[D9640general] [eFlash_Rotary] Digest Number 696

[Garry & Anne Krischock]

Message 
  1.1351: With the help of Rotarians, peace centers bring hope to world 
 Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:51 pm (PST) 
With the help of Rotarians, peace centers bring hope to world

By Antoinette Tuscano 
Rotary International News

Advancing world understanding, goodwill, and peace is a part of 
Rotary's mission, but to accomplish this in a world strewn with 
conflict takes commitment. Rotarians are working toward that goal by 
supporting the Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and 
conflict resolution and the Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies 
Program. 

Nearly 400 Rotary peace program participants, alumni, faculty, and 
Rotarians gathered 14 to 16 June for the first Rotary World Peace 
Symposium in Salt Lake City to discuss how alumni and participants of 
the two programs can work to resolve conflicts worldwide. 

"Finding the path to world peace and understanding is not a spectator 
sport. It is fully participatory," Past RI President Charles C. 
Keller told attendees. "Mankind in the world as we know it cannot 
survive the continued use of war as a means of settling our disputes."

If Rotarians don't support the Rotary Centers for International 
Studies in peace and conflict resolution and the Rotary Peace and 
Conflict Studies Program, "the cost of failure will be borne by every 
man, woman, and child on this planet in some way - either directly or 
indirectly," said Keller. [Listen to Keller's entire symposium 
presentation.]

Located at seven leading universities around the world, the Rotary 
Centers provide fellows the chance to study in a graduate-level 
program in conflict resolution, peace studies, international 
relations, and other related disciplines. The Rotary Peace and 
Conflict Studies Program is a shorter program aimed at professionals 
in governments and other agencies.

Throughout the symposium, speakers talked about the dire need for 
peaceful ways to end violent conflicts. 

"We truly live in a bloody and cruel world. The statistics numb us," 
said Edward Blender, chair of the Rotary Centers Major Gift 
Initiative, a plan to raise US$95M by 2015 in order to fully endow 
the international studies program. ]

On any given day, said Blender, there are 20 to 30 armed conflicts in 
the world. In the last 15 years, 3.6 million people - 45 percent of 
whom are children - have died due to civil and ethnic wars and 
violence. 

Disease, war, and conflict disintegrates societies, added UN 
Foundation senior adviser Gillian Sorensen. In volatile regions of 
the world, lethal brews of hopelessness, anger, and frustration make 
some people feel that combat gives them a purpose and a place to 
belong.The work of the Peace Fellows, however, is reason for hope. 
She called upon the Peace Fellows to be "the first guard of a mighty 
peaceful army." 

To continue the peace programs into perpetuity, the Rotary Foundation 
is seeking to create a US$95 million endowment fund. Rotarians can 
help the programs by securing funding as well as finding well-
qualified candidates - especially from areas facing conflict - and 
encouraging them to apply for the programs. 

"We need the continued financial support from Rotary clubs and 
districts all over the world," said Keller. "Someday, one or more of 
our Rotary Peace Fellows will be in the right place at the right time 
to make a really big difference, and then Rotarians everywhere will 
know our search for peace is working."

Courtesy: eFlash_Rotary

 
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