They are called Hibakujumoku and are the trees that were exposed to the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on the morning of August 6, 1945. Some survived, others re-sprouted with the strength that only plants know. Right next to the Hiroshima memorial there is one of them, it is a large cherry tree which with its branches teaches resilience and speaks of hope.
Hibakujumoku are the trees that grew within 2 km of the epicenter of the nuclear explosion: they are over 160ranked in more than 30 speciesofficially registered and identified by a mark.
Hibakujumoku, the Japanese trees that are witnesses of peace throughout the world
The Japanese term Hibakujumoku was coined specifically for these trees and is composed of hibaku (被爆) meaning «bombed, exposed to nuclear radiation», and jumoku (樹木) meaning «tree» or «woods».
The seeds of these trees are now taken around the world thanks to the work of an international association, the Green Legacy Hiroshima (GLH), for give life to new plants, as witnesses of peace. In Italy they deal with it PEFC Italy together with the World Without Wars and Without Violence-Nonviolent Biodiversity Association.
PEFC collects the germinated seeds and then delivers them to the botanical garden of Perugia where they are grown before they are entrusted to schools or institutions that are applying and have distinguished themselves for projects and activities in favor of peace, the environment and social inclusion (you can request the assignment of a Hibakujumoku by contacting [email protected]). In Italy there are currently already 49.
In doing so, the Hibakujumoku are carrying forward historical memory and are witnesses of a unique resistance to tragedy. And they will continue to do so forever.
The Nobel Peace Prize for Hiroshima survivors
Today the Nihon Hidankyo organization receives the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. The members are called Hibakusha and they are the survivors (men and women) of the atomic bombs dropped during the Second World War.
The Japanese organization has been for years committed to keeping alive the testimony of those who have suffered the terrible reality of nuclear weapons and in promulgating it to free the world from this threat. As time passed, however, the Hibakusha will no longer be present to directly narrate their story, but they will also be able to take on this role Hibakujumoku that are sprouting all over the world.
The Hibakujumoku present in Italy
Before 2020 trees had been planted in Venegono Superiore (VA), Fiumicello Villa Vicentina (UD), Livorno, Foggia, Brindisi, Reggio Calabria, Palermo and Narni (TR). In the 2020 The Hibakujumoku they were delivered to the Kilometro Verde in Parma and to the San Matteo degli Armeni Library in Perugia. Ben 13 trees entrusted during 2021: in Carrega Ligure; at the Leonardo da Vinci Secondary School in Maccagno (VA); at the San Salvatore primary school in Rimini; at the Bosco Spaggiari in Parma; at the Peace Park in Vicenza; to the Pro Ponte association of Perugia Ponte San Giovanni; to the Municipality of Pesaro and the Nuova Acropoli di Bologna association; at the University of Calabria in Arcavacata (CS), at the Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, at the Magna Grecia University of Catanzaro and at the University of Basilicata in Potenza; at the Botanical Garden of Perugia.
Other Hibakujumoku have been delivered to worthy projects in 2022: to CONAF (Council of the National Order of Agronomists and Forestry Doctors) with planting at Vivai San Sisto in Rome; at the Primary School of Collevalenza (PG); at the Bolzaneto Municipality of Genoa; to the U. Calavrese Association of Taranto Talsano; at the Enrico Medi State High School in Villafranca di Verona (VR); to the Bresadola Mycological Association of Agrate Brianza (MZ); to the municipal administration of San Vendemiano (TV); at the Anshin Zen Center Buddhist Temple in Rome; to the CANALETE Cooperative of Trissino (VI) and to the municipal administration of Cartosio (AL); to the administration of Ferrara.
In 2023 the Trees of Peace were entrusted to the Nocetum Center and the IC Mother Teresa of Calcutta in Milan; at the CREA Forest-Wood Research Center in Arezzo; to the municipal administration of San Giorgio Bigarello (MN); to the Mon amour association of Turin and to the ANPI of Modena; at the Cini Foundation in Venice (San Giorgio island). In the 2024 to the municipal administration of Arignano (TO), to the Nuova Acropoli Association of Verona, to the Citizens Association for the Memory of Vajont/Comitato Noi, 9 Ottobre, to the Librarti association of Casale Monferrato (AL), to the Casa dei Bambini ACPiccoli Montessori of Vicenza and the G. Pucciano Comprehensive Institute of Bisignano (CS).
Source: Vanity Fair
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