ROTARY CLUB OF OKOTOKS

SERVICE ABOVE SELF

GLOBAL CONFERENCE FROM REACTION TO PREVENTION:

CIVIL SOCIETY FORGING PARTNERSHIPS TO PREVENT VIOLENT CONFLICT AND BUILD PEACE

JULY 19 – 22, 2005 AT THE UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK

BACKGROUND:

In response to a call to action by U.N. Secretary Kofi Annan

For Civil Society Organizations to help prevent violent conflict

BACKGROUND: Over 1,000 participants from around the

world, including a handful of Canadians Facilitated by the European Centre for

Conflict Prevention Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs

and the International Development Research Centre Canada among 27 sponsors

OUTPUT: Canadian Action Agenda on Conflict

Prevention North America Regional Action Agenda “People Building Peace: A Global Agenda

For The Prevention of Violent Conflict”

The latter document feeding into the U.N. General Assembly September 2005

HIGHLIGHTS: 1. Promote human security and address

the root causes of conflict: Prevention and sustainable peacebuilding, Implement demilitarization, disarmament

and resettlement processes, Provide sustained support for

reconstruction, Generate cultures of peace from the

grassroots up by mainstreaming peace education, cultivating conflict resolution life skills and promoting reconciliation

HIGHLIGHTS: 2. Make prevention the fundamental

goal of collective security arrangements: An internationally agreed program of

action for prevention and peacebuilding,

Integrate early warning, response and local capacity building,

Provide more resources for prevention and peacebuilding…

HIGHLIGHTS:

3. An integrated architecture of effective institutional capacities and partnerships: Strengthen Civil Society Organizations

for prevention and peacebuilding, Enhance leadership, Increase the capacities of regional

organizations.

You can read my 5 page summary of these documents in more detail at:

http://www.cultureofpeace.ca/GPPAC2005.htm

PEACE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP On behalf of the Canadian Culture of Peace

Program (http://www.cultureofpeace.ca ), and my work with Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace ( http://www.peace.ca ), a Canadian Peace Education Strategy and the Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada ( http://www.peace.ca/CanadianAgenda2005.htm ), this reporter ( Robert Stewart ) participated in the Peace Education and Conflict Resolution Education Working Group, which met over four days.

PEACE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP The purpose was:  

to review the state of affairs of peace education and conflict resolution education around the world

review how we may build a peace education and conflict resolution education community around the world

how we may build connections that empower for peace education and conflict resolution education around the world

identify contextually and culturally sensitive programs and practices

review how we may ‘institutionalize’ peace education and conflict resolution education around the world (i.e. how we can make it last)

PEACE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP A pre-reader was provided of reports from various

countries on the state of affairs of peace education and conflict resolution education (which will become available on the Internet – the current draft is available at http://www.disputeresolution.ohio.gov/crecountry.htm ).

The output from this working group will feed into our next meeting at the Second Annual Conference on Conflict Resolution Education, September 28 to October 1, 2005 in Columbus , Ohio (ref.  http://www.disputeresolution.ohio.gov/holddate.htm ).   We are looking for a representative of the Canadian Government to participate.

WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE:

Theme: “Foresight, Innovation and Strategy”

July 29 – August 1, 2005 in Chicago, Illinois

Over 1,000 participants from around the world

ISSUE AREAS: Technology and science Resources and environment Learning and education Health futures Governance and community Social and cultural trends Futures methodologies and processes Business and careers Values and spirituality

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE:

A better future is a future with peace:

"We need to adopt the mindset of most professional futurists and become systemic optimists - those who believe that life can get better, but only if we fundamentally alter the way we think and do things.  We need to embrace whole-system change." 

THE INFORMATION REVOLUTION:

Massive forces are transforming the 21st century, driven by technology and innovation.

Our task is to understand and redirect these forces toward a Culture of Peace and Non-violence (much like a judo expert redirects the force of his/her opponent).

CULTURE CHANGE: Our new media (computers, internet,

real time television, cell phones, etc) drive new perceptions drive new worldviews, drive new understandings, drive new psychology, drive new relationships, drive new institutions, drive new culture.

HIGHLIGHTS:

The new leader will be the collaborative catalyst

Society will change We can’t change the past or the

present, but we can change the future

Infiltrating works better than revolutionizing

HIGHLIGHTS - The Prescription for Change: work smarter not harder expose current paradigms (their strengths, weaknesses,

opportunities, and threats) cross pollinate new ideas and collaborations develop new tools and language craft a new narrative infiltrate all institutions, everywhere find opportunities for change support communities of fans recapture the spirit of the citizens and amateurs who are good

citizens rooted in amoré: love and passion. Lever our power of information and social capital for the

common good – be entrepreneurial; developing sustainable action

Champion peace and all its elements

HIGHLIGHTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PEACE The future of power and force Look at nature – stress creates evolution Dissatisfaction with the status quo is healthy

and necessary Civil society – the real and future superpower

vs. no government wants to recognize people power because it threatens them

The larger the network, the greater the value Transformational model

HIGHLIGHTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PEACE (cont.) Organic learning environments Internet/distance learning – the most

effective education is self-learning The greatest law enforcement challenge

of the information age: positive ID of criminals/terrorists, before they act, while preserving civil liberties

Find solutions to the bad guys’ problems

HIGHLIGHTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PEACE (cont.) Importance of addressing systemic

problems It is relatively easy to deal with

technological change – the challenge is the social and behavioural side

The importance of Social Intelligence There is a lack of public discourse

about these vital things

United Nations Culture of Peace Program

Canadian Cultureof Peace Program

Peace Education

Social Intelligence

United Nations Culture of Peace Program

Canadian Cultureof Peace Program

Peace Education

Social Intelligence

HIGHLIGHTS: IMPLICATIONS FOR PEACE (cont.) Total solutions and service (holistic) Transformation management vs. institutions

that do not know how to grapple with ‘cultural’ change (starting with the Peace Industry and Peace Professionals)

A new Social Contract: ethics, accountability, citizen involvement, collaboration, flexibility, patience with its citizens and civil society organizations, educational institutions, business, media, religions, etc.

WORLD FUTURE SOCIETY ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Met and listened to incredibly

interesting people; learned lots 2006 Conference July 28 – 31, Sheraton

Centre, Toronto 2006 Theme “Creating Global Strategies

for Humanity’s Future” Web site: www.wfs.org Canadian Centres for Futures Studies

http://www.futurescanada.ca

WHAT MIGHT THIS MEAN FOR ROTARY? Rotary will have to change with the

times = transformation management to achieve Rotary’s full potential

Rotary will have to “live on purpose” = members of the future will force Rotary to “walk the talk” (particularly re Peace)

Address systemic problems As a truly international organization,

Rotary will have to build its Social Intelligence

WHAT MIGHT THIS MEAN FOR ROTARY? (cont.) work smarter not harder (use our ‘business’ smarts to stop

under-achieving our potential) expose current paradigms (their strengths, weaknesses,

opportunities, and threats) cross pollinate new ideas and collaborations develop new tools and language craft a new narrative infiltrate all institutions, everywhere find opportunities for change support communities of fans recapture the spirit of the citizens and amateurs who are good

citizens rooted in amoré: love and passion. Lever our power of information and social capital for the

common good – be entrepreneurial; developing sustainable action

Champion peace and all its elements

WHAT MIGHT THIS MEAN FOR ROTARY? (cont.) “… Rotarians believe that if there is failure

in the avenue of international service, there may be no need for concern about the other avenues of service. … and this book (“Seven Paths To Peace”) is presented in the hope and belief that there are thousands (now millions) of hands which up to now have not been lifted – but which now may be persuaded to row a new and firm course.”

WHAT MIGHT THIS MEAN FOR INDIVIDUAL ROTARIANS?

We good people need to work on leader motivation: Our own personal leadership – we can

do better Leaders close to us (in our

organizations) Political and “establishment” leaders Alternative leaders (eg. Good citizenship

civil society organizations) Future leaders – our youth

Rotary Club of Okotoks – International Program Options Interact Rotaract Rotary Community Corps Rotary Fellowships Rotary Friendship Exchange Rotary Volunteers Rotary Youth Leadership Awards World Community Service (humanitarian) Youth Exchange http://www.rotary.org/training/elearning/programs_files/frame.ht

m

Rotary Club of Okotoks – International Program Options My peace initiatives:

Web site and conferencing Peace education programming RI’s Seven Paths to Peace Rotary Peace Parks Peace Rotarians Action Group Rotary University Chairs in Peace Studies Rotary Peace Plus Program

My goal: help Rotary achieve its peace goals

www.peace.ca/rotary.htm

Rotary Club of Okotoks – International Program Options

Suggest an International night to discuss: The various options Members wishes

Homework: please give your consideration to International Program

THANK YOU

ANY QUESTIONS?