Peace Monuments
Planned for the FutureRight click image to enlarge.
2013? - Deserteursdenkmal/Deserter Monument, Ballhausplatz, Vienna (Austria). "Vienna's city council said on Friday [Oct. 12, 2012] that it planned to erect a monument to remember the thousands of people executed by the Nazis for deserting or refusing to serve in the military during World War II. 'The location is a worthy one, aimed at remembering. It is in the city centre, right next to the chancellery & the presidency for those who risked their lives not to serve in the Nazi Wehrmacht & those murdered at the hands of Nazi military justice,' said city councilor for culture Andreas Mailath-Pokorny. Following a long debate, the "Deserteursdenkmal" ("Deserter Monument") will however be located at the Ballhausplatz square, & not at Heldenplatz where Hitler announced the "annexation" of Austria into the Third Reich to cheering crowds in March 1938. The committee in charge of finding a location decided against Heldenplatz because it is already home to several other monuments & because of the planned construction of an underground car park. The monument, which will be the first dedicated to deserters in Austria, is due to be completed in 2013, 68 years after the death of Austrian-born Hitler and the end of World War II. According to Justice for Victims of Nazi Military Justice, a group that campaigned for the monument to be erected, around 15,000 military personnel were executed by the Nazis during the war."
August 2013? - Museum of Peace, Polkovnichiy Island, Semey (Kazakhstan). Kazakhstan hosted an international conference “From a Nuclear Test Ban to a Nuclear-Weapons-Free World”, August 27- 29, 2012. August 29 was the the UN International Day against Nuclear Testing on August 29, 2012. Part of the conference was held in Semey, including a ground-breaking ceremony for the unique Museum of Peace. The crystal-ball-shaped building will be five stories tall, with a height of 34 metres & a diametre of 24 metres, & will rest in the palms of hands, demonstrating the fragility of life & the need for careful stewardship of the environment. The foundation of the ball in the form of two palms of hands will be made from iron & granite, while the building itself will be constructed of glass. The construction process is scheduled to be completed one year later. Construction costs are estimated at more than one billion tenge & will be provided by the government.
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MFuture - Norman Borlaug Historic Preservation Project, Cresco, Iowa (USA). "Preservation has been completed on the lower level of the childhood house including window and woodwork restoration, new wiring, plumbing, septic system, basement bath, furnace, water heater, security system, and more. Many original Borlaug artifacts have been placed in the home. Restoration of the Borlaug school house, located on the Borlaug farm, continues with new roof, interior cloak room, handicap accessible ramp, and new wiring." Norman Borlaug received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize.
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BFuture - Linus Pauling Institute, Linus Pauling Science Center, Oregon State University (OSU), Corvallis, Oregon (USA). Linus Carl Pauling [1901-1994]. is the only person to win two unshared Nobel Prizes -- the 1954 Nobel Prize for Chemistry & the 1962 Nobel Peace Prize..
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MFuture - Pugwash Peace Exchange, Pugwash, Nova Scotia (Canada). "Restoration of Cyrus Eaton’s original property, now owned and managed by the Pugwash Park Commission. The property includes the Thinkers’ Lodge, which was home of the first Pugwash conference in 1957 and is viewed as sacred ground by the International Pugwash Movements. As well, the original Dining Hall will be repaired and restored, to be used during conferences and events. In addition, the original structure known as the Staff House will be updated and improved to serve as the 'Scholars’ Cottage.'" Joseph Rotblat [1908-2005] & the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs shared the 1995 Nobel Peace Prize.
2019? - Restored Water Basin, Nigitsujinja Shrine, Hiroshima (Japan). "A shrine here is turning its outdoor water basin that was damaged by the 1945 US atomic bombing into a monument to remind people of the horrors of nuclear war>. Repair work to the stone washbowl along the pedestrian approach to Nigitsujinja shrine started in January [2017] as part of a project to redevelop surrounding areas. The shrine is situated 1.8 kilometers northeast of ground zero, and its main hall was destroyed by fire. A temporary aid station is said to have been set up in the shrine’s precincts to provide accommodation for evacuees. The atomic explosion caused stone lanterns to collapse & damaged pine trees at the shrine. The water basin became chipped & cracked. The object was rendered unusable because it leaked. The shrine decided to mend it so worshippers can purify their hands & mouths before paying their respects at the shrine. 'As there remain fewer objects that remind people of the atomic bombing now, preserving the washbowl is significant,' said Kazutomo Asano, 75, chief priest of Nigitsujinja. 'I want people who will use it to think of world peace.' The minimum necessary repairs have been made so that scratches & damage caused by the atomic bombing will be preserved. It is estimated that the project will take two years to complete, as a new roof will be installed & surrounding areas redeveloped."
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AFuture - La Gran Estupa para la Paz Mundial / Great Stupa for World Peace, Los Alamos, Valle de Bravo (Mexico).
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LJuly 4, 2010 (target date) - US Peace Memorial, Washington, DC (USA). A project of Dr. Michael D. Knox, Tampa, Florida (USA). Long postponed.
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MFuture - National Peace Museum of Conscientious Objection & Anti-war Activism, Historic Stockade, Presidio, Golden Gate National Recreation Area, San Francisco, California (USA).
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MFall 2010? - Headquarters and Public Education Center (PEC), US Institute of Peace (USIP), 23rd Street & Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC (USA). Official ground breaking took place June 5, 2008, twenty-four years after the creation of USIP. The facility will consist of a training center for professional conflict managers, conference space for public and private meetings, office space for USIP staff, and a 20,000 square foot PEC.
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NFuture - Coretta's Global Peace Garden, former Bellwood Quarry, Atlanta, Georgia (USA). Proposed July 23, 2006. Would be world's largest peace garden. Named for Coretta Scott King. A project of Atlanta: City of Peace.
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HFuture - "Peace Offering," Artist's studio, Hopkinton, Massachusetts (USA). Bench in form of a dove with outstretchd hands and the tail of a hawk (representing hostility). By Michael Malfano. "This sculpture represents some of the many aspects of attaining peace. It is a expression of Michael's Soka Gakkai Buddhist practice, with the intention of contributing to peace and culture." (5'7" x 2'9" x 1'7" Bronze, $25,000, Ltd. Ed. of 25, Resin, $6,000, Ltd. Ed. of 100)
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LFuture - Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr., National Memorial, 4-acre site on the Tidal Basin, Washington, DC (USA). Designed by Roma Design Group, San Francisco, California (USA). A project of the Washington, DC Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. Ceremonial groundbreaking took place November 13, 2006, in West Potomac Park. Click here for the Wikipedia article. Entry #1121 in the "Peace Movement Directory" by James Richard Bennett (2001).
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KFuture - Gallipoli Peninsula Peace Park (Turkey). Norwegian architects Lasse Broegger and Anne-Stine Reine won the Gallipoli Peninsula Peace Park International Ideas and Design Competition in 1997-98. How much of the plan has been implemented?
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AFuture - Smoky Mountains Peace Pagoda, Nipponzan Myohoji (Atlanta Dojo), Newport, Tennessee (USA). Under construction.
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RFuture - "Global Peace Center," Alcatraz Island, San Francisco Bay, California (USA). Reuse of former prison proposed by Native Americans.
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NFuture - National Peace Garden, Hanes Point, Potomac River, Washington, DC (USA). Congress authorized this memorial in 1987. The waterfront site, approved in 1988, embraces 10-acres about two miles south of the Jefferson Memorial. The concept of the garden by the landscape architecture firm of Royston Hanamoto Alley & Abey was approved July 1993." This project displaces the popular statue of "The Awakening" (right image).
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NFuture - Peace Garden, Gatehouse Drive, Carmelite Monastery, Aylesford (England). "Will feature tiles containing the word 'peace' in more than 250 languages and Zimbabwean sculptures made from recycled oil drums. Will contain five individual gardens on the three themes of fire, wind, and earth/water, each containing different types of plants and features."
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MFuture - Peace Museum, Leeds Metropolitan University (LMU), Leeds (England). In partnership with The Peace Museum of Bradford (England). Will be associated with the new Senator George Mitchell Centre for Peace & Conflict Resolution.
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RFuture - Peace & Love Tower, downtown Manhattan, New York City, New York (USA). UnGun.org has been collecting guns for over 3 years, and the main structure will be supported by 5,000,000 guns that have been donated to the cause. The structure will feature a top heavy design and the walls will act as one large greenhouse. Choski and Associates won the contract to build the structure in 2006.
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RFuture - Khalifa Olympic Peace Tower, Doha (Qatar). Projected 300-meter tower.
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RFuture - World Peace Monument, on top of Mount Ora, eight kilometres southwest of Jerusalem and over looking Bethlehem. By French architect Jean Nouvel. "Association for a World Peace Monument [WPM] is a Swiss based institution... Monument will include a congress & communications centre. With a height of 100 meters and a diameter of 40 meters, this unique peace tower is not to overlook [sic]."
Future - El Mano de la Paz / The Hand of Peace, Jardin Binacional / Bi-national Garden, Playas de Tijuana, Baja California (Mexico). Hand showing the peace sign. "By Chaa Youn Woo, [Korean-American] Artist. Significant sculpture that will add positive inspiration to a major port of entry to Latin America. Will be located in a high poverty area. Located at the northern most point of Latin America, approximately 20’ from the border of the United States (San Diego) and 60' from the Pacific Ocean. Latin America refers to those countries that speak romance languages like Spanish, French & Portuguese all derived from Latin. Countries in South America, Central America & the Caribbean make up Latin America. In 2008 the Latin American population was estimated at 570 million. The sculpture will become a generator for peaceful energy. A whimsical yet thought provoking peaceful environment will be created for tourists & locals who visit or live in the area, giving the public the opportunity to interact with the Art installation on a daily basis."
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KFuture - US/Mexico International Park Project, (USA & Mexico). Under discussion since 1935. Supported by Rotary International. Would join Big Bend National Park in the US with Maderas del Carmen and Cañon de Santa Elena protected areas in Mexico.
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KFuture - International Peace Park, (China/Pakistan). Park proposed for both sides of the border, including Khunjerab National Park in Pakistan which is one of the highest altitude parks in the world.
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KFuture - Peace Park in the Demilitarized Zone, both sides of the DMZ (Korea). Click here for story about DaimlerChrysler pledge of $500,000 to help former President Bill Clinton and Ted Turner build the peace park.
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KFuture - Balkans Peace Park Project (BPPP), three nation area (Albania, Kosovo/a & Montenegro). Includes Shala Valley. Chair of the project is Antonia Young, University of Bradford, Bradford (England). Support is provided by the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the Austrian Development Corporation
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KFuture - Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (Mozambique, South Africa & Zimbabwe). The three Ministers for the Environment signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to initiate the park on November 10, 2000. This is one of several projects of the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) of Stellenbosch (South Africa).
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SFuture - Great Limpopo & 13 Other Transfrontier Parks in Southern Africa (Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia & Zimbabwe). As envisioned by the Peace Parks Foundation (PPF) of Stellenbosch (South Africa).
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EFuture - Maharishi Peace Palaces, c/o Maharishi Vedic City, Fairfield, Iowa (USA). To be constructed in many large cities by the Maharishi Vedic Education Development (MVED) Corporation. "Will offer to everyone the knowledge and practical programs for peace and enlightenment, for a healthy, happy, more creative, more fulfilling and successful life through the Transcendental Meditation program."
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KFuture - Oush Grab Peace Park, Jerusalem-Eastern Gush Etzion Highway, Beit-Sahour (Shepherd’s Field), east of Bethlehem (Occupied Palestine). A development (fully funded by USAID in 2006) for a children’s hospital, youth center, public peace park, environmental center, recreation center, cultural center, and parking lot, but halted (indefinitely?) due to a counter proposal by "Women in Green" for a "Jewish Shdema" (settlement) on the same site (which is an abandoned IDF army camp).
Future - Reconstruciton National Monument, Beaufort County, South Carolina (USA). The monument "could include historic sites at Penn Center, the Brick Baptist Church, the Robert Smalls house, the site at the Naval Hospital in Port Royal where the Emancipation Proclamation was read publicly to great fanfare on New Year’s Day 1863, and the old firehouse in downtown Beaufort."