Pee Sadued rocks the crowd during the annual
Pattaya Music Festival. The searing heat did not deter the crowds, as
hundreds of thousands of revelers turned out for the annual free music.
Organizers felt the numbers were down this year, but the massive traffic
jams seem to dispute their claim.
The “Land of a thousand smiles” will host
Rotary’s annual International Convention May 6-9, attracting more than
35,000 member registrants from over 160 countries.
The “Land of a thousand smiles” will host Rotary’s
annual International Convention May 6-9, attracting more than 35,000
member registrants from over 160 countries.
Often described as a “mini-United Nations” because of
its global scope and cultural diversity, the humanitarian service
organization’s always colorful convention is expected to inject more
than US$100 million (3 billion baht) into the local economy during its
run at Impact Muang Thong Thani (Arena, Exhibition and Convention
Center).
Rotary International
president Kalyan Banerjee and his lovely wife Binota.
Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Walailak Akra
Rajakumari will represent His Majesty the King at the convention opening
ceremony (10:30 a.m. Sunday, May 6) in the Challenger 1 and 2 halls.
Flags of the 200 countries and regions where Rotary clubs serve their
communities will be presented on stage, followed by a performance of the
National Anthem of Thailand by pop star Tata Young. A plenary address by
Rotary International president Kalyan Banerjee will follow at 12 Noon.
The convention gives members of the volunteer service
group the opportunity to share success stories, exchange ideas, and
renew acquaintances. The IMPACT Center will be transformed into a
kaleidoscope of energy, color and excitement as Rotary members
participate in a broad agenda of plenary sessions, workshops and other
activities focused on how Rotary clubs help improve communities
worldwide through volunteer service. Displays showcasing hundreds of
Rotary’s humanitarian and education projects and programs will be open
daily to convention registrants at the aptly named ‘House of Friendship’
exhibition area from May 5-9 in Challenger 3 Hall.
Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of
polio, a crippling and potentially fatal disease that still threatens
children in portions of Africa and Asia. The fight against polio is
particularly important to the convention leader, Rotary International
President Kalyan Banerjee, of Gujarat, India. In January, his homeland,
once an epicenter of the disease, reached a historic milestone by going
an entire year without recording a single new polio case, followed by
its removal in February from the World Health Organization’s list of
polio-endemic countries.
Rotary launched its polio eradication program in
1985, and in 1988 helped launch the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.
Rotary Club members worldwide have contributed more than $1 billion
(30.7 billion baht) and countless volunteer hours to the effort.
Rotary members will celebrate their success in
raising more than $200 million (6.1 billion baht) in new funding for
polio eradication. The fundraising milestone was reached in response to
a $355 million (10.9 billion baht) challenge grant from the Bill &
Melinda Gates Foundation. All funds are earmarked to support polio
immunization activities in affected countries where this
vaccine-preventable disease continues to paralyze children.
Dr. Bruce Aylward, assistant director-general for
Polio, Emergencies, and Country Collaboration at the World Health
Organization, will give an update on the status of polio eradication (11
a.m. Tuesday, May 8) in Challenger 1 and 2 (Halls).
Other highlights include keynote speakers Dr.
Muhammad Yunus (11:30 a.m. Monday, May 7), 2006 Nobel Peace Prize
recipient, an honor he shared with Grameen Bank; Hugh Evans (9:30 a.m.
Monday, May 7), co-founder and CEO of the Global Poverty Project;
Angelique Kidjo (10 a.m. Monday, May 7), Grammy Award-winning
singer-songwriter and peace advocate; Amanda Martin (9:30 a.m. Tuesday,
May 8), 2011 alumna of the Rotary Peace Center at Chulalongkorn
University in Bangkok now with the Global Health Access Program; and Dr.
Jos้ Ramos-Horta (11 a.m. Wednesday, May 9), President of the Republic
of Timor Leste and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate.
Preceding the convention will be the Rotary World
Peace Symposium, a three-day conference that will bring together more
than 150 students and alumni of Rotary’s Peace Centers Program, a peace
studies initiative that provides future leaders with the skills and
tools needed to resolve conflicts and promote peace. Also in attendance
will be approximately 250 Rotary members and other supporters of
Rotary’s peace efforts from around the world.
Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee (12 Noon,
Saturday, May 5) will deliver the keynote address at the Rotary World
Peace Symposium, where students and alumni of Rotary’s Peace Centers
Program that will take part in a dialogue on peace-building May 3-5 at
the Grand Diamond Ballroom at the Impact Muang Thong Thani (Arena,
Exhibition and Convention Center).
Other plenary speakers will include Emmanuel Jal (9
a.m. Thursday, May 3), a former Sudanese child soldier who has worked on
behalf of Save the Children, UNICEF, the World Food Programme, and
Christian Aid; renowned African peace advocate and singer Angelique
Kidjo from Benin (3 p.m. Friday, May 4); and Sakuji Tanaka (9 a.m.
Friday, May 4), Rotary International President-elect, who has made world
peace one of his top priorities when he takes office as the humanitarian
service organization’s 102nd president on July 1, 2012.
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business and
professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build
goodwill and peace in the world. Rotary’s global membership is
approximately 1.2 million men and women who belong to more than 34,000
Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas. For
images and broadcast quality video visit Rotary’s Media Center.
