Photo:From left, Anthony Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago; Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL; Cellou Dalein Diallo, former Prime Minister of Guinea, endorse the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope in New York, on Sept. 23, 2024.
November 22, 2024
The theme of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 79) in 2024 is “Leaving no one behind: Acting together for the advancement of peace, sustainable development and human dignity for present and future generations.” The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the world is at a historic turning point, and that the choices made now will shape the course of the coming decades.
During the UNGA 79, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), advocated for the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, emphasizing that this is a process to awaken the conscience of global citizens and to converge positive forces. From September 20 to 24, FOWPAL held the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace and ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love in New York, where 21 prominent leaders rang the Bell and made wishes for global peace.
Dr. Hong proclaimed the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope in 2022 and advocated September 23 as the World Day of the Power of Hope. The Declaration has gathered endorsement from people in 175 countries. From July to October 2024, Dr. Hong led the FOWPAL delegation on visits across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. In just four months, they visited 13 countries to promote the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, garnering support from heads of state, leaders across various sectors, and people from all walks of life. Additionally, celebrations were held in New York to commemorate this initiative
Fostering Peace: Conscience, Love, and Hope in Action
To honor the second World Day of the Power of Hope, on September 23, 2024, two “World Leader Summit of Love and Peace” sessions were co-organized by the UN ECOSOC-accredited NGO Association of World Citizens and FOWPAL in New York. Under the theme “Fostering Peace: Conscience, Love and Hope in Action!” the summit gathered positive energy from people in all circles. Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze; Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago; and Cellou Dalein Diallo, former Prime Minister of Guinea, jointly signed the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope. On the day, seven distinguished leaders, including former Prime Minister of Guinea Cellou Dalein Diallo, rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and made wishes for peace.
Photo:Cellou Dalein Diallo, former Prime Minister of Guinea, is posed to ring the Bell of World Peace and Love.
Spreading Love, Conscience, and Hope in Greece: FOWPAL’s 104th Country Visit
Greece, often referred to as the “Cradle of Western Civilization,” is the birthplace of the Olympics and democracy. From July 1 to 10, 2024, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, led a 33-member cultural goodwill delegation to Greece for a tour of peace and cultural exchange. The delegation visited the Greek Ministry of Health, Ministry of Tourism, the Thessaly regional government, and the city governments of Athens, Meteora, Mykonos, and Santorini. During the visit, Dimitrios Vartzopoulos, Deputy Minister of Health, and Dimitrios Tsetsilas, Deputy Regional Governor of Thessaly, rang the Bell of World Peace and Love, expressing their wishes for peace and sustainability for Greece and the world. Dr. Hong also met with Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece to promote love and peace.
Photo:Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, center left, meets with Archbishop Ieronymos II of Athens and All Greece, center.
FOWPAL’s Peace Bell Reverberates Across Central Asia: The Crossroads of Civilizations
Central Asia, often called the "Crossroads of Civilizations," has played a vital role in the history of cultural exchange between East and West. From August 6 to August 21, 2024, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), led a 37-member delegation on a historic visit to five Central Asian countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan. This journey marked a significant milestone for FOWPAL, as Tajikistan became the 109th nation the organization has visited. Through meetings with influential leaders, cultural exchanges, and Bell of World Peace and Love ringing ceremonies, the delegation promoted a culture of peace with love and conscience, and encouraged support for the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope.
Nicolaas Jacob Schermers, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the five Central Asian countries, rang the Bell of World Peace and Love, expressing, “I wish much courage to people to work for peace, every day again.” Upon learning that Dr. Hong was 81 years old and still actively promoting peace, he was deeply impressed. The ambassador expressed his sincere admiration for the FOWPAL delegation and extended his best wishes to Dr. Hong for continued success in his important mission of spreading peace and love.
Photo:Nicolaas Jacob Schermers, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the Five Central Asian Countries
Fostering a Culture of Conscience Through Education: FOWPAL Reaches a Remarkable Milestone with Visits to 113 Nations, Spreading Love and Peace
From October 3 to October 18, 2024, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), led the FOWPAL delegation to visit five South American nations: Ecuador, Colombia, Suriname, Guyana, and Peru. Dr. Hong shared the importance of promoting a culture of conscience with influential leaders from these countries and held events such as ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love. Sixteen distinguished leaders, including Suriname's President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Guyana's President Mohamed Irfaan Ali, rang the Bell and made wishes for peace. As of October 18, 2024, a total of 599 influential leaders from 152 countries, including 74 heads of state and government and 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, have rung the Bell, spreading the peaceful sound of the Bell across the globe.
President Chandrikapersad Santokhi of Suriname expressed his wish “for a better world where love and peace are part of the daily lifestyle.”
Guyana’s President, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, rang the Bell, expressing, “We must create a new paradigm where we work on peace in the prevention of wars and not work on ending wars for the purpose of peace.”
Guyana became the 113th country visited by FOWPAL. A World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, along with cultural exchange activities, was held in the capital, Georgetown. The Mayor of Georgetown, Alfred Mentore, presented Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze with the key to the city in recognition of his efforts in promoting love, peace, and conscience globally.
Photo:Mayor Alfred Mentore of Georgetown, back row, center, holds a sign reading "113," marking Guyana as FOWPAL’s 113th visited nation.