Suriname’s 1st Peace Pole
On March 9th, 2025, the Rotary Clubs of Suriname (Rotary Club of Paramaribo, Rotary Club of Paramaribo Central, Rotary Club of Paramaribo Residence and Rotary Club of Paramaribo Quota) together with District Governor Debbie Roopchand unveiled Suriname's first Peace Pole. This Peace Pole was placed in the historic center of Paramaribo right across of the Waag building, which is situated along the riverfront of the Suriname River.
This Peace Pole carries the powerful message, "May Peace Prevail on Earth", symbolizing Rotary's commitment to peace and harmony, both within our community and worldwide.
See the full speach of our President Amanda Sheombar below: (Read More)
Ladies and gentlemen (and special welcome to our young Peace Builders),
In this special gathering, we are honored to unveil Suriname's first Peace Pole together. This Peace Pole carries the powerful message, "May Peace Prevail on Earth", symbolizing Rotary's commitment to peace and harmony, both within our community and worldwide.
Our mission as Rotarians is to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
“Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention” is one of the seven focus areas of Rotary International, as well as one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations: SDG 16, namely: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions. Rotary and the UN share the belief that peace is not only the absence of war but also the result of justice, equality, and cooperation among nations and communities. Since Rotary played a significant role in the discussions leading to the creation of the UN in 1945, we have been dedicated from the very beginning to promoting peace and conflict prevention, in alignment with the UN’s objectives.
The message "May Peace Prevail on Earth" was authored by the late Masahisa Goi of Japan, following the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It is now an international message of peace, with over 250,000 Peace Poles standing as monuments to peace in every country around the world.
The Peace Pole movement is a global initiative that has been inspiring millions of people since 1955 to actively work toward a more peaceful world. Rotary's involvement with planting Peace Poles began in the mid-1950s, and we are extremely proud to be unveiling Suriname's first public Rotary Peace Pole today. This marks a significant milestone and emphasizes Rotary’s and its partners’ ongoing dedication to peacebuilding at both local and international levels.
The Peace Pole symbolizes peace and serves as a reminder that true peace emerges from collaboration, understanding, respect, and a shared responsibility to build a better society. Through this initiative, Rotary hopes to create a lasting reminder of the importance of peace and cooperation and encourages others to join in the effort to create a peaceful and inclusive society.