FEATURES
FEATURES
Wagga Wagga hosts "Peace Communities" International Conference
“Communicating Today For A Peaceful Tomorrow”
“Putting Peace Into Perspective”
PDG
Wal Breust Chairman of Committee
Rotary District Peace Communities Project (RDPCP)
(Revised by Dean of Ambassadors PP Geoffrey B.W.Little)
 UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan presided over the Millennial Summit 2000 which was attended by 149 heads of state and governments |
The celebration of the Millennial Summit was an extraordinary opportunity to evaluate the work of the UN and other international organizations such as the Rotary networks. The United Nations conference was held in NYC from Sept 6-8 to evaluate the work of the UN in its fifty-fifth year and the challenges it faces in the upcoming years. 149 heads of states and of government from 189 member countries met to analyze the central topics in the world agenda and to suggest ways to handle them,. They adopted the Millennium Declaration which reaffirms the commitment of states to multilateralism and to the letter and spirit of the UN Charter. It also reaffirms the values and principles that guide the action of the Organization: freedom, equality, solidarity, tolerance, respect for nature and shared responsibility. Concrete commitments and goals were established in matter of peace, security and disarmament; development and the eradication of poverty; protection of the shared environment; sound public administration, protection of vulnerable persons, attention to special need of Africa and the means to strengthen the UN.
On March 27, 2000, the Secretary general Kofi Annan presented a report entitled "We the peoples: the role of the UN in the 21st century." This document served as basis of discussion since it analyzes the international context and states that the UN must adopt a new approach which places individuals in the center of action, of governments and of international organization.
The report articulated around three freedoms which all peoples must have in the 21st century: eradication of misery, living without fear, and seeking a sustainable future. They also discussed how to strengthen the UN reform programs.
Despite the seemingly successful outcome of the Millennial Summit, world events may not have turned out the way they should have at the end of the Cold War, but a World War III has not happened and is seen as mutually assured destruction. The number of conflicts has dropped dramatically, environmental degradation is being recognized as the canker leading to conflict and more people realize there is much more to the culture of peace than getting rid of weaponry.
International Rotary groups have been
spearheading the peace-building within communities worldwide. On such
occasion that allows for dialogue on the creation and sustenance of Peace
communities is the Rotary Peace
Communities International Conferences; the first of which was held in the city of Los Angeles,
California, USA, and organized by PP Paul Warner in June 1996.
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The
2000 Conference was held in the beautiful city of Wagga Wagga of New South
Wales, Australia was attended by numerous key Rotarians including RDPC
Special Ambassadors Tony Quinlivan, Geoffrey
Little, Moto Nishimura and Peter
Dale (Mayor 1996)
who represented the Rotary Peace Cities of Wagga Wagga,
Australia, and Kobe, Ibaraki and East Hiroshima, in Japan.
The
Second Rotary District Peace Communities International Conference was
acclaimed by all attendees as a very successful peace-oriented conference since
it had the support of two Past
Rotary International Presidents Royce Abbey and Glen
Kinross, Past Rotary International
Director Barry Thompson, and a number
of Past District Governors including Dick
White and Ken Nicholls D9690, Peter
Williams 9750, Sydney, Jack Olsson and
John Louttit D9710 Canberra, DGE
Ed Chenery, DGN Ian Tooke as well
as PDG’s from D9700, Rotary
Down Under Associate Editor Jerry Carroll, and RDPC Dean of Ambassadors PPGeoffrey B.W.Little, Sydney, RDPC
Special Ambassadors Moto Nishimura, Osaka, Japan, Emelinda
Ortiz, Quezon City, Philippines, Patricia
M. Baigros, Punta Chica, Argentina, and Shanti
S. Eddy, Chennai City, Tamil Nadu, India.
National Chairman of
MUNA (Rotary Model United Nations Assemblies for Youth) Special
Ambassador PP Dominic Williams from Forbes was also in attendance to conduct
the MUNA portion of the Conference.
Other visiting Rotarians and Special Ambassadors represented their Rotary Clubs from Grovedale, Geelong and Shepparton Victoria, Bathurst, Coolamon, Griffith, Tumut, Penrith Mollymook, Blayney, Grenfell, Forbes and Lockhart in New South Wales,
'Peace begins with us'
These
keynote speakers all covered different aspects of "Putting Peace In
Perspective" challenging all who attended to become actively involved in
acting through their individual Rotary Club’s Community Service Committees to
work with local authorities and service organizations towards making their
communities more peaceful, by accepting the fact that “Peace Begins With Us.”
The
Conference program commenced with an Aboriginal “Wiradjuri
Welcome Ceremony” starting with a Wiradjuri Welcome dance by a number of local
Wiradjuri children, which was a great spectacle.
This was followed by an interesting address by Wiradjuri Elder, Pastor
Cec Grant relating some historical events of his people, who had inhabited much
of inland New South Wales covering the large inland river system of the State of New South
Wales, including the fertile Murrumbidgee River which runs through the City of
Wagga Wagga. He also spoke of the need to continue to work for reconciliation.
Federal
Member of the Parliament House for Riverina, Mrs. Kay Hull MP, officially opened the Peace Conference.
Dr
Keith Suter, Past
Chairman of the United Nations
Association of Australia, New South Wales Division, Social Commentator,
Strategic Planner, recipient of the 1996 Federal Peace Medal, PHF, Rostrum
Communicator of the year 1995, Member of the Club of Rome and Honorary Member of
the Rotary Club of Sydney D9750, and active in many other Health and Welfare
organizations, spoke on the “Culture of Peace” outlining the role of the
United Nations Association and the United Nations Organization's first role is
to bring countries together, through Economic and Social activities, its' second
role is to keep countries apart through its peacekeeping activities and its'
third role to move countries forward to meet the needs of an ageing population
taking place. These roles
need a sense of vision, always looking at different ways of doing things.
 (L-R) Dean of the Peace Ambassadors, Past President Geoffrey Little, Mayor of Wagga Wagga, Councilor Kevin Wales, Patricia Balgros of Argentina, Emmy Ortiz of the Philippines, Shanti Eddy of India, Australian Chief of Army Lt.-Gen. Peter Cosgrove, and Motonubu Nishimura of Japan. |
Dr.
Suter described
how we have lived as a civilization within a culture of violence and that civilization
was now moving into a new Welfare State. He commented that global anger is increasing as a new threat to our
communities with more pressure to divide us, than to unite us. Civilization must
become more involved in working for a better world by encouraging through
education `Conflict Resolution Studies' for our students and youth organizations
to help improve the resolution process to settle disputes and discourage
violence within our homes and our communities.
PDG
Barry Thompson then
spoke on the Rotary Report Card, outlining the great Rotary Humanitarian Programs that are helping to bring
some relief to disadvantaged people in Third World Countries, like
PolioPlus, 3H, World Community Service and Rotary Foundation Programs.
Hunger, Literacy and Numeracy programs have a strong link to help us
achieve peace in communities and to build World Understanding and Peace.
Mr.
Paul O’Sullivan,
Executive Director of the Australian Red Cross (NSW) served in the Australian
Army for 35 years and was promoted to Army Chief of Staff.
He was involved in peace keeping and humanitarian assistance activities
before joining the Australian Red Cross.
He spoke on ‘Humanitarian Movements’, giving us an outline of the
history of the Red Cross Organization from the early European Wars, outlining
the great work that it has carried out and is currently involved in globally, in
the name of peace.
Sister
Joan Westblade presented
a very inspirational talk of her experiences as a Catholic nun working in
educating and looking after the welfare of the East Timorese people prior to and
after the East Timor Crisis which
erupted on 4th September 1999 when the vote for independence was won by them as
a nation. This crisis erupted with great loss of lives and utter destruction of
the city, towns and villages by the
local rebel army force until the Australian Army Interfed force arrived and
brought peace to East Timor.
Sister
Westblade spoke
of the total lack of infrastructure and the problems she and the other sisters
had in handling goods and food supplies sent to East Timor from Australia, and
from other agencies from around the world. She applauded the generosity of these supplies however much of the well
intentioned assistance was lost or perished through of lack of facilities to
handle these goods.
Mr.
Dick Green from
Charles Sturt University spoke on `Grounds for Reconciliation' and outlined a
plan for the development of a Wiradjuri Walking Track and Sighting Place on a
natural granite hill with 360 degree view of the city and surrounding
countryside at the CSU Campus.
"New Approaches to Peace'
Dr
Keith Suter returned
to the podium for his address on “New Approaches to Peace” He spoke of the
great work of Dr Stella Cornelius formerly
of the United Nations Association of Australia, in setting up Conflict
Resolution Clinics and studies that can be taken by our students, our youth and
in fact anyone of us who are interested in learning about this powerful ‘peace
building’ activity of Conflict Resolution practice.
Dr.
Suter spoke
about the “Triangle of Peace”, forming one side of the triangle the word:
‘DISARMAMENT’.
He listed nuclear, chemical, bio-chemical, small arms and land mines
as all threats to human life. Forming the another side of the triangle he
indicated the words: ‘PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES BY CONFLICT
RESOLUTION’ referring to the handling the problem of disputes in a
peaceful manner. This
action can often be more successful and less costly than through litigation
through the court system. Forming
the last side of the triangle was
the word ‘JUSTICE’ to embrace the
environment, debt and human rights.
Dr Suter then asked the Conference delegates to look at the paradigm of the word
`Peace'.
"PEACE"
The
word `Peace' has different expectations of meaning to each person so people
should use `Scenario Planning' and “Think
about the unthinkable” and “Think
of alternate outcomes”
Future motives and actions
The
final session was conducted as an Open Forum by members of the Rotary District
Peace Committee to seek out opinions and ideas from those attending on `ways and
means' to expand the project to the other five hundred and fifteen (515) Rotary
Countries around the globe and have the project accepted as a Rotary
International endorsed program.
One
of the suggestions was made by PRIP Royce
Abbey for the committee to continue with the current format and to set a
target to have the program initiated in all Rotary Districts around the world
commencing with the preparation of
a report of this very successful conference to be sent the Rotary Clubs of the
thirty Peace Communities around the world encouraging them to take up the
challenge of promoting the Peace Communities concept in their own Rotary
Districts as well as their respective adjoining Districts.
It was considered this action would create a larger lobby group to
request some recognition from Rotary International, maybe as an expansion of the
World Community Service Program.
DEAN
OF AMBASSADORS PP GEOFFREY B.W.LITTLE JP.
PHF was
recognized
and confirmed in office of dean of the Ambassadorial
chair of the Rotary District Peace Communities Project
(RDPCP)
The Rotary Model United Nations
Assembly for Youth (MUNA) featured teams of high school students representing a variety of
countries which make up the United Nations Organization and debating on matters
of world political and social concern. Participating students were wearing colorful
national dress of the countries they were representing at the Assembly. This was a great International program which was initiated by the Rotary
Club of Forbes in District 9700.
Former Wagga Wagga Police Inspector Mayor
Kevin Wales presented City Council Plaques and Certificates
to Special Guests and Speakers participating
in the conference in recognition for their
contribution to the success of the RDPC International Conference.
Ms. Annette
Laurie and Ms. Karen MacLean of
Tumut spoke on ‘Strategies to Reduce
Violence Against Women’, describing achievements made to date in
increasing the knowledge of the nature and extent of violence against women in
the communities of the Greater Murray Region of New South Wales and where they
spoke of enhancing linkages between key service providers and agencies
responsible for addressing the issues of domestic violence..
Mr.
Clive Murphy then
gave a highly motivational address on the subject of ‘Inner Peace’ outlining
the point that inner peace does not just happen, it has to be continually worked
upon to keep levels of self-esteem and self confidence uppermost in a person's
outlook to promote peace in our communities. His message was that if
a person is in total control of themselves then no one can be hurt
emotionally.
REAL
JUSTICE AND JUVENILE CONFERENCING
The
next speaker was former Senior Sergeant Terry O’Connell
AM (Order of Australia) who had been appointed Director of `Real Justice
Australia.' During his previous police
service in Wagga Wagga then Sergeant O'Connell developed the `Wagga Wagga
Restorative Justice Model', otherwise known as the `Wagga Wagga Model', and
which is now been replicated in four Australian States, a number of North
American States, Canada, the United Kingdom and South Africa as well as in some
schools in New South Wales, Queensland and the Australian Capital Territory
(ACT).
Mr.
O'Connell spoke on the subject of Juvenile Conferencing, outlining the great
successes which have been achieved through Conflict Resolution and Justice
Conferencing conducted with an independent adjudicator between perpetrators and
victims of crime, especially with Youth First Offenders.
PDG
Peter Williams conducted
an interesting program promoting the important work being carried out by the “Hope
For The Children Foundation”, which was very enlightening on how this
great foundation is working for the underprivileged children in our communities.
STEVE
PRATT OF CARE AUSTRALIA
Mr.
Steve Pratt, author
of the book ‘A Duty Of Care’ outlined his work heading Care Australia’s
duty of care in the battle torn country of Yugoslavia, and the ordeals that he
and his two colleagues encountered in their arrest and imprisonment in Kosovo at
the hands of the Yugoslav Regime. He gave an informative address on his
humanitarian role for 6 years in charge of Care Australia, following his 23
years service in the Australian Army and retiring with the rank of Major.
He was interrogated for hours on end and sometimes brutalized and was
forced to sign an admission that he had acted as a spy for the United Nations.
He spoke of his final release and acquittal after many months in prison.
 Australian Chief of Army, Lieutenant-General Peter Cosgrove, was a keynote speaker at the Rotary Peace Communities International Conference held in Wagga Wagga, NSW. He is pictured being congratulated by District Governor 9700 Ray King after being named an honorary Peace Ambassador. |
Lieutenant
General Peter Cosgrove,
Chief of Army Australia
gave the closing keynote address. He
offered an outline of the great work of Interfet Force
(International Forces in East Timor) he had commanded after the shocking
destruction of human life, cities, towns and villages in East Timor by the local
rebel army after the results of the vote of
independence was announced on the 4th September 1999. Major
General Cosgrove as
he was then, in his role as then Land Commander Australian Army, commanded the
occupation force sent to East Timor by the Federal Government to protect the
East Timorese people. He told a rapt
audience of his visit to East Timor to quickly assess the situation and then how
he came back to Australia to make plans to set up infrastructure and logistics
to ensure a smooth and powerful impact on the situation with the least delay as
possible.
TWO
THOUSAND REFUGEES SHIPPED OUT OF EAST TIMOR TO AUSTRALIA
Over
two thousand (2000) refugees had to be air lifted out to Australia immediately. A flotilla of warships and transport ships were used to encircle the
area, set up as fuel depots, warehouses, motels, food supply stores, and a
hospital to service the large contingent of troops and local people until the
Coalition Armies could be deployed and then the United Nations Peace Keeping
Force would take over.
Lieutenant
General Cosgrove remarked
that this was a new venture for the Australian Armed Forces and that they would
be much better prepared if ever another crisis like East Timor should ever
happen again. Finally, he
was commissioned as an Honorary Ambassador to the Rotary District
Peace Communities Project
Past
Rotary International President Glen Kinross delivered
and address at the Wagga Wagga Leagues Club
that outlined the importance of the humanitarian programs supported by
Rotary International and the Rotary Foundation.
PRIP Glen Kinross highlighted
the fact the there would never be world peace whilst there was abject poverty,
illiteracy and numeracy problems in the poor countries around the world. He stated that Rotary is working to relieve hunger with other aid
agencies, and has initiated valuable literacy and numeracy programs in many
parts of the Third World, however he felt there was much more to be done to
relieve this horrible situation.
Two
major presentations were made by District Governor Ray King on behalf of
District 9700, Mr. Terry O’Connell was
presented with a Paul Harris Recogni
Past
District Governor and RDPCP Committee Chairman
Wal Breust presented an outline of the progress of the Rotary District Peace
Communities Project (RDPCP) now
active in thirteen (13) countries around the world with thirty (30) Peace
Communities declared with Cowra in New South Wales D9700 having declared as the
thirty first (31st) Peace Community on 12th October 2000.
The cities of Tigre in Argentina, and the Islands of Samoa will be
declared Rotary `Islands of Peace' by 23rd February 2001, Rotary Peace and
Understanding Day and the traditional date of the beginning of Rotary in 1905
with the inauguration of the Rotary Club of Chicago.
Founder
Special Ambassador and Past President Tony Quinlivan released two white
doves and buried a time capsule at the base of the Peace Monument to be opened
on 23rd February 2025. He
also read the Prayer of St Francis. A hymn was played by the Band, followed by a reading on Peace by
Kapooka Army Padre Kendall and
a wreath laid by Past Rotary International
President Royce Abbey.
In
the
final session PRIP
Royce Abbey delivered the Inaugural Royce Abbey Peace Address which was both
enlightening and inspirational to lead us on in our objects of the Rotary District
Peace Communities Project:
RDPC
Special Ambassador Moto Nishimura representing the sponsor for the Student
Peace Art and Essay Competition E.C.C
Osaka, Japan, presented prizes and certificates to students in attendance on
behalf of his employers E.C.C Osaka,
Japan, and DG Ray King and Conference
Coordinator Ken Stone were presented
with their RDPC Special Ambassadors Certificates
at the close of the session.
The
following is a list of RDPC Honorary Ambassador and Special Ambassador
Certificates presented during the conference. A special welcome was and IS
issued to them all in recognition for their dedication and contribution to the
Conference and to the Rotary District Peace Communities Project.
Recipients include: Lieut/General Peter Cosgrove, Terry O’Connell PHF, Steve Pratt, Kay Hull, Sister Joan Westblade, Dr Keith Suter, Moto Nishimura, Paul O’Sullivan, PRIP Royce Abbey, PRIP Glen Kinross, PDG Barry Thompson, DG Ray King, Stephen Sweet, Shanti Samuel Eddy, PP Geoffrey B.W.Little,
CONCLUSION
In
conclusion, it is the Rotary District Peace Communities Project Committee's view
that whilst we must acknowledge the great work that is being carried out by organizations
like the United Nations Association, International Aid Groups, and
Rotary International through its World Community Service, PolioPlus, Youth and 3
H Programs which provide help to the needy through necessary literacy and
numeracy program assistance internationally, there is much more that can be done
locally by Rotary Clubs through the Rotary District Peace Communities Project.
We must look at our local communities, starting with ourselves and our
families, using our Peace Community Objectives to find ways to curb the growing
incidence of urban violence, petty crime, vandalism through tolerance and peace
and help to resolve arguments and prejudices through conflict resolution
practices, negotiation and reconciliation.
To send information or comments, email at mail@ambassadors.net.
