August 6, 2005
A Message from the Mayor of the City of
Hiroshima
to the International Art Partnership “Peace Tree”
I am grateful for the opportunity to send
this message to the Ceremony of the Memory of Hiroshima Tragedy in Novorossiysk.
Since our devastating experience 60 years
ago, Hiroshima has continually appealed for the abolition of nuclear weapons
and the realization of lasting world peace. Unfortunately, many areas around
the world remain trapped in cycles of hatred, violence, and retaliation. Our
planet still bristles with vast arsenals of nuclear weapons, and the danger
that such weapons will be used is actually increasing.
For this reason, Hiroshima City and more
than 1000 city members of the Mayors for Peace are collaborating with other
cities, individuals, and NGOs to conduct an Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear
Weapons, a program to abolish all nuclear weapons by 2020.
To help future generations understand the
tragic facts of the atomic bombing and the meaning of the hibakusha message that “no one else should ever suffer as we did,”
we are promoting Hiroshima-Nagasaki Peace Study Courses in schools around the
world and encouraging adults to read aloud to children personal accounts of the
atomic bombing.
I find it deeply significant that the
Ceremony of the Memory of Hiroshima Tragedy will be held in Novorossiysk. Let
me commend all the persons involved in the undertaking. I hope that you will
hold the memories of Hiroshima in your heart and continue to do everything in
your power to sow the seeds of nuclear abolition this year.
I close with my best wishes for the
health of all persons involved.
Mayor
The
City of Hiroshima
A Message from
the International Art Partnership “Peace Tree”
to the Mayor of Hiroshima
To: Tadatoshi Akiba Mayor The City of Hiroshima
August
6, 2005
Dear
Sir,
Thanking
you very much for your exciting Message to Novorossiysk, Russia.
On this horrific anniversary of the
atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
the local groups of Japan Friends across
Novorossiysk will hold candlelight vigils , fold a paper Cranes of Peace, tell to children the Sadako Sasaki story , send the paper cranes in the sky
with the air balloons and other community events calling for the complete elimination
of nuclear weapons.
I assure you we will be hold the memories
of Hiroshima in our hearts at
all time and do our best for nuclear
weapons abolition.
This 60th anniversary year has seen a
worldwide upsurge of people's movements demanding the abolition of nuclear weapons.
Among them are the Mayors for Peace Emergency Campaign to Ban Nuclear Weapons
and the International Art Partnership "Peace Tree" the Peace Tree Art
Movement.
The names of our organizations are very
close in the LIST OF INTERNATIONAL ENDORSERS and SUPPORTERS, APPENDIX B-1 of
the World Peace Forum 2006 in Vancouver, Canada http://vancouver.ca/ctyclerk/cclerk/20050331/csb1bAppB.htm.
Origami is rapidly becoming more popular
in countries throughout the world as
the Art of World Peace.
The Origami Peace Tree project goal is to
promote the peaceful and better world.
The Peace Tree Art Movement main idea is
Peace through Art.
I take the opportunity to invite you and
your colleagues to visit the Origami Peace Tree festival in Tokyo and Kyoto in
August/September, 2005 that is organized by IAP “Peace Tree “ and the
International Origami Society as the Host of the Festival . http://www.iap-peacetree.org/opt/japan2005.html
The international festival title is THE
WORLD PEACE and it's dedicated
itself to the 60th anniversary of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombing.
A
Prayer of Remembrance
O God, tender and just,
the names of Hiroshima and Nagasaki
cut through our denial
that we are capable of destroying the
earth
and all that dwell therein.
Forgive us -
and help us to always remember.
We must remember because this must never
happen again.
We must remember because you would have
us live
in harmony with each other,
seeing the joy of your creation in our
sisters and brothers.
Holy God, God of all the ages,
lead us from death to life,
to the stockpiling of hope, and of
possibilities,
and of love
rather than the stockpiling of weapons,
or stones to throw,
or of hate.
We pray for the healing of the earth and
of its peoples,
especially for our sisters and brothers
upon whom a nuclear rain poured down.
Help us to imagine that another world is
possible
and guide our actions towards the peace
you envision, the peace you have already
given us.
In the name of the One who came so that
we might have life,
and have it abundantly, we pray.
Amen.
Written by Rev. Loey Powell
In Peace,
Sincerely yours,
Alex Levashov
President,
Larisa Levashov
Vice-President
International Art Partnership "Peace
Tree" http://www.iap-peacetree.org
Origami Peace Tree project http://www.iap-peacetree.org/opt
“Beauty and Goodness will save
Peace"