BILL HUNTLEY MEMORIAL PEACE SEMINAR 29 th OCTOBER 2011
A warm Rotary welcome was given to all visitors and participants by Rtn. Dick Hazlehurst, Host Area Co-ordinator and the Vice Chancellor, Professor Mark Cleary, on behalf of Bradford University. This year we had an excellent attendance with over 250 delegates – word is obviously spreading.
All 10 Rotary Fellows of Class IX planned and took part in this year’s Seminar. Every year these outstanding students leave us in awe of their hard work and past and current achievements in the world’s most dangerous regions.
Some of the Fellows who have been working on similar problems of conflict in a particular country but from a different angle, linked their presentations. Katja Karppinen, Jillian Larsen and Bianca Neff spoke about “Humanitarian Response to the Somali Refugee Crisis,” Sonja Basic and Marina Kharlamova on “Alternative approaches to building Peace” and Kayo Yoshida and Peter Opata on “Civil Conflict, Peacebuilding and Reconciliation; Experience from Sierra Leone.”
Single presentations were given by Huot Sokunthea “Land Conflicts in Cambodia”, Maria Masullo “Bradford, Brussels, Bologna and return” and Juliana Amal “Conflict Minerals.” Some of these talks really bring a lump to your throat when you realise the struggles they have gone through to get an education and several of them have firsthand knowledge of life as refugees.
Each year we think the previous team cannot be topped but each year they all exceed our expectations. We should be proud of this Rotary Foundation Programme and be assured that our donations are being really well spent.
Class X each introduced themselves and we realised that we have another excellent year in store.
Guest speakers this year were Mark Segal and Chris Cushing. Mark is a Senior Conflict Advisor at the British Government’s Department for International Development (DFID). His presentation “From BSOS to Benghazi: life of a government conflict advisor” gave us an insight into his job of working with government departments and in the field.
Chris is Principal Research Fellow, Peace Studies University of Bradford. He spoke about “Future Challenges to the International Humanitarian System 2030 & Beyond.” How can a person pack so much into one life? He has directed emergency humanitarian field operations in 14 wars and 24 countries. This whirlwind of a man just mentioned in a throwaway line that he had been kidnapped 9 times.
Sonja Basic did an excellent job as Mistress of Ceremonies, introducing everyone with a smile and great sense of humour.
David Black on behalf of the Rotary Club of Alford & Mablethorpe updated us on how well the Bill Huntley Endowment Fund is doing and presented a plaque signed by Desmond Tutu to be displayed at Bradford University on permanent loan.
Rebecca Crall, Supervisor, Rotary Peace Centres spoke about “Evanston Perspective” and thanked everyone concerned in the Peace Programme.
Rotarian Jim Moulson, Past RIBI President, gave the closing remarks and thanked all the Fellows, Dick Hazlehurst and his Host Committee for their hard work. He also thanked Les Brown and Keith Davison for providing the IT facilities and said it was the first event he had attended where there hadn’t been any hitches.
Rtn. Margaret Hirst