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Our Rotary World Rotarians offer support in wake of Mumbai tragedy By Ryan Hyland Rotary International News -- 5 December 2008 Rotary leaders and Indian Rotarians are expressing sadness and offering support for survivors following last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, that killed more than 170 people. More than 300 Mumbai Rotarians joined tens of thousands of city residents on 3 December in a peace march to mourn the dead and protest the violence. Participants gathered in the streets surrounding the Taj Mahal Palace and Tower hotel, one of several locations stormed by armed gunmen on 26 November. In a show of unity and peace, Rotarians carried Rotary flags and banners. "It is a terrible situation. But Rotary is ready to help those who have suffered," says Past RI President Rajendra Saboo. "Rotary will be most needed when the painful happening recedes in the memory." Rotarians and their families stood in long lines to donate blood. Saboo also said Mumbai clubs are in contact with hospitals, offering support and comfort to victims. "This is a time when those who have suffered the most may find themselves lonely and in need," says Saboo, a resident of the Union Territory of Chandigarh. "Rotary will not only be there to heal the immediate wounds but to care for them long term." Calling the attacks in Mumbai "a catastrophe," RI President Dung Kurn Lee says the recovery process will take many months and that Rotary will provide support for victims and their families. "Rotary is the organization that helps people make the transition from day-to-day survival to a return to a normal life," says Lee. Local clubs are also struggling with the senseless violence. "It is very tragic that so many innocent people were killed or injured," says Prabha Mathur, past president of the Rotary Club of Bombay Airport in Mumbai. "We are all trying to find peaceful ways of addressing the situation." RI Director Ashok Mahajan says now is the time to spread Rotary's message of peace. "I'm deeply saddened by what happened. People here are extremely angry," says Mahajan, a Mumbai resident. "But I don't want to see the situation worsen. It's time for Rotary to unite and help achieve world peace." Mahajan expresses gratitude for the many condolences he’s received from Rotarians worldwide, and says he especially appreciates the e-mails and phone calls from Pakistani Rotarians. "Clubs in Pakistan showed great concern about our health and well-being," Mahajan says. The Rotary Club of Bombay has been left without a home, owing to the extensive fire damage at the Taj Mahal hotel. Since its founding in 1929, the club has met in the hotel’s ballroom.
RI President Messages December 2008 Dear fellow Rotarians, As a father of four and grandfather of five, I have been fortunate to have spent many years in the company of children. When raising our own children, my wife, Young, and I worked hard to give them what all children need most: a loving, safe, and stable home. Our children were our first priority, and we made sure that they always had nutritious food, appropriate clothing, quality medical care, and a good education. We knew very well how fortunate we were to be able to do this. We were grateful that we never had to say to our children, “I’m sorry, but there’s nothing to eat tonight,” or “I’m sorry, but we can’t pay your school fees.” When I was a child, Korea was a poor country, and there were many children who went to bed hungry at night and had no school to go to in the morning. As a Rotarian, I know only too well that there are still far too many children in the world without the absolute essentials: food, clothing, shelter, medical care, and education. And as a Rotarian who is also a father, I consider all of the world’s children to be my responsibility. When I see my own grandchildren – happy, healthy, and enrolled in good schools – I cannot help but think of the millions of children who do not have so many advantages. I think of the children who have too little to eat and only dirty water to drink. I think of the children who are sick with diseases that could have been prevented and those who will have nowhere safe to sleep tonight. And I think of the children, millions of them every year, who won’t live to see their fifth birthday. December is Family Month. It is a time to focus on our families, to involve them in our Rotary service, and to challenge ourselves to do even more for those in need. Because there are so many families and so many children waiting for our help, we, as Rotarians, cannot look away. We cannot and will not rest until all children, everywhere, have the chance for a long and healthy life. We will not rest until we Make Dreams Real for every child in every home where there is hunger, sickness, and want. As Rotarians, we can do no less. Dong Kurn (D.K.) Lee President, Rotary International |
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