November 17th is World Peace Day, a time when people focus on how they can bring peace through their own grassroots actions (in contrast to holidays like September’s International Day of Peace, which focuses more on global efforts to end wars). Started in 1997 by Don Morris, World Peace Day gives agency to ordinary people who might be unable to contribute to global initiatives. Small, personal acts of personal growth and transformation are celebrated – it is a truly ‘grassroots’ holiday, independent from any specific government or religious organization.
One story that inspired Morris was the tale of the Thousand Origami Cranes – a Japanese legend that anyone who folds 1,000 paper cranes will be granted a single wish. In the 1950s, a girl named Sadako Sasaki was dying of radiation poisoning from Hiroshima. She started folding cranes in the hope of wishing for her recovery. But before the end she made her wish for world peace, saying “I will write peace on your wings and you will fly all over the world.” Her example has made the crane a lasting symbol for world peace.
Morris challenges people to similarly fold cranes and put them in public places, to represent that enduring wish for world peace. The library is also making 1,000 cranes, and you are invited to help. Origami paper is available for free in the library, and instructions for folding them are online. You can fold as many as you want, and help us wish for peace.
And for anyone wanting to take further steps towards peace, the library has a lot of resources. Books like Peace Movements Worldwide by Michael Nagler, The Anatomy of Peace: Resolving the Heart of Conflict, Committing to Peace: The Successful Settlement of Civil Wars by Barbara Walter, Peace Parks: Conservation and Conflict Resolution by Saleem Ali, Taking a Stand: A Guide to Peace Teams and Accompaniment Projects by Elizabeth Boardman and People, Peace, and Power: Conflict Transformation in Action by Diana Francis are all excellent places to begin. And any social science database like SocIndex, ProQuest Social Science, or Opposing Viewpoints offers a wealth of information, as well. For any questions about accessing these resources or more, please Ask Us! iueref@iue.edu
The IU East Campus Library got involved in making cranes for World Peace Day after library director Yates read about a project at the Hartford Seminary. Library student staff Amber Estadilla and Alexandra Estes led the way, making hundreds of cranes themselves and also teaching many IU East students, faculty and staff how to make them. This group effort led to the completion of 1,000 paper cranes in time to celebrate World Peace Day!
You can help celebrate peace any day by posting an image of a paper crane on your Facebook page, as a symbol of your personal commitment to peace.
