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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