Hope floats

Following World War II, Japanese people started to float paper lanterns to mourn the victims of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and as a promise never to wage the war again. People around the world have joined in the tradition, floating lanterns for world peace on the anniversary of the day of the bombing of Hiroshima, August 6, 1945.

From Hiroshima to Hope, Seattle's annual lantern-floating ceremony, was created by local peace, faith and community organizations in the mid-1980s. This event aims to remember the victims of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, along with all victims of war and violence. It also encourages its participants to advocate non-violent conflict resolution, commit themselves to work to prevent war, respect all people and value diversity. Last year's event drew about a thousand participants.

As in past years, this year's ceremony will be held south of the Bathhouse Theater on the northwest shore of Green Lake from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The event's programs include the folding of paper cranes, Japanese taiko (drum) performance by community artist, and a calligraphy session by the Beikoku Shodo Kenkyukai American calligraphy study society. At dusk, participants will float their personalized lanterns on the lake not only in the remembrance of the victims of the bombings but also in the making a wish for eternal world peace.

The paper cranes, which will be made by participants, will be mailed to Hiroshima to mourn Sazako Sasaki, a Hiroshima girl who was 2 at the time of the bombing and eventually died of leukemia at age of 15. While in a hospital for treatment, she started to make paper cranes representing her wishes to overcome the illness. In Japan, the crane is considered to be good luck and wishes are thought to be granted if one folds 1,000 paper cranes. Unfortunately, Sasaki died with 646 cranes folded.

Charles Johnson, a UW English professor, will be the keynote speaker at the event. He will analyze "Civilization and Violence are Antithetical Concepts," the Nobel Peace Prize acceptance speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

The event also includes a Toro Nagashi, a Buddhist ceremony that honors the spirits of those who lost their lives in the Nagasaki and Hiroshima bombings. The ceremony reinforces the philosophy of King, who emphasized the interconnectedness of human lives.

"During Toto Nagashi, we can come together, as one people, to reflect on the importance of nonviolence in every aspect of our lives today," Johnson said.

Nissa Wanichsuksombat, a volunteer coordinator for the event and a past UW Asian Student Commision Director, said, "This is an important event to hold because it accomplishes the commemoration of those who have passed on due to the bombing and spreads awareness that nuclear weapons are not the answer."