Promoting Peace as a Rotarian
Mar 10, 2023 12:15 PM
Crista Renner
Promoting Peace as a Rotarian

Rotary has been committed to service and peacebuilding since it was founded in 1905.

Do you know that Rotary was very instrumental in the formation of the United Nations in 1945? Rotary and the United Nations have a shared history of working toward peace and addressing humanitarian issues around the world.

The UN Charter was signed on 26 June 1945 by representatives of the 50 countries attending the United Nations Conference on International Organization in San Francisco. Poland, which was not represented, signed it later and became one of the UN's original 51 Member States. Rotary was there, too, and deeply involved in the formation and promotion of the United Nations. Read the history HEREhttps://www.rotary.org/en/history-rotary-and-united-nations

In 2002, Rotary established another formal relationship with the United Nations with the launch of Rotary Peace Centers worldwide to help develop leaders with the skills to foster peace and resolve conflict.

Alan AtKisson, an author and leader in sustainability and sustainable development, says, “Civil Society is humanity’s conscience… It’s where the world’s thoughtful, committed citizens go about the business of changing things for the better.” As members of one of the world’s largest civil society organizations, we are all peacebuilders called to the activities that prevent violence in our communities. As Rotarians, we address basic human needs such as feeding, sheltering, empowering, and educating people, and our collective impact contributes to peace locally, nationally and globally.  

Crista will outline some of the tools used by Rotary that are designed to help us navigate some of the tough conversations we have been having, and she will offer some strategies for managing our own internal conflict. She promises to make this a fun and engaging opportunity to explore why conflict is good!