In May, representatives from local schools, churches and societies joined with Stone Quakers on Crown Meadow to unveil a Peace Pole and plaque.
These symbols of global peace were gifts from Stone Quakers to the town.
From earliest times people have erected vertical stones to make a statement. Japan has a tradition of engraving these with text. In 1955 Masahisa Goi wanted to stand up for peace and put up what we now call a Peace Pole. There are now some 250,000 Peace Poles in 180 countries. They all bear the words “May Peace Prevail on Earth”. On the Stone pole this message is repeated in Polish, Russian, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, Hebrew, Urdu and Braille.
[box type=”shadow” ]Peter Holland, of Stone Quakers, said: “Peace Poles are not ‘anti-war’ but more ‘pro-peace’, more about trying to resolve differences through justice and mutual respect. We can all learn how to do it.”[/box]
He opened the ceremony with examples of conflict and its aftermath: two world wars, the Easter Rising, the Paris and Brussels bombings, refugees fleeing Syria and Libya.
Councillor Jim Davies, Stone Town Mayor, made reference to the Quaker Testimonies, peace, equality, simplicity and truth. He suggested everyone could get inspiration from the Peace Pole and feel proud to see it included in the Stone Town Trail.
