Several of the past and present Peace Fellows keep blogs. We will put links to any that we know about, on Fellows' individual web pages. Please let us know of any we have missed. Thank you.
A brief introduction to why Rotary can help bring Peace to a violent world
Many clubs finish their meetings with the toast ‘Rotary and Peace the World over’. The members don’t think twice about it – but they should. It isn’t an idle wish, but a vision that our organisation really can make happen.
In 1940 the world was at war. Paul Harris, founder of Rotary wrote in The Rotarian magazine that February: ‘Must the best genius of men be devoted to the science of war and none to the science of averting it?’
The Second World War began to clarify views within our organisation that we could and should strive to make our world a far more peaceful place. After the war, The United Nations were formed. Around 100 Rotarians were deeply and fundamentally involved at senior levels in the formation of the most famous of all Organisations for Peace. Many people, even Rotarians don’t realise that Rotary has such an incredible history of ground breaking work in this field.
The Rotary Foundation is our charity. Its vision is-
“Enabling Rotarians to Advance World Understanding, Goodwill and Peace.”
I’m sure you also know that it has three key elements to its mission:
- Improving Health
- Supporting Education &
- Alleviating poverty.
Those of you up to date with current accepted theories on Global Security will know that these also happen to be (if you now add Global Warming), the key issues we need to address if we our World has any chance of remaining a peaceful one.
So the ultimate aim of our charity is the promotion of World Peace. You can’t get a more ambitious goal than that.
In 1996 rotary began to investigate an educational institution dedicated to Paul Harris – a Rotary University. This dream was found to be unrealisable, but in 1999 an alternative was found and $5.3M over a six year trial invested in it. This alternative was the Rotary Centres in Peace & Conflict Resolution – 7 Universities around the world (over 100 applied for the honour) where mid career professionals in this specialism could study, supported by a Fellowship from RI.
These Centres are in the US, Argentina, Australia, Japan and the UK – in Bradford specifically – and we’re proud that our Centre is the BEST in the world. Each takes up to twelve Fellows each year. But why? The aim is to help individuals with experience, vision, drive and with values in line with Rotary itself to develop into ‘change agents for peace’ in the world. They are selected on a worldwide basis through a rigorous process by expert panels. It’s a tough challenge to get in to the 18 month mostly academic but partly practical course.
Once graduated, in ten or twenty years these people will be in the prime of their careers in senior positions in global agencies. One may even be in a position to do the ‘right thing at the right time’ on a global stage and save the world from war and help bring peace. Even if that never happens there is no doubt that wherever their career takes them they will do good – whether in a war zone, an inner city, with kids or with leaders, they will make a difference.
Over 400 have graduated. They come from incredibly varied backgrounds – race, creed, country - and are working all over the world, wherever their skills are needed. These are wonderful, courageous people – people we are proud to be associated with.
This is a superb programme – and in global RI terms second ONLY to Polio plus. The programme is currently supported from the World fund – so unlike ambassadorial scholars, no money comes from your district. The aim is to create an endowment to support the program in perpetuity - $95M is needed.
So what can you do?
Give to our charity – direct the funds at RWPF if you want
- Give to the Bill Huntley Fund – the aim is for RIBI to support a Fellow every two years – we are already $250,000 on our way to our $500,000 target.
- Become a Counsellor for the Fellows – incredibly rewarding!
- Find a candidate for D1040 to promote on this program
- Come to the Bill Huntley Memorial Peace Seminar on the last Saturday in October, in Bradford.
Contact me for more information – Ian Park, D1040 Peace Fellows Officer – park.i@sky.com, 01422 370975, 07895 064083.
A Programme Guide for Rotarians
Click here to download a 16-page .pdf document from the RI website.