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Balkans Peace Initiative
A Gift of Cranes
Written by Tomiko Duggan
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
A sculpture of 400 origami cranes symbolizing "Mankind as One Family and the World as One Home" was given to the mayor of Korça during the Global Peace Festival in Albania. Nearly 400 cranes, made from traditional Japanese paper, were used for the gift.
The crane origami is the symbol of peace and hope in Japan. Cranes also represent the natural freedom of migratory birds, who experience the world without the conflicts and divisions caused by national boundaries or the rules of visas and passports.
The many colors of these cranes represent the many races, tribes, ethnic groups, and nationalities of the world. They are tied harmoniously into one whole and linked to a globe, which was also made with cranes of different colors. Thus, this gift is a representation of “Mankind as One Family and the World as One Home.”
The three spheres symbolize grandparents, who represent our past; parents, who represent the present; and children, who represent the future. Three generations living together in trust and mutual benefit are the foundation of an ideal family.
In the family, we learn and begin to practice love. There, our dreams are nurtured, and we gain profound respect and appreciation for others. In the family, we develop hope for our community, we refine the values on which our nation is based, and we learn to recognize people from unfamiliar parts of the world as our true brothers and sisters.
Building the future of Albania on the foundation of such families will promote genuine peace and happiness for its citizens. It can be the foundation for true prosperity that nourishes people's hearts as well as their bodies, and the foundation to receive God’s blessing in this land.
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