Religious Story Exhibition in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do

On May 22, the HWPL Global 12 Branch held an exhibition, “Religious Stories Through Famous Paintings,” at the HWPL WARP Office in Jeongeup and invited citizens.

 At the exhibition, Lee Yong-woo, head of the Jeongeup Regional Headquarters of Global 12 Branch of HWPL, and four religious leaders, including Song Kyung-hwan, retired pastor of the Christian Church of Korea; Monk Myojeong, the chief monk of Hyangnimsa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism; and Eungok Daejongsa Temple, a sailor of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, also attended to listen to each other’s religious stories and to pledge harmony.

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/

 

Lee Yong-woo, head of the Jeongeup Regional Branch of the HWPL Global 12 Branch, said, “We were able to understand each other’s religion through the exhibition. I hope we can continue to have various cultural exchanges in the future. About 70-80% of the current wars and conflicts are due to religious conflicts. 

As a way to reduce these religious conflicts and disputes, HWPL has established and operated HWPL WARP Offices around the world. I hope it will serve as an opportunity to reduce religious conflicts by forming cultural exchanges and religious harmony here.”

 

After the exhibition, each religious leader had a meeting with visitors, and Monk Myojeong, the chief monk of Hyangnimsa Temple of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, said, “I want to join HWPL’s peace work since I saw and experienced HWPL’s passion for peace.”

 

Through peaceful communication and cultural exchanges among religions, we hope that religious people in Jeollabuk-do will have more time for harmony.

 

INTERNATIONAL DAY : World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 30 July

2🌏23 Theme: Reach every victim of trafficking, leave no one behind

Global crises, conflicts, and the climate emergency are escalating trafficking risks. Displacement and socio-economic inequalities are impacting millions of people worldwide, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by traffickers. Those who lack legal status, live in poverty, have limited access to education, healthcare, or decent work, face discrimination, violence, or abuse, or come from marginalized communities are often the primary targets of traffickers. 

Globally, national responses, particularly in developing States, appear to be deteriorating. Detection rates fell by 11% in 2020 and convictions plummeted by 27%, illustrating a worldwide slowdown in the criminal justice response to trafficking. The COVID-19 pandemic also changed the characteristics of trafficking, pushing it further underground and potentially increasing the dangers to victims by making the crime less likely to come to the attention of the authorities.

 

#DPCW_1038 #GLOBAL #HWPL #IPYG #IWPG #UN #HUMANRIGHTS

#PEACEWALK

 

In fact, 41% of victims who manage to escape their ordeal reach out to the authorities on their own initiative – another clear sign that anti-trafficking responses are falling short.

 

In the context of trafficking in persons, leaving people behind means:

 

▶failing to end the exploitation of trafficking victims,

 

▶failing to support victim-survivors once they are free from their traffickers, and

 

▶leaving identifiable groups vulnerable to traffickers.

 

The campaign for World Day Against Trafficking in Persons 2023 aims to raise awareness of disturbing developments and trends identified by the latest UNODC Global Report on Trafficking in Persons and calls on governments, law enforcement, public services, and civil society to assess and enhance their efforts to strengthen prevention, identify and support victims, and end impunity.

 

WWW.UN.ORG

 

To #EndHumanTrafficking, we cannot allow this crime to be met with increasing indifference and impunity. We must strengthen resilience against exploitation and the underlying socio-economic and cultural issues that are conducive to trafficking. We must sensitize everyone to the topic of human trafficking and thus push attention towards those who can make a difference in terms of changing policy and national resource management to strengthen prevention measures, improve identification of victims, increase support of survivors and end impunity.

 

 

International Day of Friendship 30 July

BTS 💜 show the power of love and kindness | UNICEF

Actions to Promote a Culture of Peace

foster a culture of peace through education;

promote sustainable economic and social development;

promote respect for all human rights;

ensure equality between women and men;

foster democratic participation;

advance understanding, tolerance and solidarity;

support participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge;

promote international peace and security.

 

#DPCW_1038 #LP #PEACE #HWPL #WARPOFFICE #UN #IPYG #IWPG #PEACEWALK #GLOAL #KOREA

 

♥

Sharing the human spirit through friendship

Our world faces many challenges, crises and forces of division — such as poverty, violence, and human rights abuses — among many others — that undermine peace, security, development and social harmony among the world's peoples.

 

To confront those crises and challenges, their root causes must be addressed by promoting and defending a shared spirit of human solidarity that takes many forms — the simplest of which is friendship.

 

Through friendship — by accumulating bonds of camaraderie and developing strong ties of trust — we can contribute to the fundamental shifts that are urgently needed to achieve lasting stability, weave a safety net that will protect us all, and generate passion for a better world where all are united for the greater good.

 

WWW.UN.ORG

👆

DPCW_1038 : Status of the Main Activities of the LP Project

Sign Your Support Campaign

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/lp-hwpl_en/?lang=en

 

HWPL is continuing to urge Member States of the UN to support the DPCW and its adoption by the UN. Please join our signature campaign so that your country can support the DPCW.

 

✍

We legislate peace to leave a legacy of peace for future generations

 

The “Legislate Peace” (LP) project is a global initiative to support and advocate for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) and its implementation at the international level.

✐

The LP project started off as the Sign Your Support campaign, which was launched to promote the value of the DPCW as a solution for achieving global peace and urge different sectors of society to support this declaration. The campaign expanded into various forms of peace events and activities tailored to regions around the world, including seminars, forums, peace walks, and education.

✔

The LP project offers each individual in the global community the opportunity to become the agent for peace. Through a wide array of activities, global citizens are able to practice “Spreading a culture of peace,” Article 10 of the DPCW, in their respective locations. Anyone who wants peace can participate in leaving a legacy of peace for future generations through the LP project.

 

#DPCW_1038 #LP #PEACE #HWPL #WARPOFFICE #UN #IPYG #IWPG #PEACEWALK #GLOAL #KOREA

 

 

DPCW_1038 : The movement for a better world

Oxford University of Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group

 

The IPYG UK branch is carrying out various peace activities to resolve the fundamental causes of war, as well as solutions for refugees from around the world including Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan, Ukraine, and South Sudan.

 

On May 22, the young people in Britain launched the Youth Engagement & Peacebuilding Working Group (YEPW) with students at Oxford University to help the youth become the center of realizing peace and equipping them to carry out specific and regular peace activities.

🌻

Oxford University has supported students and scholars affected by wars as a ‘University of Sanctuary’, starting with welcoming refugee academics during World War II up until now, providing support for students and academics affected by the war in Ukraine.

 

The YEPW was co-hosted by the Oxford Human Rights Student Society (OHRSS) and Oxford Society for International Development (OxSID), who discussed how to cooperate with local refugee communities and organizations in the local Oxford area.

 

The Oxford Society for International Development (OxSID), a member of the working group, facilitate discussions of the challenges and advances within International Development. The Oxford Human Rights Student Society (OHRSS) highlights opportunities for students with interest in the human rights law sector.

♦️

The participating students introduced their major fields and interests and discussed how to engage in local community in practical and effective support for refugees amidst ongoing global crises. This discussion was broken into four stages: goals (awareness, education, and engagement), target audiences, method of intervention, and intervention execution. Through this, students shared ideas for cultural activities based on empathy and understanding, such as sports days and documentary screening with the refugee communities in Oxford.

🌈

The General Director of the IPYG UK branch introduced cases of young people who have worked for peace, including Red Cross founder Henri Dunant and young students who protested the Vietnam War.

 

And, “Examples like this tell us that the power to change history is not just about the state or power. IPYG starts with this hope. This is our purpose to end global war, protect our friends, young people, build sustainable peace, and pass it on to future generations,” she said, highlighting the importance of young people’s participation in peace activities.

 

A student from OHRSS Committee who participated in the event expressed, “Everyone who attended really loved it and we really want to work with you in the future!” Other student from OxSID committee said, “What worked well about the YEPW brainstorming session was the focus on implementation and prolonged contact.” In addition, other participants added that it was a productive and innovative meeting, and a positive platform for young people to plan and implement ways of peacebuilding by participating in it directly and proactively.

 

The second round of the Oxford University YEPW, which will start again in Autumn 2023, will continue practical discussions on how to address the consequences of global conflict in local contexts, particularly through the lens of international law. IPYG UK will also expand its working group activities by conducting “Changemaker Summer Sessions,” with other YEPW participants including Oxford students during the summer.

 

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en/

 

 

 

 

#IPYG #IWPG #PEACEBUILDING

 

#PEACEWORLD #DPCW_1038 #HWPL

 

#PEACE #WHO #WARP_OFFICE

 

 

28 July is World Hepatitis Day

28 July is World Hepatitis Day

World Hepatitis Day, 28 July, is an opportunity to step up national and international efforts on hepatitis, encourage actions and engagement by individuals, partners and the public and highlight the need for a greater global response as outlined in the WHO's Global hepatitis report of 2017.

 

#WHO #LIVER

 

The date of 28 July was chosen because it is the birthday of Nobel-prize winning scientist Dr Baruch Blumberg, who discovered hepatitis B virus (HBV) and developed a diagnostic test and vaccine for the virus.

 

#HBV #DPCW_1038

 

Low coverage of testing and treatment is the most important gap to be addressed in order to achieve the global elimination goals by 2030.

#UN #INTERNATIONAL_DAY #PEACE #HEPATITIS

 

 

✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄✄

 

WWW.UN.ORG

 

 

 

#IPYG #IWPG #PEACEBUILDING

 

 

 

#PEACE #WHO #WARP_OFFICE

 

 

World Drowning Prevention Day 25 July

Drowning is a leading cause of accidental death

Every year, an estimated 236,000 people drown, making drowning a major public health problem worldwide. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death globally for children and young people aged 1-24 years. Drowning is the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury death, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths. 

The global burden of death from drowning is felt in all economies and regions, however:

• low- and middle-income countries account for over 90% of unintentional drowning deaths;
• over half of the world's drowning occurs in the WHO Western Pacific Region and WHO South-East Asia Region;
• drowning death rates are highest in the WHO Western Pacific Region, and are 27-32 times higher than those seen in the United Kingdom or Germany, respectively.

World Drowning Prevention Day

World Drowning Prevention Day, declared in April 2021 by General Assembly resolution A/RES/75/273, is held annually on 25 July. This global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities and to offer life-saving solutions to prevent it..

www.un.org

#HWPL #UN #INTERNATIONAL_DAY #DPCW_1038 #DROWNING

All stakeholders – governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, academia and individuals – are invited to mark World Drowning Prevention Day by highlighting the need for urgent, coordinated and multi-sectoral action on proven measures such as:   

• installing barriers controlling access to water;
• providing safe places away from water such as crèches for pre-school children with capable childcare;
• teaching swimming, water safety and safe rescue skills;
• training bystanders in safe rescue and resuscitation;
• setting and enforcing safe boating, shipping and ferry regulations;
• improving flood risk management.

The new UN General Assembly resolution invited WHO to coordinate actions on drowning prevention within the UN system. In this capacity, WHO leads preparations for World Drowning Prevention Day by producing related advocacy materials, hosting a global launch event and supporting national and local activities in countries and communities around the world. 

 

HWPL World Peace Declaration 10th Anniversary Ceremony and Peace Walk Post Report

Greetings, the family of peace. Thank you for your hard work.

 

I am the peace advocate of HWPL, Lee Man-hee. Truly, thank you for your hard work. Was it about 10 years ago? We stood here and called for world peace. Then, we circled the globe 32 times to carry out the work of peace. The purpose has been achieving peace. Be it family, school, or any other organization, peace is needed. Not a single person has rejected peace. Hence, I firmly believe that peace will be attained.

 

There are many organizations worldwide. Religious organizations should engage in peace work upholding the will of the heavens and all organizations should strive for the sole purpose of achieving peace and become one to do so.

#PEACE

Everyone, thank you for your endeavors. I believe that with peace across the globe, we should move toward reunification, and I also believe this is possible. This can be attained. Nothing is impossible. When we work for it, it can be done.

#GLOBE

When there was a civil war among brothers in Korea, I fought on the front lines. Why did we have to fight? Why is it that Korea, which underwent much sorrow and was treated with deep contempt, needed to have this fratricidal war? It should not have happened. After surviving the atrocities of the war, I prayed every evening to God in heaven out of gratitude. There were soldiers from my side on one mountain, facing the mountain the enemies were on. The two sides met at the valley between the mountains and fought, but this fight was nothing.

#GOD

To back up, the valley was bombarded with shells from both sides. Would any life survive this? Everyone, it was this type of brutality I came out of and that is why I prayed to God filled with gratefulness. The battle hit both sides. There needed to be people providing support on the backlines of the battlefields but also those who risked their lives to fight on the frontlines. This was a war among brothers and it resulted in our division.

All leaders, and especially true political leaders, would strive for reunification on the Korean Peninsula. The reunification. Isn’t this true? Leaders who truly cherish their countries and the people, the leaders of both Koreas should protect the two Koreas and the people. If they are truly protecting the peninsula and the people, the reunification should take place. Don’t you agree? This is true.

#TRUE_PEACE

Why should brothers kill each other and fight in wars? Korea was long-suppressed by Japanese forces but for us to fight among ourselves? They would celebrate this. Hence, rather than fighting among ourselves, we should have the heart of righteousness, and the heart that loves the country and the people to achieve reunification. Indeed, we do. Be it the South or the North, no one would reject being reunified. Also, no one wants wars. The governing leaders who understand this will strive for reunification, reflecting the will of the people. More than anything else, reunification is the most pressing matter for Korea, and it ought to be.

#PEACE

Those who neglect the voice of the people and the nation to have wars are enemies. Isn’t pursuing the death of the people the acts of the enemies? Truly, when I think about what happened during the war, I am filled with memories that I do not hope to recall. When there were battles against the opponents at the valley, bombs from our side would pour down, trying to provide support. It was not just one or two artillery shells. Those from our side would rain down where we stood. Would even a clump of grass survive this? Coming out of there alive was truly a miraculous thing. How would anything survive? Maybe it could have been less painful dying then and there, but putting that aside, they were atrocities. I called for everyone to become messengers of peace whether they are young children or seniors.

#CHILDREN

I am sure you are well aware of the 40-year-long conflict in Mindanao, Philippines, which led to the death of 120,000 people. I went there in person. Who would want to go to conflict sites? Even if we go to a place where there is war, we would die only once so why not go? Our goal remained unchanged. If it was for peace, we had to go anywhere and everywhere, so we visited Mindanao as well.

#MINDANAO

 

This shows that when we pour our efforts into it, it can be done, so we should not worry about whether it is possible or not even before trying. If we do it, it can be done so why not work for it? After the pledge, people who fought against each other became friends. Do you know what they did? Maybe they saw it in a scripture, but these people melted a weapon to make it into a sickle and gave it to me as a souvenir. I still have that sickle today. This demonstrated their will not to have wars.

#NO_WAR

With the public gathered, I asked whether they wanted peace or war. Everyone replied they want peace and that they do not want wars. Then I asked the representatives from both sides what they think after seeing this. They said they will go toward peace. Then, I asked them to make a vow and we still have the document today. They promised to stop the war.

Ladies and Gentlemen, We are well aware of the mournful past Korea went through. Even if the divided Koreas unite as one, it still may be difficult. Thus, the two Koreas and the people should not fight against each other. With a renewed heart, we should become one under peace. When we do, the two Koreas will become one as well. Surely, there is no reason to say no to this.

#KOREAN_WAR

 

I have been meaning to visit the North one day, and when I do, I plan to speak all that should be said. I will say it all, and there is no reason not to do so. I intend to ask whether they intend to bring about more casualties when countless innocent lives have been lost during the Korean War. I will ask whether they want to snuff out more lives in addition to those that were lost. If the leaders of the two Koreas cannot come to an agreement, they should take their leave and give us a day to have discussions. Our ancestors passed down this country and the people to us. This is a country our forefathers handed down to us. Why divide the peninsula and prevent people from freely traveling from one side to the other, especially when we are the same people, right? Why do this? When free movement is possible, that would be the same as being unified, isn’t it? The free movement of people! There is no reason to stop this.

#HWPL

What would be good politics? We should not turn brothers against brothers and make them kill each other. Hence, the reunification of the North and the South is an urgent matter. If the North Koreans are to vote on whether they want reunification or not, they would want it. If we put this to a vote in the South, everyone would want it as well. Then who is stopping this from happening? Is it not the leaders of both sides? If this is unpleasant to hear, then the two leaders should meet and strive to be one.

#DPCW_1038

We should not be the people we are ashamed of or not proud of. I met heads of state across the world. We talked about many things but they would ask about the division on the Korean Peninsula. They would point out that if a third world war breaks out, it would be because of North and South Korea.

#IPYG

Would we have been happy to hear this? Now, we must make it known that it is in our interest to end the war and establish peace and achieve this goal. We, HWPL, should take the leading role in fulfilling this. This doesn’t have to be complex. If we yearn for peace first in homes, then schools, and society, it will be established. I firmly believe this.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen, I hope we will remember this day.

#IPYG

We wrote messages of peace and cessation of war and sent them across the globe ten years ago. Today we commemorate that day but let us not stop at a memorial. Let us be clothed with peace 100%. Just as we are clothed with our clothes, we must be clothed with peace. If I visit North Korea and meet the people there, I will speak what I must say because that is the right thing to do. We must not divide our nation or ideologies just for the sake of one person.

#FREEDOM

“If it were not for you two leaders, the people may unite. With freedom of movement, we will have the reunification. Then, why aren’t you talking to each other? Do you want this nation divided?” I would ask and demand answers. It is as if they do not want reunification. For the reunification, all it takes is for the two Koreas to join as one and have free travel. Wouldn’t you agree?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Elders among you would know. Think about the August 15th Liberation Day. It was so-called a day of liberation. How much did we suffer under Japanese oppression? With the end of the war, the nation was liberated. People, who were scattered across the nation, came back home after the independence to find that there was not a single grain of crop to eat. Why?

 

By the end of the war, they took everything from us. They did not spare a grain of crop and left absolutely nothing. With not a single grain of crop to feed on, we had rations. We had bean husks sent from China as rations. It is staggering to think about how people lived on them. During such times of poverty, the nation was liberated and families came back home but there was nothing to eat. Those present here may remember Jangchungdan Valley at that time.

 

There were no houses there back then. All you could find were trees. People in dire situations from all over the city would flock there with no jobs, no food, and no money. It was an unpleasant sight to see people lying around.

 

Kim Gu had stacked food, mostly noodles made from wheat, and built a free kitchen. I also went to that free kitchen once for noodles. If they hadn’t given out those noodles, everyone would have starved to death. That’s what it was like back then. We can still recall such a past but now that we are well-fed, we fight among ourselves? How could this make sense? This is absurd. Are we sparing our mouths for eating? We must discuss and reach an agreement. Isn’t this what we should do? This is more than possible.

 

Second, we can ask the people of both Koreas about the reunification, whether it be in the form of exams or others. There is no reason not to ask the people. The president must follow the will of the people, and the people must follow the president’s lead. Don’t you agree? Young children are born into this generation. What kind of nation should we give to our children? We must finish the job that we can do during our time. That is the matter at hand.

#REUNIFICATION

We must lay the foundation for our children to go out in the world with their heads help up and voice their opinions. We should not make them into those who cannot even voice their opinions and be ashamed. I suggest South and North Korea alike do what it takes, such as a referendum for a unified Korea, for the reunification. We must reunite first. Then, voting to choose a leader or other matters can follow. What are we worried about? This is the way to go.

 

HWPL first set out with the cause of peace and cessation of war, because there was a goal to reach. This goal must be achieved and completed. We must not let it end as a mere campaign. Then, let us do what we must do to attain our goal.

#WARP_OFFICE

Traveling around the globe, I have had many talks in numerous countries and got signatures of support after every encounter. I keep every signature at my house. Everyone supported Korea’s reunification as well as our peace work. They did so. With that result, our next job is to bring the two Koreas together and to have free movement across inner Korean borders. Also, now is the time to achieve peace. Clashing and fighting against each other is for people from centuries ago. It is not for the advanced, civilized times.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen gathered here today, Let us not forget this day. We are a family of peace, are we not? I believe it is imperative that we put our minds together to establish a better peace, a better unified Korea. I ask that you join this cause. I have also been given orders not from this world but from the heavens.

 

Our impending challenge is to reunify Korea as a liberal democracy. I sincerely hope that we will work together to create a good world and leave it as a legacy for future generations. After today, we will commemorate this day again next year. For a year until then, let us strive as one to build a better society and achieve peace.

 

Thank you, everyone. Thank you very much.

 

https://www.hwpl.kr/language/en

 

🌼 HWPL World Peace Declaration 10th Anniversary Ceremony and Peace Walk Post Report

 

(kaltimtara.id) - Gerakan Perdamaian Dunia, Upaya Pembangunan Perdamaian yang Dipimpin Warga Masyarakat Menandai Satu Dekade

https://bit.ly/449J4vk

 

 

(mediafaktanews.com) - Gerakan Perdamaian Dunia, Upaya Pembangunan Perdamaian yang Dipimpin Warga Masyarakat Menandai Satu Dekade

https://bit.ly/442wRZo

 

 

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Urdaneta City University Peace Education Capacity Building Program (CBP) and International Ethical Peace Education Conference (IEPEC) Post-report

 

(Urdaneta City University) - HWPL IEPEC NEWSV3

https://bit.ly/3PFm8A2

 

 

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Report after June event at Rockville Rotary Club, Maryland

 

(Rotary Club of Rockville) - Featured Speaker for June 22nd - Regan Durkin from HWPL

https://bit.ly/4414tr9