Tanka poems against the war

At the 10th September charity gig: Flowers and Bombs Peace aLive in Kobe on 14th of Spetember, 2013

In September 2004 the first Flowers and Bombs' charity event for children of Iraq and Afghanistan was held. It was a small but heartwarming gig with a song of "Flowers and Bombs" whose music was written and sung by a young lady from Nagoya. After the gig, I have met many musicians and artists who are willing to give helping hands to this tiny charity project, and September has become the month to hold a charity event of "Flowers and Bombs." And this year, the 10th event was held with a lot of supporters, and the venue was filled with love and prayer for peace.




We had beautiful music, shared our hope, laughed together and sang together like we had done for the last nine times. And gratefully, a surprising and also precious guest joined us this year. A high-schooler's mother from Fukushima, who has been working hard to get safe vegetables for children in Fukushima joined us and talked about the sever situation there. We were so much moved by her speech and raised money to help her activity.





Nine and a half years have passed since "Flowers and Bombs" was published. At that time I was looking for anything to help children in Iraq and Afghanistan and to stop the war. For 12 years bombs have been falling in Afghanistan, and Iraq is still in chaos. Moreover, tens of thousands of children are suffering in Japan because of the nuclear disaster of Fukushima Daiiichi nuclear power plant. Living in love and peace seems to get more and more difficult in this world.



However hard it may be, I am sure that we have to do whatever we can to make the world a better place. If we give up, only darkness will fill the world and despair will rule our life.




More than 70,000 yen was raised at the event for children in Iraq, Afghanistan and Fukushima Thank You!



I need your help, my friend, to change the chain of violence into a chain of hope.


Kaoru Kobashi




The proceeds have been donated to:


Every September the proceeds from "Flowers and Bombs" of the last one year are donated mainly to three organizations and to some small but beautiful projects done by young and brave people.

Thanks to your help, the book and the charity events of "Flowers and Bombs" raised 117,700 yen this year and that was donated to:

Peshawar-kai, 10,000 yen
Takarazuka Afghanistan Friendship Association, 15,000 yen

Japan Volunteer Center - Iraq Fund, 10,000 yen

JIM-NET, 20,000 yen

Iraq no kodomo o sukuu kai -Association for Iraqi Children, 20,000 yen

Ms. Toyama's Nanairo-Cafe in Fukushima, 27,500 yen

"Takoyaki Camp," a summer camp project for children in Fukushima, 12,000 yen

Atelier-Tono, an artist for peace from Fukushima, 5000 yen
 

"Thank You!" said a kitty: A new member of my family