Creating Tolerance and World Peace

Peace poles are one of the many symbols that are used to express a sense of worldwide unity and universal desire for peace on earth. Peace poles are often used to give children and youth a tactile, physical representation of the common goals that peoples from every nation have – world peace. Making a peace pole is also a fun activity because it gets people involved in creating something that they can have pride in, which helps to reinforce the ideas that the peace pole represents. This pride translates to a desire to participate in gatherings, moments of silence, prayers or other ceremonies (such as those that occur during the International Day of Peace or the World Peace Flag Ceremony) that are usually centered around peace poles.

The most typical material for the pole is a cedar pole measuring between 3.5 feet and 4 feet tall, but any similar wooden pole will do. Cedar has excellent resistant to rot and is easy to find at lumberyards. Cut the top of the pole with a compound miter saw at 45 degree angles to make a pointed top. Sand the entire pole to make sure it’s smooth to the touch – you will probably need both 80 grit and 220 grit sanding paper. Using a tack cloth afterwards will help to remove any remaining dust. Applying two or three coats of urethane to the entirety of the pole will help protect it from natural elements. Lightly sand between coats to keep the pole looking as nice as possible.

Language plates and other decorates are available through a couple different online shops but feel free to add whatever adornment you feel best projects the ideals of world peace and universal unity. To maintain your peace pole, sand the entire piece of wood with 220 grit sandpaper and apply a coat of urethane every couple years. This type of care extends the pole’s lifetime significantly.