The new WPF monument in Enschede, NL

Thursday, 12 April, 2012

Since 21 March 2012 the WPF has been burning in the centre of Enschede in the Netherlands! The monument, a copper lamp on a white stone pedestal, is situated in the winter garden of the residential community ‘De Wonne’. The World Peace Flame is clearly visible from the pavement and is accessible to anyone who wants to visit it.

Over a hundred people were present at the beautiful inauguration ceremony. The World Peace Flame was brought from Den Haag by members of the Foundation Wereldvredesvlam Twente, then transferred to the people who lit the World Peace Flame Twente: Savitri MacCuish (World Peace Flame Foundation), Betty Schutten (De Wonne) and Shridath Salikram (representative of the municipality Enschede). Children from the primary school Wielerbaan read their own texts and poems on peace.

The local poet Moes Wagenaar wrote the following:

World Peace Flame Twente*

I had heard so much about her

that I put it to the test

and went to have a look for myself

After ten seconds there was a small breeze

After a minute I couldn’t but cry

(how stupid is that?

In the tiny flame I recognized

the peacefulness, the power, the love

present somewhere inside me)

After ten minutes I thought, yes,

I too want to bring people back

to themselves and each other.

After half an hour I could leave

dry eyes, the flame

just a flame and I was just myself again

even more than when I came.

Moes Wagenaar, city poet Enschede

* Enschede is the name of a Dutch region

Look here for more photo's.

For further reading: www.wereldvredesvlamtwente.nl

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The new WPF monument in Enschede, NL