On Sunday, Thailand will seek to improve relations with its Muslim minority by releasing origami birds over the Muslim region.
It's hard to know how it will be received, but I have to applaud the creativity in the approach.
From the Wall Street Journal in an article by Peter Fritsch:
A flock of at least 63 million cranes -- one Japanese-style water bird of folded paper for each Thai man, woman and child -- will fly to the Muslim-dominated south on Thai air-force planes on Sunday, the birthday of the country's revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Mr. Thaksin put his nation up to this exercise last month as a gesture to heal the wounds of Thailand's southernmost provinces -- long a troubled region dominated by Muslims. More than 500 people there have been killed this year in violence among Muslims, Buddhists and police. According to Japanese tradition, paper cranes bring peace and hope to those who lay eyes on them.