To All:

Optics in Peace-building …

A Peace Pole at every meeting and event is a peacebuilding action. Furthermore, this is how peace can be included visually in every story:

I take and use my personal Peace Pole wherever and whenever I can …. including public events.
Currently, my Peace Pole is on loan to Westport Rotary and Westport Sunrise Rotary for their meetings and events.

Messages on my peace pole …. 

May Peace Prevail on Earth 
May Peace Prevail in Our Community
May Peace Prevail in Our Schools
May Peace Prevail in Ourselves 

Dennis Wong
Rotarian Peace-builder

The post Have Peace Pole, Will Travel – Westport Rotary Optics in Peacebuilding, Westport, Connecticut-USA first appeared on May Peace Prevail On Earth International.

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To recognise the centenary of the Rotary Club of Adelaide in South Australia during 2023 – 2024 a goal to donate 100 Peace Poles to schools, community groups and not for profit organisations has proven so popular that well over the 100 Peace Poles have already been installed.

The Peace Poles symbolise the message of peace, inspiring unity among people from around the world. The popular project began from an initiative inspired by the Rotary Club of Canberra Burley Griffin to celebrate the centenary of Rotary in Australia and New Zealand in 2020-2021. Rotary Clubs across South Australia are continuing this legacy. There has been an overwhelming positive response from the community, especially from schools where over three quarters of the Peace Poles have already been installed.

The Rotary Club of Adelaide is proud to lead this important community initiative, which includes a recent installation at the world-famous cricket, football, and entertainment precinct The Adelaide Oval. The aim is to not only spread the message of peace across South Australia but to remind everyone that peace begins in our hearts, our homes and in our communities. The Peace Poles provide an opportunity for everyone to feel empowered to become Peace Builders and to inspire others to think and act in the spirit of peace.

This initiative will see all the Peace Poles mapped online, creating a Peace Pole trail across South Australia.

Our Peace Poles have also been installed in Kandy, Sri Lanka in partnership with the Rotary Club of Kandy, and in the Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda in partnership with Rotary and Rotaract Clubs in the refugee settlement.

The Rotary Club of Adelaide is also in discussions with other peace building organisations to have several Peace Poles installed in a Peace Park in the centre of the city of Adelaide. The vision is to see the Peace Park revitalised, encouraging more visitors to the park and to reflect on how they as an individual have the power within to create peace. Visitors will be encouraged on reflection to make a personal commitment to help create peace in their hearts, their homes, and their community.

Benefits

The Peace Poles are being used to promote learning. They are playing an important role in furthering children and young people’s understanding of peace.

In schools they help students learn to develop ethical understanding and to develop personal and socialcapabilities as they learn to understand themselves and others more effectively.

The Peace Poles are sparking discussion about what peace is. They help students and adults alike to express empathy and demonstrate respect for others.

With the help of Rotary, schools and community organisations across South Australia are creating a ripple effectof peace that spreads far and wide, transforming lives and leaving a lasting legacy for generations to come.

Peace Poles are helping with mental health and wellbeing, providing opportunities for children and adults toreflect and find solutions and reassurance in these difficult times.

WORLD DAY CEREMONIES IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA

This year there have been over 100 Peace Poles ceremonies across the state where the words of the Chinese Philosopher Laozi have been recited.

Together, we have pledged to carry the spirit of peace in our hearts, to uphold Rotary’s ideals of service aboveself, and to work tirelessly to ensure that the inscription on every Peace Pole becomes a reality: ‘May Peace Prevail on Earth.’

CREATING PEACEFUL PLACES

The Peace Poles have been placed in areas that provides an opportunity for children and adults to reflect and feel at peace. Most are placed alongside a tree with shade, and seating close by.  A QR code is placed on the Peace Pole which when scanned takes observers to the Rotary Peace Poles website at https://rotarypeacepoles.world/ .

All the Peace Poles are being mapped to this website.  Observers will realise how citizens young and old are actively promoting peace within their communities.

Pete – Our Peace Pole Maker

We are very fortunate to have in Australia a designated International Peace Pole maker, Peter Clapinski. Pete lovingly crafts each and every Peace Pole with positive intentions and care and works closely with the Rotary Club of Adelaide to significantly bring down the transportation costs of delivering each Peace Pole. Each of the PVC Peace Poles are now made of 90% recycled plastic. We are so grateful to Pete for being such a wonderful Peace Pole maker.

Submitted by:
Heidi Unferdorben
Past President 
Chair, Centenary Committee 
Rotary Club of Adelaide Inc.

The post 100 PEACE POLES ~ Celebrating 100 YEARS OF ROTARY IN SOUTH AUSTRALIA first appeared on May Peace Prevail On Earth International.

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Kevin Mann, president of the Rocky Point Rotary Club, stands at the forefront of a noble mission — to promote peace and unity within communities both at the local and global scale.

Notably, he is involved in the installation of Peace Poles, tangible symbols echoing the universal desire for a harmonious world.

A dedicated community leader, Mann has been actively engaged in various initiatives that aim to make a positive impact on both community and society. As the president of the Rocky Point Rotary, he has demonstrated a commitment to the principles of service, community betterment and international cooperation; or as they say in Rotary, putting “service above self.

At the heart of Mann’s involvement is the Peace Pole Project — an endeavor that brings communities together through art and a shared vision for global peace. Peace Poles, adorned with the message, “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in multiple languages, symbolize the diversity of humanity and the collective aspiration for a more peaceful world.

Mann’s pivotal role in spearheading the installation of Peace Poles becomes evident in instances such as at the dedication ceremony of a Peace Pole erected by the Sound Beach Property Owners Association at the East Beach entrance on Shore Drive, overlooking the Long Island Sound. This dedication exemplifies the Rocky Point Rotary Club’s unwavering dedication to fostering peace and understanding within the community.

Under Mann’s guidance, the Peace Poles serve as visual reminders of a shared commitment to peace, contributing significantly to the broader mission of building peaceful communities worldwide.

The Peace Pole Project seamlessly aligns with the visionary goals of the International Cities of Peace movement, reflecting Mann’s global perspective. This movement, established in 2009, encourages cities to engage in peace building at the grassroots level actively. 

The Peace Poles, with their multilingual inscriptions, become ambassadors of Long Island’s mission for peace. By aspiring to have Long Island recognized as an International City of Peace, Mann envisions an Island actively contributing to Rotary’s global efforts.

Mann not only leads the Peace Pole Project locally but is also a co-founder and current president of the Hope Children’s Fund. This showcases Mann’s commitment to global impact and plays a vital role in supporting the Jerusha Mitarai Hope Children’s Home in Meru, Kenya — an orphanage that Mann helped establish with the late Larry Hohler.

Under Mann’s guidance, the Hope Children’s Fund provides education for orphans at the Kenyan children’s home. From its start in 2005 with eighteen children, the home now supports ninety-two, with some graduates becoming lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs — a testament to Mann’s and Hohler’s transformative vision.

What sets Mann apart is not only his impactful initiatives but also his humility. Mann, in his tireless efforts, remains incredibly humble, never failing to acknowledge and include everyone who helps make these dreams possible.

He recognizes that positive change is a collective effort, and his inclusive approach fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility with no personal gain behind his actions. Mann states that he is “paid in smiles and thank you, something people give you from their hearts and souls.”

In addition to his current endeavors, Mann envisions establishing what is known as the Corridor of Peace on Long Island, running along Route 25A, and covering four local school districts in Rocky Point, Shoreham-Wading River, Miller Place and Longwood. This ambitious project aims to create a geographic and cultural corridor dedicated to promoting peace, understanding and cooperation within these communities.

The Corridor of Peace becomes a testament to Mann’s commitment to fostering harmony not only globally but also within the fabric of Long Island.

Mann’s involvement in the Peace Pole Project exemplifies his unwavering commitment to fostering peace and unity within communities. Through his leadership in the Rocky Point Rotary Club and participation in initiatives like the Hope Children’s Fund, Mann continues to be a beacon of positive change.

As Mann dedicates his time and energy to these noble causes, he not only inspires local communities but beckons others to join the journey toward a brighter, more peaceful future on a global scale. In the interconnected world he envisions, Long Island becomes not just a local community but a shining example of peace at work, with the Jerusha Mitarai Hope Children’s Home standing as an emblem of the transformative power of compassion and education across continents.

For his continued efforts with the Peace Pole Project, establishing a Corridor of Peace and supporting a more peaceful Long Island, TBR News Media recognizes Kevin Mann as a 2023 Person of the Year. Because as Mann simply and resoundingly states, “Peace starts at home.”

By Nasrin Zahed

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Attached is an article from the Warragul Gazette regarding a Rotary Peace Pole planting in Drouin, Victoria, Australia.

The post Drouin Rotary Club plants Peace Pole to create hope in the world – Victoria, Australia first appeared on May Peace Prevail On Earth International.

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The newly installed Peace Pole outside American Legion Post 160 in The Triangle, installed and dedicated during a Veterans Day commemoration this afternoon. It’s the eighth one installed around this area by the Rotary Club of West Seattle – and Post 160 Commander Keith Hughes says it’s the first of three that will help transform the Post’s front lawn into a Peace Park. The Rotary’s Kjersti Stroup said it’s one of more than 300,000 installed worldwide as a “symbol of the continuing quest for lasting peace.”

Before the Peace Pole was dedicated and placed, those gathered inside Post 160 – which also serves as the West Seattle Veteran Center and Westside Neighbors Shelter – paid tribute to veterans. Scouts from Troop/Pack 282 presented the colors.

Commander Hughes gave a short speech he credited to Legion headquarters, telling the story of Korean War veteran and former POW Hiroshi Miyamura, who died last year.  His voice broke as he recounted the story of Miyamura rescuing a fallen fellow soldier. He reminded everyone that veterans’ service to the country deserves respect and gratitude every day of the year, not just this one holiday. The American Legion exists, he noted, because “warriors need advocates.”

A short song expressed the sentiment embodied by the Peace Pole, which is decorated with messages of peace in eight languages.

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The pole stands six foot tall once planted, made from recycled materials, it conveys a message “May Peace Prevail on Earth”, this can be translated into seven other languages depending on the nationality of the school’s children.

To support schools with their peace education curriculum, The Rotary Club is offering the opportunity for all schools in Leamington and the surrounding area to obtain a Peace Pole.

The Peace Pole has been accepted by the United Nations as an international symbol of peace.

The Peace Pole stands six foot tall once planted, made from recycled materials, it conveys a message “May Peace Prevail On Earth”, this can be translated into seven other languages depending on the nationality of the school’s children.

At the moment there are four Peace Poles available.

Peace Poles have already been planted at Campion School, Sydenham, and Radford Semele primary schools.

Thanks to Warwick Rotary Club, six have been planted at schools in Warwick, and Kenilworth Rotary Club is supporting schools in Kenilworth.

Throughout the Midlands more than 70 Peace Poles have already been planted in schools and communities and more are being planned.

Local Rotarian Margaret Morley said: “Peace Poles stand as a memorial to peace. It is the aim of Rotary to provide all schools with a Peace Pole as it also serves many other purposes.

“Peace Poles can become the focal point of an outside area within the school to create an area of tranquility/reflection.

“Somewhere young people can just go and relax, reflect so important for their mental well-being.

“Many schools have created peace gardens around their Peace Pole which can promote so many environmental projects, encourage gardening skills, and inspire creativity.”

“All we ask of schools is to give us a report on how they would see a Peace Pole being of benefit to their school and how it would play a part in their peace education programme and enhance the mental well-being of young people. We do ask them if they are willing to contribute £35 towards postage and packing as this then helps us to provide more poles for schools.”

For more information, to apply for a Peace Pole or donate to the project, email Margaret on: morleyam@aol.com

By Kirstie Smith

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Principal Helen Demiris let students Jessica Henry, Ruby Maskelyne, Bailey Gallen, Lily Turner, and Iona Roberts unwrap the peace pole following the school’s assembly.

The words May Peace Prevail On Earth are written in four languages – one on each side of the pole, which was installed on the school grounds early last week.

The four languages are English, Noongar, Māori and Auslan.

The peace pole was donated by Rotary Mindarie who heard about Yanchep Rise from Yanchep resident and Yanchep Two Rocks Community Recreation Association president Julie Otremba, who had heard about peace poles through her work at Bunnings Mindarie.

Brian Butterworth from Rotary Mindarie told students, teachers, and parents at the assembly that the peace pole at Yanchep Rise was the first in the area for Rotary Mindarie and the first for the North ward in the City of Wanneroo.

Mr. Butterworth said there were peace poles of all shapes and sizes but there was one consistency – they were all dedicated as a symbol and reminder that everyone must strive for peace regardless of their country, race, or religion.

Rotary Mindarie president Lois van Baalen, Pearce MHR Tracey Roberts, Kevin Brown from the RAAFA Merriwa hobby shop, Brian Butterworth from Rotary Mindarie, Yanchep Rise principal Helen Demiris and Julie Otremba of Yanchep at the unveiling.

He said young people made up about 20 per cent of the world’s population and in a message to adults said children would make up 100 per cent of the future.

“Through the placement of the peace pole at Yanchep Rise PS and the recognition of International Peace day on September 21 every year, it is our responsibility to give them a gift of enduring peace,’’ he said.

Also in attendance were Pearce MHR Tracey Roberts who he said had attended every peace pole unveiling in the City of Wanneroo and North ward councillor-elect Alex Figg.

The Peace Pole was prepared by men from the RAAFA Merriwa estate in their hobby shop.

More information about the origin of the peace pole is available at May Peace Prevail on Earth International

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Just as the nation and world seemingly need the reminder more than ever, the Rotary Club of Granville dedicated a new Peace Pole on Oct. 28 in the flower planter on the south end of the downtown center crosswalk.

The 8-foot-high Peace Pole is taller than its predecessor, this time containing the message of peace in eight languages instead of four. In English, that message is “May Peace Prevail On Earth,” also translated into Mandarin Chinese, Hebrew, Arabic, Spanish, Swahili, Tibetan and Japanese.

The Peace Pole also contains the message in Braille and includes the Rotary International wheel and its QR code, and credits Veterans for Peace.

Rotary club president Steve Hitchcock led a small group of Rotarians and others in dedicating the new Peace Pole, saying it was one of his top priorities as he leads the club this year.

Article and photo credits: Charles A. Peterson

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Gemma Hutchings, the assistant head of sixth form at Aylesford School and Thomas Garner, year 12 head at Myton School, each brought two final year students to join Rotarians for the annual scholars’ lunch.

This was a chance for students to share what they had been doing for charity and the local community.

Aylesford sixth form leaders Lucy Bicknell and Thomas Pitt talked about their ARK scheme of Ambition, Resilience and Kindness.

They also said working with four charities – Kissing it Better, Vision Support, Safeline and Teenage Cancer – had brought them insights to local peoples’ struggles.

The school organise a charity week, visiting patients at care homes and hospital, and upcoming charity events at the school include a 5k run at Stratford racecourse, which helped raise £3,000 last year.

Myton sixth form leaders Aaron Dhesi and Fenneh Bridge explained the students five-year plan to improve the school’s environmental footprint. Starting by recycling the cans disposed in the canteen, they have focused on everyday actions to reduce waste and energy usage including examining the opportunities to install solar panels on the school buildings.

They are increasing biodiversity using plastic bottles as bird feeders, planting wildflower meadows and corridors, and re-using vintage clothes.

Margaret Morley, Rotary district peace officer, presented Myton with a plaque to go with the Peace Pole they installed in 2020 as Covid struck. And Aylesford was also presented with a Peace award following its work.

Article & Photo from: Leamington Observer

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GREENSBORO, Ga. — Each year, on Sept. 21, people around the globe observe the International Day of Peace.

This day was originally established in 1981 by the United Nations General Assembly. Then, in 2001, the General Assembly marked out this day as the day of nonviolence and ceasefire. The day is aimed to let men commit to peace above all the differences and variations. Additionally, to contribute to building a land of humanity, harmony, acceptance, and love for their fellow human beings. The Rotary Club of Greene and Putnam Counties celebrated World Peace Day on Sept. 21 with a moving celebration at the Rotary Peace Pole located at the Pete Nance Boys and Girls Club.

The Peace Pole ceremony commemorated and strengthened the ideals of peace both within and among all nations and peoples.

Rotary President Rick Thompson stated to the crowd gathered, “For people from different lands and colors, the definition of the noble word peace varies. As for me, peace means acceptance, harmony, and absence of hostility.”

The event included several EarlyAct Club members stating what peace means to them. In addition, the EarlyAct Club members joined together to present a song about peace, “We are Teaching Peace.”

The Rotary Club wishes to thank Club Director of the Pete Nance Boys and Girls Club Stacy McLendon for helping to make the celebration a success. They also wish to thank Brandon Burgess of Landmark Construction, Jorge Baltazar of Baltazar Landscaping, and Bryan Carroll of Dirt and Rock for their help in the landscaping upgrades to the park area around the Rotary Peace Pole.

If you are interested to know more about how you can get involved with the many local projects of the Rotary of Greene and Putnam Counties, please visit: www.GreenePutnamRotary.org, on Facebook, or Instagram.

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