May Peace Prevail on Earth. This has been the mantra that Joe and Carol Spaulding have been quietly saying and making a tangible reality since 1985. The Spauldings were raising their four young children in East Jordan, Michigan, where Joe was involved in building homes and Carol was doing storytelling programs in the local schools. However, they were very concerned about the escalation of nuclear weapons, the potential for nuclear disaster, and the future of the world for their children.
In 1985, Joe and Carol read a newspaper article about a young Japanese-American woman who brought 50 peace poles to the United States and were planting them in various locations on the east coast. The Spauldings were very intrigued about such a beautiful and simple idea: May Peace Prevail On Earth. It was such a beautiful, simple and perfect message, they thought. They wanted their own community to be connected with this network of peace poles that were being planted all over the world. Joe and Carol were able to connect with Miss Fumi Johns, but she said that shipping peace poles from Japan was too expensive to be practical.
At that time, no one was making Peace Poles in the United States. After corresponding with the woman on the east coast, they discovered there was a need for someone in the United States to build these poles. In December 1985, Joe finished the first prototypes and had a meeting with Miss Johns. Shortly after that meeting, they attended a flag ceremony in California conducted by the World Peace Prayer Society and received permission to build the Peace Poles in the United States. However, since the World Peace Prayer Society is a non-for-profit organization, they could not provide any financial support. The Spauldings would have to go it on their own. They have been “walking their talk” ever since they made the commitment, in December 1985, to make the Peace Poles.
Carol stated, “Our mission was to make the Peace Poles affordable so anyone could purchase one. When we started, we underestimated the expenses of building and shipping the poles and were actually losing money, but we were committed to the project.
We are inspired by the way Peace Poles are a catalyst for people to make personal commitments to be peacemakers. Peace Poles are planted by friends and organizations in front of schools, parks, gardens, city halls, private homes, police stations, and churches.Most poles are usually planted with some kind of dedication ceremony and it does transcend all the barriers we seem to put up in our society.”
Carol said, “We at Peace Pole Makers are also concerned about health and care of our environment. In researching viable materials for peace pole making, we found wood to be a renewable resource that would be the least harmful to the environment. Our choice of material is the western red cedar, which has a natural resistance to decay and insect attack. Originally, we had only six languages to put on the pole but now peace message translations are available in over 48 languages.”
Joe said, “The most unique Peace Pole I built was for the World Peace Prayer Society in Amenia, New York. It is 27 feet tall, four feet in diameter, and has seven sides. The nameplates are eight feet high and the sides are twenty inches wide. We hauled it out there on a flat bed truck. I put a copper top on it and grounded it. It has been struck by lightning several times, but is undamaged. In May 2000, we sent one to the Pentagon. It is now planted in the chapel of the Pentagon.” I asked Joe if the Pentagon realized what it had done. He answered with a smile, “I don’t think so.”
Carol shared three examples of how the planting of a Peace Pole has been a catalyst for positive community action:
Melvin Giles, of Catholic Charities in St. Paul, Minnesota, started
a “Peace Pole Love Warriors” movement in the city. He said, “In 1996,
a four year old girl was killed in a random act of violence outside a building
that divides our two neighborhoods. Her death was the catalyst to
do something. The Peace Poles have become a vehicle to unite people
in our community.
Melvin also shared what they are doing with children. “We
started the ‘Junior Peaceful Love Warriors.’ When children are ‘caught’
doing something good they are given a Peace Card. When they turn
it into our office they receive a small gift or toy. We also give
them a miniature 6” Peace Pole. We call these Peace Seeds.
We believe the wood is the spirit of the Peace Pole and the languages represent
our physical differences. In St. Paul we are no longer focused on
our differences. We are focused on what bonds us together, and what
bonds us together is our spirit.”
John Maxey, an employee for General Motors, and two friends started Brightlight, a non-for-profit organization, in 1995 to bring medical supplies to Bosnia and Croatia in the middle of their most recent conflict. While still working at their full-time jobs, they were able to have people donate eleven 48-foot semis and six vans full of medical supplies. At times, they drove into the war torn city and delivered them personally. On one trip, they noticed a recreational park and zoo on the edge of Sarajevo that had been demolished by the bombing. They convinced the government to go in and clear out all the land mines, and then were able to find an American company to donate a $100,000 playground for half price. At the center of this new park that was rebuilt by all the local people a Peace Pole was planted. The people renamed this area “The Park of Peace.” All the children are welcome and come here to play.
The divisions among people that started the war do not exist in the Peace Park. The park has become a catalyst for the redevelopment of the city around it. Politicians were so impressed by what happened in this area that a proposal has been put forth before the government to make this a National Park and Landmark.
John stated, “The catalyst behind the entire feeling of peace in the area comes from the planting of the Peace Pole. When people focus on what they have in common instead of their differences the results are quite amazing.”
Frankfort, Michigan – a fifth grade class project dealing with tolerance training, multiculturalism, conflict resolution, and mediation techniques resulted in a “Safe Area” being developed on the school grounds. The fifth grade class project was to raise the money to buy the Peace Pole and create this “Safe Area.” The students planted the pole, planted a garden around the pole and put in two benches to sit on. If the students in the school have any conflicts, they sit on the benches by the Peace Pole and have one of the fifth grade students trained in mediation work with them on a resolution.
Over 200,000 peace poles have been planted the world over as internatiopnal symbols of peace. Poles can be found in over 168 countries. If you would like to join the Worldwide Peace Pole Network, contact the Spauldings, “The Peace Pole People,” at:
Peace Pole Makers, USA
3534 W. Lanham Road
Maple City, Michigan 49664
Phone: 231-334-4567
Fax: 231-334-4523
e-mail: info@peacepoles.com
Web page: www.peacepoles.com