Solving Problems with Love and Balance In Response to UN Reforms
Year 2005 was the 30 th anniversary of UN/NGO Association of World Citizens (AWC). With an eye to continuing peace achievements in the past years, Association of World Citizens, International Association of Educators for World Peace (IAEWP), Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy held an international peace conference of the 30th Anniversary of the Association of World Citizens with participants from over 20 countries.
The theme of the conference was “Bring War and Organized Violence to and End—The Failure of Global Empire and Birth of Global Community”. Douglas Mattern, President of AWC, and Mike Whitty, State Chancellor of IAEWP, chaired the conference and Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL and member of advisory board of AWC, acting as the vice chairperson. Dr. Clovis Maksoud, former UN Ambassador of the Arab League also sent his remark to the Conference.
Dr. Hong indicated in his speech that AWC, as an organization affiliated with the UN, is obligated to work with the UN for the world balance and peace. Dr. Hong ask participants to applaud Douglas Mattern's efforts in the past 30 years. Douglas Mattern recognized Dr. Hong's real contributions to education of world citizenship, peace and human rights of more than 500 seminars on human right education on love and peace and 2 million endorsements of “Love of the World, Declaration of Peace”, since becoming vice president of AWC and member on the advisory board. Dr. Hong has instilled the concept of world citizenship through the combination of education on peace and human rights and cross-cultural exchanges. The ideal of one world is reached because world citizens have exerted their influence for the good causes. Dr. Hong was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement for World Citizen Award” in recognition of his contributions to world citizenship.
The main purpose of the conference was to promote UN reforms. Dr. Hong proposed in the conference ways to realize love and peace in response to the call for “A Larger Freedom: Development, Security and Human Rights for All”, and to facilitate UN reform in response to UN Millennium Development Goals. Dr. Hong advocates that love is the starting point. The method of peace is the process. And the balanced wisdom is the action. World leaders have to have the new thinking and courage to correct them in order to reshape the image of a new UN. Mankind will benefit from the change of mindset. And it is in line with the needs of the 21 st century.
People's hearts were getting closer after 4 day's discussion. The consensus was easier to reach. FOWPAL members concluded the conference with the song of “What a Bright World.” Participants from various countries were dancing with the song. Indian professor E.P. Menon expressed that if every body is able to dance together, then the day of world peace will be soon coming. In the past few days, I noticed that every one of you is full of energy. Not only can Dr. Hong motivate me, but also every one of you can motivate others. It's incredible.