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

1. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
LIGHT UP ROTARY, CHANGE LIVES
by
TRF Trustee Sam F. Owori
AT ZONE INSTITUTE OF ZONE 23 B & C
LIMA, PERU, FRIDAY 10TH
OCTOBER, 2014
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2. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• 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
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3. 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 3

4. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
OUR 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

5. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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

6. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
– 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

7. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
But 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.
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8. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• 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.
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9. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• Poor shelter
As 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.
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10. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• No clothing
Millions 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.
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11. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Famine 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.
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12. 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.
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13. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Illiteracy
•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.
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14. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• 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.
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15. 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.
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16. 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.
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17. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• 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.
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18. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• Insecurity
Greed, arrogance, poverty, oppression trigger insecurity.
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19. THE ROTARY
FOUNDATION
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.”
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20. THE ROTARY
FOUNDATION
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.”
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21. 21
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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.

22. 22
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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.

23. 23
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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!

24. 24
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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.

25. 25
THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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.

26. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• 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.
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27. THE ROTARY
FOUNDATION
Mahatma Gandhi said;
There is enough in this world for
everyone’s needs but not for
everyone’s greed.”
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28. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
We continue to see:
National conflicts
•Somalia
•Afghanistan
•Syria
•Pakistan
•Iraq
•South Sudan
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29. THE ROTARY
FOUNDATION
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. 29

30. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
But 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.
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31. THE ROTARY
FOUNDATION
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.
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32. THE ROTARY
FOUNDATION
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.”
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33. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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. 33

34. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
But we can do much more;
Through Rotary principles and
initiatives of:
 Non – religious
 Non – sectarian
 Non – political
 The 4-Way test
 Peace centres 34

35. 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. 35

36. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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.”
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37. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
Yes, it is in our
minds that the
devil has his
battlefield, and
that is where the
battle for peace
must be won.
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38. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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.
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39. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
• 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 big 39

40. THE ROTARY FOUNDATION
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

41. ☺Thank you!
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