A special Peace Pole in the town hall of the Nieder-Olm Municipality, Rhineland-Palatinate, GERMANY

October 20, 2024

A special Peace Pole in the town hall of the Nieder-Olm municipality is now a reminder of the importance of peace in eight languages ( German, English, Spanish, Italian, French, Polish, Herew and Arabic).

The 2.50-meter-high post made of larch wood bears the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth.”   From now on, this simple but powerful statement will remind all citizens who enter the town hall of the importance of peace for our world.

Mayor Ralph Spiegler emphasizes the significance of this new symbol:  “The Peace Pole is far more than just a wooden monument. It is a reminder to us all not only to wish for peace in the world, but also to actively promote it.

At a time when conflicts and tensions are shaping many regions of the world and causing suffering to thousands of people, a symbol like this, which reminds us that peace is in our hands, is more important and more acute than ever.”

As a member of Mayors for Peace, the municipality of Nieder-Olm is consciously committed to the global abolition of nuclear weapons and the promotion of peaceful conflict resolution. This organization, which was founded in 1982 by the mayor of Hiroshima, pursues the goal of protecting the safety and well-being of citizens worldwide. It now represents over 8,000 cities and municipalities from 166 countries, including more than 900 in Germany.

The Peace Pole, whose origins go back to the idea of it being an “acupuncture of peace” for the earth, stands as a symbol of hope and the commitment to visualize peace and keep it possible. More than 250,000 of these Peace Poles have already been erected in almost every country in the world – from city centers to international institutions such as the UN or the Pentagon.

“With this Peace Pole, we are sending a clear signal: Peace begins with us and in our towns and cities.  It is our task to preserve and protect it, both on a small and large scale. Both for our generation and for all those to come,” says Ralph Spiegler, emphasizing the importance of taking responsibility in our own community.

The Peace Pole in Nieder-Olm town hall is intended to invite all citizens to pause for a moment and become aware of the importance of peace and cohesion.