Conflict and violence displace millions of people each year. 90 percent of those killed in conflicts are civilians and half of those are children. Often conflict starts and continues over long periods in competition for dwindling resources and as environmental changes force people to migrate.
Volatile rainfall and temperature trends in many parts of the world have exerted significant pressure on available land, water and food resources leading to diminishing food stocks, inadequate water supply, mass migration and desertification.
Rotary aims to look beyond the temporary cessation of violence in many parts of the world. There is a need to identify over the longer term conditions that lead to conflict management and mutual cooperation among those who have previously been adversaries.
Rapidly changing variables in the atmosphere have been exposing many millions of people to increased water stress in Africa and food insecurity, with yields from rain-fed agriculture dropping by 50%. Flooding in Asia has been increasing, affecting lives and livelihood of millions, especially in India and Bangladesh. The loss of biodiversity in Latin America may have global ramifications and could precipitate mass displacement.
As millions are pushed from subsistence to desperation and heightened competition for scarce resources flash points that could trigger violence can have dire implications for peace and sustainable economic development.
Rotary was called upon to assist in the process that led to the founding of the United Nations. We are close to completing our 30-year-old campaign to rid the world of polio with our many partners. Now we have joined many organizations in peacebuilding. Our influence is magnified by our 60-year collaboration with the United Nations and partnerships with organizations such as the U.S. Peace Corps, the Institute for Economics and Peace, and Mediators Beyond Borders.
Rotary has been hosting symposiums around the world, such as the Presidential Conference on Environmental Sustainability and Peace which attracted over 800 Rotarians to Vancouver in 2018. That lead to a peace initiative in Colombia among young leaders after years of internal warfare there.
Rotary invests millions of dollars to annually sponsor aspiring peace scholars in 50 Master’s degree programs and 50 Certificate programs in peace and conflict resolution at seven universities throughout the world. Delta residents who might be interested in broadening their horizons in this field and applying for these sponsored programs can contact the Rotary Clubs of Ladner, Tsawwassen or North Delta.