Peace bell welcome set for early October
Everyone is welcome to attend next month’s official welcome of the city’s World Peace Bell. It has been donated to New Zealand by The World Peace Bell Association and is being installed in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens.
From 6.30pm on Tuesday, 3 October, there will be a short public ceremony, attended by the president of the World Peace Bell Association, to gift the bell to Christchurch. Afterwards, everyone there will be invited to light a candle for peace and place it in the Avon River. All are very welcome.
The bell, a replica of the original World Peace Bell at the United Nations in New York, was gifted to Christchurch last year. It is the 21st World Peace Bell. They are in 19 countries; the closest in Australia.
Site work began in July on the concrete and steel housing for the 385kg bell. It stands on a raised area that will be prominent when entering the gardens from the Hagley Park daffodil woodlands near the band rotunda. It will eventually be the centrepiece of an Asian-style garden and become a starting point for a Peace Walk through the city.
The City Council and the New Zealand chapter of the World Peace Bell Association have been working on this project for about two years. The local World Peace Bell chapter is being supported by several funding organisations, Linwood/Woolston Rotary and businesses. It has a growing membership of individuals, local bodies, and small business interests throughout New Zealand |
