All posts filed under: Somewhere Among

Promoting Peace

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Many opportunities for peace and conflict resolution educational programs and activities can be found through the following links: President John F. Kennedy’s address to the U.N. assembly September 20, 1963 audio from John F. Kennedy Library and Museum Articles & Papers Creating Classrooms for Social Justice   Dr. Tabitha Dell’Angelo       Edutopia The Importance of Thank You Notes   Parents’ Choice Peace Education in UNICEF Susan Fountain, 1999 Peace News:   Children as Leaders Lessons from Colombia’s Children’s Movement for Peace The Guardian “Time to Give Peace a Chance in Schools” Books, Materials, and Ideas Jane Addams Association Book Awards The Center of Negotiation and Conflict Resolution at Rutgers University has an extensive list of links to materials for teaching and guiding students in conflict resolution skills. Click here.  A Curriculum of Peace: Selected Essays                                                                                        …

Japan-U.S. Friendship

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GIFTS OF TREES, 1910 – present You may know the long and interesting history of Japan’s 1912 gift of the Washington, D. C. cherry trees. But did you know that in 1915, three years after the gift of cherry trees, the United States government sent seeds and saplings of dogwood to Japan? Gifts of Friendship (Japan Joint Issue) stamps were issued on April 10, 2015 to commemorate the 1915 gift of dogwoods. After World War II ended in 1945, cuttings from the cherry trees in Washington, D.C. were sent to Japan to restore the Tokyo collection that had perished during the American bombing attacks during the war. The two countries’ tree giving continues through the United States-Japan Bridging Foundation Friendship Blossoms Initiative. To read about the history of the National Cherry Blossom Festival check here. Taft’s Gift of Dogwoods to Japan Grew Up in Avon The last original dogwood and Ambassador Caroline Kennedy U.S. eyes 3,000 dogwoods for ‘sakura’ anniversary Friendship Blossoms Launched— Send Off at US National Arboretum Dogwoods given to Yoyogi Park Friendship …

The Ehime Maru February 2001

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On February 9, 2001, The Ehime Maru, a Japanese high school fishery training boat, sank 9 miles off Diamond Head after the submarine USS Greeneville surfaced beneath it. Nine people on The Ehime Maru perished. In January 2002,  a memorial was built at Kaka’ako Waterfront Park in Honolulu and was unveiled in February 2002.  The memorial stands on a hill overlooking the ocean. It is made of nine granite blocks. Engravings include an outline of ship and a map of the accident site. One of the ship’s two anchors lay next to nine links from the anchor chain to signify the nine lost lives. The names of those who perished are engraved on the stone. The Japan-America Society of Hawai’i maintain the memorial with the help of volunteers from the community. This photo was taken in 2015.   Construction of Ehime Memorial Underway January 20. 2002 Memorial to Ehime Maru Nine Unveiled Japan Times Feb. 11, 2002 Ehime Maru Memorial Draws Japan Tourists June 27, 2002  

Mayors for Peace August 2001

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On August 2, 2001, the 5th World Conference of Mayors for Peace opened first in Hiroshima. Events were also held in Nagasaki. Approximately 220 people participated from 63 cities and two non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from 28 foreign countries and from 44 municipalities in Japan. Nine countries participated for the first time, including Pakistan, which conducted a nuclear testing in 1998. Discussions included what cities and citizens should do to eliminate nuclear weapons. The issue of violence among children was discussed for the first time at the conference. Participants resolved to make the 21st century the ‘century of humanity,’ a century in which “peace is realized not through violence but through reconciliation, cooperation, reason and conscience.” Mayor Akiba Tadatoshi of Hiroshima City, the chairman of the conference, gave a speech in English at the opening ceremony saying, “The 20th century was an era of war. We hope to make the 21st century a century of peace and humanity. We must not forget that cities are expected to play an important role towards that goal.” Morishima Michio …

Hiroshima on August 6, 2001

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Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi of Japan visited the annual Hiroshima Memorial Service for the Dead and the Peace Memorial Ceremony at the Peace Memorial Park in 2001. There was a moment of silence and a release of doves. Hiroshima’s Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba gave a “Peace Declaration,” and children gave a “Commitment to Peace.” Prime Minister Koizumi stated, “Being the only country ever to have experienced nuclear devastation, Japan observes its Peace Constitution, firmly maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. Japan is also continuing to appeal to the international community for the abolition of nuclear weapons and realization of a permanent peace so that the horrors of nuclear weapons never be repeated.” 2001 Mayor Tadatoshi Akiba’s Peace Declaration 2001 BBC News photos of Hiroshima August 6, 2001 Hiroshima Memorial Service Washington Post Japan marks 56th anniversary of Hiroshima USA Today Education Hiroshima and Peace program for undergraduate and graduate students General Children’s Peace Monument Tower of a Thousand Cranes Hiroshima Peace Site   Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Website Hiroshima Peace Media Center Media Message from Hiroshima Official Trailer …

Nagasaki on August 9, 2001

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Mayor Itcho Ito of Nagasaki City read “The Nagasaki Peace Declaration” and warned that “the nuclear threat is now on the verge of expanding into space.” Ms. Sanae Ikeda, an atomic bomb survivor, gave a “Commitment to Peace” and a children’s choir sang “Kora no Mi Tamayo” (“The Spirit of Our Children”). Prime Minister Koizumi stated, “Being the only country ever to have experienced nuclear devastation, Japan observes its Peace Constitution, firmly maintaining the Three Non-Nuclear Principles. Japan is also continuing to appeal to the international community for the abolition of nuclear weapons and realization of a permanent peace so that the horror of nuclear weapons may never again be repeated.” Prime Minister Koizumi noted, “As regards the atomic bomb victims, I will continue to devote myself wholeheartedly to promoting support measures while taking into full consideration the circumstances of the atomic bomb victims who are advancing in years.” After the end of the ceremony, Prime Minister Koizumi went to Megumi no Oka, a nursing home in Nagasaki, and visited some of the patients. Nagasaki …

National Veterans Awareness Week November 2001

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President George W. Bush, XLIII, proclaimed November 11, 2001, as Veterans Day. He encouraged all Americans to observe November 11 through November 17, 2001, as National Veterans Awareness Week. President George W. Bush, XLIII, 2001-2009                                                              Proclamation 7491–Veterans Day, 2001 October 30, 2001  Why Memorial Day is Different from Veterans Day    The Washington Post Anthem Veteran’s Memorial  WGN-TV Chicago

Pearl Harbor Memorial on December 7, 2001

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President George Bush marked the 2001 anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor by declaring December 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. He flew to Virginia to give a speech aboard the USS Enterprise. He focused mainly on the threat of terrorism, but commented on the current relationship of Japan and the United States saying, “Today our two navies are working side by side in the fight against terror. The bitterness of 60 years ago has passed away. The struggles of our war in the Pacific now belong to history.” transcript of President Bush’s speech from Washington Post USS ARIZONA  MEMORIAL  Oahu, Hawaii The state of Hawaii and local businesses helped 600 New York City police officers, fire and family members of victims of September 11 attend the Pearl Harbor memorial services. The USS Arizona Memorial was closed to the public for ceremonies for Pearl Harbor survivors, their families, and guests. Twenty-one survivors from the USS Arizona attended with other veterans of Pearl Harbor, many wearing garrison caps with their ships’ names. Flowers were …

9-11 Memorials

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This page is a work in progress, but for now, here are some links: From Scholastic     Understanding September 11 From ALSC      Dealing with the Tragic Events of September 11, 2001 Talking to Children about 9-11 from the 9-11 memorial website Reaction to 9/11   History Channel article about the Unsung Hero of 9-11, Betty Ong 9-11 Memorial 9-11 Tribute Center Flight 93 National Memorial Pennsylvania National 9-11 Pentagon Memorial Tower of Lights in New York City Journey of Survivor Tree New York City last living thing to leave that site; pear tree the red envelope museum