Positive Peace is defined as a more lasting conceptualization of peace. Positive peace is built on “sustainable investments in economic development, institutions, and the societal attitudes that foster peace.” Positive Peace includes attitudes, institutions, and policies. It provides a framework to understand and address the many complex challenges facing the world.

 

For many years Hector Ortiz has been committed to peace creation, peacebuilding structures, and peace advocacy. Service above self has been his motto and a way to connect with the whole community. Hector is a fan of the Rotary Peace Centers and is delighted to know that 1,800 peace fellows are working for peace in the world.

 

After taking the Positive Peace Academy and participating in a one-day positive peace workshop in Singapore, before the Rotary International Convention, Hector got the motivation to keep growing in his positive peace journey. Hector was fully impressed by the information presented and the way the Institute for Economics and Peace conceived positive peace. Hector's doctoral thesis was on human rights, which catapulted him to an advocate for cultural, economic, and social rights.

 

Hector’s passion was strengthened after receiving the Positive Peace Activator nomination as part of the 32 North America & Caribbean cohort of peace activators is what influenced the commitment to create awareness, foster understanding, and promote peace-building initiatives to reinvigorate the need to recreate positive peace in our communities.

 

The Rotary Positive Peace Activator Program is a competitive application program training active Rotary members, Rotary Peace Fellows, and other Rotary stakeholders in specific regions on IEP’s Positive Peace framework and Rotary’s peace ecosystem. After a 20-hour training, Activators agree to a two-year service commitment, providing presentations, leading trainings, and supporting projects with Rotary-affiliated stakeholders.

Hector is committed to spreading positive peace knowledge and understanding and is willing to train others on the conceptualization of positive peace and the framework of peace-building models. It is not about telling one what to know, what to say, or what to do. In other words, “before you try to fix something, ask first” to understand it. See what is needed from your sight and see it from the sight of others; it is all about calling for unity by respecting and practicing listening skills to exercise effective communication and see things from other points of view. Hector will be available to speak at Rotary clubs and district functions to leverage the importance of positive peace and enhance community peace-building initiatives.

 As you may realize, I am delighted that Rotary District 7390 is now considered a Global Peacebuilder District, due to the contributions Rotarians have made to the Rotary Foundation, the Peace Centers, and the peacebuilding and conflict prevention area of focus during the Rotary year 2023-24. As Global Peacebuilder District, Rotary clubs and Rotarians play an essential role “in supporting the work of the Rotary Peace Centers and our grassroots efforts in peacebuilding.” It is time to invent and reinvent peace.

 

What we all may agree is that Positive Peace must start with us, and it must be embedded in our attitudes, both individually and collectively. Stay tuned, it is just the beginning in our region as we move to create peacebuilding initiatives and reinvent ways to create more peaceful societies. Hector is willing to coordinate and speak at our Rotary Clubs at the club’s discretion.

 

PDG Hector Ortiz

Proud Rotarian and

Positive Peace Activator