The Ambassadors - OPINIONS - Vol.5, Issue 2 (July 2002)

The Japanese Rotarian and global peace advocate, Amb. Moto Nishimura sent the following newsletter about the recent meetings for the Rotary District Peace Communities (RDPC) and their other activities in different communities, from Wagga Wagga (Australia) to Honolulu (Hawaii). After the September 11 tragedy, any effort to implement peace and cultural interactions has become very valuable and essential. The Ambassadors Magazine supports the excellent efforts of Amb. Nishimura and his colleagues to achieving peace. We are highly optimistic that these RDPCs will have a much needed global effect.

Additionally, RDPCs believe in the sanctity of life and that respect, without prejudice or discrimination, is the cornerstone for the dignity of individuals. RDPCs recognize these values as the pathways to peace in the wider arena

hree new RDPCs have been declared in April –May 2002, in Yugoslavia, the Philippines and Argentina, bringing the total number of Peace Communities to 50 world-wide in 16 different countries.

declared on 7 April 2002 in Belgrade, under an initiative of the Rotary Club of Zemun City and local civic authorities

The declaration was made at a ceremony held at the municipal building, that was attended by a large number of VIPs, guests and Rotarians to witness the signing of the agreement,

The previous evening the key speakers were the Spanish ambassador who also represented the European Union, and the Australian Ambassador Robert Stewart. Ambassador Stewart was also the guest of honor and did a great job representing the Rotary District Peace Communities Project. The Swiss Ambassador and the Austrian Ambassador together with special RI Coordinator for Yugoslavia, Peter Gut of Switzerland, also attended.

eanwhile, on the other side of the World the citizens of the City of Suragao on the North Eastern tip of the island if Mindanao, in the Philippines, was celebrating the declaration of their city as the 48^th Rotary District Peace Community on Tuesday 9 April 2003.

The RDPC Dean of Ambassadors, Geoffrey Little, who played a major role in Suragao becoming a peace community, attended the ceremony. Geoff reports that there was outstanding effort made for Surigao to join the network of Peace Communities. An outstanding monument bearing the “dove”

symbol was built and erected in just two weeks, through the cooperation of the local community and the Rotary Club.

pecial Ambassador Patricia Sontag of Argentina advises the declaration of the 50th Peace Community on 11 May 2002 at the City of Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina, in Rotary District 4930. Rotary Club President, Gustavo Granillo, and the Mayor of the City of Comodoro Rivadavia, Jorge Aubio, signed the agreement at the ceremony.

In what was certainly a first for the RDPC Program the commitment to the program at Comodoro Rivadavia was a three-way commitment, also involving the local Rotaract Club and with their President, Santiago Gómez, also signing the agreement.

District Governor 4930, Carlos Capdevila and R.I. President Representative, Mr Jose Antonio Salazar Cruz witnessed the signing of the declaration.

New large-format Charter Certificates were prepared and forwarded By Chairman Ken Stone and Vice Dean of Ambassadors Wal Breust to each of the new RDPCs in recognition of the declarations. Messages of congratulations were also forwarded, together with best wishes for the future success of these communities in furthering the ideals of the RDPC Program.

ongratulations go to a number of newly appointed Special Ambassadors who have recently been presented with their Commissions of Appointment.

Firstly, the Governor of Hawaii was appointed as a Special Ambassador by Moto Nishimura of Japan, in a ceremony that coincided with the signing of the Honolulu Peace Declaration (see following article) , and was witnessed by Special Ambassadors Gene Grounds of Hawaii and Robert Stewart of Canada.

At their annual conference, D9700 appointed District Governor Ed Chenery, District Governor Elect, Ian Tooke and Path Heang, Rotary Peace Scholar R/C of Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA (D3350 Thailand).

n recognition of their outstanding work for the Rotary District Peace Communities Program, three Vice-Deans of Ambassadors have been appointed to the program. Congratulation go to the founder of the RDPCP, Tony Quinlivan, and to Moto Nishimura and Wal Breust on their elevation to these newly created appointments. The honor of presenting their Certificates of Commission went to Special Ambassador Ben Cayatano, the Governor of Hawaii, as his first official duty on behalf of the RDPCP, following the announcement of his own appointment as a Special Ambassador.

Congratulations to all our newly appointed Ambassadors and our best wishes for their active and rewarding participation in the Rotary District Peace Communities Program. May they meet with great success in furthering our objectives.

Honolulu Peace Declaration Supported by Rotary District Peace Communities Program.

nder an initiative principally by Vice- Dean of Ambassadors, Moto Nishimuro, supported by Special Ambassadors Gene Grounds of Hawaii and Robert Stewart of Canada, the Honolulu Peace Declaration was signed at Honolulu, Hawaii on 3 April 2003 and forwarded to Rotary International.

Known as the Peace Plus initiative, the declaration calls for the international implementation of Peace education throughout the world. The objective of this is to create a global culture of Peace to replace the current conflict culture that exists and has done so throughout the history of mankind.

The Honolulu Declaration was strongly supported by the RDPCP with a declaration in support of Peace Plus being forwarded for attachment to the primary declaration.

The Rotary District Peace Communities encouraged that the RDPCP Objectives be incorporated as goals of the Honolulu Peace Declaration initiative.

The RDPCP also called for all of the educational programs of Rotary international, such as Rotary Youth Exchange, Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, Rotary Youth Program of Enrichment, etc, to be actively and positively reviewed by Rotary International and expanded to incorporate and promote Peace values under formally structured educational arrangements.

The objectives of Rotary District Peace Communities’ are consistent with the higher values of Rotary International and its global pursuit of Peace, Goodwill and International Understanding.

Additionally, the Rotary District Peace Communities strongly endorsed the call of the Honolulu Peace Declaration for Rotary International to complement the United Nation’s Culture of Peace Program and the Hague Appeal for Global Peace, through a Campaign for Peace Education.

n news just to hand, following representation by Chairman RDPCP Ken Stone, with the support of Special Ambassadors Robert Stewart, Peter Hann, et al, the RDPC of Parkesville Vancouver Island CANADA has agreed to host the third Rotary District International Peace Communities Conference in 2003.

SA Robert Stewart advised the following: At the Parksville AM Club, (District 5020) meeting this morning the idea of hosting the 2003 Rotary District Peace Communities Conference was fully endorsed.

Depending on the anticipated numbers attending, our first choice of location would be Parksville. As Canada’s first (and only) Peace city we would like to share our small peace of paradise with the rest of the world. A quick check this AM revealed that our conference facilities could host around 250 delegates. If larger numbers were anticipated we could look to Nanaimo, 35K to the south or Victoria, 125K South.

Following the success of the 2nd Rotary District International Peace Communities Conference that was held in Wagga Wagga NSW Australia in conjunction with the United National Year 2000 – Year for a Culture of Peace, the prospect of the 3^rd International Conference being conducted in Parkesville is great news,

belated welcome to the RDPCP Committee of David Crosweller of the Rotary Club of Wagga Wagga Kooringal. David has commenced duties in this important role, which remained vacant on the forming of the 2002-2003 committee. Also welcome to Hedy Bryant of the Rotary Club of Bathurst Daybreak who comes to the committee as a replacement for Ben Gelin who has had to withdraw due to reasons of pressure of business. Thanks go to Ben for his past support of the RDPCP and a warm welcome to Hedy.

ewly appointed Secretary David Crosweller has been working tirelessly with World Vision to raise funds to Clear a Minefield in Cambodia

David has already raised some $5000 towards the project. The project has the full support of the Australian Government and receives a subsidy, one dollar for two, for all funds raised.

Already, through the generosity of Rotarians in this District, $7500 has been forwarded through World Vision Australia to the project. Our donation has made safe enough land for 3 families and their homes, and the farmland necessary to provide for their ongoing sustenance.

This project is being promoted to all D9700 Rotary Clubs as a worthy International Program project to be conducted in cooperation with the RDPCP. The World Vision website has further details of the project (www.worldvision.com.au). This project is commended to the global network of RDPCs.

Mr. Moto Nishimura, Vice Dean of Rotary Ambassadors, is a strong advocate for global peace and healthy cultural interactions. He is an educator who respects family life. Email: kooringal-moto@clubaa.com