(Centennial Rotary Club Press Release, October 28, 2025)
POCATELLO, IDAHO— The Centennial Rotary Club of Pocatello has completed a meaningful community project dedicated to peace, unity, and understanding — the installation of three internationally recognized Peace Poles in Pocatello and Chubbuck.
A Peace Pole is a monument that bears the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in multiple languages. First envisioned by Japanese philosopher and poet Masahisa Goi after the devastation of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during World War II, Peace Poles have become a global symbol of humanity’s shared hope for peace. More than 250,000 Peace Poles now stand in countries around the world.
Local Sites of Reflection and Connection
The Centennial Rotary Club has placed Peace Poles in three prominent locations across the Portneuf Valley:
- Lookout Point, across from the Marshall Public Library in Pocatello
- Brooklyn’s Playground at OK Ward Park, Pocatello
- Cotant Park, Chubbuck
Each pole displays the message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” in seven languages — English, Spanish, Greek, Italian, Shoshone, Japanese, and Chinese — representing the diversity and heritage of southeastern Idaho’s early residents.
An interpretive sign at each site shares the history of the Peace Pole movement, the story of its founding, and a reflective poem that reminds visitors of the enduring importance of peace in every aspect of life.
A Message That Resonates Today
“With so much conflict and division around the world, the message of peace is more vital than ever,” said Stephen Weeg, who coordinated the project and is a longtime member of the Centennial Rotary Club. “We hope these Peace Poles serve as quiet reminders that peace begins in our communities and in our hearts.”
The interpretive plaque accompanying each Peace Pole expands on that message:
Peace affects almost every aspect of our lives. In 2025, more than 130 million people are displaced because of conflict, violence, persecution, and human rights violations—half of them children.
Rotarians refuse to accept conflict as a way of life. As a humanitarian organization, Rotary places peace at the cornerstone of its mission. Through service projects and support of peace fellowships and scholarships, Rotarians take action to address the root causes of conflict—poverty, discrimination, ethnic tension, lack of access to education, and unequal distribution of resources.
The plaque also features a timeless reflection from Laozu, a sixth-century B.C. Chinese philosopher:
If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace between nations…
If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart.
Peace as a Rotary Mission
Rotary International has long supported the global Peace Pole initiative, recognizing it as a powerful symbol of shared humanity. Peace is one of Rotary’s seven areas of focus, guiding efforts to build understanding, promote dialogue, and reduce conflict worldwide.
Through hands-on service projects, academic scholarships, and peace fellowships, Rotary members are actively working to create conditions for lasting peace—locally and globally.
Funding for the Peace Pole project was provided by Rotary District 5400 (Idaho) and the Centennial Rotary Club of Pocatello, with the support of local mayors and parks departments in both cities.
The installation coincides with the United Nations International Day of Peace, established in 1981 and observed annually on September 21, a day dedicated to strengthening the ideals of peace among all nations and peoples.
About the Centennial Rotary Club
The Centennial Rotary Club of Pocatello is part of Rotary International, a global network of 1.4 million members who unite to create lasting change locally and around the world. The club is committed to community service projects that promote education, health, and peace in southeastern Idaho.
For more information about Rotary’s global peace initiatives, visit https://rotarypeacepoles.world/why-peace-poles and https://worldpeace.org/.
