The United Nations and countries across the globe held a series of events in response to the International Day of Peace, celebrated on September 21. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon urged all countries that are still engaged in warfare to lay down arms and initiate dialogues, and to actualize armistice and end violence on this day of peace. Members of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) from Los Angeles, along with other members from around the globe, especially went to New York to organize the World Summit of Love, Peace, and Human Rights held on September 22. Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, delivered a speech titled “Awakening of Conscience, Love, and Peace Will Transform Our World,” which outlined how to employ the philosophy of yin and yang to change our world for the better, create robust economy, realize the Sustainable Development Goals, and foster world peace.

FOWPAL also hosted the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love at the 150-year-old Church of the Covenant in New York City on Sept. 21 and 22. Nine dignitaries, including President Taneti Mamau of Kiribati, Ambassador Menissa Rambally of Saint Lucia to the U.N., and Foreign Minister Taukelina Finikaso of Tuvalu, rang the Bell and co-signed the “Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience” and “Declaration of World Citizens.” Together, they prayed for the awakening of conscience throughout the world and that all will work for global sustainability.

Ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love symbolizes a commitment to act for peace as the ringers make wishes for peace and love for themselves, the world, and all posterity. The peaceful wishes of the dignitaries are as follows:
H.E. Taneti Mamau, President of Kiribati, made the wish: “Let the world peace and love be equally shared by all.”

Her Excellency Menissa Rambally, Ambassador of Saint Lucia to the UN, stated: “Saint Lucia joins in reaffirming our commitment to promote peace in our own society and world. We wish for a spirit of  ‘LISTENING.’ If we can listen more to each other, we can better understand and live in peace and unity for a better world.”

Mr. Taukelina Finikaso, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tuvalu, said: “I sincerely hope that in a small way this will contribute to this very honorable aim.”

H.E. Luke Daunivalu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Fiji to the UN, made the wish: “That all people everywhere respect, honour and love each other.”

H.E. Martin Garcia Moritán, Ambassador of Argentina to the UN, said: “Wish to have less injustice and to reach the goals of the 2030 agenda fully!”

H.E. Tuvako N. Manongi, Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the UN, made the wish: “End of conflict in all regimes of the world.”

Hon. Samiuela ‘Akilisi Pōhiva, Prime Minister of Tonga, said: “I wish for everlasting peace. May God bless this mission with love.”

H.E. Inga Rhonda King, Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the UN, made the wish: “I want to every human being in peace from his door to all over the world.”

Hon. Chuol Rambang, Chairman of South Sudan Peace Reconciliation Commission, stated: “May we, the people of the United Nations, learn to dialogue one with another, may we listen better to each other and become what the founding members envisaged for us to be a center for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment and maintenance of international peace and security regardless of race or creed.”

FOWPAL is an international organization that dedicates itself to promoting world peace and love. It was founded by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze in the U.S. in 2000. FOWPAL’s mission is to promote world peace with an emphasis on “generating positive thoughts to change the world.”  Motivated by love, its members aim to unite the hearts of global citizens through cultural exchanges and the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love. To date, 279 profoundly influential figures in 93 countries have rung the Bell, including 29 heads of states, 8 Nobel laureates, UN ambassadors, and other visionary leaders.

On the eve of the UN DPI/NGO Annual Conference in 2001, 911 terrorist attacks occurred. FOWPAL immediately held the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love at UN Plaza Hotel; 16 UN dignitaries such as Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the UN and Libya’s ambassador to the UN rang the bell. Another bell-ringing ceremony was held at Manhattan Neighborhood Network’s studio on Sept. 12 to pray for all; the four-hour long ceremony was broadcast across the U.S. to spread peaceful energy to comfort people’s hearts.

Over the past ten plus years, ringers of the Bell have exerted significant influence at crucial junctions in history. In Africa a coup broke out while Fradique de Menezes, the then President of Sao Tome and Principe, was abroad; after returning to his country safely, he compassionately granted amnesty to the rebels and implemented reform in his government. In Central America, the then President of the Dominican Republic Leonel Fernandez mediated and successfully averted a potential war among Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela. During the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio + 20) in 2012, FOWPAL held bell-ringing ceremonies in Rio to consolidate the energy of love and peace from world leaders. 25 heads of state, ministers, and NGO leaders rang the Bell of World Peace and Love, including Laura Chinchilla Miranda, the then President of Costa Rica; Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, the then Vice President of Angola; Jose Ramos-Horta, former President of East Timor and the Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 1996; Pedro Passos Coelho, the then Prime Minister of Portugal; and Jigme Thinley, the then Prime Minister of Bhutan.

H.E. Taneti Mamau, President of Kiribati, made the wish when ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love: Let the world peace and love be equally shared by all.

Her Excellency Menissa Rambally, Ambassador of Saint Lucia to the UN, made the wish: Saint Lucia joins in reaffirming our commitment to promote peace in our own society and world. We wish for a spirit of “LISTENING.” If we can listen more to each other, we can better understand and live in peace and unity for a better world.

Mr. Taukelina Finikaso, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tuvalu, made the wish: I sincerely hope that in a small way this will contribute to this very honorable aim.

H.E. Luke Daunivalu, Deputy Permanent Representative of Fiji to the UN, made the wish: That all people everywhere respect, honour and love each other.