ROTARY BEAMS ITS MESSAGE ACROSS SCOTLAND

Photograph by Alex Dorrens

Rotary International's campaign to eradicate polio was highlighted as buildings throughout Scotland were lit up with the Rotary wheel and the message ‘end polio now'. Rotary International has raised 800 million dollars since 1986 to eradicate the killer disease. In 1986 when Rotary International started its campaign there were more than 340,000 cases a year throughout the world. Because of Rotary's campaign with other agencies that number is now down to less than 2000. Polio can now only be found in four countries: India, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria. Rotary International have committed themselves to raising 130 million dollars which will take their contribution to over a billion dollars.

Photograph by George Simpson

Two weeks ago Bill Gates donated 250 million dollars to Rotary's campaign. The British government donated 150 million dollars and the German government 130 million dollars. The District Governor of Rotary in the west of Scotland, Catherine Stewart, said last night: ‘Last year we lit up the Houses of Parliament. This year we'll be lighting up Sydney Opera House, the Coliseum in Rome and other important buildings throughout the world. We decided in Scotland that we would send out the message in our own country which is why we are lighting up the City Chambers in Glasgow, Culzean Castle in Ayrshire and the Municipal Buildings in Greenock. As Rotarians we are committed to ending polio now.'

Photograph by Alex Dorrens