Report and photos of District 5040-5050 Peace Forum
 

I had the pleasure of chairing the Rotary Peace Forum on February 23. Rotary international President Sukuji Tanaka challenged districts to host local peace events. The purpose of the local forums is to allow Rotarians to discuss and debate regional peace issues. Local forums permit Rotarians who cannot attend one of the three global forums to explore new opportunities and bring life to our theme, Peace Through Service.

In Vancouver, we selected as local issues, juvenile bullying and gang violence. For international concerns we tackled polio eradication, reconstruction of Afghanistan, Rotary peace centers and Rotary as a peacemaker.

We were privileged to start the Peace Forum with a presentation by Canada's Minister of International Cooperation, Julian Fantino. He announced the removal of the cap of $1 million matching funds for donations to PolioPlus by the Government of Canada. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation also agreed to remove the cap. By February 28th,  the end of the ten month campaign $2 million was donated, with the matched funds, $6 million will go to polio eradication. The Government of Canada’s total funding for polio now exceeds $390 million.

A panel discussion on juvenile bullying brought together Patti Bacchus, the chair of the Vancouver school board, DGE Denis Boyd, a psychologist,  Rachel Hislop-Hook, DSS Interact club member and the moderator, DGND John Anderson, a former superintendent of schools. A variety of issues were debated and explored, in particular advantages and shortcomings of allowing anonymous reporting of bullying. This could result in frivolous or untrue reports of bullying. However anonymous reporting could encourage more reports and stop bullying.  

In a roundtable discussion debate focussed on action Rotary clubs could take to reduce bullying. Most agreed that clubs should encourage and expand Rotary’s new generations programs and support community organizations that work on stopping bullying.

In a presentation by a Chief of Police on gang violence he stressed that the community can take a stand by working with the police. He said uncompromising targeting known offenders by the police with the support of the community can and will reduce gang violence.

Rotary International Director Bryn Styles spoke about Rotary's role as a peace maker in the world. Peace is entrenched in our organization as part of the object of Rotary and our numerous peace programs and service projects.

The chair of the international polio plus committee Dr. Bob Scott, titled his presentation, Pax Polio: a Paradox. He pointed out that we use words like attack polio, battle polio and combat polio. Even though we use words we associate with war polio eradication is a peace program.

Past RI Director Paul Netzel talked about the growing global reputation of Rotary's peace centers and the importance of the fundraising for the centers.

Delegates unanimously endorsed a Declaration of Peace to conclude the forum. The success of the Peace forum can't be measured in one day. The success will be gauged in the weeks and months to follow. If Rotary clubs take on new service projects focused on peace locally and internationally, that will mean that the peace forum was a success.