September 28,2019
World Leader Summit of Love and Peace
Celebrating the UN's Adoption of the International Day of Conscience at UNHQ
Continuing the positive momentum of the previous day, peace promoters from around the world gathered at the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, co-organized by the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United Nations, on September 27, 2019 at the UN headquarters to celebrate the UN's adoption of Bahrain's resolution designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. They exchanged thoughts and provided suggestions of conscience to help make the world a better place.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL, welcomed all attendees and stressed, “Everyone is a leader of conscience. Everyone is a hero of conscience. When our hearts are calm and pure, our wisdom will be unleashed. We should follow “three do's and three don'ts.” Three do's :1. Love others and love ourselves. 2. Do our best in everything. 3. Have a clear conscience. Three don'ts: 1. Don't misunderstand others or misunderstand ourselves. 2. Don't be angry with others or ourselves. 3. Don't resent others or ourselves. Following this guideline will benefit ourselves and the people of the world and will save ourselves and global citizens. We tend to repeat the aforementioned three don'ts; therefore, we should change our mindsets instantly. When everyone does the three dos and avoids the three don'ts, world peace will be realized.”
H.E. Shaikh Hussam bin Essa Al Khalifa, President of H.R.H. Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Sustainable Development Award Committee, remarked: “I wish to pay tribute to Dr. Hong and the members of FOWPAL for their dedications, commitments, efforts in promoting culture of peace, love through culture visiting, culture exchange. Ever since we started our partnership, we have witnessed first hand how Dr. Hong and his team, under the leadership of Dr. Hong, pursue their noble objectives.”
He also shared a message of H.R.H. Prince Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, the Prime Minister of Bahrain, regarding the UN's adoption of Bahrain's resolution designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. “This day will be, from now on, a new, constructive, regular and consistent way to mobilize the international community's efforts to promote peace for security of peoples and communities and achieve sustainable development goals.”
“We and the Kingdom of Bahrain will continue our support and partnership with FOWPAL to enhance the effective implementation of the UN resolution and make International Day of Conscience a truly transformative instrument,” added H.E. Shaikh Hussam bin Essa Al Khalifa.
Kiribati's Health Minister Tauanei Marea said, “On behalf of President Taneti Maamau, I would like to congratulate the Federation of World Peace and Love for achieving a very milestone resolution of the UN General Assembly declaring the fifth of April of every year as the International Day of Conscience. Kiribati is very pleased to be part of this great achievement. We have been very happy to partner with the government and mission of Bahrain and FOWPAL.” Minister Marea also commended Dr. Hong and members of FOWPAL for “their continued commitments towards the achievement of everlasting peace in the world.”
To awaken people's conscience deep down inside their hearts, FOWPAL hosted the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love. Four visionary leaders rang the Bell and made wishes for peace. H.E. Mr. Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa, the Cabinet Affairs Minister of Bahrain, rang the Bell and wished “all the people in the world security, peace and brotherhood.”
Mr. Hugues Sanon, Special Envoy/International Relations to the United Nations for the Council for Justice, Equality and Peace, rang the Bell and stated, “We need to love each other. We need peace, reconciliation, honesty, and solidarity--that is only how we will have sustainable development in the world.”
Mr. Jonathan Granoff, President of Global Security Institute, rang the Bell and said, “Be sincere. Be real. Be human. Be true.”
Mrs. Sally Kader, President and Founder of the International Federation for Peace and Sustainable Development, rang the Bell and stated, “I wish for world peace as I know that we can have if we worked from our conscious.”
For the promotion of the International Day of Conscience, FOWPAL specially designed the “compass clock of conscience.” FOWPAL youth volunteers gave a poetic presentation about the meaning of the clock: "The compass clock of conscience represents time, direction and goal. It symbolizes that conscience is the guide that leads us toward the right path of life, harmony and truth. It constantly reminds us to return to our hearts, do good deeds and make wise decisions. It also serves as a reminder of the brevity of life, prompting us to be aware and act at once.
Opportunities are to be created, not awaited. The prosperity of humanity calls for the awakening of conscience and positive actions. We must seize every moment in life to create profound and positive impacts. Let us work together to create peace and harmony for ourselves and the world." Dr. Hong then presented to each of the visionary leaders on stage a “compass clock of conscience.”
During the panel discussion, H.E. Mr. Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago, said, “I want to congratulate Dr. Hong on his vision, for his capacity to stay the course, to the extent where we're now able to celebrate next year the International Day of Conscience. I thank you very much Dr. Hong for your wisdom and your resilience.”
Mr. Jonathan Granoff, President of Global Security Institute, shared, “What does conscience teach us? It teaches us, first and foremost, to feel the suffering of others as our own.”
Mr. Dave Stewart, Chairman of FW de Klerk Foundation, said, “Compassion is at the heart of conscience. And it leads us to empathize with others, and not only with those whom we agree but with those whom we disagree most.”
Mr. Leon Kaulahao Siu, Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of the Hawaiian Islands, pointed out that “Aloha” not only is a word for greeting but also has a deeper cultural and spiritual significance as it means peace, love, and caring for one another. He repeated "Aloha" several times, encouraging people to love one another and live in peace together.
Mr. Wiseman Mkhize, Ambassador for Peace and Climate Change to South Africa, International Association for the Advancement of Innovative Approaches to Global Challenges, emphasized that we should “invest in humanity, invest in education for young people because they are the future.” He also urged us “to take the issue of inequality because that's what brings instability to nations.”
Mr. Hugues Sanon, Special Envoy/International Relations to the United Nations for the Council for Justice, Egality and Peace, said, “We need to be real. We need to join with Dr. Hong and this wonderful organization. We need to stop hypocrisy. We need to be promoting solidarity.”
Assistant Director at NYC Mayor's Office of Management, Mr. Syed Omair Hassan said, “Promoting love is not about annual event or quarter event. Promoting love is a daily thing.” He encouraged people to walk on the streets of New York to celebrate the first UN “International Day of Conscience” on April 5, 2020.
The event was also attended by many honored guests, such as H.E. Mr. Teburoro Tito, Ambassador of Kiribati to the UN; Mrs. Reema Harrysingh-Carmona, former First Lady of Trinidad and Tobago; Ms. Bircan Unver, Founder-President, TV Producer and Head NGO Representative to the UN DPI The Light Millennium; Harlem's Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely; and H.R.H. Queen Diambi Kabatusuila of Kasai Kingdom of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At the end of the event, when interviewed, Dr. Scott Carlin, Associate Professor of Geography at Long Island University, said, “Dr. Hong's speech was deeply moving and very inspiring. People might think of an International Day of Conscience as something that is light and doesn't have meaning. I think what Dr. Hong is trying to convey is the exact opposite--that in fact, this is the day, very deep with meaning, profound for its impact and influence on all people in all countries.”
Reverend Cornell Edmonds of the Church of the Covenant in Manhattan said in an interview, “I am just very overwhelmed at how successful and energetic the event has been.” He continued to say, “I look forward to April 5th. I look forward to that day to gather again and really just kind of share in the energy, the energy of conscience, the energy of peace, and the energy of love!”
〔Video〕 World Leader Summit of Love and Peace - Following Our Conscience to Transform the World