GPF Chairman say a clear vision of a unified Korea should be based upon the principles and values that have shaped Korean identity.  

Dr. Hyun Jin Moon greets Dr. Edwin J. Feulner, founder of The Heritage Foundation and Chairman of the Asian Studies Center at the 2014 Global Peace Leadership Conference in Seoul.

30-Sep-2014 |“In the three years since the Global Peace Foundation (GPF) held its annual convention here in Seoul, the landscape regarding Korean unification has changed dramatically,” GPF Chairman Dr. Hyun Jin Moon told an assembly of Korean political and religious leaders and international scholars in Seoul on September 30, 2014. “South Korean government policy is now to actively pursue peaceful unification by seeking to engage the North through a number of channels, [including] proposed infrastructure projects, as well as cultural exchanges with the North Korean people. In policy discussions within South Korea there is now much greater focus on the potential benefits that will flow from peaceful unification.” The GPF Chairman was addressing the 2014 Global Peace Leadership Conference (GPLC), “Vision, Principles, and Values of a Unified Korea,” the latest of several GPF-supported initiatives, including conferences, public education and humanitarian campaigns, and civil society partnerships, to elevate awareness and support for Korean unification. Dr. Victor Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, gave an overview of the changing perspectives of unification since the division of the peninsula and the end of the Korean War and what he called “an important sea-change” in recent attitudes about unification.

Dr. Victor Cha, Senior Adviser and Korea Chair at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, outlines the changing perspectives about Korean unification since the division at the conclusion of the Korean War.

Cha cited five distinct perspectives in the post-war era, beginning with a stark, Cold War-dominated view that saw unification only based on the eradication of the competing, irreconcilable political system. This ideological stance migrated, with the lessons of the integration of East and West Germany, into a “hard-landing” view of unification that dwelt on the enormous costs to the South of integrating the impoverished North. With the election of Kim Dae jung to the presidency and elevation of his Sunshine policy, a strategy of unconditional engagement with the North to moderate tensions and encourage economic development, the prospect of unification came to be viewed as remote and unrealistic, and relegated into the distant future. With the election of conservative Lee Myung-bak a more pragmatic view of unification emerged, with the government acknowledging that factors could precipitate a much more sudden change for which preparations should be made. South Korea’s current President, Park Geun-hye, has presented yet another view of unification, seeing it as an opportunity for growth, investment, and a “bonanza” or jackpot for Korea and her neighbors. Cha acknowledged that shifting attitudes are related to politics, but recent focus on the issue “is also motivated by a sober realization that the stability of the regime in the North is far from certain.” He also noted growing ties between South Korea and China. “South Korea is try to take advantage of this window and bring China more to its side. It wants to create greater equities for Beijing in its relations with Seoul than its relations with Pyongyang. And they believe the moment is now.” Heritage Foundation founder and Asian Studies Center Chairman Dr. Edwin J. Feulner presented a sobering assessment of any peaceful or gradual integration of the two Koreas. “Korean unification would require, quite simply, either fundamental political and economic reform by North Korea or the collapse of the regime,” he said. “Unfortunately, Kim Jong-un has clearly demonstrated that he will be as resistant to reform as his predecessors were.”

Heritage Foundation founder and Asian Studies Center Chairman Dr. Edwin J. Feulner: “Korean unification would require, quite simply, either fundamental political and economic reform by North Korea or the collapse of the regime.”

He also said that Pyongyang has displayed remarkable resilience to external pressure. “Regime change in the foreseeable future is unlikely due to the pervasiveness of North Korean security services, the lack of a viable opposition party or movement, and the state’s absolute control over information sources,” Feulner told the conference. Emphasizing the ongoing U.S. strategic commitment and Beijing’s complex balance of interests in avoiding a collapse of the North Korea regime, Feulner outlined steps the U.S. could take to assist the process of eventual unification, including:

• Giving support for South Korea’s current, conditional efforts for engagement;
• Taking action against North Korea’s illegal activities, including its nuclear and missile programs, and any complicit foreign individual, bank, business, or government agency;
• Pressing China to exert greater influence over Pyongyang and join international efforts to sanction the regime
• Maintaining robust military deterrence.

Feulner also said that South Korea should reach out to North Korea through both bilateral and multilateral negotiations, but not acquiesce to North Korean pressure tactics. “Being excessively eager to compromise, as demonstrated by previous progressive administrations, not only rewards abhorrent behavior, but also undermines negotiating leverage. “President Park Geun-hye has provided a realistic blueprint for engaging North Korea,” he concluded. “In following these policies, Seoul should be resolute in its requirements of conditionality, reciprocity, and transparency from Pyongyang.”

“The principles of living for the benefit of all humanity and governing with morality and truth, and the spiritual consciousness they produced, became embedded in the Korean psyche and a part of our cultural heritage through the extended family tradition.”

In his keynote address, GPF Chairman Dr. Moon said that the focus of the conference—the vision, principles and values that can guide a unified Korea—“is an essential part of the preparation for unification, yet it has not been sufficiently discussed. “Unification will create a new nation, rich with new possibilities. What sort of nation should it be? What principles and what values should guide and sustain it? To grasp this opportunity we need to move forward with a clear vision of the future based upon the principles and values that have shaped Korean identity and defined Korea’s destiny.” Moon said the roots of Korean identity can be traced to Korea’s founding and the core principle of Hongik-Ingan with its exhortation to live for the “benefit of all humanity.” This ideal was to be implemented by governing the world with “morality and truth” (Ido-yeochi), thereby “enlightening the world with truth” (Kwangmyung-ise) and thus “creating a world of truth” (Jaesae-ihwa).

GPF Chairman Dr. Moon said that the focus of the conference was vision, principles and values that can guide a unified Korea.

“These principles and the spiritual consciousness they produced became embedded in the Korean psyche and a part of our cultural heritage through the extended family tradition,” the GPF Chairman said. “This is the foundation of an ethical society through which virtue is nurtured and passed on through the generations.” He added that the Korean Dream does not end with the unification of the Korean peninsula but is a vision that reaches out from the nation to the world. “One of the leaders of Korea’s independence movement, Baekbom Kim Gu, whom I mention in my book, captured the sentiment of the patriots of that time when he wrote, “I wish my nation would be a nation that doesn’t just imitate others, but rather it be a nation that is the source of a new and higher culture, that it can become the goal and an example [for others]. And thus true world peace could come from our nation.” The GPLC was organized by a coalition including the Ministry of Unification, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Action for Korea United, the Global Peace Foundation, and other faith-based and civil society supporters. A day earlier, a banquet and ceremony marked the formal launch of The Korean Dream: A Vision for a Unified Korea, a new book by Dr. Moon which examines Korean history and heritage as a source of shared values for a unified Korean people.

The original article appears on www.globalpeace.org.

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“The Korean Dream challenges Koreans and global citizens who hope for reunification to take the issue into their own hands and ask, ‘What will I do to unite Korea.’” Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, Global Peace Convention 2011, Seoul, Korea

Action for Korea United held a launch at the beginning lunar new year, committing to ‘Opening the Era of Unification, Together.’

The Global Peace Foundation reported that on February 15th, 500 key members of Action for Korea United launched the New Year committing to ‘Opening the Era of Unification, Together.’ This renewed effort comes in the midst of rising tensions between the two Koreas. For over 60 years, the Korean Peninsula has remained a house divided, a literal family and people divided by the 38th parallel.

Korean Media outlet NewsIs reported Action for Korea United’s comittment to supporting President Park Geun Hye’s significant efforts towards peaceful reunification through advocacy and engagement through the “Everyday Unification Movement.” According to the Global Peace Foundation the movement is “a grass-roots initiative that engages Koreans around the world in ongoing practical efforts for Korean unification” as described by the Global Peace Foundation.

Projects and initiatives of the “Everyday Unification Movement” have brought awareness about and involvement in the issue of Korean unification. It provides avenues by which Koreans and concerned global citizens can answer the question, “What will I do to unite Korea?” through concrete lifestyle choices.

• The Power of 1000 Won raises funds for a bakery in Sariwon, North Korea that produces bread to feed the villages school children lunch.
• Now in its third year, the U-Dream Peace Project engages university students all the way down to middle school students in a competition to envision projects that will work towards Korean unification.
• There have also been efforts to address prejudices towards North Koreans, and sisterhood programs to help defectors adapt to South Korean life.

Koreans from all sectors of society can become active participants in the unification process. The Global Peace Foundation’s fresh approach to Korean Unification is based on a vision articulated by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon called the “Korean Dream”.  The “Korean Dream” is derived from the ancient Korean philosophy of hongikingan that imparts a sense of shared destiny of the Korean people to live for the betterment of humanity. This end-goal approach has defined the process of dialogue and action on the highest levels of diplomatic negotiations to everyday grassroots efforts.

The original article appears at www.globalpeace.org

The post Action for Korea United Takes Initiative to ‘Open the Era of Unification’ appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Korea’s leading magazine Shin Dong-A, published a ten page feature of Global Peace Convention Atlanta 2012 in its New Year edition. Fittingly, the fourth segment of the report featured GPC Atlanta 2012’s “entirely new” approach to the reunification of the Korean Peninsula with the magazine’s announcement of Park Geun-hye’s presidential win, making her the first woman president of the Republic of Korea.

Read the unofficial English translation of the fourth segment of the article below.

See the original article in Korean.

GPC Atlanta 2012 Presents a New Paradigm for Global Peace

By Young Chul Choi ftdog@donga.com
Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Unification of North and South Korea a key to world peace

“The ultimate resolution to tensions in Northeast Asia is the reunification of the Korean peninsula. The international community must proactively cooperate to support Korean reunification.”In 2012, political leaders in the U.S., Japan, China, and Russia were newly elected. It was the same for North and South Korea. These significant changes in leadership will be accompanied by changes in the national leadership, and in turn will have major impact on the political situation of Northeast Asia.

Northeast Asian Peace is a critical issue for the entire world that has tremendous implications on not only security and peacekeeping, but for the global economy.

Leaders from different levels convened at GPC Atlanta agreed, “The ultimate resolution to tensions in Northeast Asia is the reunification of the Korean peninsula. The international community must proactively cooperate to support Korean reunification.” They acknowledged that Korean reunification is an issue that has significance not only to Northeast Asia but the world. Dr. Moon noted in his keynote address that North Korea and the Middle East have military ties. The record breaking U.S. deficit is fueled by enormous government spending to prevent nuclear proliferation and provocation.

Experts from various fields were impressed with Dr. Moon’s keynote address that connected three critical challenges: interfaith cooperation for peace, the need for a hemispheric great awakening in North and South America and Korean Unification. One participant commented, “This is an entirely new approach.”

Kyungnam University Emeritus Professor Tae Hwan Kwak hosted a session on the reunification of Korean peninsula with scholars representing U.S., Japan, China, Russia and Korean perspectives.

In 2012, Dr. Moon and GPF-Korea launched the “Korea United Campaign”. The campaign is an integrated movement of grassroots and high level campaigns that connects reunification to everyday practice. The initiative has brought together 400 civic organizations to develop a shared vision for a united Korea. In his keynote at GPC Atlanta, Dr. Moon particularly emphasized the importance of a grassroots driven movement for unification. During the conference, Kyungnam University Emeritus Professor Tae Hwan Kwak hosted a session on reunification of Korean peninsula. Scholars representing the U.S., Japan, Russia, and China discussed each nation’s view and role for Korean unification.

GPC 2012 also attracted renowned international policy research institutions such as Brookings Institution and the Heritage Foundation. The Carter Center co-hosted the Americas Summit, the King Center held a special session on the

Legacy of Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement, and the Points of Light Foundation, held special sessions on volunteerism and social entrepreneurship. Dr. Douglas Johnston, America’s premier expert in religion and diplomacy, gave a particularly interesting presentation.

GPC Atlanta 2012 concluded that world peace cannot be achieved without considering humanity’s fundamental values. It called on leaders in every sector of moral principles and values to lead a spiritual great awakening. GPC 2013 will be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the multi-cultural, inter-religious center of Asia.

Read the 1st segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/koreas-leading-magazine-shing-donga-covers-global-peace-convention-2012/

Read the 2nd segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/christianity-and-islam-join-hands-peace-koreas-leading-magazine-shing-donga-gpc-2012-feature-part-2-2/

Read the 3rd segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/all-lights-village-movement-most-popular-gpc-2012-shin-dong-a-special-report/

See also Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon’s speech at the Opening Plenary of the Global Peace Convention 2012 in Atlanta.

The post “Unification of North and South Korea is central to world peace”; Korea’s leading magazine, Shin Dong-A GPC 2012 report, part 4 appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Korea’s leading magazine Shin Dong-A, published a ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 in its New Year edition.The third section reported the historic launching of the Latin American Presidential Mission under the names of 19 former heads of state from Latin America. The January issue also ran the announcement of  Park Geun-hye’s presidential win, first woman president of the Republic of Korea.

See the original article in Korean.

Below is the unofficial English translation.

The Atlanta Declaration 2012 launched the Latin American Presidential Mission to promote hemispheric cooperation with North and South America under the names of 19 former heads of state.

GPC Atlanta 2012 Presents a New Paradigm for Global Peace

By Young Chul Choi ftdog@donga.com
Atlanta, Georgia, United States

Former Heads of State from North and South America Promote a Vision of Hemispheric Cooperation for Mutual Prosperity

During GPC Atlanta, 10 former Heads of State from 8 South American countries and delegations from 40-nations convened to launch a mission committed to a hemispheric Great Awakening in North and South America. An additional 8 former Heads of State from South America, who were not present, sent video messages of support. Together they launched a historic declaration, the Atlanta Declaration for Hemispheric Cooperation, resolving to use their past experience and leadership to work for the mutual prosperity of North and South America.

Based on its substantial Christian foundation, the American hemisphere has a common ethic.  However, North and South have walked disparate paths, harboring a protracted love-and-hate relationship. For example, the phrase ‘Down with American Imperialism’ became popular when anti-U.S. sentiments in South America peaked during the Falklands Wars, a territorial dispute between Argentina and the United Kingdom (U.K.) when the U.S. sided with the U.K.

Over the past decade, vast numbers of Latin Americans have crossed the border into the United States to pursue the “American Dream”. Today, the Hispanic population in the U.S. has surpassed Blacks to become the largest minority. No longer can it be politically and economically disregarded. Resolving the discrimination and contempt towards the Hispanic population is critical to resolving the problem between North and South America.

The United States can no longer ignore the importance of Latin America. As the economic recession in the United States continues since the financial crisis in 2008, the fast-growing Latin American economic region could offer a way forward. Circumstances have prepared North and South America to redefine their relationship and secure peace and equality in the American hemisphere. In his keynote address at the GPC opening plenary, Dr. Moon called for a Hemispheric Great Awakening through North and South America based on a consensus of common spiritual values.   Dr. Moon noted, “North and South America have shared values that emerge from their common Christian heritage. Cooperation and unity should be based on these universal principles. This is how the western hemisphere can recover its moral authority and make positive impact around the world.”

Over the past two years, GPF in Latin America has promoted moral and innovative leadership and increased regional and hemispheric cooperation based on shared values. The results are reflected in two significant declarations, the Asuncion Declaration issued during the 2010 Global Peace Leadership Conference in Paraguay and the Brasilia Declaration pronounced in Brazil during the 2011 Global Peace Leadership Conference.  The Americas Summit commenced at The Carter Center and was integrated within GPC Atlanta. The summit sought to discover avenues for improved hemispheric relations based on shared values and common challenges for lasting peace and mutual prosperity for North and South America..

“the unity and integration of the Americas must be based on the recognition and respect of unique national and cultural identities, and that efforts should be directed at obtaining not personal advantages but a common advantage.” ~Atlanta Declaration for Hemispheric Cooperation The summit concluded with the establishment of the Latin American Presidential Mission. The declaration was published in the name of 19 former presidents. Built upon the recognition of the vision of “One Family Under God”, it affirms, “that the unity and integration of the Americas must be based on the recognition and respect of unique national and cultural identities, and that efforts should be directed at obtaining not personal advantages but a common advantage.”

Former Guatemalan president Vinicio Cerezo said, ”A leader has to have a special character, with thought and skill, but also deep moral conviction to follow a path marked by his principles.” He added, “In international relations and politics, the leader of each nation should not abandon his ethical values under any circumstances.”

 “The commitment of the United States is to the belief that fairness, not force should lie at the heart of our dealings with the nations of the world. If any agreement is to last, it must serve the best interest of both nations.” ~Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter

Dr. Jennifer McCoy, director of the Carter Center’s Americas Program, stressed ethics among nations quoting former President Jimmy Carter. “The commitment of the United States is to the belief that fairness, not force should lie at the heart of our dealings with the nations of the world. If any agreement is to last, it must serve the best interest of both nations.” Meanwhile, business leaders from around the world participated in the Global Peace Business Forum to discuss how trade and commerce can generate economic prosperity in North and South America, Africa, and the Iraq-Kurdish region. They agreed that the crisis of modern capitalism rooted in corruption and greed can be resolved through moral values and principles in business. Dr. Manu Chandaria, CEO of one of Africa’s largest businesses, Comcraft Group, received resounding applause when he said, “To offer economic opportunity to Africa is the realistic means to establishing world peace.”.

See all four sections of Shin Dong-A feature on GPC 2012.

The post "Hemispheric Cooperation for Mutual Prosperity" – Shin Dong-A feature report on the Americas Summit 2012 – part 3 appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Korea’s leading magazine Shin Dong-A, published a ten page feature of Global Peace Convention Atlanta 2012 in its New Years edition. The second segment of the article highlights the Muslim and Christian dialogue at GPC 2012 pushing for interfaith cooperation for regional peace.

Shin Dong-A, a leading monthly magazine in Korea’s feature on GPC Atlanta 2012 highlighted Muslim and Christian interfaith deliberations.

See the original article in Korean.

Below is the unofficial English translation:

GPC Atlanta 2012 Presents a New Paradigm for Global Peace

By Young Chul Choi ftdog@donga.com

Atlanta, Georgia, United States –

Christianity and Islam join hands.

Global Peace Foundation (GPF) chair, Dr. Hyun Jin Moon said in his keynote address, “America’s true strength lies in its moral authority as a nation rooted in spiritual principles and values which has championed human rights and freedoms at home and abroad.” These principles, he said, are enshrined in the American Declaration of Independence, making America “a nation with the aspiration to become ‘one nation under God.’” He recounted the United States’ contribution to the world over the past century, from “challenging European colonial imperialism,” to “creating international assemblies to foster peace through dialogue and reason,” resulting in The League of Nations after the First World War, and the United Nations after the Second World War. During the Cold War “American leadership, and faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, paved the way for the eventual collapse of totalitarian, communist regimes around the world.”

“This moment may prove to be a historic crossroads, for the United States, and for the world,” Dr. Moon noted. “The time is ripe for a new spiritual awakening that galvanizes the community of righteous and faithful citizens around universal principles and shared values, not just in the U.S. but throughout the Western hemisphere and the world.”

Dr. Moon expounded on the significance of Atlanta, Georgia as the host city for GPC 2012, “a place rich with history, faith, and more importantly the center of the American Civil Rights Movement.” Atlanta is also where Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife have brought important focus to the work of  Habitat for Humanity.  Atlanta is also home to the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Non-Violent Change (The King Center) and The Carter Presidential Center, both co-sponsors and participants of GPC Atlanta 2012.

Dr. Moon considers the civil rights movement to be “not just as a struggle for civil rights but as America’s ‘Great Awakening’ of the 20th century.”

The youngest daughter of Dr. King and King Center CEO, Bernice A. King, said, “I don’t characterize my father as a civil rights leader, I characterize him first and foremost as a spiritual leader, as a man of God, as a moral leader who just happened to impact civil and human rights.” Dr. King’s famous, “I have a dream” speech, alludes to the self-evident truths stipulated in the Declaration of Independence, that “all men were created equal.”

Ms. King opened her address saying, “I earnestly believe that if my father were living today, his heart would be warmed by the work of this great organization around the world. And in fact, I believe without a shadow of a doubt, he would be a part of your group.“ She also called for a New Great Awakening, a “radical revolution of values”, to secure peace.

The complex situation of the Middle East, including the recent military confrontation between Israel and Palestine, the prolonged civil war in Syria that began during the regional movement for democracy, show that military and diplomatic solutions to peace have reached their limit. America has poured billions into military resources for peace in the Middle East and is now facing an economic crisis.

Shin Dong-A acknowledged the contributions Bernice A. King, CEO of The King Center, director of the Carter Center’s Americas Program, Jennifer McCoy, and Georgia State Senator, Jason Carter, grandson to former U.S. president Jimmy Carter.

Middle East experts and leaders agree, ”Decades of failures to resolve the problems of the Middle East show the limitation of Track-1 diplomacy.” Track-1 diplomacy is a government-centered approach that seeks to resolve disputes through political and economic negotiations and military force. The alternative, Track-2 diplomacy, seeks solutions through non-military means, such as through spiritual and religious approaches. Dr. Moon said, “For peace to be established there must be reconciliation. But reconciliation cannot be forced; it has to occur naturally from the heart. It is logical that alternative approaches to peace-building are becoming more appealing.”

Civil society, particularly religious leaders who are familiar with the spiritual dimension of humanity, are critical parts of effectively implementing this new approach, namely Track-2 diplomacy, for peace and reconciliation in heavily disputed areas. Influential Muslim leaders and Western Christian leaders who convened at GPC Atlanta, all emphasized the need for interfaith cooperation.

 Dr. Said of Nahdlatul Ulama, the largest Islamic group in Indonesia with 60 million members worldwide, said, “The possibility of reconciliation between the Islamic world and the Western world can be found in moderated Islamic forces that can bring change to extremist Islamic groups that are propagating terrorism.” Rev. Robert A. Schuller commented, “Western Christian leaders should move beyond the limitations of  their Christian world-view and accept their central responsibility – to practice universal values in the public square.” They both concluded that a fundamental spiritual paradigm shift is needed to prevent a clash of civilizations.

The Middle East is divided; tensions are escalating along religious, racial and cultural differences. GPC 2012 has been instrumental in developing solutions. If we can continue such endeavors, we can mitigate and ultimately end all conflicts. Minister of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, Asmat Khalid For a number of years, GPF has worked together with influential Muslim leaders in Indonesia and Malaysia to build consensus around universally shared values. GPF was also a part of launching the Coalition for American Renewal, calling faiths to their common mission to awaken the American spirit and character, and work inter-religiously. Participating at GPC 2012 from Islam, were the prominent Muslim organization, Nahdlatul Ulama and the ministerial delegation from the Iraq Kurdistan Regional Government, and from Christianity, Rev. Robert A. Schuller from the United States, and Bishop Manoel Ferreira of the Assemblies of God, the largest Christian denomination in Brazil. All agreed that the profound and common mission of religions leaders is to secure peace through inter-religious cooperation.

Muslim and Christian leaders agreed that the vision captured in the phrase “One Family under God” and promoted through the interfaith work of GPF and Dr. Moon, is the vision needed resolve religious and regional conflicts. They committed to do their best to accomplish this vision, affirming that “One Family under God” is the common aspiration of all religions that expounds universal values and is the only means through which global peace can be attained.

Minister of Education of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq, Asmat Khalid said, “The Middle East is divided; tensions are escalating along religious, racial and cultural differences. GPC 2012 has been instrumental in developing solutions. If we can continue such endeavors, we can mitigate and ultimately end all conflicts. The experience of the Korean Zaitoon unit in Iraq will attest that we Kurds are fundamentally peace loving people.”

Read the 1st segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/koreas-leading-magazine-shing-donga-covers-global-peace-convention-2012/

Read the 3rd segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/all-lights-village-movement-most-popular-gpc-2012-shin-dong-a-special-report/

Read the 4th segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/unification-north-south-korea-key-world-peace-koreas-leading-magazine-shing-dongas-gpc-2012-report-part-3-2/

See also Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon’s speech at the Opening Plenary of the Global Peace Convention 2012 in Atlanta.

The post “Christianity and Islam join hands.” Korea’s leading magazine, Shin Dong-A, GPC 2012 feature – part 2 appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.

Korea’s leading magazine Shin Dong-A, published a ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 in its New Year edition. The January issue also ran the announcement of  Park Geun-hye’s presidential win, making her the first woman president of the Republic of Korea.

Shin Dong-A, a leading monthly magazine in Korea, published a feature article on GPC Atlanta 2012 in its New Year edition.

See the original article in Korean.

Below is the unofficial English translation of the first segment of the article.

GPC Atlanta 2012 Presents a New Paradigm for Global Peace

By Young Chul Choi ftdog@donga.com

Atlanta, Georgia, United States –

“Global peace will come through a Great Spiritual Awakening based on the vision that all humanity is One Family Under God !”

Imagine a day when Israelis and Palestinians hold hands and declare the end of war, when the Korean peninsula is united and the DMZ erased, when democratic governments emerge in the Middle East and Africa and gunpowder smoke vanishes from the region… Imagine the day when struggles between nations, races, and, religions around the world disappear, when there are no more refugees, when poverty is ended, when military forces are dismantled, and all humanity is one family under God….

It sounds like a dream. But significant steps have been made to make these dreams a reality. An international conference was held In Atlanta, Georgia, considered the “Mecca” of the American Civil Rights Movement, addressing the moral and innovative leadership needed to establish peace transcending religious and cultural differences.

800 leaders from 40 nations, including 10 former heads of states, convened for the Global Peace Convention 2012 in Atlanta. Held from November 29 to December 2, the convention presented a new paradigm for global peace. The conference is considered the world’s largest international and high-level conference hosted by a civic organization.

Moral Innovative Leadership

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center), The Carter Presidential Center, and the international service and volunteer organization, Points of Lights Institute, c0-hosted and participated in the convention. In addition, 10 former presidents of 8 Latin American nations, as well as delegations from global hot-spots like the Kurdistan Regional Government, the Nigerian government, and the Kenyan government attended the convention.

The Global Peace Convention is an annual international conference hosted by the Global Peace Foundation (GPF), a non-profit, civic organization chaired by Dr. Hyun Jin Moon, that is convened by business, political, civil society and religious leaders, scholars, and media experts from across the globe to explore solutions and generate proposals and policies for world peace. GPC Atlanta 2012 is the fourth in the series that began in 2009 with GPC Philippines in Manila, GPC Kenya in Nairobi in 2010, and GPC Seoul in Korea in 2011.
The world needs a next Great Spiritual Awakening for the 21 century in order to create world peace that transcends current disputes and struggles.
GPF is a global civic organization that is working towards the UN Millennium Goals through ongoing community driven sustainable development programs in emerging countries, and a growing global network of experts and partners from various fields. The Washington D.C.-based organization was founded in 2007 and is chartered in 22 nations. Under the vision of “One Family under God” GPF programs cultivate reconciliation, mutual respect, harmony and cooperation. Through partnerships with numerous organizations around the world, GPF is a spearheading inter-cultural and inter-religious cooperation, strengthening the family and society, and promoting a culture of service and peace.

The theme of GPC Atlanta 2012 was: “Moral and Innovative Leadership: Building Healthy Families, Ethical Societies and a Global Culture of Peace.” The conference underlined the importance of leadership based on moral principles and innovation in all areas: public and private sectors, civil society and non-profit, for an integrated effort for peace.

The key tracks included building peace in the Middle East, greater hemispheric cooperation in the Americas based on common principles and values, peace through the reunification of the Korean peninsula, and interfaith reconciliation and cooperation. Participants agreed that the ideals described in the American Declaration of Independence – that responsible participation of citizens to make a free, ethical, and righteous society – is what made America the mightiest country in the world. They also concluded that, based on these principles,the world needs a next Great Spiritual Awakening for the 21 century in order to create world peace that transcends current disputes and struggles. The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self–evident, that all men are created equal,” The founding principles of America eventually enabled the United States to repeal slavery.

Read the 2nd segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/christianity-and-islam-join-hands-peace-koreas-leading-magazine-shing-donga-gpc-2012-feature-part-2-2/

Read the 3rd segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/all-lights-village-movement-most-popular-gpc-2012-shin-dong-a-special-report/

Read the 4th segment of Shin Dong-A‘s ten page feature of GPC Atlanta 2012 at: http://www.hyunjinmoon.com/unification-north-south-korea-key-world-peace-koreas-leading-magazine-shing-dongas-gpc-2012-report-part-3-2/

See also Dr. Hyun Jin Preston Moon’s speech at the Opening Plenary of the Global Peace Convention 2012 in Atlanta.

The post Korea’s Leading Magazine Shin Dong-A covers Global Peace Convention 2012 appeared first on Hyun Jin Preston Moon.