February is Peace & Conflict Prevention Month. In this honor, we are more than thrilled to host a District lecture by Sibylle Rupprecht, Rotary International Representative amongst the United Nations of Geneva. Please note: the event is open to all prospects, Rotarians and Rotaractors from the district. RSVP on the District’s website.
When it comes to peace, we have no shortage of fine words. But where are the deeds? Peace is multi-faceted and is often understood simply as the absence of war. However, long-term stability is necessary to ensure peace. Stability in politics, health care, democracy, the economy, education and others are needed to prevent social conflicts. Every time there is an economic crisis, conflicts flare up.
In February 2023 the open war between Russia and Ukraine will already be a year old. Let’s not forget that one year is very short compared to other conflicts that have been going on for years. We tend to forget about them, because they are further away from Europe, like the conflict in Yemen, Ethiopia, Syria or South America. There are currently 32 open conflicts in the world. Ukraine is close to us, also by its culture. This proximity perhaps brutally reminds us of the fragility of peace, bringing back memories of the Balkan conflict.
For many, Peace is something abstract, somewhat diffuse, intangible. It is not like polio vaccination, which allows us to count the number of people vaccinated and gives a precise figure. Nor is it like the strategic axes of water, education, maternal and child health. Peace is not just the absence of war, the definition is more complex: it is especially once the guns fall silent that the real work of peace begins. The aim is to achieve a positive peace rebuilding society and its governing systems including education, infrastructure, democracy.
Rotarians are people of action, and we must engage in peace and conflict resolution. Let’s have a good look at the way we can foster positive peace within us, in our families, with neighbours, colleagues and fellow citizens.
