Frank Thacker was our guest speaker on Monday.  He is one of a local activist group who are promoting peace in our world by starting right at home.  Kind of like Rotary does.  This group is called the Westerly-Pawcatuck Peace and Justice Group.  Through their efforts, the Westerly-Pawcatuck communities was designated the 200th City of Peace in May.  He said recently in the Westerly Sun, "one of the foundational beliefs in becoming a City of Peace is that change needs to come from the bottom up".  The International Cities of Peace organization says "a City of Peace is an association of citizens, governments and organizations who have by proclamation, resolution, or by citizen advocacy established their communities as official Cities of Peace" - a first step in an ongoing process of promoting peace by recognizing past achievements, encouraging peace-oriented initiatives, inspiring future generations for practical peace building.  So, the mission of the W-P Peace and Justice Group is "to provide programs, workshops, activities that teach nonviolence as a way of life, how to resolve conflicts peacefully and fairly, how to care for the environment and how to treat all beings with respect."

 

And, that brings us to the Peace Pole Project.  A universal message and prayer - May Peace Prevail on Earth - "was conceived in a moment of great inspiration by Masahisa Goi of Japan.  Since its birth over half a century ago, the simple yet profound words has reached deep into the hearts and lives of global citizens everywhere." (from the World Peace Prayer Society).  Peace poles have been "planted" around the world.  The World Peace Prayer Society says, "when you plant a Peace Pole in your community, you are liking with people all over the world who have planted Peace Poles in the same spirit of peace."  Members present became quite animated with "planting" a Peace Pole in Rotary Park using the very talented hands of Dr. Doug Rayner.  Here are a couple of examples: