Press Release from RIBI

19th March 2002

ROTARY PEACE CENTRES TO BE LAUNCHED AT GLASGOW CONFERENCE AND THE UN

Professor Paul Rogers, Head of Peace Studies at Bradford University, will be speaking at this year's Rotary conference about Rotary's new Peace Centre initiative, due to begin in September 2002. Seventy Rotary World Peace Scholars have been selected to participate in the two-year MA graduate programme related to peace and conflict resolution at seven universities throughout the world. Bradford University, chosen from more than 100 universities world-wide, will be running the Peace Centre MA programme in the UK.

The Rotary peace initiative will be officially launched at the United Nations following the conference, where the selected scholars will be announced. Tim Wirth, Director of the United Nations Foundation will also be speaking at the conference.

Recent conflicts in Israel, Afghanistan, and the Middle-East have dramatised the devastating effects of war. The future ability of world leaders and diplomats to resolve conflicts is critical to achieving peace in the world. The vision of the Rotary Peace Centres is to train scholars to address the issues related to peace and conflict, and to then implement policies which will help to prevent future conflicts. It is hoped that the courses will produce potential employees for key peace making organisations such as, the United Nations, UNICEF and the Red Cross.

At the conference, Professor Paul Rogers with Dr. Karen Abbi-Etti, who is currently working on conflict resolution and peace-building activities in the Lebanon, will address the conference on their experiences in postgraduate peace education and Dr Abbi-Etti's work in Beirut. This will be complemented by a video showing a simulation exercise in conjunction with the Royal Military Police. The video will show the resolution of a crisis caused as a humanitarian convoy is blocked by paramilitaries from getting supplies through to a Bosnian village torn apart by conflict.

Professor Paul Rogers comments, ' Wars in the Balkans, Sierra Leone, Middle-East and other regions underscore the urgent need for conflict resolution skills in the world's leaders and diplomats. The Rotary Peace Centres will promote global peace and understanding on a higher level, attracting potential peace makers from across the globe'.

Each Rotary World Peace Scholar will be funded by the Rotary Foundation for the two-year programme at a cost of $50,000. The Peace Centres in total will cost $3.5 million a year. Funds have been raised by Rotary clubs throughout the world and through private and corporate donations. The 2002 intake of scholars is now fully funded, and for 2003, 11 places have already been funded. Each year the Rotary Foundation provides scholarships and grants amounting to $100 million for education programmes throughout the world.

David Liddiatt, President of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland comments, 'the object of the Rotary Foundation is to provide a better world through educational, vocational and humanitarian programmes. Rotary does not claim that it can stop wars, but what it does aim to do is create the next generation of world leaders dedicated to world peace and conflict resolution. Within 6 years there will be 420 graduates from Rotary's International Peace Centres, and it is hoped that all of them will be working towards providing solutions to international conflicts. Rotary are very fortunate to have Professor Paul Rogers heading up the Peace Centre in Bradford'.

Dr Jamie Shea, Director of Information and Press and NATO will also be speaking on global peace issues at the conference.

Ends

Notes for Editors

1. Rotary is an organisation of business and professional persons united world-wide, who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. Their motto is: Service above Self.

2. For general information on Rotary in your area, contact the local Rotary Club President. Details from Robin Freeman: 01789?765411

3. The universities selected to operate the Rotary Centers are: University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, Duke University and the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA (jointly-hosted center); University of California-Berkeley, California, USA; Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris, Paris, France; University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan; and, Universidad del Salvador, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

4. In 2002, there were 217 applicants from across 35 countries for the scholarships. Applicants must have a good record of field experience, as well as a relevant degree. Applicants will be studying in a country other than their own, so must be fluent in the language of the host country. In the 2002 intake, 57 per cent of scholars will be female and 43 per cent male. 40 per cent of entrants have 5 years or more experience in International Relations. Bradford University will be offering the degree as an MPhil for second year scholars.