World Leader Summit of Love and Peace

Celebrating the UN’s Adoption of the International Day of Conscience at UNHQ

On September 26-27, 2019, during the 74th UN General Assembly, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), which has a branch in Los Angeles, co-hosted the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace at the United Nations with the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the UN. The event was to celebrate the UN’s adoption of Bahrain’s draft resolution designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. Over 20 residents of LA volunteered for the event.

Holding such a conference during the first annual session of the UN General Assembly after the passage of the resolution was especially significant. FOWPAL received congratulatory letters from many world leaders, including UN Secretary-General; the Presidents of Guyana, Ireland, Malta, and Portugal; the King of the Netherlands; the Queen of the United Kingdom; the Prime Ministers of the Czech Republic, New Zealand, Slovenia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the United Kingdom; the Governor Generals of Australia, Canada, Grenada, Jamaica, and New Zealand; the Taoiseach of Ireland; the Grand Duke of Luxembourg; and the Prince of Wales.

Since April 5, 2018, FOWPAL has worked with the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the UN and the Permanent Mission of Kiribati to the UN to promote the culture of peace with love and conscience. They have co-organized conferences at the UN in New York and in Vienna to consolidate ideas for world peace. Afterwards, the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the UN submitted a draft resolution titled “Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience” to the Assembly. On July 25, 2019, the United Nations adopted the resolution and declared April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, expressed his gratitude to Bahrain and many nations for their efforts to make the UN’s adoption of the International Day of Conscience possible. Dr. Hong also emphasized the importance of conscience in the attainment of peace by saying, “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.”

Shaikh Hussam bin Essa Al Khalifa, President of Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Sustainable Development Award Committee, remarked: “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.” “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 Khalifa.

Kiribati’s Health Minister Tauanei Marea said, “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. Bahrain’s Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa rang the Bell and wished “all the people in the world security, peace and brotherhood.” The other bell-ringers were Hugues Sanon, special envoy/International Relations to the United Nations for the Council for Justice, Equality and Peace; Jonathan Granoff, president of Global Security Institute; and Sally Kader, president of the International Federation for Peace and Sustainable Development.

During the panel discussion, 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.”

“Implementation! Implementation! Implementation!” said Anna Tibaijuka, former under-secretary-general of the United Nations, as she reminded everyone that since the resolution was passed, the mandate has been given and the international community needs to put it into practice. Ion Lazarenco, a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize 2019, attended the event on behalf of the president of Moldova. Lazarenco urged people to take action and bring positive changes to the world.

To promote 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.”

It is crucial to promote the concept of conscience; therefore, FOWPAL made an illustration book titled “Be the Spark,” which is about a little bear’s journey to discover that everyone can spark changes in the world with his/her beautiful heart. Many people who received the book think it is a very cute book and serves as a great tool to educate younger generations to follow their hearts to transform the world.

Assistant Director at NYC Mayor’s Office of Management, Syed Omair Hassan encouraged people to walk on the streets of New York to celebrate the first UN “International Day of Conscience” on April 5, 2020.

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.”

Rev. 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!”

During the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, the International Day of Conscience has been widely promoted, and leaders from around the world have become more aware of the importance of conscience in the attainment of peace. In support of the International Day of Conscience, FOWPAL will continue to encourage people to self-reflect and urge all nations and all organizations to hold love and conscience education programs, foster universal ceasefire, and facilitate peace talks so that everyone’s conscience will be awakened and the world will become peaceful.

Photo Captions:

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love, delivers a speech at the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace on September 26, 2019 at the United Nations headquarters. (AP Images)

Dr. Hong (second left) looks on as representatives from Kiribati and Bahrain greet one another during the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, at United Nations headquarters on Sept. 27, 2019. (AP Images)

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love, center, presents the compass clock of conscience to Bahrain's Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa, left, and Shaikh Hussam bin Essa Al Khalifa, president of Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa Sustainable Development Award Committee, right, during the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, at U.N. headquarters on Sept. 27, 2019. (AP Images)

Bahrain's Cabinet Affairs Minister Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa rings the Bell of World Peace and Love during the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace, at United Nations headquarters on Sept. 27, 2019. (AP Images)