima Youth Committee.”
Mr. Ban described the paper cranes as “a global symbol of peace and disarmament,” and said that the project shares a common goal with the pursuit of a nuclear weapons convention, which is a key component of the five-point nuclear disarmament proposal made by the secretary-general in 2008. Mr. Ban expressed his hope that the project “will inspire additional efforts by young people everywhere.”
Referring to the Japanese tradition which holds that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a wish, he added, “My wish is that the dream of a nuclear-weapon-free world will become a reality in time to benefit those who folded those cranes.”
In addition to Mr. Ban, so far the leaders of Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Greece and Vanuatu have sent messages expressing their support for the project.
Henry Jiang, 19, president of the Hiroshima Youth Committee, said, “I would like to express my gratitude to Secretary-General Ban for his support,” adding, “With more than 30 countries submitting a joint statement to the United Nations calling for nuclear weapons to be made illegal under international law, the effort to eliminate nuclear weapons is gaining momentum. I hope this momentum will grow.”
Full text of the message from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
MESSAGE FOR “PAPER CRANE PROJECT”
2 November 2012
I welcome the “Paper Crane Project,” an initiative launched by the Hiroshima Youth Committee of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
This project deserves recognition and support from advocates of nuclear disarmament throughout the world.
It features a noble goal: to promote the negotiation of a nuclear-weapons convention, a key part of my five-point nuclear disarmament proposal.
It has chosen a creative way to advance this goal, featuring the delivery of 1000 folded paper cranes – a global symbol of peace and disarmament – to all the world’s leaders.
It reinforces the views that have been expressed by representatives of over 140 countries in support of concluding a nuclear-weapons convention.
It has succeeded in engaging young people in the City of Hiroshima by giving them a personal role in the promotion of the global nuclear disarmament.
And I hope it will inspire additional efforts by young people everywhere who understand how important it is to grow up in a world without such horrible weapons.
Ancient Japanese tradition holds that anyone who folds 1000 paper cranes will be granted a wish.
My wish is that the dream of a nuclear-weapon-free world will become a reality in time to benefit those who folded those cranes.
Achieving this goal will require both enlightened leadership from government leaders and from an active and informed public. These cranes have a role to play in strengthening both of these foundations of disarmament.
They are therefore much more than a symbol; they are a call to action.
For all these reasons, I salute the Hiroshima Youth Committee and all their partners in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons for working with such commitment and creativity in pursuit of our shared goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
(Originally published on November 19, 2012)
A message has been delivered to young people in Hiroshima from the U.N. secretary-general, who received paper cranes from Hiroshima high school students. “Paper Crane Project” is an effort to send chains of 1,000 paper cranes that have been offered to the Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to the 193 leaders of the world’s nations as well as U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
The message was delivered to the Hiroshima Youth Committee of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN, headquartered in Australia). Responding to the paper cranes sent from Hiroshima, Mr. Ban wrote, “I welcome the Paper Cranes Project” and “I salute the Hiroshima Youth Committee.”
Mr. Ban described the paper cranes as “a global symbol of peace and disarmament,” and said that the project shares a common goal with the pursuit of a nuclear weapons convention, which is a key component of the five-point nuclear disarmament proposal made by the secretary-general in 2008. Mr. Ban expressed his hope that the project “will inspire additional efforts by young people everywhere.”
Referring to the Japanese tradition which holds that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a wish, he added, “My wish is that the dream of a nuclear-weapon-free world will become a reality in time to benefit those who folded those cranes.”
In addition to Mr. Ban, so far the leaders of Kazakhstan, Slovenia, Greece and Vanuatu have sent messages expressing their support for the project.
Henry Jiang, 19, president of the Hiroshima Youth Committee, said, “I would like to express my gratitude to Secretary-General Ban for his support,” adding, “With more than 30 countries submitting a joint statement to the United Nations calling for nuclear weapons to be made illegal under international law, the effort to eliminate nuclear weapons is gaining momentum. I hope this momentum will grow.”
Full text of the message from U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:
MESSAGE FOR “PAPER CRANE PROJECT”
2 November 2012
I welcome the “Paper Crane Project,” an initiative launched by the Hiroshima Youth Committee of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
This project deserves recognition and support from advocates of nuclear disarmament throughout the world.
It features a noble goal: to promote the negotiation of a nuclear-weapons convention, a key part of my five-point nuclear disarmament proposal.
It has chosen a creative way to advance this goal, featuring the delivery of 1000 folded paper cranes – a global symbol of peace and disarmament – to all the world’s leaders.
It reinforces the views that have been expressed by representatives of over 140 countries in support of concluding a nuclear-weapons convention.
It has succeeded in engaging young people in the City of Hiroshima by giving them a personal role in the promotion of the global nuclear disarmament.
And I hope it will inspire additional efforts by young people everywhere who understand how important it is to grow up in a world without such horrible weapons.
Ancient Japanese tradition holds that anyone who folds 1000 paper cranes will be granted a wish.
My wish is that the dream of a nuclear-weapon-free world will become a reality in time to benefit those who folded those cranes.
Achieving this goal will require both enlightened leadership from government leaders and from an active and informed public. These cranes have a role to play in strengthening both of these foundations of disarmament.
They are therefore much more than a symbol; they are a call to action.
For all these reasons, I salute the Hiroshima Youth Committee and all their partners in the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons for working with such commitment and creativity in pursuit of our shared goal of a nuclear-weapon-free world.
(Originally published on November 19, 2012)
