President John opened the meeting and welcomed the guests - Anke Timm is a supporter of the Rotary International Foundation for our region.
Guest Speakers: John Kikkert and Heidi Unferdorben - Peace and Peace Poles
John Kikkert reflected that on this day 6 August 1945, 79 years ago, the Japanese city of Hiroshima was bombed. 50,000 died on that day and another 50,000 in the following weeks and months. 3 days later Nagasaki was bombed with another huge toll. The Japanese quickly surrendered. The atomic bomb had been unleashed with profound consequences. US and Russia then embarked on an arms race which saw 31,000 nuclear bombs/missiles manufactured and stored in the US and 40,000 in Russia, each many times deadlier than those dropped over Japan. This power to destroy the world in a global conflict had particularly tense moments like the Bay of Pigs in 1962 when Russia placed nuclear missiles in Cuba in retaliation for NATO placing nuclear weapons in Italy and Turkey. There was a moment in 1983 which, due to a misunderstanding, could have brought about a nuclear catastrophe. In 1988 an agreement was reached for arms reduction, for which Soviet President Gorbachev was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. There will be no winners from a nuclear war - longstanding peace is an international imperative.
Heidi Unferdorben explained that the Rotary Club of Adelaide had made its centenary project the widespread planting of Peace Poles in our District. Peace Pole was initiated by Masahisa Goi of Japan in 1955 with the expressed ideal, May Peace Prevail On Earth. This is inscribed on every pole in either 4 or 6 different languages.Today there are 250,000 Peace Poles across the globe - every country is included. Here in SA the Unley Primary School unveiled the145th for SA. Our club had installed the 29th at Unley High School through Trevor McGuirk. There are 60 other clubs in our District who have succeeded with Pole installations.
There are 3 important aspects of the Pole:
- Engage and commit to peace
- Educate on the importance.of peace
- Empower and inspire to pursue peace
And it is just not in schools - other venues include a Budhist temple, St Joseph's Church, Councils, Adelaide Oval, and parks. Plaques are being provided to Uganda and Ukraine. 90% of the PVC pole material comes from recycling.
Both John and Heidi were thanked for their presentations.
Rhonda Hoare expressed her delight that the ceremony today had involved the whole school. She will be heading to Japan in October and intends to present the Rotary Club of Hiroshima with peace cranes made by Unley Primary School students. Our club had provided money and physical endeavour to rehabilitate and beautify Tommy's garden.......now the peace garden.
Spots
Briony Casburn 
