I’ve often thought about wanting to draw with a pad, but I put it into practice in 5 months!
‘World Peace Gate’ in Seoul Olympic Park.
I copied this! Actually, anyone can do it. Because you can just draw it on top of it!
I started drawing because I didn’t want to forget this moment of peace. People forget too easily. I don’t remember who I met a month ago and what I had for lunch a week ago.
I think I am now participating in the process of achieving great peace. Something seems to be taking part in a huge flow.
Do you know what Alfred Adler calls a sense of community? It’s like I feel it.
And thank you HWPL for making me feel it. If I do the smallest things I can do, there will be enormous peace.
DPCW Key-ring
I also drew a dpcw key ring. It was a little difficult but fun.
I think peace is the highest thing a man can do. Why do people start a war? I think it’s because of selfishness. It’s about falling into a sweet swamp. The swamp people don’t care about others at all.
Isn’t it hard for us to make ends meet? Why should we care about people who don’t even know their faces? Here is the answer.
HWPL’s 9th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace will be held online on 25 May 2022.
On 25 May 2013, not only was HWPL established, but Chairman Man Hee Lee drafted and proclaimed the Declaration of World Peace. The declaration embodies basic principles to build a peaceful world, and seeks to guarantee peace through legal instruments such as international law.
The annual commemoration was planned to remember the spirit instilled in the Declaration of World Peace proclaimed before the World Peace Gate in Seoul, South Korea, on 25 May 2013, and the meaning behind the civil society-led Peace Walks held worldwide.
The world today is seeking ways to promote the institutionalization of peace to safeguard lives and ensure safety from the threats of daily conflicts and war.
International organizations such as the UN, the AU, and the EU are widening research on normative guidelines to peacefully address current conflicts.
HWPL’s 9th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace
Institutionalizing Peace: Realizing the Collective Will for Peace
This year, HWPL has proposed the institutionalization of peace as a process to establish stable and sustainable peace through the collective will for peace. The collective will to create a world free of war comes from the individuals and groups who engage in the concerted efforts for peace that transcends national borders.
The 9th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace will provide the proof that having citizens continue to march on is the engine for us to get closer to peace even amid the crisis of illnesses and wars.
To this end, various peace projects HWPL is carrying out together with diverse partners will be explained as cases of realizing the collective will and institutionalizing peace.
HWPL’s 8th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace
Subtitle: Citizen-Led Peacebuilding Initiative for Global Coexistence and Harmony
Date: May, 25th, 2021
The replay I missed so much came out on YouTube! I think we can turn on the subtitles!
I’m always grateful when I watch videos of HWPL. Because I feel so relieved that there are still people in the world who shout for peace.
On May 25, 2021, HWPL’s 8th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace was held online and attended by 3,000 people from 150 countries around the world.
There have been many peace walking events, and May 25 was a truly meaningful peace festival.
I’ve walked with them before, too. It’s different from Santiago’s pilgrimage, but it’s the same. Why do people walk? I think it’s to find the answer. HWPL peace walking has a clear answer!
This year’s event aimed to discuss a citizen-led peace movement and cooperation to promote coexistence and harmony in the global community, and to overcome global challenges that stem from hatred, conflicts, misunderstanding, and lack of communication in this current pandemic era.
The event commemorated the Declaration of World Peace, proclaimed on May 25th in 2013. From this peace initiative, HWPL says that millions of global citizens for 8 years have participated in promoting peace projects.
These projects are locally fitted to creating a favorable environment of peace, including education, relief, and forums to offer public policies to meet the needs of the community.
Chairperson Pacale Isho Warda of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization(HHRO) in Iraq, who was appointed as Minister of Migration and Displacement by the UN from 2004 to 2005, introduced a legislation project of law that prevents violence against women and children in cooperation with IWPG.
Women and children are too prone to be victims of war. Especially these days, there are a lot of crimes, so I’m worried. What’s wrong with the world?
Ven. Ashin Htavara, General Secretary of All Burmese Monks Representative Committee in Norway, who went through the Saffron Revolution in 2007, stated that 3 HWPL Peace Libraries were established in Payapon, Myanmar and that a fourth library is currently being prepared.
He is a strong leader. He is a 625 veteran and is now approaching 90. But he is busier than anyone else for peace. Out of common sense, he’s really doing his best day by day. I admire him.
That’s all for the photo review. It’s best to see for yourself!
On May 25, 2021, HWPL’s 8th Annual Commemoration of the Declaration of World Peace was held online and attended by around 3,000 people from 150 countries around the world.
The event is held annually by an international peace NGO named Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) in association with its affiliated groups, International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) and International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG).
It couldn’t be opened last year due to Corona, but I’m so grateful that it’s reopened this time. As expected, COVID-19 cannot stop the flow of peace.
The Declaration of World Peace was proclaimed on May 25th in 2013. From this peace initiative, millions of global citizens for 8 years have participated in promoting peace projects.
There are too many to list, but the HWPL is the most substantial and powerful peace organisation I know. The scariest power is that people serve only peace for nothing. Are there people like this around you? I’m sure he’s a nice guy.
What is at the heart of this event?
the cooperation of each state to establish international law for peace
the role of the media in contribution to sharing information of peace
the active peace movement of youth and women
Why youth and women? They were the biggest victims of the war. But that’s why they’re trying to be the greatest actors for peace.
Chairwoman Pascale Isho Warda of Hammurabi Human Rights Organization(HHRO) in Iraq, who was appointed as Minister of Migration and Displacement by the UN from 2004 to 2005, introduced a legislation project of law that prevents violence against women and children in cooperation with IWPG.
Regarding the importance of peace activities through education, she said, “We need to learn the mechanism of guiding everyone to become a tool of peace, strengthening from daily life, and sometimes throughout the simplest matter of life, starting with personal peace with oneself, in the family, and with others.”
Ven. Ashin Htavara, General Secretary of All Burmese Monks Representative Committee in Norway, who went through the Saffron Revolution in 2007, stated that 3 HWPL Peace Libraries were established in Payapon, Myanmar and that a fourth library is currently being prepared.
“There are too few libraries for children in Myanmar. I wanted to give hope to these little children. In the future, the library will conduct peace education, peace activities, and peace campaigns, and we will do everything that can help achieve peace,” he said.
Is there a possibility of peace in the future?
No one knows about it. But the only thing I can be sure of is that it goes our way. One might be skeptical of us as naive people. But I believe in the power of words and writings. I believe in the power of thought. We will be just as we thought.
Do you know a miracle in Maowusu(毛鳥素) desert? It is a story about a woman(Yin Yuzhen, 殷玉眞) who has worked for decades to create dozens of kilometers of forest in the desert.
Twenty years old, she did not give in. She woke up at 3 a.m., went to a seedling farm 19 kilometers away, bought seedlings and grass seeds, and when grass grew, the hard labor of planting trees on them. It became her daily routine for 20 years.
Let us all leave peace as a legacy of future generations.
“It is we in this day who have to do all the necessary things to make peace and prevent our globe from being destroyed. War does not end with words, but it comes to an end with our practical actions. I believe that this can be achieved since no one in our global village is not willing to see peace,” highlighted Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL.
My friend is preparing hard again. You’re such a great friend.
Oh, you took a really good picture. 🙂
young people listening to opening performances
Speech of Section Chief of IPYG
“Thank you all for coming to the 2019 International Youth Peace Conference from afar.
IPYG currently works with about 5 million young people, 851 organizations in 111 countries around the world. The number 111 countries is a lot, right? There are active IPYG youth in more than half of the world.
So every morning when I wake up, there are so many different contacts from all over the world. He said, “I held a peace festival in my country yesterday,” and sent me a video of citizens dancing together. Another said “One thousand college students wrote a Peace Letter together. I’m so happy. I’m going to deliver this to the Chief Justice.”
Oh, how dare you shoot it from this angle? It’s fresh.
And sometimes there are many heartbreaking stories. One of the IPYG’s overseas programs is a conference call for youth groups from around the world. There’s a head of a youth organization in Sierra Leone who has to attend it, and he can’t be reached until the day. So I called the local side in a hurry, and it turned out that there was a big flood in the country. “Oh, this is a big deal.” An ominous foreboding hit me. And the next day, a message came from Sierra Leone with a video. “There was a flood in our country yesterday. My house and school are full of water. We lost our place to live. Pray for us.”
Another time, we’re going to have a video conference to plan a youth culture program in Syria, and the head of the Syrian organization won’t be in the meeting. I haven’t been able to reach you for a few days, and a photo and a message arrived. It said that the civil war broke out. His house burned down, many friends were shot to death, and only he lived. I’ve been speechless for a while.
We are tomorrow’s decision maker
slogan of IPYG
Young people are listening with passion.
What is IPYG doing?
France, Peace Walk Czech Republic, Peace Walk
First, it’s a “Peace Walk.” Every year on May 25, the anniversary of the “Declaration of World Peace” proclaimed by the chairman of HWPL, Mr.Man Hee Lee, young people from all over the world hold a walking event. Young people march through the streets and shout “Legislate Peace.” It means, “Let’s make peace into law, we need a law to achieve peace.”
Second, it is a “Peace Letter Campaign.” Young people all over the world are writing handwritten letters to their presidents. In fact, many leaders have responded. So far, more than 20 national leaders from 17 countries have responded in support of the youth’s activities, including the U.S. President’s.
She is doing her best at the mission of supporters.
“First of all, I would like to appreciate to the Chairman of HWPL, Mr. Man Hee Lee as well as IPYG for giving me the chance to be here. My name is Aung Myint Thu who is a Myanmar youth as an earnest supporter of world peace as well as the unification of the Korean peninsula. Just as conflicts are happening in many places around the world, so are the regions where I was born. Most of young people can’t go to school when the war is occurred.
What will happen to the children in the future? They finally can’t receive the proper education and thousands of dreams will disappear. This experience has taught me how terrible war is and how to destroy a generation. Few years ago, I was in real war refugee and assigned to the particular refugee camp.
In there, I started an education activity for the youths and was working as an educator in a school of immigrant. In order to support youths from the region, I have set up the “Manaung Youth Networking Group” as the organization’s executive director in the year of 2011.
Here’s the youth, at the beginning of HWPL’s peace activity. The Chairman of HWPL, Mr. Man Hee Lee was the veteran of the Korean War in 1950 when he was a student. When the war occurs, students and young people are many of sacrificed and killed without power. Nothing can compensate for the lives of young people like flowers.
Therefore, Chairman Lee said he promised to build the peaceful world so that the war would not repeat itself, considering fallen comrades. I was greatly impressed by his motivation, passion and his steady practical ability for peace. Last year, when I attended the 4th Annual Commemoration of the September 18th World Alliance of Religions’ Peace Summit, he asked a favor to young people from all over the world.
Chairman Lee asked us to work with the country’s youth and students for peace as One. When I listened he’s speech and IPYG’s activities, I thought, “Yes, this is what I’ve dreamed of.” And I decided to be the peace messenger. As the result, I went back to Myanmar and I built a school for young people called “Plus/Positive Change Maker.”
After this event, I will return to my school as principal, and implement the IPYG’s peace education curriculum. This curriculum targets youths from elementary school students to under 35 years of age. They will receive about 7 months of basic education include specialization course.
Through the IPYG’s peace education curriculum, Young people properly will recognize themselves as decision makers of the future. And youths realize their empowerment into positive way for peace. Furthermore, I’ll do my utmost to try that peace education and the culture of peace activities will apply throughout Myanmar by signing MOU between HWPL and schools which were carried out the IPYG’s peace education curriculum.
The aim of IPYG’s vision is that youths should become a main part of peace to prevent any conflicts from occurring and to attain peace in the long run. Now, Let us begin with IPYG! WE ARE ONE!
Thank you.”
Mini Conference at round table
The topic of discussion is “Peace.” Everyone is having a passionate debate.
On 18th of September, “2019 World Peace Summit: 5th Anniversary of the WARP Summit” is held under subtitle, “Legislate Peace” – Implementation of the DPCW for Sustainable Development. It will be held on today in Korea, and “Legislate Peace” projects have already been under way around the world. There were 193 events in 164 locations in 112 countries. (136 countries participating)
You’ve already seen a lot of my old posts, haven’t you? So I brought some today, too! There are so many great pictures. But before that, I want to see the picture of my friend who is on the scene today. 🙂 I love you.
PROGRAM of 2019 World Peace Summit: 5th Anniversary of the WARP Summit
You can see this live and see it again after the event. But the best thing to do is to watch the live broadcast together! So I have a delicious lunch with my friend, and I am ready to sit in a cafe and watch it together on my laptop.
I ate lunch and watched the opera house scenery a little. 🙂 Now, let’s take a look at it through a friend who is at the peace festival in Korea.
Even though my friend left early in the morning, a huge number of people had a rehearsal. There are the staff preparing for the parade and young people for the card performance. When I think about how many people have tried to make a festival like this, nothing is easy and I feel grateful.
She participated in the WARP Summit 2019 as a HWPL supporters “ONE.”
Before seeing the event in person, let’s listen to the voices of the participants.
“Legislate Peace” Project Quotes #4
Prof. Oleksandr Zadorozhnii¸ Former President of Ukrainian Association of International Law
“It is very technical, modern, and well written enough to be implemented. The core contents of the declaration are good. I have helped its translation because the contents were all good. But the main problem now is to make this into a legally binding document. On a legal aspect, there is nothing I should add or modify to the current contents of the declaration as they are good enough. But a problem would be how to implement the contents of the declaration. Perhaps Articles 9 and 10 are not based on their legal implement, but this would be concerned with volunteers, youth and women organizations instead. I totally agree with the contents and the structure of the declaration and have no other suggestion. The purpose and essence of the declaration perfectly goes along with the foreign policies of Ukraine. I support all the activities of HWPL and the DPCW because this is very important.”
Herculano Amaral/International Rotary Club of Dili Lafaek,Director/Timor-Leste
“Looking at these stories, Timorese people have been suffering a lot. A range of crimes and violence have been experienced which including massacres, tortures, kidnapping, rape and so on and so forth. You could have imagined how hard it was living in their own country and going through these situations. This kind of situation have brought many children lost their parents and many people had lost their beloved ones. However, the reconciliation was the weapon and is the weapon of living as a great neighbour in the world. (Can you please give a round applause?) The reconciliation was the weapon for us to live as a great neighbour in the world. Today, we are very proud living in an independent country yet many things that our leaders are still working on, so that our people can live in prosperous and live in harmony and peaceful lives. However, to achieve this, it’s not that easy as many people have been facing physiologically trauma and stressful and so on and so forth. IPYG Timor-Leste is also working hand by hand with the IWPG Timor-Leste to plan more peace activities such as Peace through Sports, Clean up for Peace, Peace for Concert, Planting Trees and many more things. Moreover, we hope to include more young people so that we can create more spaces for spreading the culture of peace. However, to achieve this, it should be done by cultivating a culture of respecting each other and mutual trust within people to people and states to states levels.”
Monk Phramaha Monchai Saitanaporn, from Wat Phra Dhammakaya Berlin
“All religions speak of peace, but unfortunately religion has become one the causes for the greatest conflicts in human history. DPCW deals with these issues of religion which may be sensitive and includes specific provisions to resolve religious conflicts. Article 8 of the DPCW contains provisions to deal with these things. Like so, the DPCW contains the necessarily legal provisions to cut off religious conflicts, protect the freedom of religion, and encourage inter-religious dialogues. DPCW Article 9 states that if such disputes are prevented but are not resolved and continue to be caused by religion, then strong legal actions will be taken against them. That is why I strongly believe that the DPCW is the method to achieve peace.”
Opening Address of the Mr. Man Hee Lee
“Good afternoon, peace family. I sincerely welcome your attendance. I’m Mr. Man Hee Lee, the chairman of HWPL.
We are not the only ones here at this celebration, but also the spirits of heaven. As soon as I see your bright side, I can see the day of the WARP Summit 2014 five years ago.
On that day, in order to end the war in the global village and to make peace an eternal legacy in the future, politicians pledged to urge them to enact international laws for peace, and religious people to unite in God, in front of God, before the people of the world. All the heaven and earth heard this pledge. So, we are keeping the promise well.
At this time, we are having this 5th anniversary event all over our country and all over the world at the same time. Look at that monitor over there a lot. You’re going to see it. We are all messengers of peace. Today’s event, this is going to shine eternally in the history of the global village. Let’s achieve our promised goal. We Are One! I love you. Thank you.”
Speech of the IPYG Director
“The answer of peace, DPCW, has been widely supported around the world since its announcement in 2016, and as you’ll see in detail in its progress report, has expanded its support from all walks of life for a year. In particular, IPYG youth around the world have played a major role in promoting DPCW and in transforming DPCW into a peaceful culture. We received answers to the letter of peace from each country, and Australia, East Timor, and South Sudan held a soccer tournament of peace to inform young people about the need for peace. In Thailand, more than 2,000 students held a singing contest to spread the culture of peace, and in Korea, more than 10,000 young people participated in a campaign for peaceful unification to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Ladies and gentlemen, the answer of peace and the support of the citizens of the world is amazing, but there’s something even more amazing. It’s not the president of any country, the head of the United Nations, but the chairman of the HWPL that is making the answer of peace. Why is it that the whole world speaks out for DPCW voluntarily, even though it’s not something that someone has forced you to do, and it’s not something that you have to do? Thanks to Mr. Man Hee Lee’s leadership in practice.
In 2014, he promised to establish international law and create peace between religions, and he actually traveled around the world more than 30 times. He also visited and gathered experts in international law to help enact international laws, met heads of state and leaders, and expressed the need for DPCW, met religious leaders from each country in person, and encouraged them to participate in the WARP Office.
And he created the MOU and implementation of peace education with the heads of the National Education Ministry, the elementary, middle and high schools and universities. With the leadership of running and working nonstop, the result was possible. And we can also be confident that we will be able to achieve our future.
All of this is possible if we all become one. Don’t forget. We are one.”
Speech of the IWPG Director
“Our peace families, who are paying attention to this place. To end the global war and create a world of peace, let’s urge us to know the value of this peace declaration first, to let my neighbors know the value of this peace declaration, know the nation and the president, join and sign in support.
I’d like to ask all the women in each country. And I’d like to ask you guys and male politicians. Please encourage your loved ones and your wives and children to join the eternal peace process. So that we can do the work of peace with people who can do absolutely pure service to the human world, regardless of power or interest. There’s nothing more valuable than this. It’s a pure volunteer that makes a good world and gives it to future generations as a legacy.
It’s time to end the war, and peace is done when war and sin and pain are lost in the world. It is also peace that heaven wants to give us so much. Therefore, let us use ourselves as a tool for peace and make new changes in the world. This is not someone else’s business. You should never assume that you’re doing someone else’s work. I will do my job and fulfill my mission from heaven. That’s why I’m asking all of you here to work with all your heart.
It’s time to fulfill our mission with our Chairman Man Hee Lee. And it’s time for peace to rule the world. Let’s work together to share each other’s burden for the future and safety of mankind so that we don’t break the line of life of peace. Let’s add the wisdom I’ve accumulated and use the expertise I’ve worked for to make sure that peace is complete in this age of life. If your zeal, Man Hee Lee’s wisdom, and the explosive power of 3.7 billion women and youth become ONE, war will surely disappear in this world. Let’s all become messengers of peace together and achieve our goal before our eyes. Thank you.”
IPYG Card Section Performance
It is the result of 6,000 young people’s effort without any cost. Actually, it’s even more wonderful to see in person. The history of the Korean Peninsula can be seen at a glance from the founding of the country. It also gives an answer to how peace can be achieved.
At the same time in the Big Cities of Korea
Their enthusiasm is really hot. It seems that peace will be achieved right now. Then there was speeches of leaders after that, special performances of Korean traditional music and taekwondo, and a media facade as the final finale.
Speech of Giani Harpreet Singh Ji Jathedar (Head) Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh Faith
“Greetings. I am the representative of all the Sikhs and at presently serving Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh Faith. I, on behalf of all the Sikhs of the world, give my good wishes to HWPL for attainment of their noble objectives for DPCW to be submitted to the UN General Assembly as a draft resolution and to become a legally binding instrument. It will finally bring the true meaning of Peace in the world.
I, as the representative of all the Sikhs and at presently serving Sri Akal Takht Sahib, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh Faith, assure the esteemed assembly of highly revered ambassadors of all the great Religious Faiths that the Sikhs have always stood and will stand for world peace, mutual respect of religious faiths and empowerment of women and youth in our society so that we co-exist in a peaceful world and leave a better place for our coming generation.”
Media Facade Finale
How beautiful it can be. It was so cool. I don’t know how many months it will take to make this. That visual quality was the level of movie.
Now I’m going to go home. It would be even more touching and proud to see it in person. We have live broadcasts for each session tomorrow, so let’s take a good rest for tomorrow.
In this current century, the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) set out key points for harmonious coexistence and development of the global community, including the economy, poverty eradication, education, welfare, equality and justice. The precondition for achieving this goal is the sustainable state of peace without war based on the complete cessation of violent conflicts such as hostile actions and wars throughout the international community.
UN Ukraine / flickr
However, conflicts and actions of war between countries have not ceased, and the possibility of war is further increased by the spread of violent extremism by non-state actors based on religious and ethnic identity. Just as such, today’s conflicts are becoming worsened by the everyday fears that can directly affect individuals, going beyond what affects one’s country.
Therefore, a comprehensive approach of prevention and solution is required to respond to violent forms of disputes, including wars that threaten the lives of mankind. This comprehensive approach is based on the participation of non-governmental organizations and individuals – as well as governments and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) in this current international community – where the response to disputes in non-political areas such as culture, religion, ethnicity, economy, and the environment is required with the cooperation between various actors. This increases the possibility of establishing global peace as a new approach to respond to conflicts by transcending national boundaries with shared, common effort for peace from around the world.
The HWPL Peace Summit sets the source of power to create a world of peace to include every agent of action – from an individual to a country – to become a peace messenger. The 10 articles and 38 clauses of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), drafted by HWPL along with international law experts from around the world, reconfirms the core values included in the existing international documents discussed and drawn in international communities including the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The Declaration also clarifies the role of the members of international society, including civil societies and countries, to ban, prevent, and resolve conflicts. Based on the global support shown through “Legislate Peace” campaign, the 10 articles and 38 clauses of the DPCW should be introduced to the UN as a resolution with the goal of the principles of peace represented in the Declaration should be established as international law for peace which should be protected as a legally binding document in the world today.
HWPL, the host of this event, is an NGO associated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the UN Department of Global Communications and in Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC. The organizers are the IPYG, an affiliated organization of HWPL, and the IWPG, a UN ECOSOC-affiliated NGO with Special Consultative Status. Mr. Man Hee Lee is the chairman of HWPL. In fact, everything here has nothing to do without him. That’s how important he is.
All of these can be seen as Man Hee Lee’s peace biography. I think it would be nice to read another article because I’ve posted so many posts about who he is. (more info)
1. On 17-19 September 2014, HWPL hosted the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit for world peace and cessation of war. At this event, the world’s political leaders recognized the need for an international legal instrument that ensures peace and promised to cooperate, and religious leaders promised to become one according to the teachings of God and contribute to peace. As a token of their promise, they signed the Agreement to Propose the Enactment of International Law for the Cessation of Wars and World Peace and the World Alliance of Religions Agreement on 18 September 2014 at the 63 Building in Seoul.
2. In 2015, the 1st anniversary of the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit was held at the World Peace Gate in Seoul Olympic Park. At this event, the HWPL International Law Peace Committee was officially inaugurated, and its members entered the stage of discussing an international legal instrument to settle and prevent armed conflicts.
Then on 14 March 2016, the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), comprising of 10 articles and 38 clauses, was proclaimed. The fundamental spirit of the DPCW is the fair governance based on law, not power. Articles 1 to 7 pertain to the role of States while Articles 8 to 10 aim to empower the participation of global citizens in establishing a global order of peace through politics, religion, media, education, and civil society.
3. At the 2nd Anniversary of the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit of 2016, discussions were held to turn the DPCW into legally binding form. As a result, “Legislate Peace” Project was launched to advocate the DPCW and mobilize support for its implementation globally, and over a million people in 170 countries participated in just one year.
4. In 2017, 2017 Anniversary of the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit was held under the theme, “Establishing Collaborative Governance for Development and Implementation of the DPCW.” Building on the momentum from the adoption of the DPCW by the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), the Summit aimed to increase awareness of the DPCW among intergovernmental organizations including the United Nations.
Furthermore, the agreed standards for determining a trustworthy religious scripture, which is the key of the comparative study of scriptures, were presented and ideas for a global peace media network were developed. Overall, the Summit provided an opportunity to seek ways to establish a cooperative network among international organizations, governments, and civil societies.
5. Through the 4th Anniversary of the September 18th HWPL World Peace Summit that convened with the theme of Collaboration for Peace Development: Building a Peace Community through the DPCW in 2018, the following topics were discussed: 1) Plans of action to support the DPCW to be introduced as UN resolution as a national and regional level; 2) Plans of action to establish and expand peace networks with various fields in the core including politics, religion, education, media, youth, women, etc.
With the youths’ Peace Letter activities that urged for a peaceful unification on the Korean Peninsula in 2018, the Peace Letter campaign expanded during March to May in 2019 for the citizens and leaders from around the world in various sectors to urge support for the DPCW. As a result of this campaign, peace letters were written and sent to the heads of state from 192 countries.
The theme of the 2019 World Peace Summit: 5th Anniversary of the WARP Summit is “Legislate Peace”– Implementation of the DPCW for Sustainable Development. This year the outcomes from the previous year’s work – in which various fields focused on solidifying peace networks – will be shared, along with a more detailed direction for the advancement of actualizing world peace. For this purpose, there will be events held in 200 cities in 110 countries with 300,000 citizens with the goal of establishing a universal order and standard that is applicable internationally, and to establish an international, legally binding document for peace.
Do you think this world is peaceful? Or are you too busy making a living in front of us to think about? Everyone lives in their own world. The size of the world is only different. Of course, I know that unless it’s God, I can’t count everything. It could be hypocrisy. Nevertheless, there are those who risk their lives and do the work of peace. Who are they?
First of all, I’m going to see if it’s peaceful.
Ongoing Conflicts (2018-2019)
Ongoing armed conflicts have caused at least 181,000 fatalities(2018-2019). It included only battle-related death or intentionally targeted civilian casualties. Overall damage would be magnitudes greater if injuries and lasting aftermath from conflicts are considered.
Communal conflicts in Nigeria (1998~) : 3,162 (total 17,156)
Iraqi conflict (2003~) : 5,750(total 288,000)
Boko Haram insurgency (2009~) : 2,457(total 51,567)
South Sudanese Civil War (2011~) : 1,685(total 383,000-400,000)
Libyan Civil War (2014~) : 1,727(total 29,859–42,253)
In two years, so many people died. Fatalities are over 181,000. This number is not a small. Can you handle the grief of their family or friends? We can’t feel anything, because we’re far from psychological. The closer you get to them, the more you will live a life of helplessness, sad and unable to do anything. If you’ve had a similar experience, you know it.
But we can’t just sit still and do nothing. Now, we’re trying to find out who’s risking their lives for peace. They are HWPL.
HWPL, DPCW.. and Man Hee Lee
2018 HWPL World Peace Summit: 4th Anniversary of the WARP Summit
HWPL is an NGO associated with the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the UN Department of Global Communications and in Special Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC. The organizers are the IPYG, an affiliated organization of HWPL, and the IWPG, a UN ECOSOC-affiliated NGO with Special Consultative Status.
HWPL is considered by experts and foreign media to be the most accomplished peace organization in a short period of time. Among them, the key role is DPCW, the answer to peace.
What is the problem of existing international law? It is not legally binding and it partially allows war. S0, the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) was drafted by prominent international law experts from 15 different countries.
The 10 articles and 38 clauses of the DPCW is a comprehensive documentation of the principles of peace that are required in this current era through an inclusive approach to ban, prevent, and resolve conflicts. Based on the DPCW, the common global yearning to achieve world peace and cessation of war can be accomplished with the core principles of peace.
It can be established in the form of international law, not just for individual societies, but in relationships between countries and in the entire globe as a universal standard and value. To achieve this goal, the DPCW needs to become a resolution at the United Nations – which represents the international community – and become an internationally binding legal document for every country and citizen to abide by it.
H.E. Viktor Yushchhenko, Former President of Ukraine
“I am deeply grateful to be able to implement the cause of peace in a specific way. This is truly a worthy cause. I was deeply impressed to see the DPCW with its refined and profound wisdom. I think it is worth the support from all leaders of the world. This is because the DPCW is a perfectly balanced document that was drafted through the great effort of international legal experts and is of fundamental value.”
What is the core of HWPL?
HWPL is said to have brought together the voices of citizens from all over the world. What is the driving force that makes things possible that no one else has done? It is the Mr. Man Hee Lee, who is supported by 1.8 billion young people around the world. He is also a veteran of the Korean War and is working harder for peace than a young man, despite his age.
His life-threatening moves touched many young people. What is surprising is that many people have seen the light from him. He is also called the president of the world. If you listen to his speech, you will find out why. The whole family in the world follows him, because he has a clear answer and leadership.
H.E. Emil Constantinescu, the former president of Romania
Q. What do you think of Chairman Lee?
A. “I believe Chairman Lee is a leader in the true sense of the word, which is easy to see in the way he wins the hearts and the minds of the younger generation, in particular because of his destiny: a man who fought in the Korean War which, like all wars, pits man against man; but what is even more striking is that, in the case of the Korean war, it was pitting brother against brother.
When youth and women’s associations were established, I think Man Hee Lee astutely picked up on the fact that herein lay the key, as youths are sent to die in wars by populist and ultranationalist leaders with dictatorial tendencies while women during war are not only victims but also suffer for their parents, children and brothers. We must never forget that while 20.000.000 soldiers died in World War II, 40.000.000 civilians, mostly women, children and the elderly, perished in that conflict as well.”
Romanian Parliament House / 31st HWPL World Peace Tour
2019 World Peace Summit: 5th Anniversary of the WARP Summit
The 2019 HWPL World Peace Summit: 5th Annual Commemoration of the September 18th WARP Summit will be held over three days, from 17 to 19 September 2019, in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The Summit has been held annually since 2014, providing a platform for leaders in politics, religion, youth and women’s groups, journalism, and civil society around the world to discuss the ideas and practices required to achieve peace, a common goal of the global community.
Outcomes from the past year – in which various fields focused on solidifying peace networks – will be shared this year, along with a more detailed direction of the advancement for actualizing world peace. Peace Festival will be held at not only Korea, but also 110 countries and 200 cities worldwide. Peace is the timeless, invaluable asset for humanity. Your presence and support will be sure to make this event even more meaningful.
1) Expanding support at international level for introducing the DPCW to the UN General Assembly as a draft resolution 2) Spreading a culture of interfaith understanding and dialogue based on religious scriptures 3) Strengthening the ability of youth and women’s peace network 4) Implementing peace education for building the character of global citizens with peace values 5) expanding a global peace media network: changing the public’s awareness of peace
Actually, DPCW has been consistently supported by the world. It already has national supports such as Seychelles, Eswatini, and Comoros. In 2017,the central american parliament (PARLACEN)passed a resolution in support of the DPCW. Also, the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), which represents all citizens of 55 countries of the African Continent, the International Centre for Black Sea-Baltic Studies and Consensus Practices (Centre BBS), which consisted of former European Presidents, and 145 United Nations officialsalso supported the DPCW.
What is #LP Campaign?
The support of citizens is also continuing constantly. Already, 734,098 signatures from 176 countries are collected. What is LP Campaign? “Legislate Peace” project is a comprehensive cooperation campaign around the globe in support of the DPCW’s introduction to the UN as a draft resolution, and for it to become an international, legally binding document.
This project lists all of the support received from 2016 to now from over 180 different countries and includes institutional support from various international organizations and governments, with individual support and activities from political leaders, religious leaders, and community activists. At this year’s event, the projects’ specific cases in individual expert fields will be shared with a discussion for future plans. Young people are also moving to achieve faster.
IPYG all over the world is urging presidents from around the world to sign the DPCW. In less than a year, 165,782 Peace Letters were collected. On March 14, 2019, citizens from all over the world wrote letters of peace and sent them to the Presidents of 192 countries and Prime ministers to urge the need for DPCW. It is a part of the “Legislate Peace” Project. What a great thing! You can join online right now. There are not many opportunities to work for peace. Together, Peace.
About 200,000 handwritten peace letters have already been sent to incumbent presidents from 193 countries with U.N. membership. Already, young people from all over the world are rising to call for supporting the DPCW.
No one can stop the huge flow.
Peace Letter from Fa’alia
I can’t write down the full text of her letter here, but I’m only going to introduce some.
“When people ask the question ‘What is Samoa like?’, the first word that comes to my mind is “peaceful”. However, peace was not always part of the history of Samoa. Samoa has faced many wars and conflicts throughout its history. These wars and conflicts, like many others, resulted in the loss of life, excruciating pain, social instability and the loss of security.”
According to the 2016 Australian census, there are a total of 75,755 Australians with Samoan ancestry. Usually, Samoans we know are the strongest. But in the history of Samoa, there was so much pain and sadness.
Samoan warriors loyal to Prince Tanu marching through Apia, Samoa in March of 1899 during the Second Samoan Civil War. American sailors and marines are also depicted. / Wikimedia Commons
Let me give you an example. In the Second Samoan Civil War (1898–1899), two leaders fought, so they became two countries, two peoples. What makes the situation worse is foreign intervention. DPCW is blocking this completely. Tanumafili I with United States and United Kingdom vsMata’afa with Germany.
Let’s hear more about this young man who knows the pain of war better than anyone else.
“As an Australian-Samoan youth and as a member of all the youth of this world, I have a duty to stand up and protect the youth of our nation, the youth of Australia and the youth of the world. This is a duty that prevents me from standing by idly and not taking action. I have a duty to help bring hope and peace to our world.”
This is not only his duty. Will you wish others to do it? This is our job, our role and our duty. We must do it. Young people of the world, let’s join them.
Honorable Prime Minister, we humbly ask that you take on this role as part of the forefront of the movement in the Oceanic and Pacific region by providing your support for World Peace and the solution to peace that the DPCW contains. We ask for your support for the DPCW to become a legally binding document in the United Nations in order that it may bring about the peace that our world desperately longs for.
Please become a leader that helps pave the way for peace for all future generations.