BUILDING PEACE THROUGH "PEACE POLES"

Rotary International is a network of over 46,000 local clubs that designated February 23 as “World Understanding and Peace Day” to focus on conflict resolution and peace building since 1905.

One key way the organization helps communities work together is by planting “Peace Poles,” which are meant to encourage cultures of peace. The monuments display the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” in the language of the country where it’s placed and includes additional languages meaningful to its citizens. The phrase was authored by Masahisa Goi of Japan after the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. There are now some 250,000 Peace Poles serving as monuments to this cause in every country around the world.

Masahisa Goi (1916-1980) dedicated his life to peace after witnessing the destruction from World War II. Through meditation he came to believe thoughts and words carry energy strong enough to influence the destiny of all living things. “There has never been a time when each person’s thought activity has been as important as it is today. One human being’s thoughts, whether he or she is emitting light waves of love and sincerity or dark waves of egoistic desires, can move humanity either to complete peace or devastation”

(Some content from the “Goi, May Peace Prevail on Earth International” website)