How Can Rotary Create a Culture of Peace?
Reflections on 2016 Rotary World Peace Conference
By: Shen Huang
February 2, 2016
Agenda
• Background
• Theme #1: Foster Empathy & Kinship
• Theme #2: Turn Compassion to Action
• Theme #3: Create Change from the Bottom Up
• Takeaways
• Conclusion & Q&A
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About the 2016 Peace Conference
• Jan. 15-16 in Ontario, CA
• Plenary sessions with world-class, inspirational keynote speakers
• Multiple tracks and >80 breakout sessions
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What is Peace?
• Institute for Economics & Peace - Global Index for Peace
• “Negative Peace” – Absence of violence or fear or violence
• “Positive Peace” – Attitudes, institutions, structure that creates and sustains peaceful societies
• “Peace connects hearts shriveled by fear…Every act of kindness is an act of peace.” – Carrie Hessler-Radelet, Director of Peace Corps
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Interactive Online Version: http://www.visionofhumanity.org/#/page/indexes/global-peace-index
Theme #1: Foster Empathy & Kinship
• Conference atmosphere
• Inspirational and powerful keynotes & panel discussions – personal stories
• Breakout Sessions – create awareness & connectedness
• Cross-cultural connections
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Peace Starts with Words…
• Dr. Bernd Wollschlaeger
• Words of hatred => deeds => habits => characteristics => to social norms
• Speak up!
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Theme #2: Turn Compassion to Action
“To build peace, we can’t rely on outside agencies or organizations. We have to build it ourselves right from the bottom, where we stand.”
- K.R. “Ravi” Ravindran, RI President
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My Favorite Story
• Sir Nicholas Winton
• Rescued 669 Czech children and arranged for foster families in Britain
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Theme #3: Create Change from the Bottom Up
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• Create people-centered peace
• Connect networks to leverage partnerships (e.g. Peace Corps, Mediators Beyond Borders, etc.)
Photo credit: Rotary
Takeaways
• Pair up when going to Rotary conferences – take a young person with you!
• Promote peace across borders and cross cultural connections – start a Rotary Friendship Exchange
• Lot of technology and tools available online to promote club(s) communication, project management, & learning
• Keep an eye for keynote recordings – will be posted online at conference website
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Questions? Thank you!
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