Moo Hyun Choi, a former Korean national snowboarding athlete

☺The person who has been living together with his snowboard for 20 years, former national athlete Moo Hyun Choi.☺

👀 Now he is working step-by-step to achieve his goal as a peace activist. 

I was able to meet him and learn about the reason he began this work of peace.

Moo Hyun Choi

“I am Moo Hyun Choi, a former Korean national snowboarding athlete. It has already been 20 years since I started snowboarding. There are many people who think I am between 30 and 40 years old, but I am actually only 26 years old.”

Moo Hyun Choi

“Through sports, many people can set aside their ideals, their thoughts, and all of those types of things, and with a united passion and heart peace can be achieved when people join in the work of peace as one.”.

Moo Hyun Choi and his colleagues

"My goal is world peace. Our country has gone through many things. From the Japanese Imperialist period, there have been many events such as the Korean war, the democratic uprising and so on. I think that through these things the people worked hard in order to make a difference. They were able to change many things because they put in so much effort to change. Now our youth in their 10s, 20s and 30s are creating programs highlighting hip-hop and rap culture, such as “Show me the Money”, that are being received with great enthusiasm in China, Europe and America. However, there is one homework problem that the youth and citizens of our country have yet to solve, which I believe is unification.

Moving forward, we need to put forth even more efforts to solve this problem on a domestic, national and international level. When war breaks out, it is the young people who lose their lives first. Too much time has already passed. Now is the time for us to speak out. If the youth and the citizens unite as one and raise their voices for peace, then the world will not be able to ignore them. It is impossible to change the course of history with the strength of only one person. However, history can always be changed by people.”

http://www.hwpl.kr/en/news/view/180327283//PassionthatNeverGivesup%E2%80%93thePassionofPeace

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Guatemala, finally met the peace advocate!

      Do you remember from the last posting about the Mayans? I found an interesting fact from my friend from Guatemala that more than half of Guatemalans are the descendants of the Mayans! Some of them preserve the life style of Maya-wear traditional dress and speak indigenous language. The rest of the Guatemalans are Ladinos, mixed Maya-Spanish ancestry).

     Guatemala, the meaning of its name is the “land of tree.” It is where the most populous nation in Central America. Like the meaning of its name, it is heavily fostered and mountainous country. 

     Guatemala has been dreaming about peace in the world for a long time. In the presidential palace, there is a statue called “Palm of Peace.” It is the world’s famous statue which the presidents, politicians, and celebrities from around the world visit and lay the flower in the statue. In 2011, the UN secretary general Ban Ki-Moon was the first Korean citizen to lay the flower in the statue. But this time, the world peace activist Man-Hee Lee visited Guatemala and was invited to the Presidential Palace and laid the flower. It is surprising that a mere private volunteer organization could do all the peace activities for the universe! If I was a president, I would give him all the best awards and honor him as the state guest. Chairman Lee is the one who has done things that presidents or politicians couldn’t do. I hope his work continues until the world peace comes true. 

Reference:http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/guatemala-facts/

Photo source:http://guatemala-thebook.com/

Peace activist, Chairman Lee's idea of peace

     These days, I hear many heart-breaking news. About a month ago, in Korea, more than 200 people were drowned in the sea and they were mostly young teenagers! Everyone was shocked because the captain and some of the attendants just ran away for their lives. Recently, in Nigeria, 300 school girls were kidnapped by the terrorists. People are urging to have peace in this universe. No one wants to hear these kinds of news anymore! We need a hero who can bring a peace to this world.

     From the days of grief, I have begun to get interest in peace activities. Then I found the most active peace advocate, Man-Hee Lee. He is getting the entire spotlight from the media. Recently, he got awarded by Mexican government. On that day, 15 different main broad cast station and press compete to cover Chairman Lee’s story.

     Chairman Lee marked, “like the meaning of the name of Mexico and Veracruz, I believe that peace and blessings will soon be in this land. In order to make world peace in reality, all the leaders and the citizens and people should work together in one accord with modesty and honesty.” He also reiterated, “The real peace is of course including end of war and world being peaceful and harmonious and justice is implanted in the world so that no corruption exist. Therefore, we must not rest to send the message of peace until all people are filled with full of peace and blessing in their hearts. And so that suffering and sadness should be gone in their minds.”

     The reporters who heard his message were deeply touched and praised his works. They all wished the best for Chairman Lee’s peace activities. It is amazing how one man with an age 83 doing all this work! I was also greatly moved. 

A Korean War veteran, Man-Hee Lee

     Korea was a nation where is divided by South and North after the independence in 1945. The North got a military support from the Soviet Union and reinforced the military. On July 25^th 1950, the North Korean army ambushed South Korea. It was a tragic fratricidal war for Koreans. The situation was totally unfavorable for South Korea, but the UN supported South Korea and sent armies. 16 countries including US sent the army. South Korea had a narrow escape and got back some of the region of the Amnok river. However, the war continued for over 3 years. In this war, many young people even students attended as soldiers and sacrificed. Chairman Lee was also a Korean War veteran. He was at the front line of the battle and experienced the bitterness of war, so he made himself a promise to end all the war in the world and stop the sacrifice of young men; and became a peace activist. He erected a memorial stone of declaration of Korea unification at the Unification Observatory and in Imjingak. Every year, he celebrated the Memorial Day in June 25^th and prays for the repose of the soul of the victims. He is a true patriot and a peace lover. He never stops peace activity and service to the nation.

<The memorial stone of the Declaration of Korea Unification>

Peace is coming to us

     How do you think what is a real effort to Achieve something? If you want to have a donut, you need to do some actions to Have It. It can not be a right answer. That's Just a wish for something without any effort. Likewise, acerca World Peace, it can not be Achieved with only a wish or desire. But Here is someone Who Have an effort made for Peace for long time. Man Hee Lee is one of Peace advocates, who is working hard for Peace. Even though he looks old, I've visited a plenty of countries and Given a speech about "No War and World Peace."

<Man Hee Lee, the peace advocate with two re-known religious leaders in Miindanao>

     As one of the results I've put much into it, have started peace in Mindanao Island in the Philippines, a region with a long history stricken by conflict of religious Between Catholics and Muslims. A forum to discuss a solution of peace Brought together the representative of Catholicism and the representative of Islam and Man Hee Lee to one place. The Representatives of Catholicism and Islam united to sign the peace agreement ending the war and for Achieving World Peace and Pledged to work together with man Hee Lee. The Peace of flowers are coming into bloom in the Mindanao where it Seems to not happen.

     Really, Peace is coming to us and this world. It's time for us to work like real Toward Peace peace advocate.

Photo Resouce: http://www.google.co.kr/imgres?imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.balita.com%2Fnew-era-of-peace-begins-in-mindanao%2F&tbnid=hrPNZrUEOzDE4M:&docid=S4Q1M4pLDF35oM&h=1895&w=2843

Nelson Mandela, 67 days after he left us.

     Do you remember what happened on December 5th in 2013?

     It was the day that one who devoted his life to equality and peace. 
Yes, I am talking about Nelson Mandela. Mandela whose full name is Nelson Rolihlahla
Mandela, was born in July 18th 1918 and left us on 5th of last December.People who  respected the achievements of Mandela expressed their sorrow over SNS, Medias and on Mandela’s national funeral.

     It’s been 67 days after he left us. Some might have forgotten Mandela’s death due to other daily news. At this point, I once again express my condolences to his death and also for his family who lose their husband, father and grandfather. RIP Nelson Mandela.  

Man Hee Lee contributed to Mindanao peace agreement.

     Have you ever heard of 40 years of deep conflicts in an island Mindanao? Korean peace activist Man Hee Lee, the representative peace organisation contributed to make Peace Agreement between religious leaders of two different religions; Catholic and Islam. For last 40 years, there were more than 1,400,000 damages and loses for human lives in this island.

Map of Philippines, from The Economist

     The Peace Agreement was achieved when Chairman Lee was making his third peace trip to Philippines.

     Mindanao is an island in Philippines which had been suffered more than four decades due to dispute between Catholic and Islam. Despite the beauty of its island, Mindanao was known for its long conflicts. In order to bring peace to this region, the peace activist Chairman Lee met Archbishop Antonio J. Chairman Lee hosted the Peace Walk with more than 1,000 participants. Students, peace organisation members and religious leaders walked together with the hope for peaceful Mindanao. After the Peace Walk, representatives from Islam and Catholic united to sign the Peace Agreement to end the war and pursue World Peace, together with peace activist Chairman Lee. 

     Chairman Lee contributed deeply in order to end the conflicts in the Mindanao region. Local National Broadcasting station in Philippines reported his historical and memorial peace achievement.  Local Filipino showed their gratitude to Chairman Lee to contribute to end the conflict in Mindanao and actualize peace on this world. 

Image from The Economist