New York, NY – On May 15, UPF-USA and the Sun International Peace Federation co-organized the “Celebration of the Family” seminar in New York to commemorate the UN International Day of Families 2015.
The International Day was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1993 with resolution A/RES/47/237, and is observed on May 15 every year. The day reflects the importance the international community attaches to families and provides an opportunity to promote awareness of issues relating to families.
The seminar featured a panel on “The Role and Necessity of the Family for Sustainable Development.” The panel was moderated by a producer at Film on A Roll Productions, a Greek-based film company that is currently producing a documentary on sex trafficking.
Panelists included the director of UPF International’s Office of Marriage and Family Education; the president of Filial Projects; a senior gender advisor at the United Nations; and founder of We, The World.
Dr. Ricardo de Sena, president of UPF-USA, presented on the principles of the family and emphasized that:
The family is the most important human institution. Without it, we would not exist. Through it, we transmit language and culture.
The family—marriage and parenthood—is regarded as sacred by the world’s religions.
The family has the potential to manifest, most fully, God’s ideal of true love, which includes:
Children’s love
Brotherly and sisterly love
Marital love
Parental love
He then read passages from sacred texts that highlight the significance of the family:
There are five relations of utmost importance under Heaven…between prince and minister; between father and son; between husband and wife; between elder and younger brothers; and between friends.
Confucianism, Doctrine of the Mean
It is by the proper regulation of each family that the whole world is stabilized.
I Ching 37
When a man honours his father and mother, God says, “I regard it as though I had dwelt among them and they had honored me.”
Judaism, Talmud
When the family declines, ancient traditions are destroyed. With them are lost the spiritual foundation for life, and the family loses its sense of unity.
Hinduism, Bhagavad-Gita 1.40
Ms. Maria L. Vargas, executive director of UPF-USA’s Latin Affairs Office, expounded on the family as the cornerstone for world peace and UPF co-founders Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon’s principles of the family:
The family is the school of love.
If there is peace in the family, there will be peace in the world.
If problems in the family are resolved, all problems in the world will be resolved.
God’s providential work has been to restore the family.
Participants included Ambassadors for Peace, community leaders, representatives of UN-affiliated NGOs, faith-based leaders, and peace activists.
The program featured a “One-Global Family–Water of Life Ceremony,” in which representatives from the families of the world (a representative of white families, black families, Asian families; and a representative of Christian families, Jewish families, Muslim families, and Hindu families) read a passage from their cultural or sacred traditions, and poured water into a golden glass bowl. As the waters blended into one, it symbolized the world’s peoples uniting into one—one in heart and mind, centered upon the heart and mind of the Creator.
After the program had long ended, the participants shared with one another, as new-found friends and partners in peace.
To visit the official United Nations International Day Families website, please click here.
To read the proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly for the International Day of Families, please click here.
New York, NY – Forty Ambassadors for Peace from Universal Peace Federation-Korea took part in a seminar at the United Nations on May 13, 2015 in commemoration of the 70thanniversary of the founding of the United Nations.
Moderated by Mr. John Paul Hong, UPF vice president, the seminar was opened by Dr. Tageldin Hamad, UPF secretary general, who spoke about the work of its founders, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, and their emphasis on creating peace in families, nations and around the world. The founders’ call for a global day to honor parents bore fruit in the passing of a UN Resolution by the General Assembly in 2013 establishing a “Global Day of Parents.”
Dr. Thomas Walsh, UPF president, talked about the history of wars and the great role the United Nations has played in reducing or averting the possibility of another large-scale war, as occurred during World Wars I and II. He spoke about Dr. and Mrs. Moon’s initiatives for peace including a proposal for an interreligious council at the UN, programs for strengthening the family, and forming peace zones in conflict areas.
H.E. Mr. Denis Antoine, ambassador of Grenada to the United Nations, shared that 2015 is a historical transition period at the United Nations, in which the Millennium Development Goals will be replaced by Sustainable Development Goals in order to bring about a brighter future for humanity.
Minister Yu Sam Nam, former Minister of Ocean and Fisheries of South Korea, talked about the importance of the United Nations especially in regard to a peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula, building a Peace Park in the DMZ, and opening a 5th UN office in the Republic of Korea. Minister Yu led the delegation of Korean Ambassadors for Peace on a tour of the United Nations after the seminar.
New York, NY – Hon. Mario L. de Leon Jr., the Philippine Consul General to New York, said Saturday that in order to achieve peace and settle disputes in Southeast Asia, there is a need for countries to adhere to the rule of law.
“I think this is important. Countries need to be bound by something higher than themselves, and that is being mindful of international relations,” said de Leon in his acceptance appointment as Ambassador for Peace by the Universal Peace Federation USA (UPF USA) through its Office of Asian Affairs (OAA) on March 28, 2015 in Mid-Manhattan.
De Leon led a set of appointees, composed of diplomatic officials, businessmen, and community leaders in communities with Southeast Asian roots.
The Philippines has its share of territorial disputes that remain unresolved, including the Philippine claim to the Kalayaan group of islands versus China, and the Sabah territorial claims versus Malaysia, as well as government initiated peace efforts vis-a-vis the separatist movement in Muslim Mindanao.
In his acceptance speech, Hon. de Leon stressed that he will do his best to instill peace in his jurisdiction, in line with the theme “Security and understanding in the South East Asian Region.”
Aside from New York, Hon. de Leon has concurrent jurisdiction over the states of Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Representatives and guests from Asian countries including Nepal, India and Japan as well as New Jersey, New York and Massachusetts gathered at the event. Participants were also witnesses to the first assembly for the successful launching of the UPF USA’s Office of Asian-Affairs.
The Universal Peace Federation (UPF) is an alliance of American leaders dedicated to building a nation of peace and happiness through God´s true love by living for the sake of others.
The Office of Asian-Affairs is a local expression of UPF’s peace effort on the east coast and is headed by Rev. Greg Agulan. It will hold peace dialogues in various cities in the US as well as a multi-cultural festival this year in hopes to forge local unity and understanding.
“The Ambassadors for Peace are appointed by the UPF in order to localize peace efforts, starting from the homes and to communities, with the values of respect and cooperation as the main ingredients to achieve peace,” explained Rev. Agulan, now in his position as the official director of UPF USA Office of Asian-Affairs.
Rev. Agulan said that in achieving peace in the region, there had been two approaches in settling disputes: one is based on historical territorial claims backed by up treaties while the other approach is through sovereignty.
Rev. Agulan cited that the dispute over Mindanao in the Philippines was controlled by the Philippine Muslims until the 1950s. “In the 1950s, President Ferdinand Marcos began to send Christian Filipinos to settle in Mindanao, resulting today in their becoming the overwhelming majority of the population.
Likewise, today, the Moro people, invoking sovereignty, demand the return of their ancestral land to gain autonomy from the rest of the Philippines.”
Mr. Ricardo de Sena, President, UPF USA then presented the purpose, structure and activities of UPF as well as emphasizing UPF’s five Principles of Peace. “Transcending racial, religious and ethnic barriers is an imperative of our time. Faith can give people the power to forgive, and the love to overcome even generations of hatred, resentment and violence.”
President Ricardo de Sena emphasized that our common goal and purpose is to have unity and peace as an individual, family, nation and world. He shared about how to expand peace and a basic way to gather the family under one vision. Not merely a presentation, he also gave a clear and very touching speech inspiring to all those present.
Esther Faith Batino, the OAA executive secretary said that the formal launch of the OAA and the appointment of Hon. de Leon is a great leap forward in the peace movement in the United States. She said that her office is planning more innovative ways to unify the community with pursuits of cultural understanding as a way to peace.
The event was also an opportunity for participants to share their knowledge and expertise with their common goal being propagated heart to heart.
New York, NY – Universal Peace Federation, USA, in partnership with UNESCO Center for Peace, NY Chapter, organizes a phenomenal American Leadership Conference on December 19th in New York City.
The sixty participants who attended the event included a range between long-time established guests, to rising young adult leaders, all of whom were passionate about bringing change to America.
The program began with welcoming remarks from Dr. Thomas Walsh – President of UPF International – who gave the highlights of the work of UPF in 2014. Dr. Walsh was followed by Her Excellency Ms. Sire Dione Conde – President, UNESCO Centers for Peace, NY Chapter – who warmly welcomed the guests and thanked them for their attendance.
Mr. Ricardo de Sena, President, UPF USA, spoke on the second session of the program regarding marriage and family. Mr. de Sena also congratulated Dr. Joseph Champagne, Mayor, South Toms River, New Jersey, alongside Secretary General Cynthia Shibuya, as Mayor Champagne was appointed to become an Ambassador for Peace.
A total of five sessions where held discussing and giving solutions for topics such as “A Vision for Peace: Universal Principle of Creation,” addressed by Dr. Thomas Walsh and “The Root Cause of Conflict and Principles of Reconciliation,” addressed by Her Excellency Mrs. Genie Kagawa, Chairwoman of UN NGO Committee on Spirituality.
UPF USA focuses four main areas, two of which include inter-faith activities and youth services. Both of these were addressed during the conference as Ashley Freema Weeks, President, Ghanaian Youth Education Outreach of USA, and several religious leaders attended including Rabbi Roger Ross, Executive Director, Rabbinical Seminary International, and new recently appointed Ambassador for Peace, Imam Konate, Vice President of the Imam Leadership Council in Harlem.
Fourteen new Ambassadors for Peace were also appointed during this conference with a call to action as they embark to establish a nation of peace here in the United States of America.
New York, NY – To fight the spread of the deadly Ebola virus in Africa, compassionate and energetic African women organized a fund-raiser on Dec. 17, 2014.
The United Nations African Mothers Association (UNAMA) prepared an abundance of delicious, authentic African dishes for a buffet dinner, which was followed by lively musical performances.
The Universal Peace Federation-USA was honored to collaborate with many of the African ambassadors’ wives who led UNAMA in organizing this event. Mrs. Ban Soon-taek, wife of U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, addressed the guests with words of encouragement. The event ended in a joyful spirit as the winners of the evening’s thirty of more raffles were announced.
This also was a special night because it celebrated UNAMA’s 30 years of hard work, generosity and service to many in need, not only in Africa but also locally in New York.
