Steps toward Peace Archives - Page 36 of 39

Concept Of ‘PEACE’ to This Day : Heavenly Culture Is Our Way to Go

Isn’t it amazing? : Concept of ‘PEACE’ to this day

So far Social science has not accumulated knowledge about the peace like about the war. Indeed, the history of warfare was written, but the history of peace has never been written. Because war is a source of violence of feelings, war became a strong motive of poetry, literature, painting and movies.

But peace’s position was just a fraction in there. We realized then how peace is precious only after losing. When you live with peace, you can’t even think about ‘peace’. You just aware your peace only by comparison to other’s unhappiness. There is a saying that goes: “True peace, it is a matter when war broke out elsewhere” In this way, peace was sometimes identified as a coordinate concept of war. Isn’t it amazing?

Culture is the intersection of people and life itself. It’s how we deal with life, love, death, birth, disappointment… all of that is expressed in culture. – Wendell Pierce

Now, Where we go?

It was hard to believe peace is only that all. From now on, I developed a desire for peace early but the world is not. Someone can say “He is so young their eyes have not yet opened” Little boys and girls’ dream may come crashing down and they can be frustrated. Adults may laugh at youthful infatuation. Little girl crying can say “So… How could we achieve peace? boohoo… Will it be peace? What should I do? I don’t know anything…” The little girl will grow up into impassive adult. It’s so sad but It occurs very often. I don’t want to leave my children in such gloomy world. I wish that she do not lose courage and she really achieve peace. 🙂

Heavenly Culture : Everything is up to us.

I want to protect little girl’s desire. I don’t want to laugh at. Rather, I want to unite the power of our minds. I want to collect them. What should I call it? It may be warm and bright. I’m happy just thinking about it. It may be like a sweet cotton candy.

But it is not weak, also can’t be weak. No matter how small candle is, darkness can’t stay for a second. “How far that little candle throws his beams!”(William Shakespeare) Its weapon is a ‘Moving’. It penetrate into your heart. No one else can stop its attacks. If it exists, I’m sure the world will be really beautiful. Did you find it? Drum roll. I find it!!!! It exists!!! It was called as ‘Heavenly-Culture’. To speak bluntly, I don’t want to bring this definition into question. Everything is up to us. A important point is whether we can achieve it, not how we define it.

Culture eats strategy for breakfast – Peter Druker

‘Sam-Il-Jeol’ Independence Movement Day & 33 Korean Religious Leaders

Today is the Sam-il-jeol Independence Movement Day(March 1) in South Korea. Do you have any independence day in your countries? In fact, when I just lived only in South Korea, I can‘t feel anything. I thought that of course everyone has Independence Day until now. But it’s not. I’m curious about what the difference is. It depends on who you are but Cultural differences maybe can exist. It is important to know what standards the majority of society has. HAHAHA I don’t mean to say this. Let me introduce Samiljeol. 🙂

History : Why did it happen?

On every March 1st, Korean streets filled with national flags. It commemorate a national independence movement in 1919. What happened in 1919? They suffered discrimination terribly during Japanese colonial rule. The rule of force, cultural obliteration, extortion of their land made life difficult. People from all walks of life suffered lot of damage for the past ten years. At this moment, Woodrow Wilson(28th President of the United States from 1913 to 1921) announced <Fourteen Points>. It contains spirit of ‘Principle of National Self-determination‘. It activate national independence movement.

Independence Movement Day : 33 Korean leaders

In 1919 Han Yong-un, one of the 33 Korean leaders, read the country’s Declaration of Independence at the Taehwagwan Restaurant in Seoul. 33 Korean leaders consisted of 16 to Christianity, 15 to Catholicism and 2 to Buddhism. What is surprising is that religious leaders initiate action. Corrupt religious leaders of course existed. But at times some religious leaders are really cool.

After March 1st Movement, result is rally 1,542, participants 2,023,089, deaths 7,509, wounded 15,961, those arrested 52,770, burned church 47 and private houses 715(from Japan). Even though this movement caused a lot of casualties by Japan’s brutal crackdown, this national movement showed the patriotism of our people both internally and externally.

How can I forget about Yoo Gwan-soon!!! Japanese military police tortured Yoo Gwan-soon, who died in prison in 1920 at 18. The scope of the torture was beyond our expectation. Maybe it is too painful… My heart was broken…

Lastly, Kim Gu’s quote is moving. We must need highly-developed culture. I want to write about this more.

The only thing that I desire in infinite quantity is the power of a highly-developed culture. This is because the power of culture both makes ourselves happy and gives happiness to others. – Kim Gu

Syrian Rebels won’t Attend Peace Talks

Syrian civil war is not end

Syrian civil war is approaching for the sixth consecutive year. The result of Syrian civil war is 450,000 deaths and 12 million refugees. This is so terrible. It seemed an awfully long time for Syrian people. On December 30th last year, the Syrian government forces and Syrian Rebels called a total cease-fire. On December 31th last year, the U.N. Security Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting Syria’s total cease-fire.

But volatile energy is happening again. Syrian Rebels won’t attend Peace Talks. Why? What’s certain is that It is not just Rebel’s fault.

Syrian Rebels claims bomb damage after the truce

According to British broadcasting BBC, many Syrian rebels issued a joint statement on January 2. “The alliance with government forces are in violation of a cease-fire agreement to continue the bombing.” These Syrian rebels stressed “If Syria Government forces continued to breach an agreement, Syrian rebels will suspend all discussions related to peace talks held in Astana, Kazakhstan.”

Syria Government forces attacked a Barada valley in northwest of Damascus. It is a strategic location that is in charge of Syrian capital’s main water supply.

Do you know the Wadi Barada media office? It is a civic group that report massive air strikes. Syrian Rebels added ‘There were at least nine times of air strikes form January 1st. 6 were killed and 73 were wounded.

What else can we do to stop War?

Have you ever fell in love? Yes or No? What do you do when you are in love? Someone can say “When I’m in love, I bet my life” and another can say “I am alive only when I love”. Can you see my point? 🙂

Peace is like ‘Love’. Here is the answer. There can be no peace without love. Do you bet your life? Can you say “I am alive only when I cry out for peace”? But that’s easier said than done.

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. ” – Lev Tolstoy

So we must change myself. 🙂 Good luck to you.

African Refugee in a Suitcase “Refugee have no choice”

African Refugee in Suitcase

Monday (local time) Britain BBC reported that African refugee hiding in a suitcase was caught by the Spanish border guards of the North Africa. He want to go to the ‘Ceuta‘. He is a 19-year-old man from Gabon. He received first aid shortly after discovery.

Refugee’s stories is a lot. Nowadays there is a continuing major refugee problem. I’ll tell you more.

One woman hid under the dashboard space and one man hid under rear seat. What’s surprising is that two man and woman hid in the same car. She received first aid with breathing troubles.

January 1st, the 1,100 refugee wanted to slip across the border in Ceuta. Then, Morocco military police come into conflict with 1,100 refugee. Both suffered injuries one after the other.

Refugee have no choice

What do you think? In fact, It is not near from us. We wake up without any sense. He could drink coffee, we could go to School. But Refugee have no choice. How miserable it is!!! It is not pity. Do you think Refugee is the same person like us?

If you or your family lived like that, You will be very upset. You can not sleep to resolve this issue. But we may or may not solve the problem of us. I understand that we are equally hard. I hope that we have to try a little harder. We must solve the problem.

“War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.” – Jimmy Carter

“The only alternative to coexistence is codestruction.”- Jawaharlal Nehru

PEACE can be achieved. We can do it. 🙂

Make 2017 a peace for year : Antonio Guterres ‘Appeal for peace’

Happy New Year!!!

There are three days through the New Year’s Day. Have you made your New Year’s resolutions? Let’s see Antonio Guterres’s resolution.

Make 2017 a peace for year

Antonio Guterres took office as the ninth UN secretary-general on Sunday.

Before starting work on his first day, he gave a new year’s address. He said he will make 2017 a peace for year.

“On this New Year’s Day, I ask all of you to join me in making one shared New Year’s resolution: Let us resolve to put peace first. Let us make 2017 a year in which we all — citizens, governments, leaders — strive to overcome our differences.”

He seem to have a strong will for peace. This year is really special. Many people cry out for peace. However, achieving peace is really difficult. Donald Trump also criticized UN as a “club for people to get together, talk and have a good time”. He have to try hard to show ‘UN is Not’.

One Question on his heart

Antonio Guterres said one question weighs heavy on his heart. “That is: how can we help the millions of people caught up in conflict, suffering massively in wars with no end in sight?”

He is a leader of UN. We know that. But his speech was not impressing as he said well. Do you really think it make sense? I was shocked when I discovered my insensibility. I am just ordinary citizens and Antonio Guterres is a leader of UN!!! It was surprising. The same applies to you. Do you have any ‘Question’ on your heart? Most of the people don’t have any question.

“Have patience with everything that remains unsolved in your heart. … live in the question.” – Rainer Maria Rilke, ‘Letters to a Young Poet’

What for do I live? What’s important to me? May I live like this? It is not so bad to look for your question. Then you can feel the value, too. You can understand how great saying of Antonio Guterres is.

Let’s go our way. Are you ready? I’m expecting you. 🙂

Saint Francis of Assisi “Peace Prayer”

“Peace Prayer”

“Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled as to console,
To be understood as to understand,
To be loved as to love;
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
It is in dying to self that we are born to eternal life.”

This peace prayer makes me solemn. This makes me feel abashed to my life.

Saint Francis of Assisi(1182~1226)

He was born into a rich family. He left behind all money and lived in poverty.

When he was 20 years old, he was held captive for one year. That incident had a big impact on his life. He took no pleasure in his secular life any more.

Church of St. Francis of Assisi is famous for tourist destination.

Have you heard of the famous anecdote about this ‘peace prayer’?

One evening there was someone knocking the door of the Saint Francis. A tough leprosy patient was standing out. He is so cold so he entreat Francis to get warm in the room for a moment.

He took leprosy patient by the hand to lead him into the room. Then the patient want to have a dinner again. The two ate dinner together.

Late into the night, the patient is too cold. So the patient asked again the Francis to melt him in the nude. He make him warm.

When Saint Francis woke up in the next day, The patient was an illusion. Francis was aware of God. And he gave ‘peace prayer‘ to God.

How did you spend your this morning?

Listen to the inner voice.

Why don’t you make your ‘Peace Prayer’?

Go only your peace way. I hoped it. 🙂

Next UN Secretary General ‘António Guterres’ “Syria peace is a top priority”

“Syria peace is a top priority”

António Guterres emphasized that The end of the Syria civil war is more urgent than any other issue. Also He shouted ‘The United Nations should be changed.’

“Our most serious shortcoming — and here I refer to the entire international community – is our inability to prevent crises.”

“The United Nations system has not yet done enough to prevent and respond to the appalling crimes of sexual violence and exploitation committed under the UN flag against those we are supposed to protect.”

“We want the world our children inherit to be defined by the values enshrined in the United Nations Charter: peace, justice, respect, human rights, tolerance and solidarity. All major religions embrace these principles, and we strive to reflect them in our daily lives.” – Inaugural address(12 DECEMBER 2016)

After inaugural address, he said in interview that It’s time to finish a crazy things happening in Syria civil war. He added There are no winners and all losers in the Syria civil war. Even if there are divergence of opinion and disagreements between the United Nations member states, There is something more valuable. The value of Syria peace is necessary to us all. Guterres hoped that everyone will be acceptable to Syria peace.

In fact in Aleppo on where the most fierce battle is going, the government took control of region that rebels seized more than 90 per cent.

The current UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon express deep regret at news that a lot of civilians are massacred in Aleppo.

Whose fault?

what do we have to do?

Who is responsible?

I hope that Syria peace will come. I want to see Syira baby’s smile.

“The World urge Syria peace talks”

We want Syria peace talks

Syrian civil lasted for six years. Western delegates called on both government troops and rebels to resume Syria peace talks on December 10.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry censure Syria government for indiscriminate attacks. “Indiscriminate attacks are war crimes and crimes against humanity in Aleppo”. He confirmed “Today through two time dialogue, Assad would be willing to participate in negotiations with rebels.” John Kerry said “Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is open to Syria peace talks”.

At this meeting, Syrian rebel leader also attended.

Enter the negotiations unconditionally

Western delegates urged ‘Syrian government and rebels must enter the negotiations unconditionally’. But The rebels said they would not start negotiations if discussing Mr. Assad’s resignation is placed as a precondition.

2016 April, rebels and government representatives held the Syria peace talks in Geneva. But Assad’s position didn’t even get a mention at all. So, The negotiations broke down.

Secretary Kerry said “As losing the hub of Aleppo, for now the best thing for rebels is to negotiate. They politically would be able to solve the problem.”

Someone said “Peace is not always a answer. It is too naive”

But I want to say “Do you see the victims?” “How much do you really know about them?” In fact, I want to get rid of people who didn’t even bat an eyelash for many casualties. It is so terrible.

I want Syria peace talks. Not for politicians, for the victims.

Look at this documentary and feel how it terrible.

Syria little girl, Bana Alabed broadcasted Aleppo’s situation in real time

A Brave journalists, Bana Alabed

Bana Alabed is a little girl living in Aleppo, Syria. She is not just little girl. She is a little reporter in Aleppo, Syria. She has broadcasted the current situation in real time.

Aleppo is where a Syria civil war broke out. It is a very tough place to live for a little girl. She is faithful to her role.

She began telling us her story.

She started a Twitter on September 24. Her first words were “I need peace”. It was retweeted over 1000 times. And She got 20,000 more followers in a week.

https://twitter.com/AlabedBana. Here’s a website address.

Now she is influential. She got 233,653 followers.

Click her website. Scroll down to read more details.

There are words that she frequently used.

‘Appeal’ ‘My friends’ ‘Death’ ‘Bomb’ ‘kill’

‘Save me’ ‘We are still alive’.

Let’s support her together. We must do it. What I’m surprising is that She is still bright. We need to protect her smile. 🙂

World class pop stars and producers are singing for World Peace of Korea

World class pop stars and producers are singing for World Peace of Korea.

It is Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

When I heard this news, I can’t understand ‘Why do world stars make songs for Korea?’ It is amazing. Why?

It is a one of ‘One K Global Project’.

Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will create songs that include meaning that ‘A unified Korea will contribute to world peace‘. They say “This song is not just for Korean, for all of us that protect human rights and peace”.

When did he say that? Where?

In 2016 August International Young Leaders Assembly(IYLA) was held at U.N. headquarters. Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis said here. Wow.

Are you curious? Who are Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis?

They are producer of the global pop stars including Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Boyz II Men, Usher. Also they won ‘Grammy Awards‘ six times.

Do you know Peabo Bryson? He is a U.S. pop singer to sing the theme song of ‘Beauty and the Beast‘.

What’s more surprising is that Metropolis Studio is in charge of marketing and global distribution.

Starting with the concert in Philippines on March, ‘One Concert K‘ will be held for unification of Korea in 10 foreign countries including the United States, China and Japan.

Domestic and Foreign 737 civic groups took part in ‘One K Global Project’.

It is amazing. 🙂 I hope they will success to achieve World Peace.

I would like to help.