Mr. Rosario Scollo, who applied for the planting in Sicily, is responsible for SCI (Service Civil International) activities in the entire province of Catania. SCI was established in 1920 and is one of the largest volunteer organizations in the world. It promotes a culture of peace by breaking down prejudices and barriers between people with different social, cultural and national backgrounds. They organized a photo exhibition of atomic bombings in the spring of 2011.
On the day of planting, children from the primary school gathered in the schoolyard where they hung the big national flags of Japan and Italy on the wall.
Several participants made speeches, and secondary school pupils played the Japan’s national anthem, “Kimigayo,” as well as the Italy’s on trumpet and clarinet. Then, they planted the kaki tree.
After the planting, children gathered around the tree.
Primary and secondary school pupils read their poems one after another, and a man and woman singers performed beautiful songs at the end.
After the tree planting ceremony, about 30 adults gathered to attend screening of DVDs of “Hiroshima,” “Mother’s Prayer,” and the “Kaki Tree Project.”
Then, there was a lecture by Dr. Ebinuma, and many questions were asked and answered. Finally, an artist presented his painting to Dr. Ebinuma.
