Wollongong City Libraries staff contribute to 1000 paper cranes that will be folded, one by one, by careful little hands, curious teens and reflective adults in a gesture of peace, hope and remembrance. Photo: Supplied.
A thousand paper cranes — folded in Wollongong libraries — will soon make their way across the Pacific, to join millions more in the Children’s Peace Monument at Hiroshima’s Peace Park.
While origami sessions for young people were held in libraries during the school holidays, the community is encouraged to drop into crane-folding stations that will remain open in all Wollongong City Libraries until Wednesday 6 August, and make a contribution.
These events are part of a program of talks and activities marking 80 years since the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
At the heart of the initiative is the story of Sadako Sasaki, a Japanese girl who was just two years old when the US dropped an atomic bomb on her hometown of Hiroshima. Years later, she developed leukaemia from radiation exposure. In hospital, she began folding paper cranes, inspired by the Japanese legend that anyone who folds 1000 will have their wish granted.
Sadako died at age 12, having folded hundreds.
Today, her story is honoured at the Children’s Peace Monument, where around 10 million paper cranes arrive each year from around the world. This year, at least 1000 of those will come from Wollongong.
For Acting Wollongong City Libraries Manager Lindsay Carapella, the symbolism of the crane — and the act of coming together to fold them — is powerful.
“Young people are surrounded by images and videos of conflict across the globe, and this can be confusing and unsettling as they learn about the world and their place in it,” she said.
“Providing opportunities for young people in our community to gather and participate in this global act of peace is a simple but practical way to help them build connections and feel more empowered.”
The Atomic Bomb Memorial Mound in Hiroshima, Japan on 15 November 2013. Photo: Supplied.
Lindsay said the 80th year since Hiroshima felt like a fitting time to reflect on what the peace movement meant here in the Illawarra.
“From a local studies perspective, Wollongong has quite a rich history around activism and peace,” she said.
That history is being explored through the Peace Movement Illawarra Exhibition, on display at Wollongong Library until 30 August. The exhibition traces the city’s legacy of activism through decades of photographs and oral histories from local campaigners including Dr Margarett Perrott, Sharon Callaghan and Nick Southall.
The region’s strong stance on peace and disarmament is also reflected in local policy: Wollongong City Council has declared itself a nuclear-free zone, is a long-standing member of Mayors for Peace, and has endorsed ICAN’s Cities Appeal.
To further mark the anniversary, the library will host a public talk on Monday 28 July with Alexander Brown, exploring the Illawarra’s role in the national and global anti-nuclear movement.
And of course, people will be able to see the growing collection of colourful cranes across all Wollongong City Libraries as they approach 1000.
“You don’t need origami experience. We have lots of books on how to make origami cranes, and we would love for members of the community to come and spend a few minutes in the library,” Lindsay said. “It’s a chance to be part of something from afar that’s personal, communal and supportive.”
Visit the Peace Movement Illawarra Exhibition until 30 August, attend the Peace Movement Talk with Alexander Brown on Monday 28 July, or drop by an origami making station at any and all Wollongong City Libraries until Wednesday 6 August to fold your own wings of peace.
