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| Navigating the Global Network |
June 2009 | |
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Rotary, partners respond to polio outbreak in Africa
Rotary is providing US$ 500,000 in emergency immunization grants to address a recent wild poliovirus outbreak in southern Sudan that has spread to parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda. Awarded to UNICEF and the World Health Organization, the grants are for immediate immunization efforts in the Horn of Africa.
The persistent outbreak in southern Sudan threatens the progress made by polio-free countries in eliminating the wild virus and preventing importations. Although outbreaks sometimes occur during eradication efforts, they do not lessen the feasibility of the eradication initiative. Outbreaks do, however, highlight the critical need to stop polio transmission in the remaining polio-endemic countries, such as Nigeria and India, which have exported the poliovirus to other nations in recent years, health officials say. The only other endemic countries are Afghanistan and Pakistan. Read full article |
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Rotary honors U.S. leaders for their support of a polio-free world
 Rotary recognized several U.S. Congress members with its Polio Eradication Champion Award at a May 6 reception at the Capitol. The award expresses Rotary's gratitude for ongoing support in securing critically needed funds to achieve a polio-free world. The award, presented by James Lacy, past president of Rotary International, honors heads of state, health agency leaders and others who have made significant contributions toward polio eradication. "Thanks to the support of these members of Congress, the world stands on the cusp of a historic victory over polio," Lacy said. "Together we can ensure that no child anywhere will ever again suffer the terrible pain of lifelong polio paralysis." Recipients of Rotary's 2009 Polio Eradication Champion Awardinclude Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, and Reps. Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Lincoln Davis of Tennessee and Raúl Grijalva of Arizona.
Other leaders who have been honored with the Polio Eradication Champion Award include Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany; President Laurent Gbagbo of Côte d'Ivoire; President Mamadou Tandja of Niger; President Umaru Yar'Adua of Nigeria; former President Bill Clinton of the United States; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and former U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
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Rotary to build hospital dedicated to mother and child care in Tanzania
Rotary has launched a $1 million mother and child care initiative that seeks to improve the quality of medical services for women and children in Tanzania.
The Mother and Child Medical Complex and the Tumbi Hospital renovation  project in Kibaha is expected to save the lives of up to 42 children a day. RI President Dong Kurn Lee, who attended the 10 April hospital dedication ceremony, explained that this initiative is an essential step in reducing child mortality in Africa.
Worldwide, an estimated 26,000 children under age five die every day from preventable diseases such as pneumonia, measles and malaria. "Once I understood the issues behind that terrible number, I made reducing child mortality my emphasis during my term as president," said Lee. Read more
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Rotary fast fact
ShelterBox, a leading aid organization supported by Rotary clubs around the world, has provided emergency housing assistance to victims of disasters in 57 countries. Founded in 2000 by Tom Henderson with help from his Rotary Club of Helston-Lizard, Cornwall, England, ShelterBox raises funds for and packs and distributes boxes to support a family of 10 for six months. Find out more about ShelterBox. |
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A conversation with Josette Sheeran of the World Food Programme
Rotary is participating in efforts to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. In May, the organization highlighted its work to meet Goal 4, reducing child mortality, by discussing hunger and the Renewed Efforts Against Child Hunger (REACH) partnership with Josette Sheeran, executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
About 852 million people around the world today are malnourished. In an interview in Rotary's Global Outlook supplement, Sheeran explained that "more people are having difficulty gaining access to affordable, adequate amounts of food due to a number of factors: high prices of food and fuel and continued market volatility, and now the global financial crisis, which could drive the numbers of hungry upwards as incomes fall around the world."
Sheeran believes ending hunger is achievable, though. "We have the capability to do so, and I think we just have to raise awareness that, if we make the decision, we can end hunger in the world," she said.
Rotary club members can be part of the solution, said Sheeran. "WFP partners with Rotary, especially at the local level, where Rotary's knowledge of how to move communities and work with people to get the right thing done is almost unparalleled."
Rotary and WFP have officially worked together since 1997. Read the full interview in the Global Outlook.
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Rotary profile  Sylvan Barnet: A Rotary voice at the United Nations
For more than 20 years, Sylvan M. Barnet Jr. has served as one of Rotary International's 29 representatives to the United Nations and other organizations. A former publisher of the International Herald Tribune, Barnet was also a pioneer in the field of international public relations. Known to his friends as "Barney," he is a member of the Rotary Club of New York.
Learn more about Sylvan Barnet and his work for Rotary at the United Nations
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| Rotary Calendar |
Rotary Representatives will be attending the following events:
18-17 May: World Health Organization 62nd Assembly, Geneva, Switzerland
26 May: Rotary Ethics Award Ceremony at UNESCO HQ, Paris France
26-30: Global Health Conference, Washington DC, United States
31 May-2 June: Arab Regional Conference on Higher Education, Cairo, Egypt
19-21 June: 2009 Rotary International Convention, Birmingham, United Kingdom |
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Speek with our representatives about any of these stories or to discuss how your organization can work with Rotary International | |
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| Representatives to the UN and Other Organizations |
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| Rotary representatives are appointed by the Rotary International president to increase awareness and recognition of Rotary's programs, policies, and activities within the international community. Rotary representatives work with NGOs and intergovernmental organizations to lay the groundwork for future collaboration at regional and community levels. |
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UNITED NATIONS - NEW YORK
Brad Jenkins, Primary Representative
Sylvan M. Barnet, Jr., Alternate
Robert A. Coultas, Alternate
William A. "Bill" Miller, Alternate
Helen B. Reisler, Alternate
UNITED NATIONS - GENEVA
Gilbert Coutau, Primary Representative
Peter Eichenberger, Alternate
UNITED NATIONS - VIENNA
Franz Zeidler, Alternate Representative
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR AFRICA (ECA)
& AFRICAN UNION Nahu Araya , Primary Representative
UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR EUROPE (ECE)
Gilbert Coutau, Primary Representative |
UNITED NATIONS
ECONOMIC COMMISSION FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN (ECLAC)
Eric Krumm, Primary Representative
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR WESTERN ASIA (ESCWA)
Michel Jazzar, Primary Representative
UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COMMISSION FOR ASIA AND THE PACIFIC (ESCAP)Som Indra-Payoong, Primary Representative
UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC, AND CULTURAL ORGANIZATION (UNESCO)Bernard Dervaux, Primary RepresentativeCyril Noirtin, Alternate
COUNCIL OF EUROPEGérard Caen, Primary RepresentativeFrançois Goettelmann, Alternate |
UNITED NATIONS ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME (UNEP)Henry Kyemba, Primary Representative
UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENT PROGRAMME (UN-HABITAT)Samuel F. Owori, Primary Representative
UN FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)/ WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME (WFP)Marco Randone, Primary RepresentativeAntonio Lico, Alternate
WORLD BANK Doris Margolis, Primary Representative
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES/WASHINGTON, D.C.
Richard S. Carson, Primary Representative
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| Contact Information |
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Rotary International
External Relations (PR 210)
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201-3698 USA
ER Fax: +1 847 866 8237
ers@rotary.org |
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Christine Sanders
External Relations Specialist
Tel: +1 847 866 3254
Bryant Brownlee
External Relations Specialist
Tel: +1 847 866 3023 |
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| About Rotary |
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| AN ORGANIZATION OF BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL LEADERS· UNITED WORLDWIDE · 1.2 MILLION PEOPLE · MORE THAN 200 COUNTRIES AND GEOGRAPHICAL AREAS · PROVIDING HUMANITARIAN SERVICE · BUILDING GOODWILL AND PEACE IN THE WORLD | | |
