The Pursuing Peace Conference, organized by a group of Arizona community leaders, today announced their first annual conference that will assemble experts from around the world to advance the conversation around peace. This conference is hosted by local members of Rotary International - an organization that has been a leader in pursuing peace since 1905 and has been taking the lead in discussing peace and educating Peace Fellows worldwide. One of Rotary's Areas of Focus is Peace and Conflict Prevention/Resolution, "by elevating the conversation on peace, we aim to encourage and equip community leaders and their organizations to pursue peaceful outcomes."

By Cheryl M. Scott, Published in Rotary International 

Imagine a sparkling lake, surrounded by rolling hills dotted with red, white, and blue flags flapping in the gentle breeze. Picture a three-year-old boy with a miniature flag, running beside the patriotic spectacle…or a high school senior in cap and gown, smiling proudly for her picture-taking mom in front of the colorful backdrop. Now, imagine an Army veteran, dressed in a beret and fatigues, leaning on his cane for support in his slow, deliberate walk among the sea of American flags.

May 24, 2018, Published in UN News

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said on Thursday that he was “deeply concerned” by the cancellation of the planned meeting between the leaders of the United States and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), commonly-known as North Korea. Speaking in Geneva on Thursday, where the Secretary-General unveiled his new Agenda for Disarmament, Mr. Guterres called on the two parties “to continue their dialogue to find a path to the peaceful and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”

By Scott R. Martin, Published in Rotary International

As my Rotary Peace Fellowship came to a close in Bangkok, I was already planning my next steps but I had no idea how quickly the plan would unfold. I was excited to be stepping into one of the world’s largest extended families,  a family who shares weekly meals with one another in nearly every major city around the world. As a newly minted peace fellow with a background in dialogue and conflict resolution, I see it as my calling to work with fellow Rotarians to first increase our ability to communicate with each other in a robust and honest way and then to build our capacity to reach out and re-connect the communities in which we live.

By Eric Lee, Published in Rotary International

Service above self was the underpinning of our aid project for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh this year. The project was a colorful example of how Rotary works around the globe in the service of others. Clubs from the United States and Bangladesh delivered dry goods to Rohingya refugees in the Bahlukali camp along the Bangladesh-Myanmar border in February.

By Mike Caruso

It was the 2016 Rotary World Peace Conference where the initial seeds were planted, and our interest began in formulating and participating in a project(s) aimed at alleviating the plight of refugees and exploring how we, as Rotarians could help. At that time, the picture was much different from what today’s scenario presents as there were quite a large number of refugees coming into the US and we were simply discussing some possible ways in which we could help. Now fast-forward to 2018. With new refugee policies in place, the number has dwindled to a trickle, and no meaningful program can be implemented here in the US.

By Natalia Kunzer, Published in Rotary International

Rotarians from Parker, Colorado, recently participated in the Open World Program by hosting six delegates from Ukraine. Ukrainian visitors explored the Fire Department, EMT Management and Volunteerism hosting theme during their 8-day stay in Parker. Rotarian Alvaro Pizoni, a long-time supporter of the Open World Program, lead the preparations for the program itself.  Alvaro’s meticulous planning lead to a highly successful program.

Published in WorldPeaceForum.org

The World Peace Forum is a platform for dialogue and exchange, established by the Schengen Peace Foundation in 2007. The World Peace Forum strives to be a global platform for people from different horizons to exchange ideas and find ways to promote peace efforts undertaken by peace activist, small and large organizations.

By Vanessa Vegas, Published in Rotary International 

Throughout March, we celebrated women in many countries around the globe. It is a month when women are recognized for their achievements without regard to divisions, whether national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic or political. It’s also an opportunity to remind ourselves that more efforts are needed in developing and emerging countries to create equal economic opportunities for all.

Published in Recovery Village

Peacebuilding begins with inner peace. The Recovery Village is dedicated to maintaining exceptional service while providing unique opportunities for education and personal development. As part of this commitment, The Recovery Village is offering a $1,000 scholarship to students pursuing a medical-related course of study. To enter to win a $1,000 scholarship, simply submit a short essay (no more than 500 words) describing why you are passionate about substance use disorder and mental health treatment. Essays can be in the form of a personal narrative with a medical perspective or focus specifically on clinical experience. Click here to learn more.