20,000 Troops = 20,000 Peace Cranes

Ok. Well, my friend, Susan, informs me that she heard it was 21,500.

Anyway.

We are at a moment in history similar to the one where a prior generation had taken to the streets. Many of us admire and wax nostalgic for the passion of those times... and yet, here we are, faced with the same disregard for (human life, sane leadership?) that should call for tremendous outrage. Who is willing at this time to resist and protest the way our foremothers and fathers did (well, okay, not mine..)? We have children to worry about, bills to pay, blogs to write, etc, etc... is there a way to send a message that speaks more of peaceful resistance and doesn't take a whole lot of time?

The beauty of the crane, like so many things Japanese, is it's simplicity. One intricately folded piece of paper, in the shape of a bird, is in itself a work of art. But what about 100, or 1,000? (see: http://www.wtchealingproject.org) What about one paper peace crane for every soldier pledged to ship off to Iraq? What if every person reading this were to send one peace crane to their congressperson. Or to the White House? (or for really ambitious folk, how about a whole crateful???)

Sometimes I like to write things on them..little sayings.. but they also send a powerful message on their own. And they don't have to be on fancy paper. Just a 3" x 3"square of anything will do...used gift wrap, junk mail.. I think military obituaries would be perfectly appropriate. I'm folding a few out of a Discover solicitation as I write this.

And if you really get into the groove like I did, where you find yourself folding cranes while hanging out with friends or watching tv, and you have bagfuls of 'em, you can inconspicuously leave them in places. Be creative!! If you work in a government office, leave one on the water cooler! Or on an ATM machine. There are so many possibilities... make some huge ones and hang them in visible locations. I would love to see photos of your cranes perched around the world!

Want to know how? Here's an informative video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9VF3gdf_Hk

Where should you send them? http://www.visi.com/juan/congress/ ( you can even get a little personal info on your rep in DC!)