National Palace : “Center of Guatemala“
Guatemala National Palace was constructed by President Jorge Ubico and started in 1939. It took four years to build and at a relatively low cost, since prisoners were forced to work in the projects for a measly 0.25 cents a day, back when Guatemala’s currency had the same value as the dollar. It was the most important building in Guatemala and was the headquarters of the President of Guatemala. The building is the origin of all the roads in the Republic. It is now a national museum.
The Palm of Peace : Why constructed?
This bronze statue, sometimes called “The Palm of Peace” is in the courtyard of the National Palace, on the site of the signing of a peace to end Guatemala’s 36-year-long civil war in 1996.
The Guatemalan Civil war ran from 1960 to 1996. It was fought between the government of Guatemala and various leftist rebel groups supported chiefly by ethnic Maya indigenous people and Ladino peasants, who together make up the rural poor. The government forces of Guatemala have been condemned for committing genocide against the Maya population of Guatemala during the civil war and for widespread human rights violations against civilians.
The White Rose : Symbol of Peace
This statue represents two left hands reaching up, representing each side of the conflict and to signify a sincere truce between the two sides. The 16 interlocking arms signify the Guatemalan people, locked in arms, determined to sustain peace and liberty, the big rock which the arms lift up.
They have a tradition concerning peace and a symbol of peace, the White Rose. To celebrate another day of peace in their country and the ever-fresh peace process, at about 11:30 AM, the Army Honor Guard, changes a white rose that has been placed on a monument in the court yard with another fresh white rose. The day old white rose, symbolizing 24 hours of peace, is then given to a guest of the country in a ceremony, held within the court yard.
List of people who lay flowers on palm
- Tenzin Gyatso (The 14th Dalai Lama)
- George Walker Bush (the 43rd president of the US)
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Ban Ki-Moon (the eighth Secretary-General of the United Nations) in 2011
- Juan Manuel Santos (Colombia’s President)
- Michaelle jean (27th Canada Governor General)
- David Lloyd Johnston(28th Canada Governor General)
- Carolyn Wright(Volunteer working in Municipal Development)
- Myrna de Ruiz (worked with Peace Corps Guatemala for over 30 years)
- Audrey DeLange(unclear)
* People, whose name was not mentioned
– The President of the International Football Federation
– Very successful and influential businessmen
– Political appointees
* Man Hee Lee(the Chairman of HWPL : Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light) in 2014
I’m Korean. So I want to say my feelings. I was very surprised at this news. I know very well about Ban Ki-Moon. Everyone knows him, aren’t you? Because he is the secretary- general of the United Nations. He is a public figure. But what is it? Who is the ‘Man Hee Lee‘? He is just a civilian like us. But He is in rage with the great figures. It’s so amazing!!! Don’t you wonder what he did?
HWPL : Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light
It is a non-profit, non-governmental organization which was founded in 2012. HWPL is working in conjunction with the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) and the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG). IWPG has 97 branches around 40 other nations!!! IPYG has 2.4 million people in 96 nations!!!
Its purpose is achieving world peace and the cessation of war.
How do we achieve it?
HWPL‘s SOLUTIONS are ‘International Law for Peace and Cessation of War‘ and ‘Alliance of Religions‘. It has been said to be the greatest groundbreaking and substantive solutions for peace.
Is it all talk? No : The Mindanao peace agreement
It’s a real. Mindanao civil war for 40 years and 140,000 died. How do they make peace? He prayed to God before to go Mindanao.
He said “I won’t go if God don’t accompany me.” He called all the political leaders, religious leaders and citizens together in one place.
“Raise your hands!! If you want peace!!”, he shouted. Everyone raised their hands!!!! So two leader of Catholic and Muslim signed the peace agreement.
It gave me the chills. 40 years of Catholic and Muslim religious war was over. Wow. Guatemala give credit for this big event.
After 2 years, 10,000 people are in line to greet the HWPL, they established ‘HWPL Day’ on March 14th and they erected the monument. I was deeply moved by this news. 🙂 Many things are happening all over the world. Peace is not just their problem. ‘PEACE’ is up to you. Good luck!! 🙂
“Man Hee Lee, brought a powerful message that adds to the power to achieve peace that we hope and desire. It means HWPL and MILF are partner for peace.” – MILF chairman of Al-Hajj Murad Ebrahim
One media, dailytrust, said ‘For journalists, 2017 represented misfortune of journalism’. Why? I wonder why, too. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) says at least 81 reporters were killed and violence against media soared last year. Also, more than 70 media companies were closed in Venezuela. Also, the Guardian reported that “Global press freedom plunges to worst level this century” mainly due to government censorship, crime targeted at journalists and financial pressures associated with the growth of the internet. What do you think we should do? They are not frustrated. They want to respond to such challenge and turn it into an opportunity. So, some journalists around the world in collaboration with an international NGO have been seeking ways to enhance press freedom through the international media network and peace journalism in relation.
In 2017, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), said in a statement recently that it formed a series Media Forums to establish a working group of journalists around the world. Why? It want to research the flow of journalism globally and redefine the duty of journalism.
