Our club believes that R.I. has influence around the world and we urge R.I. to take a courageous stance supporting Ukraine in its defense from Russia’s invasion, and use its voice to encourage countries that have not supported Ukraine to step up and do so.
The members of the Rotary Club of White Plains are proud to be part of an organization that is dedicated to “Service Above Self” and, in Rotary International’s words, “is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.” RI also states that members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our most persistent issues to, among other matters, promote peace.
An article in the Rotarian magazine, December 2021, titled “The End of the World as We Know It?” disturbed us because it seemed to say that climate change isn’t worth worrying about. RCWP member Paul Schwartz volunteered to draft a ‘Letter to the Editor’ expressing our disagreement with the article’s message. Of course we didn’t think it would be printed.
After a brief email back-and-forth between Paul and the Editor, we were informed that out letter would in fact be printed in the March 2022 issue of the magazine, along with 2 other letters from readers responding to the same article.
Here is the letter we sent to the magazine:
We were shocked and dismayed to read the article by Frank Bures [“The End of the World as We Know It?”] in the December issue. Bures equates the warnings about global warming to ancient mythology. This isn’t just nonsense; it’s worse than that. Rotary has clubs in parts of the world that are already feeling serious effects of climate change. For that matter, here in the United States the changing weather patterns are unmistakable.
Of all organizations on the planet, Rotary should be at the forefront, a leader in urging the adoption of policies to stem the creeping danger. It is shameful to see you instead giving space to someone whose message might well be summed up as: “Don’t worry, be happy.”
— The Board of the Rotary Club of White Plains, New York
1. the original article from the ROTARIAN magazine (“The End of the World as We Know It?” by Frank Bures); 2. the three letters to the editor responding to the article; 3. and the email thread between Paul Schwarz and the magazine editor.
With completion of the successful Global Grant # 1874107 from Rotary International, the Rotary Club of Bahía de Caráquez has now completed seven of these water projects bringing safe water to the homes of about 1800 families so far… a successful effort that would never have been possible if not for the goodwill and participation of Rotarians and their clubs.
Our club has worked with the Bahia club over the past 2 decades, arranging to help Bahia directly by, for example, donating an ambulance, providing fire-fighting gear, and helping build a school.
December 7, 2021 – Brief address by Andrew L. Mozello
Remembering and commemorating that day of infamy…
This is an excellent reading for the first December meeting each year, just remember to adjust the anniversary year. This speech mentions the 80th several times.
