Pedal for Peace

Pedal for Peace coverage in The Courier and Advertiser

'A MAJOR community peace initiative is planned in Fife to commemorate the centenary of Andrew Carnegies funding of the International Peace Palace in The Hague. Synonymous with Carnegie Hall in New York and in his home town of Dunfermline and famed for his support for the establishment of free libraries, the philanthropists backing of the Peace Palace is less well known. However, the Dunfermline Carnegie Rotary Club is keen to change that and is coordinating a celebration of peace involving around 15 local schools and a cycling expedition to the Peace Palace.

Dunfermline Carnegie Rotary Club president Peter Wilson said: When we recognised that the centenary of Andrew Carnegies donation to the International Peace Palace in The Hague fell in 2013, we saw the link with the work which Rotary clubs do worldwide to promote peace. It was also a great opportunity to raise awareness here in Dunfermline.

Dunfermline Carnegie supports an interact club in St Columbas High School and through this connection the Schools for Peace theme has gathered pace. From an initial discussion with one school, others have now come on board and in a few months the olive branch of peace has spread from Dunfermline across Fife. The interpretation of peace is left up to each school and various ideas are now being developed, with ideas shared via the education service intranet system.

Other Rotary clubs are keen to become involved in supporting local schools in developing their own projects.

Mr Wilson added: Rotary clubs have a close link with schools and it was the schools who said to us that they wanted to be involved. The ideas they are now developing are fantastic and have the potential to become another legacy of Carnegies work, not only for this year, but in years to come.

Meanwhile, Pedal4Peace is an idea by Prentice Events which organises charitable cycling events throughout the year.

The Dunfermline Carnegie Rotary Club is looking for others to join in the unique celebration of peace through service, and cycle from Carnegies birthplace to the Peace Palace in May, raising money for peace charities along the way.

The 206-mile route will start from the Carnegie Trust HQ and head over the Forth Road Bridge, through Edinburgh to the Scottish Parliament and south through North Beriwck, Eyemouth and Whitley Bay. After a ferry crossing to Ijmuiden, the cyclists will head to Rotterdam and on to The Hague, where they will be officially welcomed by Peace Palace general director Steven van Hoogstraaten who is a Rotarian in the Netherlands before a return journey to Dunfermline.

It is planned to bring back a memento to Fife for a celebratory event on June 1 in Pittencrieff Park Carnegies gift to the people of his home town. More information is available at prenticeevents.com. leclark@thecourier.co.uk'

The Hague
'The first Hague peace conference, convened by Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands and initiated by Tsar Nicholas II of Russia, brought together 26 countries to discuss disarmament, international humanitarian law and dispute resolution. Agreement was reached on the First Hague Convention on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes which, in effect, brought about the creation of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. In the years after the conference Andrew Carnegie who was an outspoken supporter of the Hagues effort to set up an international court founded three Temples of Peace, the largest being the Palace of Peace at The Hague. When the philanthropist was approached by Frederick Holls, secretary of the American delegation to the conference, and the then Ambassador to Germany, Andrew White, with a proposal to build a house for the international judicial body, he instead offered to build a law library for use by the court. However, Mr Carnegie was assured the Dutch Government would be pleased to accept the gift of a courthouse and would locate a site if he were to provide the funds. In October 1903 the philanthropist signed the deed to create a foundation to build and maintain a courthouse and library for the Permanent Court of Arbitration and it was finally completed in 1913.'

Peace Spreads Across Fife
'WEST FIFE schools have embraced the idea of developing projects to promote awareness of the centenary of Andrew Carnegies funding of the International Peace Palace in The Hague. Initiatives have already started in a number of schools with links to the Dunfermline Carnegie, Cowdenbeath, West Fife and Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay Rotary clubs. In addition, schools from outwith west Fife Kirkland High, Waid Academy and Dunbog Primary are taking part as the idea spreads its wings. Carnegie Primary is thinking of a nurture room, exhibition and Carnegie Peace Book, while St Columbas High additional support needs students are thinking of a peace book and garden. Gardens are also being mooted by Beath and Lochgelly High Schools, and St Johns, St Kenneths, Pitcorthie and Lynburn primaries. Queen Anne High is considering a peace day, conference, debate, art exhibition and concert, while Foulford Primary is looking at a mosaic, poetry competition and art display. St Margarets Primary would like a mural in the quad garden or the orchard, while St Kenneths is considering a bench or stained glass window and Kirkland Highs project may be a peace day or sculpture.Also taking part are Limekilns, Inverkeithing, St Brides and Holy Name.'

School builds area for reflection
'AT PARK Road Primary, in Rosyth, plans are already under way for a quiet area. Headteacher Libby Seath, who is also vicepresident of Dunfermline Carnegie Rotary Club, explained that pupils want their Schools for Peace legacy to be an upgraded Willow Garden, with plaques designed by the children. Over the last two years the garden has fallen into disrepair and the art work, a mosaic, was destroyed in the terrible winter of 2010. '