Army Navy Academy cadets recently installed a Rotary Peace Pole.
Army Navy Academy cadets recently installed a Rotary Peace Pole at their Carlsbad campus. It was heartwarming to see their enthusiasm and their efforts make a difference! The Peace Pole project exists to spread the message of peace and to serve as a visual symbol to keep peace front of mind.
“It isn’t enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn’t enough to believe in it. One must work at it.” —Eleanor Roosevelt
There are more than 250,000 Peace Poles in 180 countries all over the world, dedicated as monuments to peace. Peace Poles are in simple places, such as churches and gardens. Others are located at extraordinary places, such as at the Pyramids of Giza, Egypt; the United Nations Assembly, N. Y.; the International Monetary Fund, Washington, D.C.; UNESCO, N. Y.; the World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; the World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna Austria. These Peace Poles serve as constant reminders for us to visualize and pray for world peace.
Mayors, clergy and civic leaders throughout the world have planted Peace Poles to dedicate their areas, cities and towns to world peace. Both political leaders, such as former U.S. Presidents Jimmy Carter & Bill Clinton and religious leaders, such as Pope John Paul II, Mother Theresa and the Dalai Lama, have dedicated Peace Poles.
"Peace cannot be kept by force. It can only be achieved by understanding." —Albert Einstein
But what is a Peace Pole? The Peace Pole is the internationally recognized symbol of peace, with its purpose to promote multicultural understanding, conflict resolution and world peace consciousness.
It started in Japan in 1955, after World War II, in response to the bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki. Mr. Masahisa Goi (1916-1980), a Japanese teacher, poet and philosopher, explained that words & thoughts are alive with energy. Therefore, they have the power to shape our world, bringing peace and harmony to our personal lives and to our planet. He believed that war begins with thoughts of war; peace begins with thoughts of peace. From this concept, the Peace Pole Project was implemented with the intention to uplift people toward harmony - rather than conflict. The Peace Pole reminds us to keep peace ever-present in our thoughts.
Thanks for all that ANA does in our community and for your cadets!