May 23, 2019

 

One click can change the world. Peace is the common aspiration of mankind. Seventy years have passed since the end of World War II. Humanity's pursuit of peace has never stopped, yet the world remains tumultuous. On February 5, 2019, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), launched the global endorsement campaign for the Declaration of International Day of Conscience at the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, co-organized by FOWPAL and the Permanent Mission of Equatorial Guinea to the UN at the United Nations in New York. The theme of the summit was  “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience.” To date, people in 135 nations have endorsed the declaration. FOWPAL firmly believed that with more people’s conscience awakened and with more people supporting this declaration, we will generate powerful positive energy and create a culture of love, peace and conscience worldwide, which will foster global peace and harmony, safeguard international security, and enhance the well-beings of humanity.

 

The declaration, which has been translated into 41 languages, aims to inspire everyone to follow his/her conscience and promote world peace. It is hoped that the declaration will be widely endorsed across the planet. Over the years, to remind people of the importance of conscience and to encourage global citizens to work together to safeguard peace and the sustainable development of our world, FOWPAL has worked with various missions to the UN since April 5, 2018 to promote the culture of peace with love and conscience. The idea has resonated with many Permanent Missions. In recognition of this initial global collaboration, FOWPAL chose April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

 

On February 5, 2019, H.E. Mr. Masud Bin Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the U.N.; H.E. Mr. Jaime Hermida Castillo, Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the U.N.; H.E. Mr. Sam Condor, Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the U.N., and representatives from other missions to the UN participated in the launch of the global endorsement campaign for the Declaration of International Day of Conscience. On February 6, the Kingdom of Bahrain and FOWPAL co-hosted another event at the UN in New York, where the participants shared their views on love, peace and conscience. H.E. Mr. Tukabu Tauati, Deputy Permanent Representative of Kiribati to the UN, stated, “I also want to take this opportunity to thank FOWPAL for highlighting today the need for all nations and peoples of the world to set aside one day every year to meditate and reflect deeply into their conscience, examining how they can contribute in more ways to a more peaceful and loving world for all.” 

On April 5, the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations Office in Vienna and FOWPAL jointly proclaimed April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. Ambassador Bucheeri read the message of H.R.H. Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Bahrain, to celebrate this important day. His Royal Highness stressed, "All endeavours that support global cooperation for the advancement of a world culture that endorse a Culture of Peace, with Love and Conscience deserve nothing less than our unceasing support." Dr. Hong, President of FOWPAL, stated, "The purpose of the proclamation of the International Day of Conscience is to remind people to follow to their conscience and seek wisdom and balance through self-reflection and self-correction in order to attain inner peace. Through spreading a culture of love and peace guided by conscience to all global citizens, we hope that everyone’s conscience will become awakened and eventually the dream of world peace will become a reality.” Dr. Werner Fasslabend, former Minister of Defense of Austria, said in an interview, “We Austrians are very proud that Dr. Hong started this International Day of Conscience here in Vienna.”

During the 2019 Turin International Book Fair, which was held on May 9-13 in Turin, Italy, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL, received FIRMA (International Festival of Religions, Music, and Arts) Global Peace Award. The event organizer honored the awardees with a dinner party on May 13, during which FOWPAL invited important guests and awardees from Mexico, the US and Italy to support the Declaration of International Day of Conscience. The positive impact of the declaration will continue to ripple out, positively impacting the world.

 

You are cordially invited to endorse the declaration online. Please invite your family, friends, and co-workers to endorse it and join the ranks of peace promoters. Your one click has the power to change the world for the better. Your action is indispensable for the betterment of the world. Below is the link to the endorsement page. http://www.fowpal.org/Endorse/doidoc_endorse/index.php.     

 

 

P1.

H.E. Mr. Masud Bin Momen, Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the U.N.; H.E. Mr. Jaime Hermida Castillo, Permanent Representative of Nicaragua to the U.N.; and H.E. Mr. Sam Condor, Permanent Representative of Saint Kitts and Nevis to the U.N., together with Dr. Hong, President FOWPAL, second from right, is joined by, from left, as he launches a global endorsement campaign for the “Declaration of International Day of Conscience” and sets April 5th as International Day of Conscience at the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace on Feb. 5, 2019 at the U.N. Headquarters. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Federation of World Peace and Love)

 

P2.

Representatives from various Missions to the UN and other visionary leaders jointly support the global endorsement campaign for the Declaration of International Day of Conscience at the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the U.N. and FOWPAL, February 6, 2019, at United Nations in New York. (Jason DeCrow/AP Images for Federation of World Peace and Love)

 

 

P3.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), center, is joined by ambassadors and delegates of various Permanent Missions to the UN (Vienna) as they jointly support the International Day of Conscience at the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, co-organized by the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations Office in Vienna and FOWPAL, Friday, April 5, 2019, at United Nations in Vienna. They each held a clock, which is a compass of conscience, symbolizing that people should follow to the guidance of their conscience at all times. (Michael Gruber/AP Images for the Federation of World Peace and Love)

 

 

P4.

In celebration of the first International Day of Conscience, over 100 attendees pose for a group photo at a gala dinner, co-organized by the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations Office in Vienna, Friday, April 5, 2019, in Vienna, Austria.

 

 

P5.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and the recipient of  FIRMA (International Festival of Religions, Music, and Arts) Global Peace Award, fifth from left, is joined by other honored guests as they jointly support the Declaration of International Day of Conscience on May 13 during a dinner party in celebration of the 2019 Turin International Book Fair in Turin, Italy.