1982: Justine Merritt is inspired to tie a Ribbon around the Pentagon in Washington, DC, USA from the theme; "What I cannot bear to think of as lost forever in a nuclear war", and writes about it to friends on her holiday card list.
1985: August 4th: Over ten miles of Ribbons encircle the Pentagon and other Washington, DC buildings. The Atom Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, Japan is also encircled by Ribbons.
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1986: In New Zealand, Ribbons connect US and USSR embassies. In South Africa, Black and White mothers unite using Ribbons to tell their government they don't want their children killing each other. In Japan, Ribbons are used to protest the razing of Ikego Forest. 10,000 Ribbons link B'hai temple to the ocean in Australia and USSR World Leader Mikhail Gorbachev is presented a Ribbon by Justine Merritt.
1987: In Okinawa, Japan, Ribbons help surround the largest military base in the Pacific and are displayed in Zushi for the environment at Ikego Forest. In Holland, panels connect the US and USSR embassies. Tamil, Sinhalese and Christian segments are exhibited together in Sri Lanka.
1988-1989: In the Middle East, the Interns for Peace calendar shows Ribbons made by Arab and Jewish children.
1990: In London, Ribbons are exhibited in the Houses of Parliament. In Geneva, Ribbons are displayed in the Palais des Nations during the NTP Conference.
1991: In New York, Ribbons are exhibited at the United Nations during the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty Conference. Included are panels created by Iraqi and American children. New York State Museum in Albany has an International Ribbon exhibit.
1992: Ribbons are displayed in Brazil and around the planet during the UN "Earth Summit."
1993: Ribbons are displayed at the Human Rights Conference in Vienna, inspire an environmental Ribbon contest in Singapore and is cosponsor of the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago.
1994: The Canadian Ecumenical Council Calendar features Ribbon segments as part of UN related art. Gas City and Marion Indiana create and exhibit Ribbons in preparation for the UN 50th anniversary.
1995: Ribbon displays celebrate the UN 50th anniversary Year. With the help of divers, Ribbons are carried under water and connect Egypt, Israel and Jordon. Segments are contributed by Switzerland, Germany, Italy and China.
1996: International Mothers of Liberia use Ribbons to help protest the stealing of children for the army. Towns in the Ukraine create panels calling for a world without wars or violence. Ribbons are given to all the UN Missions. Mayors for Peace through Inter-city Solidarity learn of the Ribbon.
1997: Estonia uses Ribbons to celebrate peace. Ribbons are taken to Haiti to promote a culture of peace. In Magdeburg, Germany, the Mayor inspires the city's population to create and display panels for Human Rights Day and other occasions. The Bonadssamlingen Museum in Stenstorp, Sweden exhibits Ribbons.
1998: Ribbons are displayed at the UNESCO Culture and Developement conference in Stockholm, Sweden. *1998 is the UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL YEAR of the OCEANS. Show on your Ribbon the beauty of our never ending oceans.
1999: Ribbon panels are displayed for Human Rights Day in Copenhagen, made in China, are exhibited at the Hague Appeal for Peace (HAP99) in the Netherlands and created for the International Year of Older Persons.
2000 - 2006: Ribbons are given to all U.S. Congressmen for the UN Culture of Peace Year. Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA creates and display Ribbons for UN Day. Africans and Cubans receive Ribbons for peace. A Ribbon is given to Pope John Paul II in Rome in honor of the Decade for a COP and Non Violence for the Children of the World. 9/11 annually Ribbons are carried from the UN to the World Trade Center, NY with an Interfaith litany read.
2001 - 2010: The United Nations International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-violence for the Children of the World. Show on your panel a "Culture of Peace." Church Women United (CWU) initiates the Ribbon as part of their celebrated days of prayers for peace such as World Community Day.
Founder Justine Merritt and Michele Peppers present Ribbon panel to Pope John Paul II, in honor of the United Nations resolution for the Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non Violence for the Children and for the World (2001-2010), October 17, 2001
Pax Christi Reconciliation Pilgrimage group visited Hiroshima, Nagasaki and Kyoto thru Oleander Initiative, an organization promoting peace and understanding thru study groups and travel. Ribbons were joined together with Japanese Ribbon group with prayers for peace
Bishop Alexis Mitsuru Shirahama of Hiroshima receives a Ribbon. 3/10/24
Bishop Michiaki Nakamura of Nagasaki showing Ribbon he received to his colleague. 3/14/24
Ribbon joining in Kyoto with panels from Japan and US, Interfaith Prayer for Peace was read.
Japan, March 4-17,2024: Members of Pax Christi, USA, on a peace and reconciliation pilgrimage were able to meet with Hibakusha from Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Prayer services were given by their Bishops with many heart felt prayers that a nuclear weapon would never be used again. The tour was organized by the Oleander Initiative. In Kyoto Ribbons from Japan and US were joined together with prayers for peace.
Ribbon Declaration in Japanese
Translation from Japanese to English
The Ribbon is made up of countless panels of cloth each showing peoples desire for disarmament, care of the environment or for peace. The panels have been created by individuals and groups from children to adults. They have been used in events and exhibits encouraging care for the earth and all its inhabitants.
The original theme of the Ribbon, started with “What I cannot bear to think of as lost forever in a nuclear war.” The concept originated with Justine Merritt from Denver, CO in 1982. A grandmother and former school teacher. She requested friends and relatives to create their representations on cloth segments by sewing, painting or to use any other suitable medium. The panels measured 18 inches by 36 inches or 46.5cm by 93cm with a tie on each corner so they could be joined together. The idea spread rapidly through places of worship, schools, colleges and peace, disarmament and environmental organizations.
The first Ribbon events were held in the United States and Japan. They culminated on August 4, 1985 commemorating the fortieth anniversary of the nuclear bombing at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. On that day fifteen miles of panels were joined together in the heart of Washington, D.C. surrounding the Pentagon. In Hiroshima, the A-Bomb Memorial Dome was encircled with Ribbons that same day as well. Since then the Ribbon has become an ongoing project in countries around the world.
Making a Ribbon helps individuals confront fears of nuclear war or environmental destruction and to consider what is needed for a peaceful world. People are inspired to look within themselves to create panels by a threatening reality and yet are allowed to express thoughts and emotions that celebrate life through the concept. The Ribbon makes visible spiritual and human values reflecting the culture of their makers as well as finding a common ground among nations to work towards peace.
It is the same hope and prayers today. Since 1985 Ribbons have been created and used in events and exhibits. The project helps people find common ground with different points of view from different cultures and religions by participating in events and exhibits.
Our vision is to call attention to what is endangered. By actually thinking and creating what is in your heart or what you care about while considering what is at risk. It is a way to help people understand how important is to work towards care and protection of the earth and all of its inhabitants.