The Only Place Poverty Should Be is in Museums

Muhammad Yunus addressing the Opening Plenary Session, Monday May 7, 2012

Today – I got to spend some quality time with another Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, mentor, idol, and professor, Dr. Muhammad Yunus as he addressed the opening Plenary Session of the Rotary International Convention.  He is a wonderful speaker and without notes or prompts, managed to speak for over thirty minutes on microfinance, social business and the future of poverty.  He ended with my favorite quote of his, which is of course:

“I strongly believe that we can create a poverty-free world, if we want to.... In that kind of world, [the] only place you can see poverty is in the museum. When school children will be on a tour of the poverty museum, they will be horrified to see the misery and indignity of human beings. They will blame their forefathers for tolerating this inhuman condition to continue in a massive way.”

Gillian Sorensen, Senior Adviser to the United Nations Foundation

But the real treat, was being able to hear one of my other mentors, Senior Adviser to the United Nations Foundation Gillian Sorensen, give her keynote address to Rotary.  I have known of Gillian for years – dating back to a speech she gave while I was a student at Lehigh.  Awestruck by her remarks, I approached her after her speech in an attempt to receive a copy, in hopes that I could produce anything similar to script that moving.  She pulled out a napkin with three bullet points on it and said, “Well this is all I have but you are more than happy to have it if it helps!”  From three bullet points, she recited one of the best speeches I have ever heard.  I followed her while at the United Nations and attended her speeches at every given opportunity.  I am particularly grateful to her for one particular speech of hers, in which she reminded me of why we [UN staffers] do what we do and why it is worth it, regardless of the difficulties.  I was going through a particularly challenging summer with my responsibilities at work, and I do not think she will ever know how helpful her speech was, in realigning my goals and mindset for the organization.

I wrote to her directly before the Convention, mentioning that I had left my previous post in New York to study in Thailand under a Rotary scholarship, and should there be anything I can do to please let me know.  The short story is that not only did she write me back, but she called me, and we spoke at length about Rotary, Rotary’s relationship to the UN, and my studies in Thailand.  I made a few comments on what I felt might be important to highlight in her speech, and made recommendations on things that she must visit while traveling here in SEA.  

With Jon and Linda who came all the way from Foster City, CA!

Sitting in the audience listening to her speak, was as always, a treat.  But what I did not expect coming, was that she highlighted my scholarship story in her speech!  I was incredibly surprised and honored and was blessed to have been sitting with two of my Rotary sponsors from California – which of course made the moment even more special :)

For a copy of Sorensen's remarks - Click Here!

Opening Ceremony Rotary Convention

Rotary International Convention Opening Flag Ceremony

After spending several days wandering around the massive complex where the Rotary Peace Symposium and Convention were supposed to be held, I didn’t know exactly what to expect, but I knew it would be huge.  My jaw dropped as I entered the Registration Hall – which was more like a Registration PALACE…there were over 100 rows of alphabetical letters where people could cue up and wait for their registration.  Having helped with registration for conferences at the UN for upwards of 3,000-4,000 I could not fathom the amount of professionalism, or the sheer volume of what these numbers would look like.

Linda, Noemi and I are all smiles at the opening!

But on the morning of Sunday May 6^th, I witnessed it firsthand.  Together with Jon, Linda and Noemi, we piled into a car, followed the masses into the arena, and scurried to find seats.  I wasn’t even overwhelmed at this point in time, I was just impressed.  You didn’t have to be overwhelmed, because everything was organized – and it was this organization and professionalism and the mass operation of 35,000 people that made it so impressive.

From VIP seats, I was able to witness my first opening ceremony for a Rotary Convention.  As I watched hundreds of flags flood the stage, I realized just how large, expansive and impressive this organization truly is.  And as flags such as Taiwan, India, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and others entered the room, the roar of applause from proud Rotary clubs in those countries filled the room.  I couldn’t help but smile knowing that while each Convention is different, I was proud to that my first Convention was in Asia.

They played one of my favorite songs from The King and I at the opening!

Peace, Nobel and Gbowee: “I expected to find bitterness and hatred -- what I found instead was strength”

Leymah Gbowee Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2011

On Saturday May 5th, I was given the chance of a lifetime – to hear 2011 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Leymah Gbowee speak.  Gbowee was awarded the Nobel for her efforts as a Liberian peace activist responsible for leading a women's peace movement that brought an end to the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003.  This led to the election of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Liberia, the first African nation with a female president.  She was absolutely sensational.   

But what made the event even more special, was being able to hear it with fifteen of my classmates and two professors.  Rotary was able to get us extra tickets to the event, and although it was with less than 24 hour notice, our program showed up in strong numbers to hear Ms. Gbowee speak – and she certainly did not disappoint.  

Her words brought instant goose bumps, her emotions were felt by everyone in the audience and as we hung on the edge of our chairs waiting for her every word, you couldn’t help but be engulfed by the passion that she radiated from that stage.  

For the fifteen of us that were able to make her event, her passion for change, her commitment to changing the world, and her will to help those in need could not have come at a more better time, seeing as we were in the middle our second set of final exams, term papers, and theses proposal defenses.  It was easy to get lost in the chaos, stress and massive amounts of work, but with Gbowee’s words, we were transfixed, and shaken to realize exactly why we were doing what we were doing.  

Students from the MAIDS program at Chula who were lucky enough to attend Leymah's speech - thanks to Brad from Rotary International (center).  Thank you so much Brad for giving us this opportunity!

She spoke about the realities of conflict, development and change – and stated that there is no way you can talk about peace without addressing politics.  She spoke of the recent International Criminal Court ruling on Charles Taylor, the man who came to rule Liberia for years while employing child soldiers and committing atrocities not only in Liberia but neighboring countries as well, who was recently found guilty for aiding and abetting war in Sierra Leone.  She said, “justice is served only when justice can be felt by the victims.  Go to the amputee camps in Sierra Leone (where Taylor and his army brutally dismembered thousands of innocent villagers) and see how their lives are devastated as a result of the conflict.  Justice can only be served when it is felt by those victimized.”

Leymah receiving thanks from prominent Rotarians onstage

However, my favorite quote of Gbowee’s came in response to a question regarding the place of women in conflict resolution.  Gbowee noted that there is a tendency to need women in the protesting stage of conflict, but as soon as there are peace negotiation talks and a transformation of power, woman are again pushed to the back.  So she said, “Ladies, put your platforms [demands, plans of action] in your skirts and in your bras…and be ready.”

She said, “My purpose here is to inspire where inspiration is needed, to encourage where encouragement is needed, and to raise up where complacency has set in,” said Gbowee.

And while I can’t speak for everyone in the crowd that day, I can say that for the fifteen of us present from our program, she was inspirational, encouraging and made a strong call to action.

Reflecting on Peace

Gosh how do you sum up a three day symposium on PEACE with some of the world’s most active, dedicated and renown peace keepers, shakers and builders?!

Motivational, Inspiring, Soul-searching, Life-fulfilling…the list goes on.

I was able to sit in on four different panels over the three days: Founding Principles, Future Plans (on Rotary’s Peace Centers Program), Conflict: Natural Resources and the Environment, Mediation, and Alumni and International Development in Asia.  

Rotary Peace Fellows who I got to know over their three months at Chulalongkorn - I will miss them so much!!!

My favorite snippet was listening to Nabil Oudeh, who wrote the famous manual “Conflict is for the Birds” in which he categorizes conflict participants into five different kinds of birds (woodpeckers, owls, hummingbirds, ostriches, and parakeets).  He started off by saying: “Listen. Think. Act.  How many conflicts in your life have happened as a result of the direct opposite?”  He couldn’t have spoken truer words!

(see full caption at the bottom :)

As I sat in on these four panels, ready with pen and pad to frantically take notes, I realized that while I was incredibly thankful to Rotary for allowing me to participate in the Symposium, I was more grateful for the past SIX MONTHS of training in conflict resolution and conflict transformation that had been bestowed upon me thanks to Rotary.  My courses at Chula are one of a kind, and this was reinforced today when I knew each and every term, idea and theory presented by the panelists.  And the best part is – my education at Chula is only half-way complete!  Furthermore, to speak towards the panel events that I was unable to attend (because they hold multiple events at one time so you are forced to choose!) it made my decisions easier not to go because my professors from my program were on the panels!  From what I could count, eight of my lecturers were seated on the six other sessions I did not choose.  These lecturers are amazing experts and phenomenal educators – and I realize most from this Rotary Peace Symposium that I truly have received the best education possible in my field.

The picture on the right is of my friend Ann Marie, an Ambassadorial Scholar studying in Malaysia.  I first met Anne Marie at our Rotary Outbound Orientation over a year ago in San Jose California.  Since then, we have traveled to Southeast Asia and were able to catch up in our studies and travels together at the Symposium and Convention.  To check out Ann Marie's blog on her adventures (including trekking with Rotarians through Nepal!) please click here: Ann Marie's Blog: Dunia Kecil

I’m Looking for Some People Who’s Looking for Peace: Opening to Peace Symposium

Emmanuel Jal opening Rotary's Peace Symposium 2012 in Bangkok

Every three years, in conjunction with the Rotary International Convention, a Rotary Peace Symposium is held for three days prior to the opening of the Convention.  In addition to being strategically located in Bangkok – where this year’s Rotary International Convention was held, I also happened to be here at the right time for the Peace Symposium!  Talk about luck :)

At 7:00am on Thursday May 3^rd, the first day, I boarded the Rotary bus that took us to the Convention Center – anxious to get the party started!  As I walked down the massive IMPACT Convention Center halls following the perfect signage to take me to the Symposium, I couldn’t help but feel a little excited but also, a little alone.  Normally for Rotary events, there is always someone there that you know that is “responsible” for you as their guest – and I didn’t realize until now, but this was the first time I was alone with Rotary.

Emmanuel Jal STANDS UP for Peace

I found a seat near the front for the opening ceremony and quickly realized after several minutes conversing with my seat mates, that with Rotary – you are never alone.  People are so friendly in striking up conversation that you always feel at home.  I soon realized the impressive audience that I had the pleasure to sit with given that the woman on my right was a Rotary Peace Fellow graduate who currently worked on disaster relief teams in Aceh, Haiti, Japan and Australia and the man on my left was a Rotarian who was the sole educator in training Norwegian Diplomats on skillful peace negotiations.

Once we got through the routine introductions with important Rotarians, the keynote opening speaker was introduced.  Emmanuel Jal, born in Southern Sudan, was recruited at the age of seven as a child soldier for the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.  He survived front-line action and eventually managed to escape with other “Lost Boys” enduring a three-month trek on foot to reach safety.  Jal was rescued by a British aid-worker who smuggled him to freedom in Kenya where he was enrolled in school…

I had heard several former child soldiers speak (most memorable of course was Ishmael Beah when we organized for him to speak at a Children’s Rights briefing at the United Nations) and was all too familiar with their horrific stories.  I of course wanted to hear Emmanuel’s story and although no former soldier’s story is the same, it was one I had heard before.  After the introduction, a short video was shown depicting Emmanuel as a little boy and how his life forever changed.  

To hear a segment of Emmanuel's address at the Rotary Peace Symposium, CLICK HERE! 

Head twistin and jumpin for PEACE

All of a sudden, music starts to play, and Emmanuel comes out on stage, jumping, dancing and throwing his head.  I couldn’t believe it!  As he got every 80+ year old Rotarian in the room to stand on their feet and dance, I stood there in utter disbelief.  As he had us each put our peace signs up and wave them singing along to his song “We Want Peace” it was impossible not to feel empowered and be moved.  In one of the songs he sang, he sang the following lyrics:

"I’m looking for some people who’s looking for peace
Maybe together we could make the war cease
Now we can send mankind to the moon
And we can reach to the bottom of the sea
That’s why it really kind of baffles me
That we cannot end wars and bring peace
And we cannot change the way people act
And we cannot change the way people think
So if we sit back, chill out and relax
Civilization will soon be extinct”

It was the COOLEST way you could open a Peace Symposium if you ask me – incredibly moving and motivating.  After his speech, in a conversation with several Rotarians, Emmanuel confessed that he was truly moved by the work that Rotary had done and that being in that room made him truly “believe in a better tomorrow.”