Transcript ROTARY CLUB OF OKOTOKS

ROTARY CLUB OF OKOTOKS
SERVICE ABOVE SELF
GLOBAL CONFERENCE FROM
REACTION TO PREVENTION:
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CIVIL SOCIETY FORGING
PARTNERSHIPS TO PREVENT VIOLENT
CONFLICT AND BUILD PEACE
JULY 19 – 22, 2005 AT THE UNITED
NATIONS HEADQUARTERS, NEW YORK
BACKGROUND:
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In response to a call to action by U.N.
Secretary Kofi Annan
For Civil Society Organizations to help
prevent violent conflict
BACKGROUND:
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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:
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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:
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1. Promote human security and address the
root causes of conflict:
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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:
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2. Make prevention the fundamental
goal of collective security
arrangements:
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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:
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3. An integrated architecture of
effective institutional capacities and
partnerships:
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Strengthen Civil Society Organizations for
prevention and peacebuilding,
Enhance leadership,
Increase the capacities of regional
organizations.
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You can read my 5 page summary of
these documents in more detail at:
http://www.cultureofpeace.ca/GPPAC2005.htm
PEACE EDUCATION WORKING
GROUP
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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
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The purpose was:
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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
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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:
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Theme: “Foresight, Innovation and
Strategy”
July 29 – August 1, 2005 in Chicago,
Illinois
Over 1,000 participants from around the
world
ISSUE AREAS:
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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:
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A better future is a future with peace:
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"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:
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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:
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Our new media (computers, internet, real
time television, cell phones, etc)
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drive
drive
drive
drive
drive
drive
drive
new
new
new
new
new
new
new
perceptions
worldviews,
understandings,
psychology,
relationships,
institutions,
culture.
HIGHLIGHTS:
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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:
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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
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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.)
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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.)
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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
Social Intelligence
Peace Education
Canadian Culture
of Peace Program
United Nations
Culture of Peace
Program
HIGHLIGHTS: IMPLICATIONS
FOR PEACE (cont.)
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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:
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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?
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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.)
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work smarter not harder (use our ‘business’ smarts to stop underachieving 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.)
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“… 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?
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We good people need to work on leader
motivation:
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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
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Interact
Rotaract
Rotary Community Corps
Rotary Fellowships
Rotary Friendship Exchange
Rotary Volunteers
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards
World Community Service (humanitarian)
Youth Exchange
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http://www.rotary.org/training/elearning/programs_files/frame.htm
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Rotary Club of Okotoks –
International Program Options
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My peace initiatives:
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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
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Suggest an International night to
discuss:
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The various options
Members wishes
Homework: please give your
consideration to International Program
THANK YOU 
ANY QUESTIONS?