HappyNewYear!Whatawonderfultimeof yeartospreadjoyandtowishyoupeace.
I’moftenaskedhowIcanbesopositiveand enthusiastic?It’sachoiceImakeasImeetsuch amazingpeopleworkingtobringpeacetoour world.Iamsogratefulfortheopportunityto havetheseconversationsaboutpeace.
Whatamazesmeishowmanypeoplearound theworldareworkingforpeace.Itisagifttobe abletomeettheseincrediblePeacebuilders throughPeacePodcast.orgconversations. Sharingthemwithyouandour Peace CommunityMagazine readersismyjoy.Inthis issue,youwillmeetthefirst100ofthesepeace heroes.
Knowingsomanyofthesetirelesspeace buildershasmademeapositivitymagnet, seeingthebestineveryoneImeet.Itgivesme joytoseesmilingfaceswhenIshareeventhe smallestcomplimentsthatbrightenthedayof peopleImeet.Ithinkeachofuscando somethingeverydaytobringPeacetoour worldandmakeourselvespositivitymagnets.
May2023bringpeacetousall. –Gratefully, Barbara
In2016,RotaryDistrict(#5330)Governor RudyWesterveltlaunchedaPeace Conferencewith100worldspeakers. BarbaraGaughen-Mullerwasinvitedtohelp withtheconferenceanddecidedtointerview thespeakers,askingeachofthemtwo primaryquestions:
Howdoyoudefinepeace?
Whatareyoudoingtocreatepeace?
Barbaraspentweeksinterviewingthe peacebuilders.Thoseconversationssparked anexplosionofsolutions,insightsand actions.Shefellinlovewithmeeting
leadersandunderstandingmoreaboutthem andtheiractionsandbegantothinkabout howtocontinuetheprocess.
Herbackgroundofcoauthoring Revolutionary Conversations,ledtotheidea ofspreadingideasabout worldpeacethroughanongoingseriesofconversations withworldpeacebuilders andbuildingagrowing treasuretroveofinsightsand wisdomfrompeaceleaders.
Dr.Dorothy“Dot”Maver,educator, peacebuilder,andkeynotespeaker
Dot'sworkrevolvesaroundcooperationon behalfofthecommongood,focusingon appliedpeacebuildingutilizingashared responsibilityandsharedleadershipmodel. Herextensivebackgroundasapeacebuilder includestheNationalPeaceAcademyUSA, GlobalAllianceforMinistriesand InfrastructuresofPeace,ThePeaceAlliance, campaigningforaUSDepartmentofPeace, andmanagingthepresidentialcampaignfor DennisKucinichin2004.
Watchorlisten link or
Dr.ToddC.“Bowtie”Jenkins,Jr.,HonoredRotarian, CorporateDEILeaderandSpeaker
BowtieistheFounderandCEOofBowtie LeadershipandDevelopment,Inc.,aglobal leadershipmanagementtrainingand coachingfirmwithafocusonbringing diversepeopletogethertoincrease individualororganizationalproductivityand performance.
Hisenthusiasmiscontageousashe explainstheintersectionofpeaceandhis Diversity,Equity,andInclusion(DEI)work.
Watchorlisten link or
Enjoypeacepodcastson PeacePodcast.org
KerriMurray,President,ShelterBoxUSA 2022PeacePrizewinner
KerriMurrayservesasPresidentoftheglobal disasterreliefcharity,ShelterBoxUSA, whichhasrespondedtoworldemergencies for21years,servingin300emergencies,in 107countries,providingshelterrelieftoover 2.2millionpeople.ShelterBoxUSAwon theUNASantaBarbaraPeacePrize for2022.
Sheisalsoa memberoftheMontecitoRotary ClubandservedforsixyearsasBoard PresidentforGIRLSROCKSantaBarbara.
StanleyHarsha,Diplomat,Peacebuilder ConflictscanbeResolved
Stanley,formerUSdiplomatforover30 YearsandservedasaStateDepartment advisortoSecretaryClinton.
Heistheauthorofthecriticallyacclaimed book, LiketheMoonandtheSun which comparesIndonesianandAmerican societies.
Henowfocusesonthecausesofsocietal conflictandexplainshowindividualscan playaroleinendingconflicts.
TezikiahGabriel,DirectorPathwaystoPeace PersonalPeaceCreatesPeaceforOurWorld
TezikiahistheExecutiveDirectorofPathways ToPeace,aUNPeaceMessenger Organization,inconsultationwithECOSOC.
Tezworkswithmission-basedorganizations tocreaterelevant,viable,andsustainable organizationsandcommunitiesthataffect realandpositivechangeinourworld.
Sheisalsoanordainedministerwho conductsinter-faithandintercultural ceremonies.
Watchorlisten link or Watchorlisten link or
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Dr.AnnFrisch,Rotarian,2017RotaryUN PeopleofActionPeaceChampionAward
Annisaretiredprofessorandlife-timepeace builder,currentlyfocusedoneliminating nuclearweaponsthroughherroleasthe ChairoftheRotaryActionGroupforPeace SubcommitteeonNuclearWeapons Education.
In2017,shereceivedthe RotaryUNPeople ofActionPeaceChampionAward, for articulatingtheworkofNonviolent Peaceforceandthepracticeofunarmed civilianprotection.
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RichardDenton,MD,Environmentalist, RotaryPeaceChair,PhysiciansforGlobalSurvival
Richardisaretiredmedicaldoctorand professoradvocatingforpersonalhealthand thehealthofourenvironment. Hehasserved aspresidentoftheCanadianAssociationof PhysiciansfortheEnvironment,Physicians forGlobalSurvival.andastheNorth Americanco-chairforInternational PhysiciansforthePreventionofNuclearWar.
Along-timeRotarian,Richardhasserved manyrolesincludingmedicalvolunteering andstudygroupsinseveralcountries.
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EricSirotkin,internationallyrecognizedspeaker, author,activist,mediatorandlawyer
Eric wasanUN-sponsoredelectionobserver atPresidentMandela’selectionand coordinatedtheInternationalMonitoring ProjectoftheSouthAfricaTruthand ReconciliationCommission.
Sincethen,he developed Non-violent Advocacy tomodeladifferentapproach toconflictbasedupontherecognitionthat weareallboundtogetherinwhatDr.King calledour “inescapablenetwork ofmutuality.”
Watchorlisten link or
ThomasCarlisi,EmpoweringPeaceBuilders, NonViolentCommunicationsand20yearsinRotary
TomfocusesonteachingNon-Violent CommunicationtoRotariansandyouth groups.Hecreatedanonlinelearning seriestitled,"EmpoweringPeacebuilders” incollaborationwiththeRotaryAction GroupforPeace.Theprogramincorporates Rotary's4-WayTest.
Healsodevelopedaprogramformiddle schoolerstitled,"YoungPeacebuilders."
DaveRice,PresidentOrangeCounty UnitedNationsAssociation&Local2030
DaveintroducedCaliforniatotheUnited Nations2030AgendafortheSustainable DevelopmentGoals.Hefosterstheprogram of17goals,calledLocal2030,inOrange Countywherehepromotescollaborationwith businesses,NGO’sandelectedofficialsin ordertobetterunderstandhowourworld’s futuredependsonworkingtogether.
HeisalsoamemberoftheSpecialTask ForceonNuclearWasteattheSanOnofre NuclearPlant.
PaulaGarb,Professor, Peacebuiderinconflictzones
Paulaistheco-founderoftheCenterfor CitizenPeacebuildingandfor20yearswas aco-director.Since1994,shehasfacilitated citizendialoguesandtaughtpeaceful problem-solvingskillsinconflictzonesin SouthCaucasusandtheMiddleEast.
Shefocusesontheroleofwomento preventwarbeforeitstartsandhasa personalconnectiontothewarinUkraine asherfamilyandgrandchildrenlive inRussia.
Asachild,IfeltaconnectiontotheUN, perhapsbecauseitwasborninthesame yearIwas,perhapsbecauseitcapturedmy imaginationasaglobalprotectorand defender.However,thatconnectionwas stretchedthinbyalifewithotherpriorities, untilIbecamefriendswithBarbara Gaughen-Mullerwhohadtraveledtheworld forseventeenpeace-buildingyearswithher husbandRobertMuller,whoselife'swork revolvedaroundtheUNandpeace.
AfterworkingwiththreeSecretaryGenerals,Robertdevelopedareputationas theheartoftheUNandisstillreveredforhis championingofmanyoftheprojectsthat makestheUNwhatitistodayandhisprolific writingsonpeace,happiness,andideasfor abetterworld.
Ayearago,Barbaraofferedmean opportunitytobetheeditorofher Peace CommunityMagazine andIleapedin,not knowinghowlittleIunderstoodtheroleof theUnitedNationsinourworldtoday.It's easytothinkoftheUNasanexpensive buildinginNewYorkandfindfaultwhenIt failstoendawarofaggressionbyoneofthe fivefoundingcountriesthatweregiven blanketvetorightsaspartofthenegotiation fortheirjoiningthefledglingproject.
It'smorechallengingtounderstandthe scopeofgoodtheydoforthe8billionofus livingin195countrieswhichnowexiston ouronlyhome:planetEarth.
FromthetimeItookonthisrole,Iheard abouttheUN's17SustainableDevelopment Goalsfor2030,buthadlittleunderstanding ofwhattheywere.Aswebegantoput togethertheJanuary,2023issue,Irealizedit wastimetounderstandthosegoals,orat leasttheirbasics.
Thisdocument,withalltheinformation takendirectlyfromtheUN'swebsite,was createdtohelpmeunderstandthescopeof thesegoals.Intheprocessofcreatingit,I fellinlovewiththeUnitedNationsandits aspirationsforourworld,foreveryaspectof thegloriousplanetweliveonandforevery singlehumanandlivingbeingthatbreathes theairsograciouslyprovidedus.
Itiswithgreatgratitudethatwesharethis overviewwiththehopesthatitwillhelpyou understandwhatachampionwe,allofus everywhere,haveinthisamazingglobal voicewecalltheUnitedNations.
JoyceWycoff,Editor, PeaceCommunityMagazine
TheSDGsaretheToDolistfortheworld.
TheSustainableDevelopmentGoalsarea callforactionbyallcountries–poor,rich andmiddle-income–topromoteprosperity whileprotectingtheplanet.
Theyrecognizethatendingpovertymust gohand-in-handwithstrategiesthatbuild economicgrowthandaddressarangeof
socialneedsincludingeducation,health, socialprotection,andjobopportunities, whiletacklingclimatechangeand environmentalprotection.Moreimportant thanever,thegoalsprovideacritical frameworkforCOVID-19 recovery.
WhyGratitude?
"Why?"isalwaysagreatquestion.Most ofusknowthatgratitudeisimportant...I've cometobelieveitmightbethewayweheal ourworld.
Nowarsarebornoutofgratitude.No violence,abuse,ormayhemisbornoutof gratitude.Greed,intolerance,hatred,deceit, fraud,gossip,destructionofourearth...all
arebornintheabsenceofgratitude. Countlessstudieshaveshownushow muchgratitudeenhancesourhappiness, healthandrelationships;however,itgoes beyondthat.Practicinggratitudenotonly changesourlivesbutitripplesoutto everythingaroundus,givingusstepping stonestothepeaceweallwant.
Gratitude:SteppingstonetoPeace inlonelylands, life, wildandfree, harmonizeswithabundance, makesgreenfoodfromgeneroussunshine, breathesfreeair, drinksfromabundantwaters, feastsonthebountyfreelyoffered, findsshelterinprotectedplaces, protectsnewlifeasitripens. arethetreesgrateful? dothegeesesay“thankyou? dothewaters,stillorflowing, speaktheirgratitudes? ordotheyjustknow, understandthewisdomofenough, livinggratitudeintheir awarenessoftheirplace inbalanceofallthings? –JoyceWycoff
RobertMullerPeaceBookClub(online)
Prophet TheHatmaker’sSon by DouglasGillies
MargaretMeadcalledRobertMuller “themostbrilliantmanintheUN.”
RobertMullerexperiencedthedevastationoftwo WorldWars.Onenightwhilestandinginadarkbattle fieldweepingforalltheyoungpeoplewhoselives hadbeensquandered,hesworethathewoulddevote hislifetopeace.
RobertlefteverythingbehindandjoinedtheUNinitsthirdyearandspentthe next40yearsfollowingthatdreamheneverabandoned.Hisenthusiasmand optimismledhimtobecameknownasaprophetofhope.
Thisbookisatreasure-chestoflargelyunknowneventsbasedonextensive interviewswithRobertandhisexperienceswithworldleaders.
Takingoneoftheelevenchapterseachmonth,thisbookclubwillhavetimetosavor Robert’sdevelopmentfrominterntotheAssistantSecretary-General,his philosophy,aswellastheearlydevelopmentoftheUnitedNations.
Tobringthisbookalive,themonthlydiscussionswillbeledbypeopleintimately familiarwithRobertandhiswork,includinghiswife,BarbaraGaughen-Muller, theauthor,DouglasGillies,andtheHon.DouglasRoche,O.C.,formerCanadian Senator,parliamentarian,diplomat,author,andlong-timefriendandassociate ofRobert’s. (ClickhereforpodcastwithDouglasRoche.)
PeaceBookClubRecordings
Clickonthelinksbelowtolistentofriendsandassociates talkaboutpeaceandRobertMuller.OrscantheQRCode.
Prophet,Chapter7- BirdsofFlight
Robertseesthedestructionofbeautifultowns ashewalksfromthetrainondestroyedtracks andthinks,“Ifwehavetofight, howdowemaketheworldanybetter? Youcan’tchangeitwithwillpower,butmaybeif youletyourimaginationwander, itwillshowyouabetterway.”
Leader:SanfordHinden
Prophet,Chapter8- TheEscape
Robertavoidedbeingdraftedintothe “stupidwar,”however,hewasarrestedand stuckinahorrible,packedprisonroom withothers.Hisunclegives himabirthcertificateforaman namedLouisParizot.
Leader:JoanneDuFour
Prophet,Chapter 9 -TheEndofWar
Robertwitnessedthehorrorsandsenselessmurders causedbythis“stupidwar”. Dotreadsmovingsegmentsofthebook revealinghowthewarchangedRobert asanorderhegivesasanofficer resultsinthedeathoftwentyyoungmen. Victoryendshistimeintheresistance.
Leader:Dr.DorothyMaver
“Dreamalwaysofapeaceful,warless,disarmedworld.”
–RobertMuller
JenniferJones President,RotaryInternational
ThesongisbyCanadianJohnMcDermott. ThisisthewaytheImperialWarMuseums tellsthestory,whichmakesusquestion wherethe“spiritofwar”begins.
“LateonChristmasEve1914,menofthe BritishExpeditionaryForce(BEF)heard Germantroopsinthetrenchesopposite themsingingcarolsandpatrioticsongsand sawlanternsandsmallfirtreesalongtheir trenches.Messagesbegantobeshouted betweenthetrenches.
Thefollowingday,BritishandGerman soldiersmetinnoman'slandand exchangedgifts,tookphotographsand someplayedimpromptugamesoffootball. Theyalsoburiedcasualtiesandrepaired trenchesanddugouts.AfterBoxingDay, meetingsinnoman'slanddwindledout.
PopePaulVI:
Thetrucewasnotobservedeverywhere alongtheWesternFront.Elsewherethe fightingcontinuedandcasualtiesdidoccur onChristmasDay.Someofficerswere unhappyatthetruceandworriedthatit wouldunderminefightingspirit.
After1914,theHighCommandsonboth sidestriedtopreventanytrucesonasimilar scalehappeningagain.Despitethis,there weresomeisolatedincidentsofsoldiers holdingbrieftruceslaterinthewar,andnot onlyatChristmas.
Inwhatwasknownasthe'LiveandLet Live'system,inquietsectorsofthefront line,briefpausesinthehostilitieswere sometimestacitlyagreed,allowingboth sidestorepairtheirtrenchesorgathertheir dead.”
“Nomorewar, warneveragain! Peace,itis peace,which mustguidethe destiniesof peopleandofall mankind.”ChristmasintheTrenches…WhoDecides? or
DEFININGPEACE:
Recognizethatpeaceisthewholeness createdbyrightrelationshipswithoneself, otherpersons,othercultures,otherlife,Earth, andthelargerwholeofwhichallareapart.
Craftedby visionariesover twentyyears ago,the Earth Charter isa documentwith sixteen principles, organizedunder fourpillars,that seektoturnconscienceintoaction.
Itseekstoinspireinallpeopleanew senseofglobalinterdependenceand sharedresponsibilityforthewell-being ofthewholehumanfamily,thegreater communityoflife,andfuturegenerations.
Itisavisionofhopeandacalltoaction.Here arethefourpillars:
RespectandCareforthe CommunityofLife
1. RespectEarthandlifein allitsdiversity.
2. Careforthecommunityof lifewithunderstanding, compassion,andlove.
3. Builddemocraticsocieties thatarejust,participatory,sustainable,and peaceful.
4. SecureEarth’sbountyandbeautyforpresent andfuturegenerations.
EcologicalIntegrity
5. Protectandrestorethe integrityofEarth’secological systems,withspecialconcern forbiologicaldiversityandthe naturalprocessesthatsustain life.
6. Preventharmasthebestmethodof environmentalprotectionand,whenknowledge islimited,applyaprecautionaryapproach.
7. Adoptpatternsofproduction,consumption, andreproductionthatsafeguardEarth’s regenerativecapacities,humanrights,and communitywell-being.
8. Advancethestudyofecologicalsustainability andpromotetheopenexchangeandwide applicationoftheknowledge acquired.
SocialandEconomicJustice
9. Eradicatepovertyasan ethical,social,and environmentalimperative.
10. Ensurethateconomic activitiesandinstitutionsatall levelspromotehumandevelopmentinan equitableandsustainablemanner.
11. Affirmgenderequalityandequityas prerequisitestosustainabledevelopmentand ensureuniversalaccesstoeducation,health care,andeconomicopportunity.
12. Upholdtherightofall,withoutdiscrimination, toanaturalandsocialenvironmentsupportiveof humandignity,bodilyhealth,andspiritualwellbeing,withspecialattentiontotherightsof indigenouspeoplesandminorities.
Democracy,Nonviolenceand Peace
13. Strengthendemocratic institutionsatalllevels,and providetransparencyand accountabilityingovernance, inclusiveparticipationin decisionmakingandaccessto justice.
14. Integrateintoformaleducationandlife-long learningtheknowledge,values,andskills neededforasustainablewayoflife.
15. Treatalllivingbeingswithrespectand consideration.
16. Promoteacultureoftolerance,nonviolence, andpeace.
Amongthemanyorganizationsthathave workedtirelesslyforthepreservationofour planetandjusticeforalllivingbeings, Bioneersisunique.For32years,ithas servedourplaneteducatingandinspiring hundredsofthousands,ifnotmillionsof peopleandfuturegenerations.
Bioneersisaninnovativenonprofit organizationthathighlightsbreakthrough solutionsforrestoringpeopleandplanet.
Foundedin1990inSantaFe,NewMexico bysocialentrepreneursKennyAusubeland
NinaSimons,weactasafertilehubofsocial andscientificinnovatorswithpracticaland visionarysolutionsfortheworld’smost pressingenvironmentalandsocial challenges.
Endlesswordscouldbewrittenabouthow thisorganizationhaschangedlivesbutthis briefvideoshowcasingsomeofthemany peoplewhohavebeenpartoftheirannual conferences,saysitsomuchmore eloquently.
BioneersisinspiringandrealizingashifttoliveonEarthinwaysthat honortheweboflife,eachotherandfuturegenerations.
ClickheretowatchaninspiringintroductiontoBioneers. Alsogoto Bioneers.org tofindarichrepositoryof informationalvideos,podcasts,andarticles.
TheTimeforPeaceIsNow
Peaceactivistand publisherofthismagazine BarbaraGaughen-Muller spoketothePeace CommitteeofRotary District5450anddelivered thismessage: Peaceis possibleandthetimefor peaceisnow.
Barbarareadaletterfeaturedonthecover oftheSeptember,2015,issueof The Rotarian thatbegan,"DearPolio,Wehave badnewsforyou."Shethencalledfora similarlettercallingforthe35,000Rotary clubsaroundtheworldtofocusonending war.
"Whatispeace?"sheasksandthen explainsthatitis"aprocess,aninternal stateofknowingthatpeaceiswhatyouare goingtodoeverysingleday.Itisajourney, notnecessarilyadestination."
Assheandherlate-husbandRobert Muller,AssistantSecretary-Generalofthe UnitedNations,traveledaroundtheworld speakingtoRotaryClubsandotherpeace builders,thefocusoftheirmessagewas alwaysthesame: Peacebegins
Clickheretowatchthisinspiringpresentation. OrgotoPeacePodcast.org/our-blog
