The Banner of Peace and the Planet Art Network

“PAX CULTURA: Where there is Peace, there is Culture; Where there is Culture, there is Peace.”–Nicholas and Helena Roerich

“PAX CULTURA, PAX BIOSPHERICA: “Peace through Culture. Peace with the Biosphere”–José and Lloydine Argüelles

Personal Statement about the Banner of Peace by José and Lloydine Argüelles. Originally published on the historical EarthAscending.com’s website. Earthascending.com/maya/Banner.html
“Madonna Oriflamme and the Banner of Peace”. Introduction by Valum Votan and Bolon Ik. Published on the historical EarthAscending.com’s website. Historical source: Earthascending.com/core/madonna.htm
“Introduction to the Banner of Peace”. published on the historical Tortuga website (founded by Valum Votan and Bolon Ik). Source: Tortuga.com:80/portal/?q=node/719

The Banner of Peace

Personal Statement by José and Lloydine Argüelles

Planet Art Network

In 1983, we formed the Planet Art Network with the specific purpose of promoting the Roerich’s principles of Peace Through Culture, inclusive of education about and dissemination of the Banner of Peace as a powerful means for unifying artists on a planetary scale. (See J. Argüelles, Earth Ascending 1984, p. 146.)

At this time no one was producing or actually using Nicholas Roerich’s Banner of Peace. Following contact with the Center for Peace Through Culture, New York City, we personally undertook the production of Banners of Peace which we formally presented to, among others: the Mayor of the City of Denver, Colorado; the Vajradhatu North American Buddhist organization, Mr. Ted Turner of CNN, and the Roerich Museum in New York City. Mr. Daniel Entin, Curator of the Roerich Museum was presented with another Banner to take to Russia. This second Banner Mr. Entin gave to the Curator of the Roerich Collection of the Oriental Museum of Art, Moscow, where it now hangs in the Roerich memorabilia room.

Since 1984, we have always shown or presented the Banner of Peace in our public appearances of any kind. In 1993-94, when we initiated the World Thirteen Moon Calendar Change Peace Movement, the Banner of Peace was adopted and used by all of the groups throughout Latin America. The Thirteen Moon Calendar Change Peace Plan, 1994-95, included the use and promotion of the Banner of Peace as the standard for the protection of the biosphere. At the First Planetary Congress of Biospheric Rights, Brasilia, 1996, the Banner of Peace was formally presented along with the reactivation of the Roerich Peace Pact for the protection of the biosphere. (See First Planetary Congress of Biospheric Rights, “Peoples’ Resolution to Take Back the Planet.”) In Brazil, we formally presented the Banner of Peace to the City of Peace, Holistic University, and in Japan on Earth Day 1996, we formally presented the Banner of Peace to the Rinri Institute (Institute for Ethical Enlightenment).

We hope that our tirelessly promoting and presenting the Banner of Peace in the uplifted spirit intended by Nicholas and Helena Roerich will serve as an example to others and that, as a consequence, universal peace shall soon prevail everywhere.

José and Lloydine Argüelles

Planet Art Network

Quotes from the originators of the Banner of Peace

“In the chain of creation each manifestation becomes relatively passive or active, giving or receiving. Cosmos affirms the greatness of woman’s creative potential. Woman is a personification of nature, and it is nature that teaches man, not man nature.”
– Helena Roerich

“Where there is Peace, there is Culture; Where there is Culture, there is Peace.”
– Nicholas and Helena Roerich

Madonna Oriflamme and the Banner of Peace

Using the Red Cross as an example, Nicholas and Helena Roerich proposed a treaty for the protection of cultural treasures during times of both war and peace — a proposal he had unsuccessfully tried to promote in 1914. In consultation with lawyers versed in international law, he drafted a Pact, and suggested that a flag would be flown over all places under its protection.

This flag he called the Banner of Peace. The design of the Banner shows three spheres surrounded by a circle, in magenta color on a white background. Of the many national and individual interpretations of this symbol, the most usual are perhaps those of Religion, Art and Science as aspects of Culture, which is the surrounding circle; or of past, present, and future achievements of humanity guarded within the circle of Eternity.

The symbol can be seen in the seal of Tamerlane, in Tibetan, Caucasian, and Scandinavian jewelry, and on Byzantine and Roman artifacts. The image of the Strasbourg Madonna is adorned with it. It can be seen in many of Roerich’s paintings, most notably Madonna Oriflamme in which a Woman is depicted as the carrier and defender of the Banner. In this sign and the motto, Pax Cultura, that accompanies it, is symbolized Roerich’s vision for humanity.

As he wrote: “Let us be united — you will ask in what way? You will agree with me: in the easiest way, to create a common and sincere language. Perhaps in Beauty and Knowledge.”

The Roerichs efforts to promulgate such a treaty resulted, finally, on April 15, 1935, in the signing by the nations of the Americas — members of the Pan American Union — of The Roerich Pact, in the White House in Washington. This is a treaty still in force. Many individuals, groups, and associations around the world continue to promote awareness of the Pact, the Banner, and their underlying principles.

The Banner of Peace synchronized with the 13 Moon Calendar World Peace Movement in 1993 and has come to symbolically represent the mission statement of this movement; the human holon is the third force unifying the two energies of Heaven and Earth. Can we existentially realize the uniting of Psyche and Techne, Feminine and Masculine, East and West?

Mother Earth and Father Sky bless our meditations of Love and Unity in Peace.

Valum Votan and Bolon Ik

The Invisible College

The Banner of Peace

The Banner of Peace is the official flag in use around the world by members of the Planet Art Network and World Thirteen Moon Calendar Change Peace Movement. It is displayed at all events, gatherings, and centers which promote natural time and planetary peace.

The Banner of Peace was designed by Russian artist and humanitarian, Nicholas Roerich (1874 – 1947) as a response to the destruction of the first world war and the Russian Revolution.

It is an international treaty signed by India, the Baltic states, and 22 nations of the Americas including the United States. The Roerich Peace Pact established an international agreement allowing any nation to protect its cultural or artistic heritage with a symbolic banner, the Banner of Peace. Signed in 1935, this treaty is international law today.

Just as the Red Cross protects hospitals, the Banner of Peace was implemented to protect culture.

Written with the assistance of international experts and lawyers, the Banner of Peace was praised by many notable figures during its signing including Albert Einstein, George Bernard Shaw, and H.G. Wells. The Pact states, “educational, artistic, and scientific institutions… shall be protected and respected by the belligerents … without any discrimination as to the state allegiance of any particular institution or mission… these missions may display a distinctive flag (the Banner of Peace).. which will entitle them to special protection and respect…” Thus any site of cultural activity around the world can fly the Banner of Peace to declare itself neutral, independent of combatant forces, and protected by international treaty.

Nicholas Roerich was an artist and travelled extensively through Russia, India, Tibet, and the United States. He hoped by using a symbol that represented all cultures no group would feel excluded from using it. The Banner would have not one but several meanings, as Nicholas Roerich himself wrote:

“Let us be united – you will ask in what way? You will agree with me: in the easiest way, to create a common and sincere language. Perhaps in Beauty and in Knowledge.”

The distinctive Banner is three red circles surrounded by a larger red circle on a white banner. The banner is a deep red or magenta color to symbolize the color of our one blood, which is the same for all peoples. The top circle represents spirituality and encompasses the truth of all religions, that we can all unite regardless of our distinct beliefs. The two circles on the bottom represent art and science. The circle that surrounds the three spheres represents culture, the unity of art, science, and spirituality.

In 1983, Peace Pilgrims José and Lloydine Argüelles revived awareness of the Roerich Pact by using the Banner of Peace to represent the aims of the Planet Art Network. With the strength of its historic and international validity, the Planet Art Network has reactivated this symbol, bringing its message of Peace to the Vatican, the United Nations, as well as several world leaders, in efforts to promote global calendar change. The Argüelles expanded Roerich’s original motto to read “PAX CULTURA, PAX BIOSPHERICA”, adding an emphasis that we must protect the Biosphere, the Mother of all Culture. “Peace through Culture. Peace with the Biosphere.”

The symbol for the Banner of Peace can be found in many cultures and numerous philosophical systems. It can be found on the coat of arms of the Popes, on Ethiopian and Coptic antiquities, and stone age amulets. It also appears on Tibetan rings, Buddhist banners, the Temple of Heaven in Peking and in the oldest of Indian symbols, the Chintamani, the sign of happiness. Found in all cultures, the Banner of Peace is the perfect symbol to bring all peoples together in peace.

More information about the Roerich Peace Pact can be found here

Reconstructed by Tortuga 13:20 from the following sources:

Earthascending.com/maya/Banner.html
Earthascending.com/core/madonna.htm
Tortuga.com:80/portal/?q=node/719

Memorial Video

“The Call of Cosmic Evolution” is a film by Ludmila Shaposhnikova, General Director of the Nicholas Roerich Museum in Moscow. This film is dedicated to two outstanding 20th Century figures: Nicholas Roerich and his wife, Helena Roerich. In the film for the first time is discovered the evolutionary meaning of their eminent contribution to the world culture.