Hiroshima, Japan, Brazil and a few paperdolls

Heiwa

'Peace' in Japanese

Japanese woman praying for the victims of the 1945 Hiroshima Atomic Bombing

 photo cred: Kyodo

Today is the 67th anniversary of the Hiroshima Atomic Bombing

of August 6, 1945.

file photo of mushroom cloud above Hiroshima one hour after bombing

About 70,000 people immediately died.

Thousands died later from the effects of the bombing.

The Atomic Bomb landed approximately 100 meters from this place,

Sangyo-Shorei-Kan Trade Center, Hiroshima



The bombed out building you see in the photo above is now

the Atomic Bomb Memorial Park.

Motoyasu River, Hiroshima, Japan

You can also see it in the photo above, as it is today.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Yoshihiko Noda,

in front of the cenotaph, Atomic Bomb Memorial Park,

Hiroshima, Japan

8/6/2012

photo cred: Itsuo Inouye

Today is the 67th Anniversary, as I mentioned.

There are special remembrance observations all over the world.

In Japan, people light paper lanterns

and float them on the Motoyasu River to honor the victims,

and to pray for peace.

Sao Paulo, Brazil has the world's largest Japanese settlement,

after the country of Japan.

Ibirapuera Park, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Floating lanterns are waiting to be released,

August 6, 2012.

photo cred: Nacho Doce

Today's anniversary is a reminder of why I try to start each of my blogs

with the word "Peace".

We may speak different languages,

we may look different on the outside,

we may have different customs and traditions,

but when you boil it all down,

we are all brothers and sisters,

created in the image of God.

Peace.

Let's try it today, right where you are.

a safety pin beaded pattern

Thank you to my Japanese readers,

as we celebrate our cultures at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Thank you to my readers in Brazil too!

a festival celebration in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Here is an American Girl Paperdoll, with Japanese heritage:

Here are a couple of vintage Japanese paper dolls from magazine ads:

circa 1914

circa 1910

Etsu paperdoll, circa 1936

Up next - a samurai to color and cut:

Thanks to OrigamiBears for sharing many of the above paperdolls.

Last, I'd like to share a paper doll from Brazil:

Have a super-duper day!

:0)

inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

www.collagepaperpainting.etsy.com

dominoes@myinkspired.com



Happy Independence Day to Brazil!

Hola!

(pronounced 'o-la', Spanish for Hello)

Christ over the City of Rio de Janeiro

Today is National Independence Day for Brazil.

feliz día de la independencia

I hope I got that right!

I went to a web site that will translate words and phrases from English into Spanish,

and Spanish into English.

You know, you never feel quite confident since you really don't speak the language.

That would be a wicked hacker thing though...

Brazil travel map

www.tropicalnaturetravel.com

I thought we might learn just a little about Brazil today.

The country is famous for it's spectacular waterfalls,

the Amazon River (largest in the world)

The Rio De Janeiro Carnival

the Brazilian Soccer Team

and it's beaches.

Cococabana Beach, Brazil

Following three centuries of rule under Portugal,

Brazil became an independent nation in 1822

and a republic in 1889.

One thing I learned in just browsing about Brazil -

soccer is big.

I mean REALLY BIG!!

Being a non-sports person, I kinda' knew that, but not really?

Now I know!

Brazil will be hosting the World Cup in 2016.

I bet the beaches will be crowded!

Here's a photo of the beach at Rio de Janeiro

without all the soccer fans!

c.1916

The Iguazu Falls are truly impressive. I would like to see them someday.

www.bestourism.com

Here are some interesting facts,

by Claudio Da Silva, July/2011 found at:

http://www.sherwoodinstitute.org/introducing-the-brazil-series/

Brazil holds 53% of the source of fresh water available in South America.

Brazil holds 11.6% of the fresh water surface of the world,

placing it among one of the world giants in terms of internal water.

Brazil has one of the biggest lakes of the planet - Lagoa dos Patos.

92% of households have accessibility to drinking water.

Even with great availability, there is a shortage of drinking water in some places.

Only 37% of households are connected to sewer collection pipelines.

the Amazon river

The rivers of Brazil are responsible for 51% of the water consumption in Brazil.

30 Million inhabitants (out of 150 million) do not receive treated water.

Mr. Da Silva continues:

Sewage is Brazil's #1 threat to itself, and also to the world's oceans.

92% of the Brazil's sewage is launched into rivers and into the sea

without any treatment.

I found this next bit just horrifying:

DAILY Brazil launches 10 billion liters of sewage directly into rives and sea.

Brazil has made some strides -

there is about 10% of the cities adopting some kind of sewage treatment.

wow.

Chapada Diamantina National Park, Brazil

www.carpediemeducation.org

Now for a few 'more fun' facts!

Sao Paulo is the largest city of Brazil,

and is the capital of the state of Sao Paulo.

This city is the seventh largest metro area in the world!!!

Guaraja Beach, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Sao Paulo is quite famous for the tallest buildings in Brazil,

Fashion events, such as Sao Paulo Fashion Week,

and is the most populous city in the Americas!!!

Math quiz - work it out!

Sao Paulo has an area 1,523 square kilometers

and an estimated population of about

11,037,593 people living in the city.

So, how many people is that per square kilometer?

After you figure it out, let me know!

:0)

a woman in Salvador

I like the city's "Motto of Sao Paulo":

"I am not led, I lead"

Cool!

another photo of Iguazu Falls

So, Happy Independence Day, Brazil!

frog, the Amazon

inkspired

www.inkspired.etsy.com

www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com

dominoes@myinkspired.com