Love Everyone Everyday–The Formula of Peace
Peace is the first ingredient of prosperity . History has often been written in the red of blood ; but development and progress are the luminous of Peace dividend , not a war trophy. The two halves of the 20th century tell their own story .
Europe, and indeed the world , reinvented itself after the end of Second World War and the collapse of colonization , leading to the rise of great institutions like the United Nations . Leaders who ordered great armies into the field , and then understood that war was more barbarism than glory , transformed the world by changing its mindset.
Mahatma Gandhi taught by example, and gave us the supreme strength of Non – Violence . India’s philosophy is not an abstract in textbooks . It flourishes in the day -to – day life of our people , who value the humane above all else .
Violence is external to our nature, when , as human beings , we do err , we exercise our sins with penitence and accountability .
But the visible rewards of peace have also obscured the fact that the age of war is not over . We are in the midst of a fourth World war , the third war the Cold War , but it was very warm in Asia , Africa , and Latin America till it ended in early 1990s .
The war against terrorism is the fourth , and it is a world war because it can raise its evil head anywhere in the world . India has been on the frontline of soft this war long before many other recognized its vicious depth or poisonous consequences .
The people of India have been a beacon of maturity through the trauma of whiplash wounds . Those who instigate violence and perpetuate hatred need to understand one truth . Few minutes of peace will achieve far more than many years of war .
Harry Truman , the 33rd President of U S A said “our goal must be – not peace in our time – but peace for all time “. This is exactly what Rotary International is working for. Rotary International and its arm , T R F are simply not emerging, they have already emerged. The relationship between Rotarians around the world are bound by their shared interest in peace.
The value they cherish will be one of the defining elements in cementing partnership. Every Rotary International President travels around the globe to build partnership between not just Rotarians , but between nations. It is their vision that Rotary can realize this by making the members to work together.
People who work for peace start with the premise that people’s future is grounded in their treasure past. Each civilization has been shaping the world for centuries. In India, people unlocked the intricacies of the human mind , understood the universe and declared the world to be one big family.
Workers for peace programmes not only open the minds but also expand the moral imagination of people who are at conflict with each other. They make the warring factions to imagine a bright future where the mind is without fear and the head is held high. The people like Mahatma Gandhi, who propagated for peace , were the change they sought in the world .
Martin Luther King said that Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of Non Violence was the only logical and moral approach in the march towards PEACE , JUSTICE AND PROGRESS . Such great men had immense faith in their ability to make other listen to them . Despite skeptics who said that people will continue to fight amongst themselves because of colour, religion and economic disparity, they were able to forge unity across the nation.
People who said that USA or India was too vast or too diverse to succeed as a peace loving nation were proven wrong. These peace workers surmounted overwhelming odds and became models to the world.
The Constitution of UNESCO says ” since war begin in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed “. Norman Cousins, the noted American journalist and world peace advocate said ” war is an invention of mind . The human mind can invent peace with Justice ” .
Talking about peace is the first step . In the words of Harry Truman , leaders are people who spend time talking about peace to people and getting them to do what they are supposed to do any way .
Peace workers know that peace can not be built on fear , it should be built on courage and imagination. It can be built only by people with an unbeatable determination to do the job on hands .
Seeds of conflict are planted by economic rivalry and social injustice . People who are trained to work for peace and conflict resolution are those who have won over themselves. Their outstanding quality is self discipline.
It is said that the men make history and not the other way around. Peace occurs when courageous skillful workers seize the opportunity to change things for the better. People living in various continents are not exclusive and need not be in competition. Instead they can overlap , share common principles of justice, progress and tolerance.
They can be taught to believe in the dignity of all human beings. Peace will not come if wait for some other person to work for it or for some other time. We are the ones that the world is waiting for to work for peace.
Focusing our life solely on our family or neighbourhood shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too title of ourselves. When we hitch our wagon to something larger than ourselves we can realize our potential. TRF offers this avenue to grow and make a difference in our community and in the world.
People in many nations have not perfected themselves. At times nations have struggled to keep the promise of liberty and equality for all the people . The actions of some leaders have not lived up to the best of their intentions .
People in many countries cannot trust their government to do the job for which it exists —that is to create an atmosphere of peace . When Government fail in this important aspect ,then it is time for qualified people to step in and work either for peace through a NGO , United Nations or through an organized body of like minded individuals.
Understanding this crucial need. The Rotary Centres for International Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution was launched at a United Nations event in 2002 . The first batch of Rotary Peace Fellows started their education in 2002 and graduated in 2004.
Students are trained in subjects that include Meditation, Principles of deep – seated Conflict Resolutions , Ethics & Human rights , contemporary Peacekeeping, Peace Building, Gender in International Politics & Development , Culture, Conflict & Reconciliation , Diplomacy & Statecraft, International Security and finally Arms Control & Disarmament .
Each year the centre selects and trains Rotary Peace Fellows based on their ability to have a significant , positive impact on world Peace and Conflict Resolution during their future careers.
The Rotary Centre provides opportunities for fellows to study methods to deal effectively with obstacles such as War , Famine, Poverty and disease that currently impede International cooperation and Peace .
The Rotary Centres also aim to advance knowledge on issues of Peace and Conflict Resolution in order to help cultivate the next generation of Community and World leaders .
The International crisis such as World Hunger , Poverty ,Global Warming , North Korea and Weapons of mass destruction ,Islamic Terrorism , and many more highlights the need for greater understanding of the political, Economic and Social factors that affect security and stability as well as the tragic human costs involved in such conflicts .
The renewed threat of insurgency and terrorism, humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan and Central Africa, and the danger of Nuclear exchange in South Asia all indicate the need for more effective strategies for promoting Peace and Stability .
Training for Meditation and Peaceful solutions to conflicts and potential conflicts in our world is an investment in the future Stable . Peaceful and Prosperous Nations will have a positive global security relations. Our programmes equip students with the knowledge and practical skill to engage in conflict resolution, peace keeping and peace – building in the contemporary global context.
The aim of TRF In Launching such an ambitious educational program is to take that first step in making this world a peaceful place for generations to come . The stalwarts of TRF were People who had a programme. They did not have excuses for not trying out something as Nobel as peace programme .
They made commitments not just promises . They said “we must do something for World Peace ” . They did not say something must be done for world peace . They had dreams not just Schemes.
The Trustees saw the potential of the program for the future and did not see the past which was filled with failures . They knew it was difficult , but that it was possible. Never did they give up saying ” it may be possible , but it is too difficult.”
Peace does not come by accident. It is result of our attitude . People ‘s attitude is their choice . Hence peace can be made to prevail if people choose it .
Peace does not come by chance . Brokering peace between warring communities is not difficult and the process need not be a mystery . It is always the result of applying some basic principles of human relationships . That is the truth and is simple . It is not easy , but is simple .
An English proverb says , ” a smooth sea never made a skillful mariner ” . Every thing is difficult before it becomes easy . People can create their own environment of peace . The peace Scholars help people to create such environments in their community , work place and even between nations .
The founding fathers of this programme in TRF did not want the world to slip into anarchy . That is why they launched an education programme that can produce qualified individuals who can help others to settle their differences amicably . INSTEAD OF PREACHING ABOUT PEACE , TRF BECAME ONE OF THE ENGINES OF PEACE .
The Rotary Peace Centres are born out of burning desire to make peace a reality in the world that seems to be torn apart . It is the starting point of all accomplishment . By establishing Six Centres around the world T R F has demonstrated its enthusiasm to world peace .
People, who are disrupting peace today , did not become disgruntled elements overnight . Nearly all of them have been gradually groomed into extremism and intolerance from their early youth . It is therefore , the youth of today who must be our focus of attention if we have hope to have semblance of peace in the years ahead.
There are many ways to promote peace in the world but perhaps the best way is to promote it within ourselves . Peace is a gradual and wonderful event that occurs because compassionate people are inspired to help others discover the joy of peace .
Helping others also has the direct effect of increasing our personal peace and well being , but this is merely one of the many bonuses that come from sharing our kindness with our fellow human beings .
Peace like reading, writing , mathematics, drawing and painting is a learned skill that improves our knowledge, maturity , health , happiness , and longevity . The advent of the World Wide Web may just provide the boost in knowledge and peace humankind has been waiting for . Knowledge combined with enlightenment leads to wisdom. WISDOM IS PEACE .
American President Abraham Lincoln once said ” YOU CANNOT ESCAPE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF TOMORROW BY EVADING IT TODAY ” IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY ROTARIAN EVERY DAY TO SPREAD THE MESSAGE OF LOVE .
“You better live your best , act your best and think your best today ; for today is the sure preparation for tomorrow and all the other tomorrow’s that follow ” said Harriet Martineau , the English novelist.
Few years ago the seeds of peace study was sown by T R F around the world . When a seeds finds the place , the right position in the soil , its action is over . Other forces take over and and it grows in to a plant .
The result is a band of Rotary Peace Fellows who can take the message of peace to youngsters and others in dire need of a life without Conflict . Rotarians need to nurture more such people.
Good Samaritans saw an opportunity to do so through T R F yesterday . I am sure you will see the same opportunity today and the future generation will see it tomorrow .
Always remember,
Peace must begin with each of us and within each of us .
When there is Peace in the Heart , there is Peace in the Family .
When there is Peace in the Family , there is Peace in the Village .
When there is Peace in the Village, there is Peace in the Country .
When there is Peace in the Country , there is Peace in the World .
By supporting The Rotary Peace Centres we have an historic opportunity to say ” YES ! PEACE IS POSSIBLE. LET’S ALL LIVE IN PEACE ” .