Dr Prem Sharma OBE at a conference on peace, with a special focus on Ukraine, held on 18TH May in the Houses of Parliament opened the conference by saying, “If we want peace in Ukraine and in the world, leaders have to change.”
The conference was sponsored by Katherine Fletcher MP and organised by the Magna Carta World Peace and Sustainability Foundation in partnership with Elite Innovation College Cambridge (EICC) and South Asian Development Partnership (SADP).
The Attlee Room at Portcullis House was full as participants listened to children and women speaking from personal experiences in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Iran, while others reflected more broadly on multiple factors linked to peace. The conference had a dual focus: a broad perspective on peace in the post-Covid-19 and post-Ukraine conflict era and a sharp focus on the situation in Ukraine. Hearers were moved by stories of suffering and courage and challenged to grapple with the multiple responses needed, including education, women’s empowerment, tackling climate change and dealing with poverty and hunger.
International speakers joined online and in person. Dr Imbenzi George, an expert in global peace operations, was moved by the speakers’ stories to tear up his prepared speech and urge all of us to ‘become part of the story’ of peace. Ramu Damodaran and Philip Laird joined by video to urge the vital place of education and understanding in striving for peace. “2023 is a year of reckoning,” said Rajendra Shende, climate change expert, also on video. “Global peace is on thin ice, and the ice is melting fast.” Our relationship to nature has to change: it is vitally connected to peace. Svitlana Morenets, a Ukrainian journalist, reflected critically on prospects for peace in Ukraine, while Azadeh Zabeti, an Iranian lawyer, gave a chilling picture of the situation of women in Iran and the regime’s threat to peace, similar to Shukria Rezaei’s appeal for women in Afghanistan.
Professor Yinshan Tang of Henley Business School explained the unique World Peace Index developed by the Magna Carta Foundation, while Professor Richard Li-Hua, EICC President, showed how innovation is the key to achieving peace in today’s world. Dr Lucy Lu, Provost of Ardent University, coordinated the group of women speakers.
“A laudable effort for world peace. There is so much to learn and do,” commented Subhash Thakrar,
Vice President, London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
“I really loved the presentations of the young people and women,” Ram Gidoomal CBE, Chairman, SADP.
“Many leaders seek their own glory and want to be greater than others,” said Dr Sharma. “They need to learn that true greatness is service of others. And all of us have to change, as we understand what causes conflict and learn to be peacebuilders. Ultimately, peace begins with each of us, being changed from the inside.”
