Peace Pole and WPFC for Nonviolence at Staten Island High School, USA

May 6th, 2010

600 students from three schools gathered at Susan E. Wagner High School on Staten Island on May 6, 2010 to observe the Gandhi King Chavez SEASON FOR NONVIOLENCE in a program co-organized by the Temple of Understanding, the Association for Global New Thought, The World Peace Prayer Society and the United Religions Initiative.

Keynote speaker Ibrahim Sharif of New Jersey’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Commission energized the theme: SPEAK OUT, UNITE, END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN, and youth presenters from the IDEA program (Interfaith Dialogue, Education and Action) shared personal experiences about learning to respect one another. Parents Dina Tush and Bob Silverstein, who both lost daughters to violence at college, gave deeply moving talks to a hushed auditorium.

George Anthony’s conflict resolution class provided a high point of the afternoon with messages, poetry, song and stories from their lives and countries about violence against women, all dedicated to the memory of young Jessica Tush and Emily Silverstein.

The finale brought the United Nations to Susan E. Wagner High School with the World Peace Flag Ceremony, accompanied by the “May Peace Prevail on Earth” chant by the Trenton Children’s Chorus. The students raised the flags of all 192 countries, calling out each name and “May Peace Prevail On Earth” with joy and enthusiasm.

Following the Flag Ceremony, about 50 students filed outside for a very special dedication of Susan Wagner’s brand new Peace Pole. George Anthony introduced members of an interfaith group called Building Bridges, whose clergy from local Hindu, Buddhist, Islamic, Jewish, and Catholic communities offered beautiful prayers for peace.

Then the students sang, “We Are the World,” as everyone waved the flags of many nations and the Peace Pole was placed in the ground. It was a magnificent close to a deeply meaningful event – truly reflective of the spirit of nonviolence.

Here is the link to view excerpts of the program captured on video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxLdAae0yqk

Deborah Moldow, WPPS
Representative at UN