June 08, 2021
Living Together in Peace and Building a Sustainable Future with Love and Conscience
The United Nations has designated May 16 as the International Day of Living Together in Peace to remind global citizens to live together in peace and work for a world of lasting peace, unity, and harmony. In honor of this Day, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) organized an online forum on May 16, 2021. Visionary leaders and peace promoters expressed their support for this important occasion through speeches, texts, music, artworks, and more. The program received more than 5,900 views.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, welcomed participants from around the world, emphasizing, “The key to living together in peace is mutual understanding among people of different cultures. Conscience follows the law of Heaven. With conscience, we will have empathy and compassion, help not only ourselves but also others thrive. We will not “do unto others what we don't want done unto us” as reminded by the ancients. Promoting the culture of peace with love and conscience is crucial to social harmony and world peace.”
Photo:Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, said, "We hope that everyone will follow his/her conscience to bring love and peace to all living creatures so that we can live together in a peaceful world where there is no fear, no sorrow, no war, and no pain."
Dr. Hong also pointed out, "The International Day of Living Together in Peace is an important day for all human beings to practice conscience in their lives and foster mutual assistance and love with themselves, between themselves and others, between their own countries and others’ countries, and between humans and nature. Love and peace are what we need. Only if everyone is willing to listen to the truth and act with conscience can we truly realize love and peace. People can enjoy physical, mental, and spiritual health when they make peace with themselves. A nation can move towards prosperity, health, and happiness when its people live together in peace. A world of love and peace can be realized when humankind and other living things coexist peacefully. We hope that everyone will follow his/her conscience to bring love and peace to all living creatures so that we can live together in a peaceful world where there is no fear, no sorrow, no war, and no pain."
Given the current COVID-19 crises in India and other countries, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, on behalf of FOWPAL, expressed his concern to global citizens who are suffering and his prayers for the world: “We pray that the pandemic will end soon and that beautiful days and hope will return. We pray that there will be no more disasters or man-made calamities and that all beings in the world will be safe and no longer fearful. We pray that people's conscience will be awakened and that the world will be transformed with our kind hearts and good deeds.”
Other visionary leaders also sent their heartfelt prayers to the world. H.E. Mr. Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former president of Trinidad and Tabago, stated, “I invoke the soothing magic and luminescence of every single deya lighted at the World Chief Justice Conference in 2019 in Lucknow India to burn ever bright with a fervent and sustainable hope for a better and greater today and tomorrow in every part of India.”
Photo:H.E. Mr. Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former president of Trinidad and Tabago, extended his kind wishes for India.
“O God Almighty! . . . Your children reach out to you with folded hands to forgive us for our mistakes and bless us in these challenging times,” said Dr. Kuiljeit Uppaal, the world's first image scientist and impact strategist and a recipient of the prestigious Karmaveer Chakra Award, instituted by the UN, adding, "Our father in heaven, please guide us with a collective conscience that understands the right from the wrong and where we live life together in faith and hope, and in service to humanity with compassion, care and love for all."
Photo:Dr. Kuiljeit Uppaal, the world's first image scientist and impact strategist and a recipient of the prestigious Karmaveer Chakra Award, instituted by the UN, expressed her prayer for the world.
H.H. Prince Bernard Ndouga of Cameroon; Reverend Paul H. Sladkus, founder and president of Good News Corporation; Naaz Farhana, founder president of Dhaka Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Bangladesh; and other peace-loving people from around the world also conveyed their best wishes for the world.
In observance of the International Day of Living Together in Peace, Chief Justice Duba Dukpa of Bhutan’s High Court reminded people of the brevity of human existence and encouraged them to do good deeds, adding, "Good human beings share love and affection to all and promote peace and living together." He also urged everyone to practice love and peace instead of hating each other or waging war against others.
Photo:H.E. Mr. Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former president of Trinidad and Tabago, extended his kind wishes for India.
Additionally, many other participants supported this International Day with video messages, inspiring stories, artworks, or music, including Ram Hari Giri, chairman of Challenge of Change in Nepal; Rania Lampou, a neuroeducation researcher and STEM instructor in Greece; Preeti Phutela, a teacher in India; Musawar Hameed Tanoli, international relations expert in Pakistan; Dr. Mary Shuttleworth, president of Youth for Human Rights International in the U.S.; Ivan Ricardi in Mexico; Oksana Steffan, a teacher in Belarus, and so on. FOWPAL reinforced the theme of unity through its music video “We Are One World.” To help stop the spread of COVID-19, FOWPAL presented a video on health protection and disease prevention, featuring five do’s, three don’ts, and six tips.
Global citizens exchange ideas and best practices to better the world through FOWPAL's ICDAY (International Conscience Day) platform. FOWPAL will continue to sow seeds of truth, kindness, and beauty in the hearts of people all over the world, advocating that through love and conscience, kind words, and good deeds, we can forge beautiful connections with one another, live in peace, and create a sustainable future for all.
Photo:In honor of the International Day of Living Together in Peace, FOWPAL organized an online forum on May 16, 2021. Visionary leaders and peace promoters expressed their support for this important day through speeches, texts, music, artworks, and more.