End of conflict

 50 days of battle between Palestine and Israel turned into indefinite ceasefire. Still in uneasy state with many victims, Gaza district could have time of peace and recovering. About 1,700 people of Palestine and 69 people of Israel died. Especially, many civilians were included among the victim and that makes us more heartbreaking. 

 More time and effort is need to make peace in Gaza. But I think that through this ceasefire, peace came to us one more step. For preventing more victims from another conflict, No more war should be happen in Gaza. Inhabitant in Gaza also have a right to enjoy peace. I hope continuous peace in Gaza district. 

DMZ

 The 38th parallel was created after the end of the Second World War when the U.S. and the Soviet Union divided the Korean Peninsula for their military stationing each in South and North Korea. Later, with the conclusion of an armistice formally ending the Korean War, this military line was transformed and hardened into today's Demilitarized Zone(DMZ).

 DMZ means many thing to us. It remind us of painful memory of Korean war which was unforgettable fratricidal tragedy making us solemnly. And it is ecologically important. Priceless resources are being preserved, and rare animals such as Nemorhaedus goral raddeanus(kind of sheep) live in there. So DMZ is like a big natural ecological park

 Many people think that Korean war was over. But it is not termination but ceasefire. There is still peril of recurrence. So we should achieve peace as soon as possible. It is for world peace and also for separated families. I hope that all people think of DMZ as a symbol of restoration of peace and a priceless heritage.

Reference : http://www.korea-dmz.com/en/s/scm_main_en.asp

Song of unity

 There is a song, which is related to unity of the Korea. Maybe most Korean know this song because we learn this at Elementary school. Sometimes, I sing this song inwardly, and think of the unity of the Korean peninsula

 For world peace, I think the unity of the Korean peninsula should come first and I hope it from my heart like the lyric of this song.

Our hope

Our hope is unity of the Korea

Even in our dream, we hope for that.

Unity comes from our sincere heart.

Make this hope to real

Save our nation by being the one.

Restore our nation through unity

Come here unity, he hope from heart

Come here unity.

Peace symbol

  There are many symbols of peace such as dove, olive branch and broken rifle. And there is another symbol of which the shape is circle. Maybe you've seen the peace symbol which looks like a leg of bird which is surrounded by circle. As its means is peace, many people use it for peace-hoping. And as its design is simple, it is widely being used for design of clothes, bags and accessory. But not many knows about its meaning.

 It was originally designed by Gerald Holtom. He made it for 'Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament'.

It is a combination of two semaphore signals for the letters "N" and "D" standing for "nuclear disarmament". "N" is two oblique lines which is downward. and "D" is vertical line.

 It was used in Anti-war movement in Vietnam and after that it spread to world as a symbol of peace.

 I also like this symbol as a peace-lover and if you also love peace, you need to know the origin of the symbol, I think:)   

Let's make a paper dove!

This time let's make a paper dove which is a symbol of peace.

 1. Fold in half

 2. Fold and unfold horizontally.

 3. Fold and make a line that divide into three perpendicularly.

 4. Unfold the tip and and make a square

 which the center is middle of back orange part.

 5. Fold in half.

 6. Fold it to top obliquely. Left part will be a head of dove :)

 7. Unfold the left part and also the opposite site.

8. Fold the head and tail like the picture.

And there is a hidden feature!

If you pull the head and tail together, you could see the dove flying. 

Have fun and think of peace :D

Historical slip of the tongue

 Do you know how Germany achieve unification? Many people think that it is absorbing unification. But, there is funny story that you can't imagine.

 At the end of 1980, there were so many people who escape Eastern Germany via Austria. So government of Eastern Germany made new trip amendment which made going trip to Western Germany easily. This amendment was being planed to start next day at 4 Pm. But spokesman Günter Shaboski made a mistake. He told to press that the amendment starts from now. So all the reporter think that border becomes open. So at that night, many people in Eastern Germany went beyond the wall. Finally 3% of Eastern Germany people moved to Western Germany. After this incident, unification was achieved.

 Reading this incident, I think that unification can be achieved not that difficult like Germany. So, don't think peace is just a dream. It can be real by not only a big or special event but also small thing. Peace is near to us!

Peacemaking song

 Maybe you've heard the song 'Heal the world' sung by Michael Jackson at least once. Michael Jackson was one of the most popular singer in the world and many people know and sing his songs. During his life time, he hoped the world peace. So he made the song to show his thought of the world peace. He said to his fan that he was proud of composing 'Heal the world'.

Still there are many social, religious dispute and continuous anti-peace incident in this world. So many people want the world peace nowadays. There are many ways of expressing and practicing peace. I think that singing a peace song could be one of that. So why don't we sing a peacemaking song together, and make one more step closer to the finish line of the world peace?

Heal the world - Michael Jackson

There’s a place in your heart

And I know that it is love

And this place could be much

Brighter than tomorrow

And if you really try

You’ll find there’s no need to cry

In this place you’ll feel

There’s no hurt or sorrow

There are ways to get there

If you care enough for the living

Make a little space

Make a better place

Heal the world

Make it a better place

For you and for me

And the entire human race

There are people dying

If you care enough for the living

Make a better place

For you and for me

SAY NO TO RACISM

 Have you heard about the campaign 'Say no to racism'? It is the campaign to banish the racism and it was the title of the '2014 Brazil FIFA World Cup'. In sports games, it is very sensitive thing. And it is strictly punished when someone expressed racism related action or word.

 For example, at LIGA BBVA the Spain soccer league, Daniel Alves(FC Barcelona) suffered racial discrimination. Fan of opponent team, threw a banana that means 'a monkey'. This incident spread to SNS(Social Networking Service) widely and many people criticized about that.

  The purpose of sport is gathering our different mind and making peace over the conflict including racism. So, I think that committing racism in sports games means breaking the peace. When you play sport, keep this in mind and let's think about the spirit of sport and making peace together. World peace could be start by a little thing that we didn't think about.

Korea's beloved poet, Yoon Dong-ju

Prologue

Until the day I die
I long to have no speck of shame
when I gaze up toward heaven,
so I have tormented myself,
even when the wind stirs the leaves.
With a heart that sings the stars,
I will love all dying things.
And I will walk the way
that has been given to me.

Tonight, again, the wind brushes the stars.

-by Yoon Dong-ju

     A Korean poet, Yoon Dong-ju is the most beloved poet by Koreans. He was also an independence activist who had suffered and died in Japanese prison. This poet, however, shows his weakness and fear towards death. At this time, most of his companions were put to jail or sentenced to death for the independence movement. Yoon Dong-ju was the only one who survived and did not made a move while they were suffering. But in the end, he did follow the path of his companions and became an everlasting hero to Koreans. His name will be honored forever. I show my respect to his bravery and love for his nation.

Reference: https://jaypsong.wordpress.com/category/yun-dong-ju/

Photo source: http://www.worldyannews.com/news/quickViewArticleView.html?idxno=2150

Watch your thoughts!

 “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habit. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”

-Lao Tzu

     If my mind is good, everything looks good. But when my mind is evil, everything looks evil. Likewise, our thoughts deeply influence our minds and body. You might wonder, how could our thoughts also influence our body? I will tell you an interesting thing. Think of lemon and imagine yourself eating that lemon. Do you feel your mouth getting watered? Yes, our thoughts also control our hormones. Another example, if you think of happy thoughts, your body secretes serotonin and dopamine. You got the idea now? According to the quote above, our thoughts change our actions and it leads to habit, and habit makes our character, then it decides our destiny. However, it is not easy to change our habits maybe because our thoughts cannot be changed easily. Do you want to change your destiny? Start by changing your thoughts to positive ways! 

Reference: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/217207-watch-your-thoughts-they-become-words-watch-your-words-they

Peace comes beyond the nationalities

Peace comes beyond the nationalities

It's an article about Mr. Lee appointed as first ambassador of Romani people. When I first saw this article, it was surprising that person with different nationalities become ambassador of other people. It really shows that peace is sharing culture and understanding each other. Working to achieve peace has to be beyond the nationalities and when we all grab our hands for world peace, that is the time we bring about final peace. I hope this be the model to others to make peace within us.

Reference from...

Man Hee Lee appointed first Romani people’s ambassador

http://zambianeye.com/archives/21387

A true noblesse oblige of Korea

     People often (well most of the time) have prejudice to those who are rich as greedy and selfish. Through the history, there weren’t many nobles who have done good for their own nations. However, a very famous ‘noblesse oblige’-a French phrase literally meaning "nobility obliges". It is the concept that nobility extends beyond mere entitlements and requires the person with such status to fulfill social responsibilities, particularly in leadership roles-tells us that there were some nobles who set a good example. 

     Now, I want to talk about a Korean independence activist who showed a good example of ‘noblesse oblige.’ His name is Lee Hwe-young. He is not known well but his achievements to the national independence were great. He persuaded his family and spent all of the family property for the independence. He also participated as independence activist and raised an army for national independence. Even though he became bankrupt and had to suffer from starving, he never regretted. One of his famous quotes were “it is a matter of course to sacrifice for your nation,” “even after my death, my soul will stay in this earth and see my nation’s independence.” His love for nation is so touching that my eyes were burst into tears. Not only the nobles but we should all learn from him: his love for nation. 

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

Photo source: http://www.newdaily.co.kr/news/article.html?no=178588

The Planet of the Apes: Coexistence, peace, and trust

     Can the men and the apes live in peace? Is it really the problem of their coexistence? Does one species have to disappear in order to live in peace? If you have seen this movie you will answer, “No.” It is not about their existence but it is about greed and misunderstanding, and it resembled more like our world today. Humans have been destroying and conquering others by war for their own benefits. Even still some countries having war. 

     In my opinion, the main theme in the movie was “trust” and “peace.” 

Every time, Caesar consistently used the word “trust.” Trusting others, especially the enemies, is a difficult task. If you were Caesar, can you help your enemy who are in need? When the enemies are in need, would you prefer to have peace with them or conquer them? 

     The other ape called Koba was full of hatred towards human because he was tortured by human and only had painful memories from human. I understand how he feels but putting the saddle on the wrong horse is just making himself a tyrant. Everyone has a memory like Koba’s, but we can choose either peace or war, to be a peacemaker or a tyrant. Which one will you choose? 

Photo source:http://www.chicagonow.com/hammervision/2014/07/hammering-out-dawn-of-the-planet-of-the-apes/

Actions speak louder than words

Actions speak louder than words

Actions speak louder than words'. Most of us may have heard of this proverb. It is one of the famous proverb showing that what we do is more important than just saying things. I want to apply this proverb to achieving peace. There are lots of people who have mentioned about peace. On the other hand, there were also people try in many different way to achieve peace. You can probably think of some people or movements that had bring changes in this world. Most of us, or maybe all of us says we want world peace. However, how many of us are really working or least trying to bring peace? It might seems hard or a thing that only professional people can do, but the answer for this is, no. Only a few people cannot bring world peace in this world. World is not a small house consist of 4 or 5 people. Because there are so many people living in this world, we all have to try hard to achieve our hope, world peace. One person might be hard to make difference, but if we get together, I am sure, we can all live in the peaceful world in the future.