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:

PEACE EDUCATION WORKING GROUP On behalf of the Canadian Culture of Peace Program ( ), and my work with Canadian Centres for Teaching Peace ( ), a Canadian Peace Education Strategy and the Annual Peace Education Conference in Canada ( ), 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 ). 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. ). 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

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: Canadian Centres for Futures Studies

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

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

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?