Las Vegas, NV – The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) Las Vegas Chapter organized the final American Leadership Conference for 2015 at the International Peace Education Center in Las Vegas Nevada on December 12, 2015 with the theme “America At A Turning Point: Principles And Values for Building A Nation of Peace”
Ms. Katherine Duncan, UPF Las Vegas Chairwoman and Mr. James Rigney, UPF Las Vegas Executive Director joined forces and staged a very successful gathering of leaders from the political, religious, youth, women and civil society addressing the issues of peace.
Following an invocation by the Rev. Emanuel Wasson III, a welcoming letter from the governor of Nevada was read by James Rigney. Richard De Sena, President of UPF USA, introduced the program and welcomed a senator and former ambassador who gave congratulatory remarks with warmth and excitement.
A stimulating panel discussion was led by Rev. Emanuel Wasson. Mr. Teji Malik, a Sikh Community member and a board member of the Southern Nevada Interfaith Council, spoke sincerely regarding the value of interfaith work and the need to respect others, that we have one Source and we are all connected. Mrs. Lynn Walsh, Co-Chair of the UN NGO Committee on the Family spoke about the concerns about family breakdown and how this impacts peace on the individual, community, and even worldwide levels, and how valuable the family is for peace. Naokimi Ushiroda, President of the Collegiate Association of the Research of Principles, spoke about the needs of youth for mentoring, modeling and respect to develop into mature and engaged individuals. All the speakers spoke with such heart and sincerity, the participants were very moved.
Seven Las Vegas people were awarded an Ambassador of Peace appointment. Following the program, there was much excitement and discussion among participants, followed by a reception for another hour with many people connecting with others and new friendships forming. UPF was grateful for all who prepared for and presented in the event to help make it meaningful for local Ambassadors of Peace and all others who participated.
Reported by: Leslie Rigney, Executive Director, UPF Las Vegas
Many gathered together on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at the Windermere House overlooking beautiful Lake Washington and the Cascade mountains to the east.
Our purpose was three-fold: first to celebrate the 33rd UN International Day of Peace, second to hear some words from UPF Founders Rev. and Mrs. Moon about the necessity for the Universal Peace Federation and the Ambassadors for Peace program to give guidance to the UN’s peace-making work.
AFP Mrs. Emma Herron performed the MC job so very well, including informing us about the ongoing visit to the USA by Pope Francis. Emma recounted the key points made during his speeches given earlier in the day to a joint session of the US Congress.
Reverend Richard Rivers, of the “Church Without Walls” of the Skyway area of Seattle, gave a wonderful benediction for the meeting and the dinner.
During the tasty meal prepared by AFP volunteer cooks, we made conversation and then introductions.
Following dinner, Mr. Prosper Ndabishuriye, founder of the charity JRMD-YRWD (Jeunesse en Reconstruction du Monde en Destruction – Youth in Reconstruction of a World in Destruction) which builds homes for Burundians displaced by the periodic inter-tribal strife between the majority Hutu and minority Tutsi communities. A video was shown showing homes built and a school in operation for disadvantaged children; altogether a very moving report. As Mr. Ndabishuriye said repeatedly, he can do great things with donations from “friends and friends of friends”.
Next the UPF Secretary General for Washington State gave a brief talk on the topic: “Why we need UPF’s guidance for the UN to accomplish effective peace-making.”
Following all went out onto the porch facing Lake Washington to participate in a candle-light prayer circle celebrating the UN International Day of Peace for 2015.
We ended with a group photo of most of the participants, together with the banner:
It is our high honor to welcome you to this historical Peace Road event to be held at the United Nations Headquarters on August 4th at 9:00 am.
The Peace Road Initiative provides a vision to connect six continents by undersea tunnels and continuous highways to make possible unprecedented commerce, peace-building and interdependence of the peoples of the world. Until today, there has never been a road or highway specifically conceived and built as a highway to world peace. It was one of the great visions and dreams of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon.
The idea of the International Peace Highway, first raised at a 1981 interdisciplinary conference of Korean, Japanese and American scientists in Seoul and later expanded to include a proposed tunnel crossing of the Bering Strait, exemplifies Rev. Moon’s conviction that humanity is really one family under God. He believed that if people could meet each other in daily life, through culture, trade, and travel, they would come to break down the historic fears and misunderstandings that often divide us from our closest neighbors.
Please join us on August 4th for a memorable event that forecasts a wiser, wealthier and more connected world. Due to the limited capacity, please RSVP to Jorge Cuello Espinosa at jce@upfnorthamerica.org so that we can plan for your attendance at this one-of-a-kind gathering.
Sincerely,
Ricardo de Sena President Universal Peace Federation, USA
Bronx, NY– The Youth Universal Peace Federation (UPF) USA, finished their second service project on Saturday, June 27, at Bronx Park East. Three motivated volunteers kindly served at this event. Jorge Cuello Espinosa, National Director, Youth UPF, took some time to share some of what Youth UPF envisions to its volunteers.
Parks are supposed to be places of serenity. However, Bronx Park East has side trails that were created by people who may have gone into the woods to do inappropriate behavior. To create one straight path, volunteers carried branches and placed them on top of these side trails.
Then, only one solid, clean trail was created with thick tree branches along its sides. Special soil was used to create a smooth path. Although Youth UPF volunteers stayed from 9:00am – 11:00am, more park cleaning was done by other organizations and volunteers at Bronx Park East.
Rev. Jé Hooper, a volunteer from the Bronx, shared his passion for working with young people and for the teachings of Dr. Sun Myung Moon, Founder of UPF. Rev. Hooper was appointed as an Ambassador For Peace (AFP) by Mrs. Tomiko Duggan, Director of Public Affairs, UPF International, in Washington D.C.
Calisher Perry, a volunteer from the Bronx, also expressed her interest in working with young people and giving back to the earth.
Luz Cuello, the mother of Jorge Cuello Espinosa, kept a sincere smile throughout the entire event. Her happy nature was evident through the pictures taken.
Jorge is very grateful for his mother’s help and all of the volunteers. Youth UPF is excited for its next event will to be held on July 11th at the same location.
To sign up for the next Youth UPF event, please visit our Facebook page by clicking here.
Seattle, WA – The Seattle chapter of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) USA held its monthly dinner on Thursday, June 25, 2015 at the Windermere House, with about 26 persons in attendance. Mr. Larry Krishnek, the former North West District Secretary General for UPF USA. Delivered the keynote address entitled “The Road to Peace.”
Mr. Krishnek showed an 8 minute video explaining the benefits of building a highway connecting the Americas and Asia across the Bering Straits. The idea for an international peace highway was first proposed by UPF Founder, Dr. Sun Myung Moon, at the tenth International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences in 1981. Dr. Moon spoke about this several times, with the fullest attention given in 2005.
Mr. Krishnek emphasized that highways and bridges help to connect humanity, and to overcome barriers caused by physical separation, as with the Chunnel between France and Great Britain, and the intercontinental railroad built across the US in the late 1800s.
The vision to unite humanity emphasizes the mission that Dr. Moon spoke about on September 18, 1976, when he challenged the USA to go beyond the motto of “One Nation Under God” to “One World Under God.”
As part of the preparation for the 3rd anniversary of Dr. Moon’s passing, Ambassadors For Peace (AFPs) in South and North America have begun a series of “Peace Rides.”
In North America, this coincided with the inauguration of the International Peace Education Center in Las Vegas on May 28 – 31, with a bicycle Peace Ride through Las Vegas. In July, Peace Rides will continue through Oregon and Washington State, then up the Alaskan-Canadian Highway to Anchorage and terminating in Nome, Alaska.
After the talk, Lua Pritchard, the Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Cultural Center of Tacoma, WA and her husband Daniel were appointed as Ambassadors for Peace. The program concluded with a group photo on the veranda overlooking beautiful Lake Washington.
Las Vegas, NV – Universal Peace Federation (UPF) USA Las Vegas held another successful, monthly Peace Forum on June 24, 2015 at Las Vegas City Hall. The meeting centered on National Parents’ Day, a national holiday to be held at the International Peace Education Center (IPEC) on July 26, 2015. In response to initiatives presented by UPF Co-Founders Dr. Sun Myung Moon and his wife, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon in 1994, President William Jefferson signed the Parents Day Holiday into law, to be celebrated on the fourth Sunday of every July.
Dr. Ricardo De Sena, President, UPF USA, offered an exciting power-point presentation describing the history of the Ambassadors For Peace (AFP) programs. He shared about upcoming American Leadership Conferences in Las Vegas commemorating the 10th anniversary of UPF.
Newly appointed AFPs were former State Assemblyman Gene Collins, Journalist Dianna Saffold Cooks and Entertainer Little J. Gambino, who each volunteered o help with the National Parents’ Day program.
“My heart was warmed when I saw the look on the faces of those long-time AFPs who have, for so long, fought on the battlefield for Peace and who attended the function to help meet and greet the new ambassadors,” said Little J. Gambino.
Las Vegas Secretary General Gregg Smith and Deputy Secretariat General Claudelina Smith carried the program through dinner and music.
UPF Las Vegas still has room for people wishing to participate in National Parents’ Day program.
For more information, please contact UPF Las Vegas Chairwoman Katherine Duncan Bartlett, by email at KDuncan@upfnorthamerica.org or call (702) 490-2699.
Springfield, IL – Through the inspiration of Universal Peace Federation (UPF) USA Illinois leader, John Prevost, the Chicago chapter of UPF USA decided to hold their 2015 annual American Leadership Conference (ALC) in Springfield on June 20, 2015. For the six weeks preceding the event our Church Pastor, the WFWP leaders and the UPF leaders all met every Tuesday evening to work out all of the details. Mr. Bruce Sutchar, Secretary General, UPF Chicago, realizes now that all the preparation was absolutely needed.
In the Land and Legacy of Abraham Lincoln
Every state in America is unique. If you want to see Niagara Falls you have to go to New York. If you want to visit the Grand Canyon, then Arizona is your destination. You can go to Washington, D.C. to see the Lincoln Memorial, but if you really want to feel the life and legacy of Abraham Lincoln, then you must visit Illinois.
In recent years, Americans have heard about the Bush Library in Texas, and the Clinton Library in New York, but about 10 years ago the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum was erected in Springfield, Illinois. It is a beautiful state of the art facility that one needs at least 2 ½ hours to even begin to explore it all.
The Chicago chapter of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) USA rented a tour bus and, at 7:00am, participants loaded up and headed the 200 miles downstate from Chicago to the Capitol City of Illinois (they wanted to keep the seat of government as far away from a major city as possible).
The chapter’s first stop was Lincoln’s tomb. He is buried there along with his wife Mary Todd Lincoln and three of his four boys. Only his eldest son Robert would make it to adulthood and he is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.
As participants walked out of the tomb, they were greeted by a friendly Dominos Pizza Delivery Truck and 40 of them chowed down to an outdoor picnic lunch. These excited participants then hustled over to Lincoln’s 1860 home in an area where the neighborhood is preserved to look exactly as it did when Lincoln lived there before he became President and moved to Washington, D.C.. It was a beautiful and historical experience. From there, participants headed over to the Illinois State Capitol—an incredibly ornate and historical building. Our state senator had reserved a room for us in the Illinois Senate hearing room. There, the chapter was greeted by the speaker who herself had driven 3 ½ hours to join us.
She talked deeply and personally about “Lincoln’s preparation for leadership.” What he had learned in his time in the Illinois legislature. She implored our young people to get involved in politics. She said one needs three things to be successful: 1) a love for politics; 2) the knowledge, understanding and confidence to know that that you are as good and can accomplish as much as anyone, and; 3) a commitment to honesty.
The speaker picked at the brains of those young people in the audience and successfully involved them in her lecture. The result of this was that the next day at Sunday Service, two of these young adults gave very exciting and stimulating testimonies about both their trip and the speaker’s talk.
The program concluded with the presentation of the Ambassadors for Peace plaque to our speaker and her husband, who is also a college professor.
Afterward the trip concluded with a drive around the Old State Capitol where both Lincoln and more recently President Barack Obama each announced their candidacies for the position of President of the United States of America.
Nutley, NJ— On June 14, 2015, the “Pathways to Peace” cultural exchange project was held in Nutley, New Jersey. The event, whose theme was “Peace is not simply the absence of war, but the development of friendships,” was a collaboration of the town of Nutley, the Nutley school district, the local Rotary Club, the Nutley Clergy Association, and UPF-USA.
From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Honduran students worked with American students to create a traditional sawdust street tapestry, or alfombra (“carpet”)–patterned after the alfombras created on the streets of Comayuga, Honduras every year—on Nutley’s main street, Franklin Avenue. Others created tapestries on the avenue using chalk. Nearly 400 people participated in the event, which also featured music, food and a performance of martial arts.
The keynote speaker, H.E. Mrs. Elizabeth Mary Flores Flake, Permanent Representative of Honduras to the UN, made an early appearance at the event. After arriving, she eagerly collected chalk, found an area on the street to work on and began designing her own chalk drawing of the patron saint of her hometown of Comayagua.
At the closing ceremony, a choir of about 150 local students sang “One World of Peace.” Afterwards, Amb. Flores thanked UPF and all the individuals and groups who helped organized the project. Nutley mayor Mr. Alphonse Petracco then presented a key to the township to Amb. Flores, who received it on behalf of the mayor of Comayagua, who was unable to attend the event.
The making of an alfombra is a devotional act in Comayagua tradition. Therefore, in closing, Mr. Petracco and Mr. Mario Salinas, director of UPF-Honduras, walked toward one another from opposite sides of the tapestry the youth had created to meet in “brotherhood.” Mr. Salinas then presented the mayor with a Honduran national costume as a gift.
The participants danced joyfully on the tapestry to conclude the activities.
During and after the project, many people, including Mr. Petracco, concurred that the project was not only beautiful, but extremely meaningful. At the Nutley Board of Commissioner’s meeting the following week, Mr. Petracco presented Mr. Salinas with a key to Nutley, and each of the three Honduran students who had participated in the project, framed proclamations honoring them for volunteering for peace.
A week after the project, the Honduran students were treated to sightseeing in New York city and Philadelphia, and visited the New Jersey shore and the Atlantic City boardwalk. They also enjoyed a tour of the UN headquarters, which was arranged by Amb. Flores. Amb. Flores later met with organizers of “Pathways to Peace” to discuss possible collaborative projects in the future.
Washington, D.C.—The UPF-DC office and The Washington Times Foundation welcomed over 70 members of the diplomatic community, NGO leaders, Ambassadors for Peace, and friends of UPF at the Washington Times on June 4 to celebrate the UN International Day of Families 2015.
The theme for this year’s International Day was “Men in Charge? Gender Equality and Children’s Rights in Contemporary Families.”
After enjoying a delicious lunch, the guests were greeted by Mrs. Tomiko Duggan, director of public affairs of UPF International’s office in Washington, D.C. She spoke about the UN International Day of Families and the UPF view that the family is the most important unit in society, and showed a video of UPF’s global activities. She then introduced Mr. Larry Moffitt, vice president of The Washington Times Foundation, co-sponsor of the event, who was the emcee for the program.
The first speaker was H.E. Dr. Neil Parsan, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the U.S., Mexico and the Organization of American States (OAS). A medical doctor with an MBA, Dr. Parsan is also active in education; the fight against HIV/AIDS; and women’s issues. He commended UPF for its efforts to bring about peace in the world. “Meetings like this allow us to come together to further these issues,” he said.
Dr. Parsan also said that the family structure is changing and adapting in an ongoing shift to satisfy the needs of a broader definition of family. Governments must also shift to protect and support the family as this happens. “Individuals find a place of solace and comfort in the family where respect for each other is nurtured to a level of compassion and respect for other’s perspectives. And it is hard work to keep family bonds strong,” he said. The UN’s focus on family is stimulating new approaches and policies that are “friendly” toward all families, and will help relieve poverty; “promote gender equality; ensure work-family balance; and promote intergenerational solidarity.”
He noted that no longer is the man the sole bread winner or the woman the sole nurturer of children. He is starting to see a shift take place in the family pattern that is long overdue. He praised a program in New York that offers training to new fathers in care-giving and child-rearing, and encourages them to actively participate in and be able to respond to the specific needs of their children. This all-male “baby boot-camp” has expanded to other states and also other nations. He also said that 85% of nations provide at least 12 weeks of maternity leave for new mothers (2/3 of the pay is provided by public funds), but few offer paternal leave to fathers for early bonding and to support both the new baby and family. [At the UPF-DC and The Washington Times Foundation’s 2014 International Day of Families event, the Ambassador of Norway to the U.S. said that Norway gives both fathers and mothers three months leave after having a baby. Government ministers even took this leave when they had newborns. He said that more women were able to return to the work force afterward and contribute greatly to the country’s growing economy.]
He said that real gender equality is needed, which does not mean switching the traditional male and female roles, but offering each family support based on the unique needs of each family. He added that the government of Trinidad and Tobago has a Minister of Gender, Youth and Child Development, who recently launched a program defining ‘masculine excellence’ that assists men in becoming better husbands, fathers, brothers, and family members. It is supported by many men. He received applause when he said, “It takes 100% masculinity and 100% femininity to bring about one new human being.”
As a permanent representative to the OAS, he reported that the organization has made strong efforts to combat violence against women by passing resolutions that “protect women’s physical, sexual and psychological integrity whether in public or private. Interestingly, it includes emotional violence, which is now provable.”
He concluded his speech by saying that “Human imagination and the infinite resource of our people must be allowed to flourish by nurturing and strengthening the family unit and not place restrictions on what people can potentially do.”
He was then appointed as an Ambassador for Peace.
The next speaker was H.E. Farhod Salim, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Republic of Tajikistan to the U.S. He served as a public official for many years and began his diplomatic career as a UN attaché in the late 1990s. He later served in Belgium and as a member of the ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tajikistan before becoming an ambassador to the U.S. He is also trained as a computer programmer and approaches the fine art of diplomacy with a scientific mind.
He thanked the sponsors for the opportunity to share about his home country and its efforts to support the family. “Tajikistan is a young, independent state that has an ancient history, culture, and tradition…[where] the family has always played a significant role…and is the basic unit of society playing a crucial role in the development of all nations,” he said.
He added that “Happiness is always connected with the family. The family is a creator of civilization because it produces ‘a person’—the main social wealth.” He continued by saying that according to the culture of the ancient Tajik people, the family is recognized as a “sacred unit of the society,” where essential values such as “love, faith, sincerity, mutual understanding, and tolerance are formed.”
In 1997, the government of Tajikstan issued a decree to improve access of higher education institutions to girls. From 1997 to 2014, the president of the country allocated quotas for girls from remote regions to attend school, and to date, more than 6,000 girls have graduated thanks to the program. Since 2011, the quota for girls from remote regions has increased annually.
He also said that he is “Seeing the number of divorces increasing in [Tajikstan]. The government proposed to organize classes on family education in the upper grades of high schools to help young people get ready to start families.”
He added that since the end of the civil war in Tajikstan and the country’s independence in 1997, the government has taken a number of effective measures to support mothers and women, and improve their status in society. Out of 63 seats in the Assembly of Representatives, 12 seats were won by women in the last election, or 20% of all seats.
He concluded by saying that “Today, around 8,000 women are working in central and regional branches of the government, and about 500 of them hold leadership positions. There are 126,000 women entrepreneurs in the country.”
The next speaker was Mrs. Phindile Ntshangase, wife of the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Swaziland to the U.S. Introducing Mrs. Ntshangase, Mr. Moffitt said: “the Ambassador often says that he is ‘a reverend first,’ before he is an Ambassador. Today, he said that he just came ‘to support his wife’. This is a wise man and a fortunate woman!”
Mrs. Ntshangase spoke about balancing work and family life as a mother (of two boys and one girl) and wife of an ambassador who has a degree in nursing and business administration.
She began her speech by saying that “The family is the bedrock of all nations. The creator of the universe knew what He was doing when He created Eve for Adam and blessed them with children”. She said that when we “are protected with fundamental human rights and freedoms, we become God’s treasure in earthen vessels.”
She expressed her sadness by the reports of the African countries that are still sending girls to sex camps to prepare them for marriage, to become good at sex, starting at the age of eight! If they perform incorrectly, they are tortured sexually. She said this information was revealed at The Global Partnership to End Child Marriage’s conference in Casablanca, Morocco. She condemned the idea that women are considered sex objects, not valuable individuals who can contribute to society. She shared the comments of Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zum, chairperson of the African Union Commission: “Today the issue of recognizing women’s rights…is pivotal because it has been proven that sustainable development, political stability and economic growth cannot be achieved when a portion of the population is marginalized and excluded in the access and distribution of national resources.”
She also quoted from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for this year’s International Day of Families, in which he affirmed the UN’s support for the rights of women and children: “Equitable social and economic development depends on fair legal frameworks and social norms that support the rights of women and children. Discriminatory laws and practices that do not give equal rights to all, and that suppress women and children’s rights, have no place in contemporary families, communities, societies and nations.”
She then posed the following questions: “Why should a woman be refused her right of inheritance simply because she is a woman?”; “Why should institutions pay her unjustly for her labor relative to her male counterpart?”; ”Why should a girl dropout of school to provide sibling care at home?”; and “Why should any woman die from poor reproductive health practices?” She recommended that social norms be carefully examined to see if they enable societies to make good changes that support the evolving family structures and needs.
She also said that she stands in “firm support for the tenants of families,” and praised UPF for its efforts to foster peace across cultures and in its promotion of understanding and social exchange between peoples. She added, “In my role as an Ambassador for Peace, and in recognition of my recent appointment, I position myself as an advocate of peace, for gender rights of women, for protection of children from abuse and neglect. I also support every ambition to develop a culture of peace in homes and families, and the strengthening of non-governmental organizations, including UPF.”
In conclusion, she stated, “To mothers, I speak from the heart to you. You are the fortress of the family. Your labor may not be remunerated in salaries but you are a treasure in God’s kingdom…You are the bedrock of wisdom as you nurture and train children to be the best they can be…You are God’s instrument of peace.”
Mr. Ricardo de Sena, secretary general of UPF-USA, spoke next. He highlighted the UPF view of the family and the necessity of a God-centered marriage in life to promote true lasting peace. The family is not just a human institution; it is created by God as a sacred institution, he said. He shared words from different religions in support of families. The family is sacred in all religions, a holy relationship. He stated that the ultimate wish of God is that all human beings live in joy and happiness. This occurs when a family is centered on God with husbands and wives loving one another completely, and where each person can experience all the forms of love: as a child, sibling, marital and parental love that enables the individual to experience God and become a mature member of society. UPF teaches that the purpose of life is to “live for the sake of others,” and by living in this way, we—all people—can improve society and bring peace to the world.
He gave more than seven reasons, based on research, why marriage benefits governments:
1. Marriage reduces the risk of child poverty; 2. As the number of fathers in the home decreases, violence increases; 3. Marriage protects physical and mental health; 4. Married couples live longer, and are happier and healthier; 5. Children born outside marriage have poorer economic achievements; 6. Marriage is the glue that holds society together; and 7. Marriage is an important social good.
He concluded by inviting everyone to participate in UPF’s celebration of the Marriage Blessing to affirm God-centered families where peaceful individuals can develop into great members of society. Quoting UPF founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, he said, “Family education determines the future destiny of the entire nation. When there are many families living by the principle of public service, the nation will flourish.”
New Ambassadors for Peace were appointed by Dr. Chang Shik Yang, president of The Washington Times Foundation. They were: H.E. Dr. Neil Parsan, Ambassador of Trinidad and Tobago to the U.S.; H.E. Abednigo Ntshangase, Ambassador of Swaziland to the U.S.; Mrs. Hind Al Qatari, wife of the defense attaché of the Embassy of Qatar to the U.S., Gen. Abdulrahman Al-Hemaidi; and Mrs. Mie-Mie Joe Strickler, president of the Amer-Indo organization.
Seattle, WA – More than twenty-five UPF Ambassadors for Peace and guests, including two new attendees, gathered at the Windermere House in Seattle on May 21 to discuss UPF founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s vision of “One Family Under God.”
Ambassador for Peace Mrs. Emma Herron, chairwoman of the Cascade Republican Women’s group and board of the JakCares Foundation, served as emcee. She introduced Mr. Ray McCready, secretary general of UPF in Washington, as the speaker of the evening. The title of Mr. McCready’s presentation was “One Family Under God. Really?”.
Mr. McCready reviewed the history of humankind from a human development, historical and spiritual perspective. For the human development perspective, he shared that DNA research and fossil evidence from the past 2.4 million years shows that there is a less than 0.1% variation in DNA for all humankind.
For the historical perspective, Mr. McCready spoke about the history of wars (the large ones in the past 1,300 years) displayed a chart from Wikipedia, showing the cost of war—in lives lost.
For the spiritual perspective, he read excerpts of speeches and quotes by UPF founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon on the unique position of human beings and their importance within the Creator God’s plans. He said that based on the information he presented, it is clear that humans should strive to respect one another as brothers and sisters, elders and youngers—and return joy to the Creator by living as one family under God.
“How is UPF able to reconcile religions, which have different viewpoints, such as on the divinity of Jesus?” asked a guest visiting the United States from Nigeria, where tensions between Christians and Muslims have escalated in recent years.
“UPF works towards reconciliation by emphasizing the elements that religions share in common,” answered Mr. McCready. “In this case, those elements are a belief in the Creator, in the spiritual nature of human beings and that the family is a key institution in the Creator’s plan for humankind.”
After the meeting, Ambassadors for Peace and new attendees gathered together for a group photo.
