DISCURSOS - Rotary International

This now brings me to the question each one of you could raise at this very moment: Why should
Rotarians support the Rotary Peace Centers?
Our world today is in desperate need of vision to address issues of global instability. Even a casual
look at the prevailing conditions in our 21st-century world is enough to produce fear, hopelessness,
uncertainty, insecurity, emotional and social trauma, depression, disillusionment, discouragement,
and despair. The threat of economic collapse, social disintegration, moral decay, religious
conflict, political instability, health epidemics, ethnic cleansing, and the clash of civilizations demands
leadership that can see beyond now into a better future and that has the skill to transform
that vision into reality and the courage to inspire us to go there.
Research shows that prevention is much cheaper than conflict management, transformation, or
resolution. Every dollar spent on preventing violent conflict saves the international community four
dollars it would otherwise spend on dealing with that conflict later. The Rotary Peace Fellowship is
an instrument in the global conflict-prevention campaign.
Rotarians have taken a leadership role in preventing disputes from breaking into conflict, as well as
bringing conflicts to a rapid end and helping societies make the transition to a sustainable peace.
Above all, peace fellows create a demonstrable improvement in people’s lives and show them that
only peace will bring about good governance, a sustainable economy, an effective health service,
and education for their children.
And we all know that knowledge and learning are essential if we are to empower those who are
farthest behind. So access to peace education is central to reducing global inequalities, resolving
conflicts, and building a better world for the 21st century.
I have a moral obligation to tell participants of this annual event that there is no other well-structured
program in the world that is capable of making a roster of peace fellows and strong global
network of experts on international peace studies and conflict resolution.
As the Rotary Peace Fellowship program enters its second decade, it is more important than ever
that we continue to let the world know about this important opportunity. Although we’ve graduated
711 peace-builders over a decade, applications for this program are declining. How can this
be, when it’s such an important and generous fellowship?
Incoming district governors, we need you to spread the word about this important and unique fellowship.
There are many ways that you can be involved in the program, but the most important
way is to recruit new applicants each year. Encourage Rotarians in your district to identify qualified
applicants and to support this vitally important program. I encourage you to visit the resource center
here at the assembly to pick up a flier to help in your recruitment of new peacemakers.
There is no contribution that could make Rotarians more proud than providing generous support
to a program that has proved to be so effective in shaping a world that desperately needs our help.
Thank you!
32 International Assembly Speeches 2013