Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies @ Chulalongkorn University 18 February 2012

Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies @ Chulalongkorn University
18 February 2012 – impressions from the Rotary Orientation Day @ the Rotary Center

23 Peace Fellows attend Class-XII from 20 February to 1 May 2012
and Rotary’s International Peace Symposium, just before the International Convention


The expert panel with (left to right) Prof. Surichai Wun’gaeo, Director of the Rotary Peace Center, PRID Noraseth Pathmanand, PRIP Bhichai Rattakul, PDG Dr. Soawalak Rattanavich – former Host Area Counselor, and PP Krairat Watson – current Host Area Counselor.



PRIP Bhichai tells about the not-always-smooth origins of the Peace Studies Course @ Chulalongkorn University. He initiated this great program that started in 2006. The 3-months course is intended to give workers in the field of conflict resolution practical tools & techniques to increase the effectiveness of their work. The 23 Peace Fellows of Class-XII come from all parts of the world. Many work in major conflict zones.



PE Dieter Reigber and I join Peace Fellow Dr. Fernando Barrio from Argentina and a room full of other Peace Fellows and Counselors. I am Fernando’s “Host Counselor” and picked him up at the airport on February 13. PDG Siri Eiamchamroonlarp is also a Counselor (in the back, between Dieter and myself). Dieter will be a Host Counselor for Class-XIII that starts in July.



Fernando, his wife and his twin daughters will be guests at our 25th Anniversary Dinner Party.
Dieter and I will be back in Bangkok on March 20 and May 1 for other Peace Studies events.


I plan to see Fernando on a number of other occasions, possibly also in Mae Sot during a week-long field trip of Class-XII to that area to learn about Peace & Conflict in Burma. Our Club has a 1 million Baht project in Mae Sot from March to June this year for schools for children of Burmese migrants operated by the Burmese Migrant Worker’s Education Committee.


Martin Brands 2012-02-18