FOWPAL’s President Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze Receives 2019 FIRMA Global Peace Award

Walnut, California–Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), received the 2019 FIRMA (International Festival of Religions, Music, and Arts) Global Peace Award on May 13 in Turin, Italy. FOWPAL is a California-based nonprofit organization of peace, which has a branch in the city of Walnut, California.

The FIRMA Awards, established last year, honor visionaries who promote religious freedom, human rights, and world peace. This year’s awards ceremony took place during the 2019 Turin International Book Fair, the second largest book fair in Europe, which was held on May 9-13, and the awardees included Apostle Naasón Joaquín García, leader of the Mexico-based church La Luz del Mundo; Greg Mitchell, managing co-chair of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable; Marco Respinti, director-in-charge of Bitter Winter; Alessandro Iovino, Italian journalist and champion of religious liberty; and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL).

Dr. Hong received the FIRMA Global Peace Award for his tireless efforts to promote world peace. He is also the grandmaster of Tai Ji Men, an ancient menpai (similar to school) of qigong, martial arts and self-cultivation. At Tai Ji Men, wisdom and gongfu have been passed down from generation to generation for over six thousand years. Tai Ji Men has inherited and carried forward the Taoist philosophy, encompassing the yin-yang philosophy. To date, it has 15 branches around the world, and tens of thousands of people from all walks of life and from all over the world have greatly benefited from practicing Tai Ji Men Qigong. With the conviction that “It’s important to cultivate the positive energy of the universe and emulate the enlightened masters of all ages,” Dr. Hong and members of Tai Ji Men have been striving to promote a culture of conscience and peace and enhance the physical, mental, and spiritual health of all people.

In the year 2000, Dr. Hong established the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) in California, USA, which is a self-funded organization with members from 95 countries. Since its inception, it has conducted cultural exchange trips to 93 nations, actively promoting love and peace. Additionally, FOWPAL has hosted World Leader Summits of Love and Peace and bell-ringing ceremonies. World leaders have been invited to ring the Bell of World Peace and Love and make wishes for peace; the collective positive energy inspires bell ringers to take actions to fulfill their wishes and bring the dawn of peace.

FOWPAL’s most recent endeavor is promoting the global endorsement campaign for the Declaration of International Day of Conscience, which was launched on February 5, 2019 at the United Nations in New York. To date, the Declaration has been translated into 41 languages with endorsements from people in 141 nations. World peace becomes more attainable as more people are inspired, awakened and take proactive actions for peace. Those who want to support and endorse the declaration can find the endorsement page here:

http://www.fowpal.org/Endorse/doidoc_endorse/index.php.

Photo captions

Professor Massimo Introvigne, founder and managing director of the Center for Studies on New Religions (CESNUR), second from left; Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), fourth from left; Representative of Apostle Naasón Joaquín García, leader of the Mexico-based church La Luz del Mundo, third from right; Italian Journalist Marco Respinti, third from left, and other visionaries post for a group photo during the Turin International Book Fair, May 13, 2019 in Turin, Italy

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), first from left, delivers an appreciation speech after accepting the FIRMA Global Peace Award during the Turin International Book Fair, May 13, 2019 in Turin, Italy.

Visionaries from different religions, beliefs, media and other fields gather together to witness the awards ceremony during the Turin International Book Fair, May 13, 2019 in Turin, Italy.

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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, presents each of the visionaries with a clock, which is a compass of conscience, symbolizing that all are encouraged to follow the guidance of their conscience at all times, May 13, 2019 in Turin, Italy.