Rotarians host Russian delegation, install Peace Pole

Members of four East Hawaii Rotary clubs erected a Peace Pole Oct. 19 along the walkway at Kuhio Kalanianaole Park in Hilo.

“Let peace prevail on Earth” is written in several languages on the pole. This installation of the Peace Pole was unique as it was touched by the visiting Open World delegation from Russia.

The delegation visit and Peace Pole project were explained as part of Rotary peace committee’s workshop “Let’s Work It Out” series on Oct. 18. The Open World delegation’s visit changed the thinking of many about how to pursue peace through simple acts of sharing.

The OW program brings current and future leaders from post-Soviet countries to the United States so they can observe professionals in the U.S. and get a firsthand look at the American system of democracy and free enterprise.

The Open World delegates are engineers and professors that met their counterparts in late September at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and visited the energy research labs in Kona. They were shown many technologies, including biofuels, they had never seen before.

The delegate from the Kamchatka region of Russia presented a slide show about an advanced geothermal plant where he worked.

Host families, Rotarians and delegates learned about food, songs, customs, education and cultural norms in each country during two hosted dinners.

The delegates experienced Rotary in both countries and will be speakers at the Russian clubs. They also will be asked to host visiting Rotarians from Hawaii as part of the friendship exchange. Coordinators in Hawaii and Russia are planning additional joint projects and exchanges.