International Day of Peace

     September 21^st is the International Day of Peace (or World Peace Day). It was set by the UN in 1982 as a purpose to dedicate to world peace and end of war and violence. In the beginning of the celebration, the Peace Bell which is casted from coins from all around the world is rung at UN Headquarters which is in New York. Last year, it was dedicated by the UN Secretary-General to peace education. This year, the theme is the “Right of Peoples to Peace”. It is a 30^th anniversary that offers a unique opportunity to reaffirm the United Nations commitment to the purposes and principles upon which the Organization was founded. The Declaration on the Right of Peoples to Peace recognizes that the promotion of peace is vital for the full enjoyment of all human rights.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_of_Peace

Photo source: http://www.un.org/en/events/peaceday/2014/sgmessage_countdown.shtml

Käthe Schmidt Kollwitz

     Some of you might know Käthe Kollwitz. She was a German painter, printmaker, and sculptor. Her art work was eloquent and searing account of human condition and tragedy of war. She lost her son in a battle and spoke for all mothers who have lost their sons. She used her talents for standing against war, “Genius can probably run on ahead and seek out new ways. But the good artists who follow after genius-and I count myself among these-have to restore the lost connection once more,” “It is my duty to voice the suffering of men, the never-ending sufferings heaped mountain high.” 

     At first, when I saw her piece of work and quotes, I thought she was one of the people who wants peace and end the war, but before that, she was a mother. One of her quote, “while I drew, and wept along with the terrified children I was drawing, I really felt the burden I am bearing. I felt that I have no right to withdraw from the responsibility of being an advocate,” touched my heart deeply. People who were fighting in a battlefield isn’t a president or politicians, it is father, brother, and son of ours.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C3%A4the_Kollwitz

Photo source: http://angelikapiwowarczyk.com/stealing-from-kathe-kollwitz/

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/K%C3%A4the_Kollwitz

We do not want war!

     What if the world ends? If so, how will it end? There are many movies or books, articles about the end of the world. There are lots of hypothesis about how will it end. Some say it will end with pollution, some say with war, some on the other hand say it will happen with Apes. There was a movie about apes in the year 1968, ‘Planet of The Apes’. In the movie, the story is about humans and apes that try to live together and be exist among others. But from the greed and desire from the people, suddenly the peace among two species corrupted. This movie has total 5 series, and it was remade by Rupert Wyatt in the year of 2011. The first series was called ‘Rise of the Planet of the Apes’. And after 2 years, the second series ‘Dawn of the Planet of the Apes’ was released in the theaters. The story is about how Apes and the humans try to achieve peace together again. Even in the ape’s world, peace is what they want because that is the key to live and to survive with others. So the leader of the Ape’s named ‘Caesar’ tries to help the humans to try to maintain peace and make a world with it, but something goes out wrong.

     This is a video clip in the movie where Caesar comes to the human land and clams that they do not want war, so hope that they live in peace. What we have to think about is that, no one wants war. Even the animal and the earth wouldn’t want it either. Because this is an SF movie, the Apes can talk, so they can express their feelings, and speaks out they do not want war. What if in the real life animals can talk? Ask them if they want war too. No creature, not even one insect will say yes.

     In the movie there are many scene that tells us, want we have to do in real life. To speak short, we must love, trust others and give opportunities to understand and know the real parts of others. I do not want war. Do you? Since we all do not want war, and dislike it to happen, can’t we live a life that doesn’t have war?

Three ways to maintain peace with the people

     It is important to achieve peace to the world but maintaining peace with our loving people is also important. How do you maintain peace with people around you?

      A very famous Korean nun, Lee Hae-In, taught three ways to maintain peace with the people:

One, when you want to do something, say “may I do this?”
Two, when you got a hand from someone, say “Thank you”
Three, when you made a mistake or did something wrong, say “I’m sorry”

      These are very simple words and actually we already know how to use them but difficult to do so since we are too close to our family and friends to say things like this. Some people think saying hello, sorry, or I love you to family and is awkward. Even I feel awkward to say that. However, I started to express my love to family after the sink of Sewol ferry. I remember a moving and heartbreaking message from a teenage girl sending to her parents during the sink. Life is not long and there is not much time to love. It needs courage but once you get used to it you will recognize how fool you were for not expressing love before. Have courage and start today!

Photo source:http://fotos.starmedia.com/2013/05/significado-del-dia-de-la-familia-542578.html

The relationship between rain and flower

     Yeah ~ Luckily, I picked up a very beautiful, pink color flower on my way to a library.

It seemed more beautiful than last time. Thanks to the rain today. And I came up with my idea of the relationship between Rain and Flower. They are absolutely essential, you know, each other.

 

     Then, how about people to people and country to country?

 

     What do they need for living peacefully just as rain and flower?

 

     People and country relationship is like rain and flower; one cannot exist when another does not exist. But people don’t seem to realize this fact. It is time for people to recognize how the two are deeply related and influence each other.




Photo source:http://halfhandau.deviantart.com/art/Rain-on-a-Hebe-flower-306295773

Your words express your heart and mind

 

     There is a person who looks like he is friendly and kind sitting in the subway. And on the other side, there is a person who looks like he doesn’t know what a word kind is and think only for himself. If you just got on the subway and there are only two seats beside these people, who will you sit beside? Well, the answer may differ with personalities but almost everyone will choose the seat next to the person who looks kind.

     This is like everyone who communicates in the society. The first appearance is what people think of others and this is the only way. Actually this is the only way to know the person for the first time. But is does the appearance tell who is the person is? Well, just the side of them, yes, but for the whole person, no. If you talk to the person and listen to what he says, you will be surprised. Not all who have a smile in their face have a good personality but who appears when you talk to them. What meets the eye is not all what you can see. Some things, you have to learn from heart and feel them with it. This way, you can know the true meaning and the truth about others.

     Seeing is not everything. To understand and get to know a real person is with their words. Even if a child is talking about the truth, do we have to judge them by their figure? Even with the youngest or the form that a person is making must not be the standard. What we have to learn and know is from the words they speak. Have you ever judged a person with the figure he has got? Once you get to know him, you will know that you can’t judge a book by its cover.

Picture sourse: http://blog.naver.com/dreamhope_7/40108856453

A humanist journalist, Kim Young-Mi

     For those who want to have a career in the field of media, I want to ask you what kind of journalist do you want to be? Just shooting (writing) about something entertaining? Or report something that could influence the world in good ways? Here is a good role model of a good journalist: Kim Young-Mi. she is a Korean journalist who went to troubled regions for 15 years and reported about the life of citizens in that region. She said, “I wanted to let people know about the lives of the citizens who are the victims of the war, and make people feel this is not someone else’s business but it is our duty to help them.” she also experienced many revolutions such as the Egyptian Revolution, Yemeni revolution, and Syrian civil war. “The most interesting thing about these revolutions was women started the revolution. Of course in Islamic nations, women’s position is very low but it wasn’t the religion that made them move but was the children who had to starve. Seeing women’s protest, men then joined them for demonstration. Women’s mother’s mind was the fastest way to achieve peace. They became one with their mother’s heart in order to protect the lives.” She was deeply inspired by this and now lectures in the seminar about the way to achieve peace to the nation with the power of mother’s heart.

     In the public, she is famously known as a true journalist who helped to rescue the kidnapped people by the pirates of Somalia and never stopped reporting the realities of troubled regions in Afghanistan and Iraq.

     The peace advocate, Man-Hee Lee also said about the importance of the media and explained how media has the great power to influence the world. The media could change the world into peace but only the “true journalists” can. Now it’s your turn! What do you say? 

Photo Source:http://www.daqcasting.com/6310

                         http://www.sisapress.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=41253

Peaceful Quotes

When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.

-Jimi Hendrix

Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.

-Albert Einstein

It isn't enough to talk about peace. One must believe in it. And it isn't enough to believe in it. One must work at it.

-Eleanor Roosevelt

Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.

-John F. Kennedy

We are gathering with love and now, we will work to achieve world peace with peaceful way. We won't let war happen again in our generation and forever.

'Peacemaker' Logo

      Today, I saw a girl, wearing a nice hat, walking on the road. On her hat, there was a 'Peacemaker' logo and it held my attention. It's was interesting, so when I got home, I searched that brand on internet. I figured out that 'Peacemaker' brand is getting popular these day in some places. Maybe,  also in my town ? ^^

     The good point that I think about 'Peacemaker' brand is that it makes people to think about 'Peace' and make them be like  'Peacemakers'.

Isn't it brilliant enough to change the world?

2014, The year of Blue Horse

     Do you know about Chinese Zodiac Signs? It is 12 animal signs to predict people’s fortune. The twelve animals are rat, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, chicken, dog and pig.

     According to Chinese Zodiac, this year is the Blue Horse year. Horse is a symbol of traveling and a sign of speedy success. Horses like to compete and pursue freedom, passion and leadership so this year, people will be busy trying to achieve their goal. Since we are entering second half of the year, let’s think about what we did for the first half. When I read about a column of the Blue Horse year, I was amazed because I was very busy comparing to last year. Believe it or not, everyone around me is living busier than the previous year. But just being busy does not mean it will lead to achieve your goal. One day, something suddenly came up on my mind and thought ‘What am I doing this for?’ Sometimes, you lost your way but working purposelessly. I feel a sense of emptiness working without a purpose. Moreover, just living for yourself will never make your life happier. Sometimes, look around you and see your loved ones. Aren’t they waiting for a warm helping hand or a warm hug? Don’t look to yourself but look to others too:)

Reference: http://www.chinesenewyearin.com/2014-year-of-the-horse/year-of-the-horse-2014/

Photo source:http://gaiaastrology.com/moon-magic/

"July" means second half of an year

     The time has flied in the twinkling of an eye like January to June of 2014. I think you already noticed that it's far faster than we sense.

     Have you been achieving the goals you set in the beginning of 2014 at the same time ? 

Me ? I'm trying to do my best so far, it's not easy though.

     "Well begun is half done" as the saying goes. Which tells us A good beginning is very important to that extent. Meanwhile, If there is Beginning, there must be End. And we welcoming in July have to think of the end as well as Beginning 

     Let's make every effort to reach our goals with resolve and patience while having a hope of the nice results. It is right Second Half of 2014.

The effect of sports

     What’s the big news nowadays? There were many sad news about Sae Wol Ho and kidnap in Nigeria. However, I hear one exciting news-World Cup! Like an oasis from the desert, everyone is now focused on World Cup. Even my friends woke up early in the morning to watch it.

     Speaking of World Cup, one of my Korean friend told me about 2002 World Cup in Korea. It was probably the most passionate and patriotic moment at that time because the Korean soccer team moved up to the semifinals. It was a historical moments for Korean people. Everyone went outside cheered “대한민국!”, clapped, and sang all night. Whenever Korean team scored, everyone hugged each other even with strangers. At that time, the crime percentage got 30% lower than previous year.

<Korean people gathered in City Hall>

     From this, I found out sports may have effects of uniting people together. It is amazing how sports moved people’s mind and made people get together. I thought this was more like a peace festival. No hatred, no war, no tears but love, passion, and joy.

Photo source: http://yoonch.tistory.com/?page=6

                         http://hallyumedia.blogspot.kr/2011/02/2002-world-cup.html