Nobel Peace Prize nominee to speak in Montréal

By Ryan Hyland
Rotary International News – 13 October 2009

Nobel Peace Prize nominee Greg Mortenson, coauthor of Three Cups of Tea, will be a speaker at the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada. Photo courtesy of Greg Mortenson

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Greg Mortenson, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and coauthor of the New York Times bestseller Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace … One School at a Time , will speak to Rotarians at the 2010 RI Convention in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Mortenson is cofounder and executive director of the Central Asia Institute, which promotes and supports community-based education in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has established or significantly supported 131 schools in rural areas, often within war zones, providing education to 58,000 children, including 44,000 girls who might not otherwise have had the opportunity.

In March, Mortenson received the Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan), the country's highest civil award, for his efforts to promote education and literacy.

In Three Cups of Tea , Mortenson chronicles his transition from an unsuccessful climb of the world's second-tallest mountain, K2, in northern Pakistan in 1993, to his subsequent decision to establish schools in the most isolated regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

While recovering from his arduous mountain climb in a poor, remote village, Mortenson met a group of children doing schoolwork in the dirt. To show his gratitude to the villagers who nursed him back to health, he promised to help build a school there.

Mortenson was among 205 nominees for this year's Nobel Peace Prize, awarded 9 October to U.S. President Barack Obama.

Other keynote speakers at the Montréal convention will include Jo Luck , president and CEO of Heifer International, and Robert Mazzuca , chief scout executive of the Boy Scouts of America.

Watch a video on how Rotary clubs partnered with Heifer International to deliver fresh milk from rural farmers to children in Romanian orphanages and hospitals.

For more information:

Read about Montréal, site of the 2010 RI Convention , in October's The Rotarian
Learn more about featured speakers at the Montréal convention
Register today for the 2010 RI Convention, which will be held from 20 to 23 June.

5 Comments:

At 10:27AM on 19 October 2009, Ayoub Mah Ayoub-Egypt wrote: We are keen to see and hear one of the great persons who crystalize Rotary's SREVICE above SELF

At 10:32AM on 19 October 2009, Janet Holland wrote: As I read Three Cups of Tea, I kept thinking that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize and was hoping he would get it for all the work he has done to make a new life of the people in the region. He is giving his life to make a difference.

At 11:03AM on 16 October 2009, Charlie Cogan wrote: Actually, as I read about Greg Mortenson's early struggles to make connections and get his school built, I kept on wishing he'd run into a local Rotary club and gotten some help. I did, and it made all of the difference in the world. As a former Peace Corps volunteer, I especially recall two episodes from the book. First, I enjoyed watching him struggle to learn the language and culture of the places where he was working. It takes time and lots of trial and error to achieve competency and the book was very honest about all this. Second, I remember the one time he showed up to a talk, carefully laid brochures on each of several hundred chairs and then waited for the crowd to show up. Three people eventually drifted in, but he still got up on the stage and gave his talk and the result was an unexpected benefactor he never met in person. Having been through a few similar situations, it was good to see him stick to his guns when things looked bleak and also good to see that a crowd of three people can often produce results that a packed audience might not. I think Greg really benefited from having a co-author, since I doubt he would or could have written about most of this with any detachment at all, and having a fresh pair of eyes (and a professional writer) allowed for a nice perspective. Having said this, it will also be fun to hear what he has to say, straight from the Horse's mouth. I know he's not completely comfortable speaking to large crowds so I'll be empathizing with him as he sweats it out up there on stage and on the big screen. Bravo!

At 3:58PM on 15 October 2009, virginia warnsman wrote: Not only have we been to Tibet and witnessed the need to bring educaiton to very special people, but read Three Cups of Tea. Indeed, Mr. Mortenson should have received the Peace Prize and he has helped the indian girls to achieve a never before available --- education.

At 12:18PM on 13 October 2009, Darlene J Turner wrote: Mr. Mortenson is one of the worlds most incredible men. He is a true humanitarian and is making a valuable change in the world - one person at a time. His courage and convictions to make the world a better, safer place is inspirational. If you have not read Three Cups of Tea, do it now, and you will know what I mean. Mr Mortenson has the TRUE Rotary spirt.

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