A Global Call for Peace — Activate Your Advocacy Peace Begins at Home

Three days ago, peacebuilders and advocates around the world woke with heavy hearts—filled with pain, shock, and disbelief—following the senseless terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia. A place meant for life, joy, peace, and celebration became a scene of violence during a time of faith, gathering, and togetherness.

We mourn and honour all those affected by the Bondi Beach attack of 14 December 2025—the families and friends who lost loved ones, the injured, the traumatised, and all members of the community whose sense of safety was shaken. As peace practitioners and human rights advocates, this tragedy has deeply affected us.

The fact that this violence was carried out by a father and son—immigrants to a country that welcomed them with open arms, offering shelter, hope, and opportunity—only deepens the sadness and incomprehension of this tragedy.

Among the victims was a Holocaust survivor who, in his final act of courage, shielded his wife with his own body from a rain of bullets. After surviving one of humanity’s darkest chapters, he lost his life to hatred once again. There are no words sufficient to describe such loss.

We also honour Ahmed Al-Ahmed, who ran toward danger, putting his own life at risk to save others by disarming a terrorist at Bondi Beach. Your courage is a powerful reminder of humanity’s capacity for bravery and compassion. We thank you and wish you a full and speedy recovery.

In response, I join the call once again for humanitarian assistance, including blood donations and financial support, to help those affected and to support Ahmed Al-Ahmed—the hero who acted when it mattered most.

Like thousands of Australians and people around the world, I have donated blood and made a financial contribution—not because I have much, but because I feel a deep sense of responsibility to support acts of courage, humanity, and peace.

This atrocity comes at a moment of profound historical reflection and serves as a reminder that we must activate our activism and advocacy for grassroots peacebuilding. We must take collective responsibility for building a culture of peace.

Peace cannot be left solely to politicians, institutions, or declarations.
Peace must be built daily—within families and communities; in neighbourhoods, schools, places of worship, and civic spaces. This is the essence of positive peace, and it lies within every one of us.

For this reason, I have decided to host an annual event in Australia:

Peace Begins at Home – International Mega Meeting

Hosting the Peace Begins at Home – International Mega Meeting is vital because it mobilises peace advocates, Rotary leaders and members, changemakers, organisations, and community leaders in Australia and around the world to recognise that lasting global peace begins with our daily actions, values, and relationships at home.