Peace Pals International

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WPPS Nagasaki members along with volunteers from across Japan gathered early on the morning of August 9th to organize the world peace prayer event to mark the 70th anniversary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on the city only three days after the Hiroshima event.

Nagasaki is the oldest open-port city of Japan situated on the southernmost island of Kyushu only fifty miles from South Korean. Starting as early as the 16th century Portuguese and Dutch traders frequented the natural harbors and Nagasaki became an international city with many who converted to Catholicism.

The world peace ceremony took place in the Nagasaki Peace Park just a few hundred meters from the epicenter of the blast in the Urakami district which housed the largest known catholic community in Japan.  A great number of churches were destroyed including the Urakami Cathedral which was, at the time, the largest church in all of Asia.  Today the Nagasaki Flame burns brightly on top of a tall monument which marks the epicenter symbolizing the pledge that Nagasaki shall remain the last city on earth to experience nuclear devastation.

The program began with words of welcome to those who tuned into the webcast live on the internet from around the world.  Rika Saionji, Vice President of WPPS, attended the Nagasaki anniversary event and shared her message of peace and hope with the participants.  She spoke of the importance of keeping peace alive in our hearts and to pass on the legacy of peace to the younger generation.

At 11:02 am, the exact time the bomb was dropped on the city, the sound of the Peace Bell rang for one minute throughout Nagasaki Peace Park.  People throughout Japan also joined in the minute of silence which was broadcast through national media throughout the country.  We all added our prayers, May Peace Prevail On Earth, as we listened to the sound of the Peace Bell and sent our prayers for everlasting peace from Nagasaki out to the world.

The World Peace Flag Ceremony followed the ringing of the Peace Bell.  Visitors in the Peace Park were invited to join the ceremony to carry the flags of each nation as prayers for peace were offered to each region and country on Earth.  People of many nations stepped forward to carry the flags of the world as everyone in unison voiced prayers for peace to prevail on earth.

Throughout the day, visitors in the park also stopped to view the Peace Pals Art Exhibition which was on display close to the Flag Ceremony.  Thousands of youth sent in their artwork highlighting the 2015 theme “Love to Hiroshima Love to Nagasaki” in honor of the 70th anniversary.  The winners were announced at an awards ceremony three days earlier in Hiroshima.

The day closed in deep gratitude as we all felt a strong sense of accomplishment and appreciation for sending our prayer of peace, May Peace Prevail On Earth, out to the world on this historic day marking the 70th anniversary

May peace be in Nagasaki
May Peace Prevail On Earth

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The City of Bridgeport offers a state of the art after school educational and recreational program in partnership with our community based organizations and the Bridgeport public schools. Over 3,000 children are seen daily with enrichment activities that support school day learning. The program is also offered during the summer at neighborhood schools.

This specific Lighthouse program is at Black Rock School around the corner from us where Robb and I do our peace work all year round beginning with International Day of Peace activities at the start of school that culminate on September 21st.  This year we are doing a joint celebration and re-dedication of the Peace Poles at Black Rock School and St. Ann Academy, which is right next door.

Not all the children will be attending Black Rock School in the fall so we took this opportunity to plant seeds for Peace Pals International program and The Peace Pole Project—hoping that the children will take the seeds back to their home school.

So this was a Sadako Day celebration and a rehearsal for Peace Day in that we made paper peace cranes, learned how to “sign” May Peace Prevail on Earth and we recognized each of the countries represented in our students with prayers for peace for Mexico, Italy, Puerto Rico, Peru, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, France, Ghana, Guatemala, Jamaica, Germany, Hungary, Brazil, and Ecuador outdoors around our Peace Pole.

Submitted by: Gail Ostrow

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Peace Pals International along with The World Peace Prayer Society traveled to Hiroshima and Nagasaki in remembrance of the 70th anniversary of the atomic bomb.  The events were broadcast live on the internet and featured the ringing of the Peace Bell, a web Conference, The World Peace Flag Ceremony and the Peace Pals Art Awards Ceremony with the theme, Love to Hiroshima  Love to Nagasaki.

The Peace Pals Winners were announced live from Hiroshima Peace Park on August 6th, 2015.

Announcing the Winners of the 2015 Peace Pals International Art Exhibition and Awards. This year we received thousands of works of art from children all over the globe. Theme for 2015:  “Love to Hiroshima ~ Love to Nagasaki" Esteemed Announcers Shohei Tominaga - Director of WPPS Hiroshima Branch. Hideo Nakasawa - Professor of German Literature and Philosophy, Tokyo University. Toshiko Tanaka - Hibakusha and Glass Artist. Keiko Nakamichi - WPPS Hiroshima Member.

20 pieces of artwork were selected from each age category as FINALISTS with the top 10 Finalist being selected.  The first, second and third place winners were then selected by a panel of International Judges.

Winners

Finalist

Peace Pals International Art Exhibition Hiroshima Peace Park
WPPS Hiroshima Members Waving from in front of the Dome

Members of The World Peace Prayer Society participated in the annual Lantern Floating Ceremony which took place on August 6th, 2015 along the Motoyasu River at the Hiroshima Memorial Peace Park.  Every year on the anniversary day, over 10,000 lanterns are floated by people who pay respect to all the souls who perished during the atomic bomb attack along with their wishes for world peace. A “May Peace Prevail On Earth” lantern was set afloat on behalf of all WPPS members.

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The exhibition was held in the very impressive Town Hall of Hannover organized by the Japanese-German Friendship Circle of Hannover.

The guests of honor were the Japanese consul of Hamburg:  Mr. Takao Anzawa, Ambassador of Japan for Germany, Ambassador S.E. Takeshi Nakane, from Berlin, Mayor of Hannover, Mr. Thomas Hermann and Vice Chairperson of the Region Hannover, Mrs. Angelika Walther.

The World Peace Prayer Society  was mentioned as guest of honor.

Ambassador Nakane thanked The World Peace Prayer Society (WPPS) for providing the art exhibition.

Dagmar Berkenberg, WPPS  guided Ambassador Nakane to the Art Exhibition.

He looked very carefully at each piece of artwork and was most impressed by a heartfelt letter from a German girl to the children of Hiroshima.

In their speeches, the German politicians mentioned the importance of Hannover as a town of peace (he also mentioned the enormous refugee issue).  I gave them both Peace Pole fliers afterwards and told them that a town of “peace” needs a Peace Pole.

The mayor said he likes the idea and will give it to the Cultural Department.

I handed out origami bookmarks, bearing the message, “May Peace Prevail On Earth” to everyone.

As the town hall attracts hundreds of tourists each day and as the exhibition is well announced (see electronic board), I have no doubt that many people will see it.  The Hannover citizens I spoke too, all agreed that Hannover needs a PEACE POLE.

For 27 years there has been a Youth Exchange going on between Hannover and Hiroshima.

May Peace Prevail with the post-generations of the Hiroshima/Nagasaki victims.

Dagmar Berkenberg, WPPS
Germany

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Students at P.S. 212 in Jackson Heights are looking to spread the idea of peace throughout their community.

Danielle Mahoney, a literacy coach at the elementary school located at 34-25 82nd St., has been teaching students about practicing mindfulness and gratitude for the past year.

While attending a weeklong training conference on mindfulness for kids and adolescents in California, Mahoney noticed a “Peace Pole” in a field and thought it would be a good idea to bring the concept back home.

Peace Poles, which have been planted throughout the world, are handcrafted structures that have the message and prayer “May peace prevail on Earth” on each of its four to six sides.

Mahoney decided to work with one of the third-grade classes she instructs, Jennifer Bayer’s 3-317 class, to have two poles erected outside of P.S. 212 and allow the students to share with the community what they have been learning throughout the year.

“Having these Peace Poles is having to share in the community that regardless of the differences, we can live together and share all the wonderful things about our culture and embrace things and live in a peaceful way,” Mahoney said.

The Peace Poles, which are 7 feet tall and from the organization,  The Peace Pole Project, each feature the message “May peace prevail on Earth” in English, Urdu, Bengali, Mandarin, Spanish and Arabic. They also include two other messages in English: “May peace be in our communities” and “May peace be in our schools.”

“Words are very powerful and as a literacy coach this is not so far away from our core work,” Mahoney said. “When you read it, hopefully the next step is to have action with your words and thoughts will be in a positive way.”

During the Wednesday night ceremony, students, who ranged between 8 to 9 years old, also explained to parents and faculty what the Peace Poles are, why they were being planted and what mindfulness is.

“We hope that when people pass they will take a moment to send kind thoughts to all beings on this planet, and focus on the good and peaceful parts of life,” Mahoney said.

Mahoney added that she has seen that teaching the practice of mindfulness to students has helped them relax more, often using breathing as a tool to cope with difficult times, and also teaches the children how to pay attention to the present moment.

Some students have even tried teaching their parents how taking the time to relax and breathe will help them move forward in their days, according to Mahoney.

“Mindfulness allows us to take the time to respond to situations,” one student said. “We learn not to react to everything that happens. You notice what happens, respond to it and let it go. Mindfulness will help you do that.”

Mahoney also hopes that more schools will consider planting Peace Poles and she even is looking to find a way to plant a pole in Astoria Queens, New York, a community she has called home all her life.

Article written by Angy Altamirano

http://queenscourier.com/jackson-heights-elementary-school-celebrates-planting-of-peace-poles/

Submitted by:  Danielle Mahoney

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April-2015

This year Greater Victoria Peace and Intercultural Celebrations approached Jules Lamore of Peace Pals International with an application to host the 2015 Ambassador of Peace Art Exhibition.

The children’s artwork from the exhibit has inspired our community and we are enjoying expanding our number of exhibits in unique ways.

​ Our first exhibit was held on April 25th & 26th at the Fourth Annual Creatively United for the Planet Earth Week Festival hosted by ​Creatively United for the Planet.  We had a unique opportunity to display the artwork in the storefront windows along a pathway in a beautiful three- acre garden at the English Inn  located in one of our historical communities called Esquimalt.  The art exhibition became a talking point with the Canadian Peace Initiative and local Sierra Club. Shortly after displaying the children’s artwork, it was noticed that T-shirts that had been donated to the table as a fundraiser had the same peace message, May Peace Prevail on Earth!  The T-shirts were donated by one of our well-known early peace pioneers, Louise Taylor.

     

​​Our second exhibit was actually a talking circle with a group of 4^th grade students at Brentwood Bay Elementary in our Greater Victoria Community of Central Saanich.  The World Children’s Summit on Peace and Nature held four workshops with four classes in one day. ​The workshop topics were on:  Storytelling, Nature Photography, Music with the Ukulele and Contemplation with the Labyrinth.  As part of the Labyrinth Workshop the children began a conversation about values.  This was introduced with the amazing artwork from children around the world that each piece of artwork had a different value focus.  The children chose artwork that was meaningful to them to introduce as we went around our circle.  They shared the country, the child’s name and the values they recognized.  It started a lively conversation!  The children then made up their own list of values identifying what was important to them in their classroom!  At the end of the day we shared what we experienced in our workshop with the other three classes by creating a simple heart shaped labyrinth.  We let the children choose one piece of artwork to walk with in​to the center of the labyrinth, while reflecting on the artwork they chose.

​Reaching the center they put their artwork into the center heart!  It was stunning​ to see eighty-six children walking through the labyrinth quietly!

For the month of June our Greater Victoria Public Library Central Branch is displaying The Ambassador of Peace Art Exhibit to celebrate June’s World Refugee Day!  They have created a beautiful display as you enter the Children’s area of their Library. 

The Ambassador of Peace is currently scheduled to be displayed at a storefront gallery at the Fernwood Community Center the August 27th until September 13th, ’15.  This display will compliment the host display called, “Puppets for Peace.”  A unique creative project combining another form of art and celebration!  

September 13th will kick off Greater Victoria ‘s 2nd Annual Peace Week Project with a Puppets for Peace Festival.  This is a calendar of peace themed events to nurture a communities focus of attention on peace.   A grassroots campaign to support local peace events with a vision of local schools, organizations and businesses hosting their own events with a willingness to talk about it!  The grand event for September 21st this year will be hosted by the World Children’s Summit on Peace and Nature.  Plans are for this to be Victoria’s final Ambassador of Peace Exhibit.  The World Summit is planning to host guest speakers and entertainment based upon the theme of their workshops!  

Submitted by:  Renee Lindstrom

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