Conscience Is the Ship Sailing Towards a Sustainable Future
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
Vice President of the Association of World Citizens,
NGO in Consultative Status with ECOSOC and Associated with the UN DPI
President of the Federation of World Peace and Love
November 11, 2023
Honorable Chair, Distinguished Guests, Dear Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good day!
It is an honor to participate in the Annual Summit 2023 of the World Protection Forum. As the conference indicates, we are at a critical turning point.
This beautiful planet on which we all depend is facing unprecedented and daunting challenges. Global warming has triggered various types of extreme weather events, droughts, floods, earthquakes, food shortages, and other crises. Regional wars and conflicts further aggravate the threat of environmental imbalance, and the worsening environment leads to physical and mental imbalances. The recent admonition by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, stating, "Humanity has opened the gates to hell," serves as the most serious warning to the world.
I have issued the Declaration of Human Rights for World Citizens, which underscores the relationships among humanity, nature, and human rights: All things follow the law of nature. The origin of Heaven, Earth, and human beings is one. A genuine heart conveys genuine love. For peace, we have traveled the world. Peace originates from the harmonious relationship between humankind and nature. Human rights, which are inherent to us all, emphasize respect for each other. Ignited by "love," cultural exchange combines the spiritual force of humankind, enabling freedom to be enjoyed by all, human rights to be safeguarded, and peace to be practiced. Reestablishing a harmonious coexistence among people as well as between humans and nature can mitigate the environmental imbalances, thus preserving human civilization and culture.
Conscience is innate. With conscience as our foundation and love as the starting point, we can ensure a sustainable and safe future for the Earth by finding a balanced development of our environment, economy, and lifestyles through innovative technologies and models. This approach involves synchronizing the progress of spirituality and technology, ensuring we avoid repeating the past errors of environmental imbalance that was caused by human nature's excessive greed and demands.
The supreme principle of the Tai Ji symbol is the coexistence of yang within yin and yin within yang. It signifies that even in the darkest times, a glimmer of conscience persists, illuminating the path toward goodness, genuine love, and mutual support. In today’s summit, where accomplished individuals in diverse fields and leaders of conscience gather, we will definitely harness our collective energy to positively transform the world.
In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a draft resolution, designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. This resolution urges all countries to "promote the culture of peace with love and conscience," presenting a new opportunity to promote environmental protection education around the globe. In 2014, I issued the "Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience," highlighting that conscience is the positive energy that stabilizes the world. It underscores the importance of striking a balance between technological advancement and spiritual stability to rejuvenate all life forms, stimulate economic progress, and ensure the well-being of our environment.
A good culture fosters a quality education, which, in turn, drives a strong economy. A healthy economy leads to a high quality life, which contributes to peace and prosperity. The culture of peace, responsible citizenship, and economic well-being we have witnessed in San Marino reflect the principles advocated by the International Day of Conscience. Therefore, I encourage countries to promote a culture of conscience and to incorporate the best of other cultures and educational systems to facilitate positive national economic growth, harmony, and stability while deepening environmental awareness and action.
We sincerely invite everyone to uphold "conscience and honesty" every day. We encourage everyone to dedicate one minute each day to meditate and pray for the world as well as reflect on the concept of "doing good deeds and atoning for one’s mistakes." This practice aims to foster a positive and benevolent approach to environmental protection, propelling us onward on our collective journey. We hope that you and I will work together for a world that is more sustainable, harmonious, healthy, secure, and peaceful.
May your hearts always be filled with love and peace.
May you have boundless energy.
May conscience lead the people of the world to sail towards a sustainable future.
Thank you all!