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

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The Peace Pole is planted at:

Saint Mary’s Village, 19a Melville Rd, Hyde Park, Sandton, 2196, at 10 north of Johannesburg’s city center in SOUTH AFRICA

The Missionary Dominicans are mainly represented in South Africa.

Subsequently, one of the leading nuns in South Africa had visited the Schlehdor Monastery located in Bavaria and had seen the Peace Pole there and really liked the idea.

Sr. Francesca is part of the Missionary Dominicans and runs a monastery in Bavaria.

READ BELOW-Sr. Francesca’s message to ALL at the Peace Pole planting ceremony.

Blessing of our Peace Pole at St. Mary’s.

“The idea of the Peace Poles goes back to the Japanese Masahisa Goi, who was shaken by the events and consequences of the two atomic bombs dropped in Japan in Hiroshima and Nagasaki towards the end of the Second World War. The approximately 2.50-meter-high wooden Peace Poles bear the inscription “May Peace Prevail On Earth” in several languages on all sides. Since 1946, more than 250,000 of these Peace Poles have been erected in almost every country in the world.

The aim of the Peace Pole is to unite the people of all countries with the words MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH. These words are both a message of peace and a prayer for peace.  It is the lowest common denominator that members of all nations, traditions and religions can agree on. Projects such as the Peace Poles help to spread the message of peace in all countries, to visualize it and to keep it possible.

They can be found in temples, churches, monasteries, city centers, universities, schools, gardens, but also at the United Nations, in the Pentagon, at OPEC, at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna, at the Arab League in Cairo, in Jerusalem and many other places.

And now also in the front garden of St. Mary’s, visible to all passers-by!

What is this Peace Pole, which is relatively narrow and towers upwards, is all about?

“This Peace Pole could also be something like an acupuncture needle. Small and fine – and precisely placed here at the entrance of the St. Mary’s. 

And if you might know an acupuncture needle is always placed at central point in the body so that it can be effectful, can change so to say the body system.

Placed at a meridian, at a central point on our earth, where a special effect can be achieved so that our earth can be healed again, and a peaceful coexistence can be lived.”

With the Peace Pole that we are blessing today, we want to say to all people who pass by here:

We wish you peace, we wish and ask for peace for all people in this city, in this country, in the countries in which we as Dominican Sisters are present on this earth. We want to pass on what we live and experience.” With this peace pole, we want to make a statement:  We are messengers of peace.”

Submitted by Dagmar Berkenberg, MPPOEI, Europe Office

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The first time I saw a Peace Pole was during a leadership course I followed in the Netherlands. At the course location there was a Peace Pole standing. A while later I saw a Peace Pole standing at the entrance of Machu Picchu, the famous ancient Inca city in Peru. 

By then, I started to Google on the Internet and found out about The Peace Pole Project.   It really moved me, so a few months ago I decided that it was time that I should have one. On the one hand, because there seems to be more and more war and polarization in the world, and this is a worrying development that should stop.

And on the other hand, on the personal level the last year I have found more peace within myself and with who I am, and this has had a good influence on the quality of my life.  So, altogether I decided that this was the right moment to have a Peace Pole in my house. 

The Peace Pole is now in place in my house!   I also received the stand.  It’s beautiful and impressive, see the attached photo.

MAY PEACE PREVAIL ON EARTH!
Best regards, and many thanks for all your work!
Gerard 

Submitted by Dagmar Berkenberg
Europe Office

The post  Indoor Peace Pole in new designed Peace Pole stand, Amsterdam – NETHERLANDS 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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Ophir students learn about the importance of goodwill in their community, and the world.

As Big Sky students at Ophir Elementary School recently returned to school to begin their new year, a special symbol now reminds them each day of what peace means, individually and to their entire student body.

Two years ago, fourth grade teacher Jonathan Gans read about an organization called The Peaceful Project, which builds and installs peace poles around the world. Now, Ophir Elementary has their ownPeace Pole, a permanent structure that Gans says represents a beacon of inspiration for the role each of us can play in bringing peace into our own lives and in our communities.

“I think that even young people in the elementary years are conscious of strife, conflict and war in the world these days,” said Gans. “News of these conflicts is inescapable, and reminders of it are everywhere. The Peace Pole is especially timely right now because of the serious conflicts that are occurring all over the world.”

When Gans learned about The Peaceful Project, he approached elementary school principal, Brittany Shirley and school superintendent, Dustin Shipman, about the prospect of installing a peace pole at Ophir Elementary and combining curriculum for his students with the installation. Gans said Big Sky’s Parent Teacher Organization allocated the funds for the project and he then began implementing lessons around the meaning of peace in the world and in Big Sky.

“We had a couple of brainstorming sessions about the meaning of peace in each of our lives and the kids wrote about what peace meant to them in their own experiences,” Gans said. “I was really inspired by the variety of responses and the way nine and 10-year-olds approached the meaning and value of peace.”

While Gans’ class focused on discussions and writing exercises that centered around the meaning of peace, the entire school also took part in a ceremony around the peace pole when Gans and other teachers asked the students to think about what peace meant to each of them and how they can implement it in their own lives, with their families, with friends, at school, in their community and beyond.

Mr. Gans talks about the importance of peace around Ophir School’s new Peace Pole.

“Ophir and the whole Big Sky School district is an internationally minded program of education and international awareness,” Gans said. “Although we may not feel we can do anything to solve things everywhere, a first step is to certainly become aware of what’s occurring outside of our little community of Big Sky.”

Prior to teaching in Big Sky, Gans spent many years in the Middle East as a journalist and engulfed himself in the culture and languages of that area of the world, so he knows firsthand the complexity of current issues. He said he wants to help his students understand the importance of peaceful living and a life without war and violence and plans to do more lessons with his students on the importance of global equanimity.

“My hope is that the Peace Pole will be a beacon of both international mindedness and international awareness,” Gans said.  “And a reminder of the importance of hope and conscious action on all of our parts to do everything we can to promote peace in our lives.”

To view the peace pole, community members can visit Ophir Elementary where it will remain permanently at the entrance to the school.

Ophir School Peace Pole:

Watch video here:   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MuHX98n_f0

By Leslie Kilgore EBS CONTRIBUTOR

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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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This time it was carved in Maramures style, similar to the open air shrines which are displaced in every village of MARAMURES  county.

The Peace Pole bears the peace message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” -(“Să fie pace pe pământ”) in all the languages studied în this school, as such: ROMANIAN, HUNGARIAN, GERMAN, FRENCH,  ENGLISH AND UKRAINIAN.

Group of children caroling around the Peace Pole: “A KING WAS BORN TODAY and MAN WILL LIVE FOR EVERMORE because of CHRISTMAS  DAY.”

Submitted by:
Dagmar Berkenberg, MPPOEI, Europe office

The post Peace Pole planted at Nicolae Iorga Middle School – Baia Mare – ROMANIA first appeared on May Peace Prevail On Earth International.

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Student ambassadors welcomed Randall Pepper’s visitors, who passed by photographs of the O’Day Short family as they walked to the heart of the campus to reach the garden.

The Randall Pepper Choir performed “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot,” the African American spiritual song, and fifth grader Londyn Otis read the poem “Peace” by Sara Fox before a colorful peace pole — which reads “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in four different languages — was unveiled next to the garden.

“This garden is a chance for us to honor the lives that were taken from us,” Inbody said. “As we stand in the presence of this Unity Garden here, let it be a symbol of resilience, strength, and solidarity. Gardens by their nature represent growth, renewal, and the cycle of life. They remind us that from the seeds of sorrow we can cultivate hope and healing.”

Among the dignitaries who attended the event were City of Fontana Mayor Pro Tem Peter A. Garcia and Treasurer Janet Koehler-Brooks, FUSD Board of Education Vice President Adam Perez, Fontana Teachers Association President Mark Schulte, United Steelworkers Local 8599 President Dawn Dooley, and representatives from the offices of San Bernardino County Supervisor Jesse Armendarez, San Bernardino County Board of Education Trustee Laura Mancha and San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Ted Alejandre.

The O’Day Short family purchased and began building a home on a vacant, five-acre lot at Randall Avenue and Pepper Avenue in Fontana at a time when African Americans were forbidden to live south of Baseline Avenue. The O’Day Short family received threats of violence and offers from the Chamber of Commerce to buy back the property before their house was set ablaze.

An arson investigator hired by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) determined the fire was deliberately set from the exterior, according to reports. Randall Pepper Elementary School was later built on the site in 1950.

The O’Day Short Family Unity Garden came to life thanks to the collaboration of the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) and the Chino Basin Water Conservation District under the umbrella of the IEUA’s Garden in Every School program. In addition to serving as a living monument to the O’Day Short family, the garden will serve as a learning center for generations of students exploring the world of science, the FUSD said.

Randall Pepper will continue to honor the O’Day Short family by holding an annual Unity Assembly each December to celebrate the many cultures and ethnicities that comprise its local and global community.

“There is a legacy to live up to here at Randall Pepper,” Gomez said. “It is an honor to commemorate the lives of the O’Day Short Family who chose to take a stand in their world.”

Credits: Fontana Herald News

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Westminster school to be replaced by community park.

Council votes to designate money for demolition of Sheridan Green Elementary and community park design.

A 43-year-old Westminster Elementary School closed due to a dwindling student population will be razed, and the land it occupies redesigned into a larger community park, the Westminster Council decided this month.

A Peace Pole outside Sheridan Green Elementary will be incorporated into plans for a future park on the school site. A former Sheridan Green Elementary teacher coordinated the Peace Pole’s addition to the school grounds in the early 2000s. Peace Poles were common at schools in Japan, where the teacher was once stationed. 

Sheridan Green Elementary was built in 1980 and served as a neighborhood hub until its recent closure. 
Photos Credit: Jane Reuter

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