Paul P Harris’ final words to the 1941 Convention in Denver

It is now one year since the G8 summit held in my native Scotland. I am reminded of the promises the richest nations of the world made to the world twelve months ago. In the UK, our media –just for a brief moment – concentrated on real stories that affect the majority of the world’s population. These stories focused on poverty, hunger and disease.

I am also reminded of those few days last July each time I hear the song ‘Comfortably Numb’ by the English Rock group Pink Floyd who re-united after 22 years of bickering and litigation to perform at the Live 8 concert in London’s Hyde Park.

I pray you never 'become comfortably numb' to the suffering of mankind or to our duties as Rotarians to humanitarian service.

Amongst the various promises (the G8 made) to help some of the poorest countries in the world was this obligation –

“Supporting the polio eradication initiative for the post eradication period in 2006-08 through continuing or increasing our own contribution towards the $829 million target and mobilizing the support of others. We are pleased that the funding gap of 2005 has been met".

Through recent initiatives like the PolioPlus Partners Program, the morning will come soon, a bright new dawn where polio is consigned to medical history.