Each pole has “May Peace Prevail On Earth” translated in eight languages. English and Spanish are common to both poles. The other languages are symbolic of the more than 100 languages spoken in the Beaverton School District, which has three times the population of the city itself.

“It is a fitting theme as we are in the midst of our celebration of Welcoming Week and The Diversity of The Communities that make up the City of Beaverton. It is our fifth annual series of events that let people know we are better and stronger because we come from all over the world.”-Mayor Denny Doyle of Beaverton

Peace Pole sponsors are Westside Ultra-Violet, a Women’s Advocacy Group; Rotary Club of Beaverton, and the Central Beaverton Neighborhood Association Committee. Buzz Marron, representing Rotary, said the Jubitz Family Foundation contributed for each pole sponsored by our local Rotary.

“This is a powerful symbolic gesture,” said Maureen Wheeler, who also represented Beaverton’s Rotary.

Mary Ryan-Hotchkiss of Westside Ultra-Violet recited the Prayer for Peace by Mahatma Gandhi.

The ceremony concluded with the singing of “Let There Be Peace on Earth,” accompanied by Hal Davis.

The City Hall pole is next to the U.S. flagpole at the Plaza, and just a few steps away from this are Monuments Honoring the Six Sister Cities of Beaverton. The cities are Birobidzhan, Russia; Cheonan, South Korea; Cluses, France; Gotemba, Japan; Hsingchu, Taiwan, and Trossingen, Germany.

“We have a reminder of how big the world is and how much we need to keep praying for peace,” Doyle said.

May Peace Prevail in Oregon

May Peace Prevail On Earth

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The day’s event was spearheaded by Black Rock School Educator Gail Ostrow, who has also been a long time supporter of the work of May Peace Prevail On Earth, International and the Peace Pole Project. In attendance representing May Peace Prevail On Earth, International and the Peace Pole Project was Jim Dugan

The press release for the event read: “Today we celebrate the International Day of Peace as proclaimed by the United Nations. Even though there is war and conflict in many parts of the world, we gather here to pledge ourselves to creating and maintaining peace in our own hearts and lives. In the words of the great peacemaker Mahatma Gandhi, each of us “must be the peace we wish to see in the world.”

The students held a moment of silence to “send our prayers for peace to all beings everywhere.” The moment of silence was followed by comments from school educators, and students read proclamations from both the Mayor of Bridgeport and the Governor of Connecticut honoring the day of peace.

Jim Dugan then took to the podium and shared the history of the Peace Pole Project and what Peace Poles mean to humanity and our planet and thanked the staff of Black Rock School for their longstanding dedication to the Message of “May Peace Prevail On Earth.” Also speaking about the importance and responsibilities of being a human on the planet at this time and what we all need to do as individuals, to help Peace to Prevail on Earth.

May Peace Prevail On Earth, Int. then presented Sandy Smolen, fifth grade teacher, with a framed certificate stating ten trees will be planted on the African continent in honor of their school. This all was completed by leading the students in shouting together “May Peace Prevail on Earth” three times.

Black Rock School students are taught to use American Sign Language and, all together, the students signed “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. It was extremely moving to see all these students sign the message of “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. They all knew these gestures by heart which solidified their dedication to peace on our planet and respect to all humanity.

The students then held up large signs they made asking for peace on our planet. All together, lead by Mrs. Ostrow, the students loudly stated:

May Peace Prevail in Our Hearts, May Peace Prevail in Our Families, May Peace Prevail in Our Homes, May Peace Prevail in Our Communities, May Peace Prevail in Our Cities, May Peace Prevail in The Unites States of America and May Peace Prevail on Earth.

With each Statement followed by a “May Peace Prevail On Earth”

After the event Gail Ostrow shared a special Thank you, specifically for Jim Dugan’s contribution on their special day.

Gail Stated “Thank you so much for your enthusiasm and encouragement and asking our students to be smart and learn and speak out and be your heroes! I am so grateful to be part of May Peace Prevail on Earth International and the Peace Pole Project.” 

Photographs credited to Mr. Robb Ostrow.

May Peace Prevail at Black Rock School

May Peace Prevail On Earth

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The Peace Center of CT, INC. is hosting a Peace Flag raising September 3rd, 2019 in honor of The International Month of Peace. The Event is scheduled to be held on the front steps of the Hartford City Hall

May Peace Prevail On Earth, International’s Jim Dugan, The World Peace Sanctuary’s International Headquarters Manager, Peace Pole Crafter and Long time Peace Advocate, will be in attendance for this joyous occasion. There will be food and vendors for after the ceremony. It is scheduled to begin at 11:45AM.

All are welcome to come celebrate, show their solidarity and help spread the message of Peace.

The Peace Center of Connecticut, INC. reports it’s 3rd Annual Peace Flag Raising at City Hall is in partnership with the City of Hartford.

“This is a moment to make a statement that Peace Lives in our state to the world.” –Peace Center of CT, INC.

May Peace Prevail in Connecticut

May Peace Prevail on Earth

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The World Peace Prayer Society’s Peace Pals International Art Competition will be on display until Christmas in Pöttmes, Germany.

Translation: “Children make for Peace.” This year children from around the World created what “Living Peace” meant to them in the form of Beautiful Artwork.

The Cultural Representative of the town hall, Baroness Von Herman, saw the World Peace Society’s 2018 Peace Pals International Art Competition and suggested that an exhibition in the local town hall be inaugurated.

The Baroness recommended for this showing to begin on November 7th. This is the week that Germany celebrates a series of events to remember the end of World War I in 1918.
Baroness Von Herman had already planned a showing of an award-winning film regarding a love affair based in 1918 between two enemies of war, France and Germany.

While planning the festivities for this week of remembrance she discovered The World Peace Prayer Society’s 2018 Peace Pals Artwork themed “Living Peace and felt the display would be a perfect fit into the nights events.

WPPS could present the reasons why we have been organizing this Art Competition since 1997 and could read an email by one of the German finalists, 10-year-old Aimee Vollmer. Aimee very eloquently pointed out why she painted 2 people holding their hearts.

The vernissage, French term for viewing of art, was well received by many. Comments of appreciation were given by the guests.

The Mayor of Pöttmes, Mr Schindele, pointed out the current conflicts for real Peace and how happy he is about the Twin town relation with La Haye-Pesnel, Normandy.

Ein Band zwischen den beiden Friedenspfählen knüpften die Bürgermeister Franz Schindele und Alain Navarre.

Translation: A bond between the two Peace Poles knüpften the Mayor Franz Schindele and Alain Navarre.

A twin town relation, twinning or sister city is a way that Europe is unifying and celebrating cultures from various places. The modern concept of town twinning, conceived after the Second World War in 1947, was intended to foster friendship and understanding between different cultures and between former foes as an act of Peace and reconciliation. -Per “the Origins of Twinning” Meeting Minutes from Twinning counsel.

News and Photographs provided by:

Dagmar Berkenberg of

WPPS Office Europe

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When a Peace Pole was presented to Mayor César Souza, Junior of Florianópolis, Brazil, during the World Peace Forum in September of 2016, a powerful chain of events were set in motion.  In attendance were mayoral representatives from the province of Corrientes, Argentina who were all inspired by the idea of planting Peace Poles and as a result, the first seeds of the Inter-American Highway of Peace Poles were planted.

Left to Right: Dominicus Rhode, Mayor César Souza, Junior, Jules Lamore, Dulce Magalhaes & Carlos Palma

A group of individuals and organizations met soon after the World Peace Forum to discuss how to join the global Peace Pole network and bring the message of peace to their communities.  The collaborators behind the vision of the Highway of Peace Poles included Dominicus Rhodes, Director of the World Peace Forum along with Egido Machrey of Instituto Dulce Magalhaes of Brazil and Martha Repetto of Corrientes Province.  Together they created a vision to create the Camino Interamericano de Paz by connecting Florianópolis all the way to New York with a Highway of Peace Poles.  The Camino would also honor Dulce Magalhaes, who was a great inspiration behind the Camino and who passed away shortly after the World Peace Forum.

After months of planning, the mayoral representatives from the 6 towns in Corrientes Province who witnessed the peace pole ceremony in Florianópolis ignited the interest of their mayors who all agreed to plant Peace Poles to kick off the “highway” in Argentina.   Fumi Johns Stewart and Jules Lamore from WPPS were invited to celebrate the dedications of the first Peace Poles to mark the inauguration of the Camino Interamericano de Paz – Highway of Peace Poles.

At each Peace Pole dedication, the Mayors and officials of each of the 6 towns along with the community welcomed Fumi and Jules along with Dominicus, Egidio and Martha who collaborated in creating the initial vision for the Camino.  During the dedication ceremonies Mayors, WPPS and collaborators spoke about the significance of the Highway of Peace Poles and shared our visions for a peaceful world.

On April 8th, the first Peace Pole in Corrientes was planted in Esquina by the River Parana some 380 miles from Buenos Aires.  Mayor Humberto Bianchi of Esquina welcomed officials and citizens who gathered to celebrate the planting of the first Peace Pole in the Province.

Esquina, Corrientes, Argentina

Later that afternoon, Mayor Gerardo Bassi of Goya kindly welcomed the peace group to his office for a warm welcome before gathering outside at the unveiling of the Peace Pole in the heart of town.  Despite the wind and rain, the well-wishers exchanged words of gratitude and made a commitment to keep the spirit of peace ignited within their community.

Goya, Corrientes, Argentina

The last Peace Pole of the day was dedicated at the town park in Carolina.  The ceremony started with the town Reverend blessing the Peace Pole followed by words of welcome by Mayor Marcelo Nocetti.  After a Poem was recited by a local student, a ribbon was cut to officially unveil the Peace Pole.

Carolina, Corrientes, Argentina

The following morning on April 9th, Mayor Maria Gladys Cueva of Lavalle invited us to city hall where an official gathering took place with the local community.  We all spoke about the importance of the Camino and shared in the spirit of goodwill and peace.  After dedicating the Peace Pole outdoors, we gathered for lunch where local youth performed traditional dancing and music.

Lavalle, Corrientes, Argentina

In the afternoon, we met with Mayor Jose Carlos Sananez of Santa Lucia who welcomed us to his office with a cup of warm yerba matte tea.  We then met the community in the city hall where congratulatory speeches were shared, followed by a performance by local dancers and a reading of a peace poem by a local school girl.  The Peace Pole was dedicated soon after along a newly constructed road which was named Camino de Paz.

Santa Lucia, Corrientes, Argentina

On April 10th, the community of Bella Vista gathered in the evening to greet the peace group at the city assembly hall.  Mayor Walter Chavez of Bella Vista gave a moving speech followed by other remarks in celebration of the Highway of Peace Poles.  The next morning on April 11th, we all gathered again to dedicate the Peace Pole in a prominent location by the River Parana.

Bella Vista, Corrientes, Argentina

On April 12th, the last stop of the Peace Pole journey took place in Buenos Aires at the Honorable Congreso de la Nación Argentina (Honorable Congress of the Argentinian Nation) where we met with Cornelia Schmidt-Liermann who congratulated us on the inauguration of the Inter-American Highway of Peace Poles.  At a future date, she will be instrumental in dedicating the 7th Peace Pole to include the city of Buenos Aires as a stop along the Highway of Peace Poles.

Left to Right; Cornelia Schmidt-Liermann, Jules Lamore, Fumi Johns Stewart & Tomas Villar De Rhode

Starting with the first Peace Pole in Florianópolis, Brazil followed by the dedications in Corrientes Province, the Highway of Peace Poles inspired the hearts of many people and will continue to do so all the way to New York.

It is a long-term project with a big vision but the momentum has started and the vision is clear.

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The Peace Crane project was part of the preparation for Hiroshima Day in San Ginesio, Italy.

The Peace Crane Making Team worked diligently for days to make the 2500 peace cranes, working late into the night, right up to the night before the Peace Festival.

They gathering was held in the Wabi Sabi Culture Association Center. The Mayor of the City graciously accepted a peace crane from a representative of Peace Crane Making Team and he also attended the Peace Pole Dedication Ceremony held in that evening.

The World Peace Flag Ceremony followed late that night around midnight.

Infinite JOY!!

CHE LA PACE REGNI SULLA TERRA!
MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!

Sonoko Tanaka,
WPPS, Peace Representative in Italy

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