Dear Participants,

Re: Bridges for Peace 2017 Virtual Conference Breakout Sessions Proposed

Rotary and Rotarians would appreciate your help. You are invited to join us in a virtual meeting April 21 – 23, 2017 (see https://rotaryactiongroupforpeace.org/rotarian-virtual-peace-gathering-bridges-peace-2017 for details) to explore issues and opportunities for…

“Co-creating a shared vision and draft action plan for a peace movement that unites Rotarians, Rotary Peace Fellows, leaders, individuals, and communities.”

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We have a big vision: We want peace. There appears to be a significant resource gap for global peace and peacebuilding. We foresee that Rotary, together with its partners, Rotary Peace Fellows and friends, can help fill that gap through peace programming and supporting initiatives like peace education, which we view as the foundation for lasting peace and international cooperation. We think that providing people around the world with access to the skills, attitudes, and behaviors for building better relationships and transforming conflicts is key for lasting peace. To give you an idea, for example, we can envision a near-term target of helping to raise $1 billion USD and more annually to invest in community-led peace education initiatives around the world, including Rotary Peace Centers.

Participants who will be proposing topics for the Breakout Sessions are invited to submit their suggested topic (the essence summarized in 5 to 10 words) along with a background paper on their suggested topic, so that it is available for those Participants who would like to do some pre-reading before the Conference.

Here are the topics proposed for Breakout Sessions submitted to date:

Virtual Conference:

  1. A discussion of “Rotary International, Rotarians and allies/friends stepping into and helping fill the current significant and threatening gap in peace facilitation and peace education in our communities and the world”, submitted by Robert Stewart. Click HERE to read background paper to the proposed discussion.
  2. A discussion of “Rotarian Action Group For Peace stepping into and helping fill the current gap in peace facilitation and peace education within Rotary”, submitted by Robert Stewart. Click HERE to read background paper to the proposed discussion.
  3. A discussion of “Rotary’s Unique Four-Way Test for Conflict Transformation Process”, submitted by Dennis Wong.  Click HERE to read background paper to the proposed discussion.
  4. A discussion of “The problem facing the world today is a spiritual problem, and it can only be solved by spiritual means. It is our beliefs that are killing us.”, submitted and hosted by Robert Stewart on behalf of Neale Donald Walsch.  Click HERE to read background paper to the proposed discussion.

PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING THE VIRTUAL CONFERENCE DIALOGUE AND SUBMITTING TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION THAT YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT. SEND YOUR BREAKOUT SESSION TOPIC TO [email protected]