Today, some 150 Scouts from the National Scout Organizations (NSOs) participating in the 23rd World Scout jamboree, took part in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The one-day off-site programme to Hiroshima aims to deepen the awareness of Scouts about the sanctity of life and the importance of empathising with others, which is in line with the Scout Promise and Law. During the programme, participants visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and joined attendees from Hiroshima city as they prayed for those who lost their lives in the nuclear bombing, as well as for peace in the world.
The Jamboree participants, Scouts from the Hiroshima Scout Council and Scout Association of Japan participated in the volunteer activities which included the distribution of flowers and ceremony programme guides to ceremony attendees.
They also participated in the dedication of paper cranes which were folded by Scouts during the Hiroshima Peace Programme at the Children’s Peace Monument.
Prior to the Jamboree, the Messengers of Peace programme had launched the paper Cranes for Peace campaign. Each Scout Unit was encouraged to bring 100 cranes that would be made into Senbazurus and presented at the Children’s Peace Monument in the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park. According to an ancient Japanese legend, folding 1000 paper cranes of Senbazuru entitles one for a special wish that would be granted by a crane. Legend has it that the gesture may also reward one with a sense of peace, happiness and hope.
Paper Cranes for Peace was a key activity of the Messengers of Peace programme at the Jamboree. Inspired by the story of Sadako Sasaki, Scouts would reflect on the past to develop their vision of world peace. It would also encourage the young people to take action to create a better world.
Happening concurrently was the Nagasaki Peace Forum during which Scouts learnt about the importance of peace by visiting Nagasaki City and the Nagasaki Peace Memorial Park. They also participated in discussions with a group of young people from Nagasaki.
Source: Press Centre 23 World Scout Jamboree
