Peace and Justice Scotland launched the exhibition Peace Cranes in early August to coincide with Hiroshima Day, and have now 
raised funds to keep the installation open until 14th November. If you haven’t had a chance to visit yet, it is a truly remarkable piece of art based on the dedication of dozens of volunteers over the past six years who have been folding 1000s of origami cranes that compose the exhibition which is in St John’s church in Edinburgh.
Peace and Justice write:
After six years folding, collecting and counting origami cranes, and one year’s delay due to Covid, our exhibition of 140,000 origami peace cranes lovingly folded by people from all around the world (including in Arran! – ER), was finally launched on Friday 6 August – Hiroshima Day. The number 140,000, represents all those killed by the Hiroshima bomb.
The stunning installation designed by artist Janis Hart, fabricated with the support of dedicated volunteers, and installed by Pete Searle and Euan Jackson, features a great circle of cranes and a harrowing new film conceived by Janis Hart and created by videographer Iain Dodd.
Through the symbol of the endangered Red-Crowned Crane, on which the origami crane as icon of hope for peace and disarmament is based, Peace Cranes is at the same time a moving remembrance of all those who lost their lives and suffered the long-term consequences of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and a call to take action to address the twin existential threats to humanity of nuclear weapons and the climate and ecological crisis.
Speaking at the launch of Peace Cranes were Consul General of Japan Nozomu Takaoka, Frank Ross the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Bill Kidd MSP, with a message of congratulations from First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, and Lynn Jamieson, Chair of Scottish CND. See more photos and read our blog post about the launch event here including speakers remarks.
Through a successful crowdfunding appeal Peace Cranes exhibition has been extended until November, to coincide with the run up to COP26. Peace and Justice plan to organise a series of peace and planet cafe discussions and other events raising awareness of the need to transform militarism along with the other systems that are driving the climate and ecological crisis.
The exhibition is open Monday – Saturday until November 14th In St John’s Church, 1A Lothian Road, Edinburgh, EH1 2AB. Closed during Services and on Sundays. Please check times here
Peace Cranes is a project of Peace & Justice Scotland delivered in partnership with Just Festival and St. John’s Church, Edinburgh.
