Mr. owori presentation to rotary, lima, peru, oct. 2013 trf

transcript

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION

LIGHT UP ROTARY, CHANGE LIVES

TRF Trustee Sam F. Owori

AT ZONE INSTITUTE OF ZONE 23 B & C

LIMA, PERU, FRIDAY 10TH OCTOBER, 2014

• Gary has given us a wonderful theme:

― “Light up Rotary”.

• This resonates with what Rotarians do!

• Yes, the world is often dark.

• You, I, Us should provide light

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION• Why are we here? Compelling desire to

touch someone’s life.• Normal natural feeling to do good.• Not necessary to know the beneficiaries.• As we interact and share experiences:–We are engaging Rotary –We change lives for the better–We are lighting up Rotary–We Profit Most who Serve best

THE ROTARY FOUNDATIONOUR VALUES•Think about the object of Rotary.•Friendship, service, peace are fundamental.•Acquaintance is powerful for peace, goodwill and changing lives•Ethics and professionalism create harmony/ predictability.•Services creates goodwill and changes attitudes.•The magic of love changes everything. As Mauvias said, “ The day you no longer burn with love many will die of cold.” 4

ROTARY IS A PEACE AGENCY

•Changing lives means fostering peace. BUT

•Peace means different things to people.

•At the basic level:

– Peace is clean water and sanitation

– It is decent shelter and clothing

– It is a full belly 5

– Good health and freedom from disease

– It is the right to work

– It is good education and literacy

– It is peace, security and self-esteem.

– It is the absence of WANT.

– It is enjoyment of human rights. 6

THE ROTARY FOUNDATIONBut what is the reality?•Dirty water As we open taps and drink, shave and shower, let us remember that there are millions who cannot access clean water, yet water is life.

• Remember that every second, 8 children under 5 years die from drinking contaminated water. So, as you Rotarians provide clean water, you are saving lives, and promoting peace and goodwill.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION• Poor shelterAs we retire to our houses at night, remember that there

are millions who have no roofs over their heads and are not impressed by the gap between them and you. Rotarians can narrow the gap and create peace and goodwill.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION• No clothingMillions cannot keep warm or even clean, because they

have nothing to wear. Many of us have missed many opportunities to empty our wardrobes of many clothes you have not worn for a long time.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATIONFamine and Hunger•Many of us feed well. But remember that there are millions of hungry and malnourished people all around us.•Statistics show that 1 billion people go to bed hungry every night.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION• It is also reported that one child is dying of

hunger every 3 seconds.

• This is the TRUTH.

• But it is NOT FAIR.

• And will not Build Goodwill or Friendships.

• We Rotarians make a difference.

• But we must do better. 12

THE ROTARY FOUNDATIONIlliteracy•Here, we take reading, writing and numeracy for granted.•But a large part of the world is illiterate.•As technology develops more are becoming illiterate.•Here too Rotarians can make a difference.

• It is said , that ill health is a by product of poverty and illiteracy, and if that is correct, Rotarians should take note and strive to make a difference.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION• In a situation where there is:

Unemployment

• Then what do you expect?

These are the beginnings of insecurity, discontent, hate, robberies and revolutions.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION• The poor and destitute don’t choose that

situation.

• Could be victims of history, systems, structures.

• If situations perpetuate inequality and suffering;

• If there is no empathy with the suffering people;

• If there is superiority of one group over others;

• We lose capacity to prevent/ resolve conflicts. 16

• Fairness and Equity prevent explosive situations• Rotarians make a difference through

projects.• Being good and fair is self preservation• We cannot live in isolation.• Benefit of your generosity comes back.

• InsecurityGreed, arrogance, poverty, oppression trigger insecurity.

Past RI President Ed Cadman said:

“ Peace must start with the absence of war, but peace is more than that…..Most of all , peace is love.”

Past RI President Raja Saboo once told us in quoting Mahatma Gandhi:

“ God himself dare not appear to a hungry man except in the form of bread.”

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE•Corruption is rampant•Most don’t remember a world without corruption.•We glorify evil and despise good.•The honest are called fools.•Crooks are called smart and rewarded.•Honesty is a liability:- because you prevent crimes.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE

• Protector becomes the persecutor.• A victim is blamed for being in

harm’s way.• Get harassed for volunteering

information.• Sectoral allocation of national

resources is skewed.• You are punished for standing for

your rights.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE•We pay little attention to vulnerables.

•We allow obscene publication under “freedom/globalization”.

•Complain about length of religious services.

•But thrilled if movie/sports time is extended.

•Impunity reigns and there is no shame.

NB: Without shame there are no minimum standards!

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE•Consumers are not protected from substandard products.

•Manufacturers discharge toxic waste dangerously.

•Workers are left at mercy of employers.

•Salaries/pensions not protected from inflation.

•Industrial health and safety long forgotten.

•Leaders sensitive to constructive criticisms.

WE LIVE IN A WORLD WHERE

•Trade Unions and Media are weak.

•Ears itching for flattering news.

•Self-serving promotions passing as CSR.•Disparate employee remunerations.

• Yes this sounds like a litany of lamentations.

• But the list is actually longer.

• The litany shows that things are upside down.

• But Rotarians can turn things the right side up.

Mahatma Gandhi said;

There is enough in this world for everyone’s needs but not for everyone’s greed.”

THE ROTARY FOUNDATIONWe continue to see:

National conflicts•Somalia•Afghanistan•Syria•Pakistan•Iraq•South Sudan

We have also seen:

Cross-Boarder conflicts

•Sudan and South Sudan•Israel and Gaza/Palestine•Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbours.•Russia and Ukraine•North Korea and South Korea etc.

THE ROTARY FOUNDATIONBut don’t lose heart. Your work is making a difference.

•PolioPlus reduced wild polio virus circulation from 125 to 3 endemic countries.

•GSE, Ambassadorial Scholars, Student + fellowship exchanges have reduced prejudice and xenophobia in the world.

•Peace centres and other myriad programmes have promoted peace and world understanding.

Rotary track record seen through:•Myriad projects at grass roots.•Polio-plus programme to eradicate polio.•Peace initiatives e.g League of Nations after WW1.•Group study exchange and Ambassadorial scholars.•Student, friendship, fellowship exchange•Peace Centres and peace scholars.

Albert Einstein once said:

“ We live in a dangerous world not because of the evil bad people do, but because of the many good people who look on and do nothing.”

But Rotarians are different:•We don’t just look on•We do something•We do alleviate the suffering.•We Light up Rotary and Change lives.

But we can do much more;Through Rotary principles and initiatives of:

Non – religious Non – sectarian Non – political The 4-Way test Peace centres

THE ROTARY FOUNDATION• We need more Rotarians and diversity.• More Rotary in Rotarians• More Rotary visibility to change lives• Rotarians agree with Thomas Paine who said:

“My country is the world, and my religion is to do good.”

• Yes, we also have the same answer to the Biblical question of “Who is my neighbour?”, because the world has become a global village.

As the preamble to the Constitution of UNESCO states:

“ Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.”

Yes, it is in our minds that the devil has his battlefield, and that is where the battle for peace must be won.

THINK ABOUT THIS!!•A hungry man is an angry man•1% of the world population controls everything•For 30% of the population going to war is a step in improving their lives.•Poverty is a recipe for violence and warfare.

• You have donated generously to TRF

• TRF and beneficiaries indebted to you.

• Don’t get tired: The challenge is big

• Continue as PH Society member

• Consider AKS membership

• Nothing is too small or too big39

SO, LIGHT UP ROTARY:

•Among Politicians and Civic Leaders•The Media, Faith and Opinion leaders•The Academia, Schools and Colleges•The New Generation/ youths•Professional and Business Associations•Spouses, children and grand children and others. 40

☺Thank you!

Mr. owori presentation to rotary, lima, peru, oct. 2013 trf

Education