One of Rotary’s main aims is “Peace and Conflict Resolution”.  Nobody could be more involved than Philip Smyth, whom we are privileged to have as our guest speaker on the 11^th of October, 2023.

Philip is by training a lawyer, with deep roots in Australia (indeed Brisbane where he went to school) and Myanmar (previously Burma).  His first law degree was at Yangon (previously Rangoon).

Philip has been deeply engaged in the struggle to end the terrible suffering and injustices to be found in Myanmar.  He is, for example, Vice Chairman of the Democratic Alliance of Burma.  This umbrella organisation covers many different groups in Burma/Myanmar, including academics, political parties, civil groups and extending to armed ethnic minority groups.

As we know, “one man’s terrorist is another man’s Freedom Fighter”, and this has led the DAB to be criticised in some circles.

Rotary is non-political, but it does behove us to find out, as best we can, what is going on in the darker corners of the world.

There may never be a better opportunity to do that at an event in The Gap than Philip’s exploration of his work and experiences in Myanmar.  Not to be missed.