By Diana Schoberg, April 8, 2019, Published in Rotary International

Rotarians are doers. Show them a problem and they look for solutions. But a global problem such as climate change might seem daunting to even the most resourceful Rotary member. Break that complex problem down into smaller pieces, however, and you find there are many things Rotarians can do — and are already doing, with help from The Rotary Foundation. A coalition of researchers and scientists led by environmentalist and writer Paul Hawken mathematically modeled the climatic and economic impact of potential solutions to learn which ones would yield the best results for people and the planet. The list, compiled in a 2017 book called "Drawdown: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming," included some surprising possibilities, such as educating girls, promoting family planning, and assisting farmers. As it happens, all of those align with Rotary’s areas of focus. 

March 31, 2019, By Laurie Smolenski, Published in Rotary International

The Rotary Positive Peace Academy is one of the main initiatives of the strategic partnership between Rotary and the Institute for Economics and Peace. It’s a training course to educate Rotarians on the IEP’s technical research on positive peace. The goal is to help Rotarians use these concepts to improve their peacebuilding and development work in their own communities. The content was created by the IEP, but it has been developed with Rotarians in mind. It includes stories of Rotarians’ projects so Rotarians will be able to recognize themselves and their work as they go through the academy.

April 2, 2019, Published in RotaryPeaceCenterNC.org

This year’s theme, “Action for Peace”, highlights steps that individuals and communities need to take at local and global levels to address pressing challenges around the world. It is Class 16 Rotary Peace Fellows’ call for immediate action to tackle climate change, violence, human displacement, lack of education and livelihoods, planetary health and famine.

March 21, 2019, Published in PeaceNow.com

Our mission is to gather One Billion Signatures in support of peace and the creation of departments of peace within all governments. Each initiative -Peace Education- Films for Peace – Peace Business Certification – supports building a grassroots constituency that will help enact The Global Resolution for the Establishment of Infrastructures to Support the Culture of Peace. We are empowering One Billion global citizens to create the cultural, economic, and governmental framework needed to co-create a new era of enduring peace. With the ambitious goal of uniting One Billion of us, we intend to build the tipping point of peace. This transformative force will demand substantive and lasting change for the betterment of humankind now and for all future generations.

By Soomin Kim, February 20, 2019, Published in Rotary International

Most of the members the Rotary Club of Ulsan Jayu (meaning freedom in Korean) are refugees emigrants from North Korea. Many risked their lives emigrating in pursuit of greater opportunities and are still struggling to adapt to South Korean society. Through the humanitarian service work of South Korean Rotary clubs, immigrants are healing and increasing their sense of belonging and pride as productive citizens of society. Club President Ju-Eun Seok shares her journey and the role Rotary plays in her life.

By Dennis Wong, February 27, 2019, Published in Rotary International 

Imagine yourself addressing conflicts through the lenses of fellowship, empathy, accountability and trust. That is the Four-Way Test.  Imagine the power four questions and twenty-four words can have to help resolve conflicts without violence and fulfill our Rotary peace mission. The Four-Way Test is Rotary’s unique approach and process to address conflicts, solve problems and make decisions to achieve desired outcomes. It can help us be more successful in reaching mutually beneficial, sustainable and scalable solutions.