INFLUENCES FOR PEACE

Chronicle (Levin), 2 December 1947, Page 4

INFLUENCES FOR PEACE

THE PART ROTARY CAN PLAY "There is much darkness in the vbrld today, but- there is light anvi there is hope," said Mr. W. Blair Fennent, past Governor of the s2nd New Zealand) District of Rotary International, in a talk to che Levin Rotary Club on Monday. 'We Rotarians can do. mxich to keep that light burning and that « bope bright. We must realise first that ,ws are not merely spectatofs of the great human drama, but that we are actors in it, We are not only the heirs of history, but Lts makers and its snapers." By far the greatest infiuence which Rotary could have, and the one most needed, was the advance^ ment of International understanding, goodwill and peace through & world ' feiiowship of business and pfofessional men united in the ideal of service. The attainment of that ideal, which was the fourth object of Rotary, aione could prevent a third world war — one that would probably mean the extinction of our civilisation. Anothel- war could mean the end of civilisation, said the speaker. Recently he had listened to an address on atomic power by Dr. Marsden, and he would never forget a picture projeeted on a slide at the cohciusion showing the damage at Hiroshima after the atomic bomb had been dropped. Two miles away from tjbe spot where the bomb . had fallen Were the remains of a large bank, the front of which had been polished marble. After the bomb had exploded the front of this polished marble had all been terribiy seared by the heat except in two places — one where a man had been leaning against the wall and the other where a man had been sitting on the steps. The bodies of these two men, who had been literally dissipated into space by the intense heat, had momentarily protected that part of the building. - By that bomb 200,000 had been killed and an equal nuhiber maimed and rendered incapable of procreatiom "Today there are bombs prepared which are 35 times as large as that which fell on Hiroshima," added Mr. Tennent. Rotary had played a large part •in the establishment of one of the greatest organisations for world peace. It had been represented as observers and advisers at all meetings of U.N.O. and U.N.E.S.C.O., and its influence had been ffiiarkedly felt throughout them. In fact Rotary was one or the few organisations which had a programme in complete harmony with the idealS of U.N.O. and , UNESCO Mr. Tom Warren, of Wolverhampton, past world president of Rotary, had put the position admirably, added Mr. Tennent. In his reply at a dinner given him by Loi'd Halifax, British Ambassador in Washington; he had said, speaking of Rotary. "We dwell in 60 or 70 lands. We have 7000 clubs and we can double those clubs almost any time we like. We Shall surely go into other lands until within a short space of time we have cov- • ered the globe." "Rotary is not merely another service club nor a luncheon club/' said Mr. Tennent. "We are Rotary International with a mission of our own. We have a unique organisation and a unique opportunity ro serve."