A Song of Peace

 

     I believe that this song can enough remind us of peace. Yes, as this lyrics, peace could come to us with full of love and hope in near future. Then people all over the world will say like "we are the one transcending nationalities, religions and races".
     Hatred against each other and any of war should cease. Which just make worse troubles. To listen, understand and respect are what we should do at least.
If we are the those who dream of bringing peace, we need to be humble than anyone else and need to think through what we can do for peace.

     Man Hee Lee, who is a messanger of peace, is one of the those working hard for peace. Even his age is more than 80. He is telling ranging from regular citizens to a number of Prime ministers and Presidents  about a duty they should do if they are truly those who love their countries and people.

     What about singing this song dreaming of peace when you have dinner with family in the evening ? :)

Reference : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxidrVmwznU

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/

Man-Hee Lee, on documentary film

     Chairman Lee is now a famous peace advocate world-wide. He is still actively participating in peace activities traveling through around the world. Nowadays, he is meeting many presidents and ex-presidents, politicians, and religious leaders to have them sign the peace agreement. Anyone who has met him highly appreciates about what he did in Mindanao and what he is doing now. 

     A famous French photographer, one of those who were deeply moved by his works, tried to make his interview into a documentary. Actually, he was making the film by interviewing different types of people from all over the world and people from the poorest to the richest, from commoners to the famous celebrities. Then he bumped into Chairman Lee and luckily had a chance to interview him. While interviewing Chairman Lee, he was impressed by his answers and teachings so a 30minute-interview got extended to an hour. Even for a single person, Chairman Lee answers to the questions sincerely. From his behavior, I also can see how people were greatly impressed because he does not speak peace only by the word, but he shows a modest attitude and respectful behavior to others no matter who that person is. I think this is what a true peace activist has to be! 

     By next year, the documentary film will be screened in the United Nations general assembly. I think it will be a great lesson to not only the leaders of UN but also for us. We need to be a person who truly loves the world and peace.

Photo Source: http://player.mashpedia.com/player.php?q=o8nQfvN2s6k

http://www.greenstore.ma/blog/evenement/yann-arthus-bertrand-des-forets-et-des-hommes-140

Man-Hee Lee, on a peace trip! -3-

     Before I go on, I want to talk about how important this peace trip is. You might think it is just a trip and there is so important thing about it. If you do, you are missing a big point here. This trip isn’t about Man-Hee Lee’s vacation trip or just meeting the celebrities. He is ACTUALLY trying to make world peace in reality and he is doing it all by himself in volunteer. An eighty-three year old man who only owns a private organization is working for world peace!

     His first trip was in Europe, second trip was in United States, and the third trip he visited Africa. Africa is where a severe civil war is still going on. In Syria, 70,000 people and 2000 American soldiers lost their lives out of war. In Lebanon, 250,000 were killed and 10,000,000 were injured. In Palestine, 20,000 people were massacred. Not only those countries, but also other countries such as Angola, Sudan, Rwanda, Uganda, and Mozambique are still suffering from war. Therefore, people in Africa were longing for peace and eagerly looked for a peace leader like Man-Hee Lee.

<meeting with the President of Ethiopia>

     By the Ethiopian Special Assistant to the President’s earnest request, Man-Hee Lee first went to Ethiopia and held a one-on-one meeting with the president. Then, he went to South Africa and met the president of South Africa. Man-Hee Lee requested the president to sign the peace contract to end the war, and the president gladly agreed on his request.

<meeting with the President of South Africa>

     Besides, he visited the war veteran memorial park and met the 20 war veterans. He showed his gratitude to them for fighting the Korean War and gave them a compensation funds. Moreover, he visited the country side and gave school supplies to the children.

<meeting with Christian leaders of South Africa> 

     Man-Hee Lee also was invited to the National Assembly building from Christian leaders and made a speech about world peace, and interviews from the media never stopped.

   Even though it was a tight schedule, he did a wonderful job. I, once again, was very impressed and amazed by his peace activity. I hope that all the presidents in the world would sign the peace contract!

Man-Hee Lee, on a peace trip! -1-

     Man-Hee Lee, with full of hope of world peace, went on a peace trip to Europe in 2012. First, he visited Germany, Frankfurt, and attended a conference. Then he went to the broadcasting station and had an interview on the TV program. Next, he met the former prime minister of East Germany who had greatly influenced on reuniting Germany. He had a great interest of what Mr. Man-Hee Lee is doing and his vision of uniting North and South Korea. Probably, because Germany had the same history of division, the former prime minister showed empathy and encouraged Mr. Lee and the emissaries of peace. 

<meeting with former prime minister of East Germany>

     The rest of the days, he continued to have an interview from the TV station and newspaper, and on the last day of Europe, he visited father superior of the Gottweig monastery in Austria.

<visiting a father superior of the Gottweig monastery>

     Even though Mr. Man-Hee Lee is not a Korean president or government officer or getting a support from the government, he has done lots of things for Korea during the trip. Isn’t this the true figure of patriot and a peace leader? I think a leader who truly loves his nation must do what Mr. Man-Hee Lee did for his country.

Man-Hee Lee, an arbitrator who ended the conflict at Mindanao

     Man-Hee Lee, a peace leader of private peace organization, played a big role for ending the conflict at Mindanao. This visit was at the request of Archbishop Antonio Ledesma Cagayan de Oro.

     Mindanao is an Island of Philippine where severe religious conflicts took place for over 40 years. Mainly, the fights were between Islam and Catholic. It was so tense that it was not safe for the citizens to live. The streets were full of soldiers and gun shooting every day. However, the religious leaders from Catholic (the former archbishop Fernando R. Capalla of
Catholic representative) and Islam (Esmael G. Mangudadatu of Islam representative and Maguindanao governor of Islam) signed the peace treaty.

     The former president of Philippine expressed his gratitude towards Man-Hee Lee representative saying that he has done what the president couldn’t do.

     In addition, on January 24th -25th, Man-Hee Lee and emissaries of peace set a peace walk with about 1000 religious leaders and local youth beyond religion and faction. After he Peace Walk, all kinds of religious leaders signed the peace agreement and agreed for ending the war and pursue world peace. This peace agreement was a decisive catalyst to the Philippine government accepting Islamic autonomy of Mindanao.

     Man-Hee Lee representative spoke about his aspiration for peace that he will continue the peace activity with all nations and peaceful reunification of Korea. 

Youths are the main source to bring an end to the war

     Recently, I have been very interested in peace activity. Especially, Man Hee Lee's speech  about the Declaration of World Peace motivated me to do so. Might I think you feel the same  way. Do you? : D From then, I Began to deeply think how youths acerca Could end the war. 

    Do you remember the Declaration of World Peace from the previous posting? Mr. Man  Hee Lee Said That Should youths be united and Pursue peace by agreeing not to fight one  another. As a youth myself, I feel responsible for Protecting other youths. We all know  That war is still going on in the other side of the globe. When all the youths around the  world get united and agree not to fight for the war, the politicians or the president will  not be able to drive young people in the battlefields. In order to make this in reality, we  need a practical way-joining peace organization and develop developing practical and sustainable  solutions. Thanks to Mr. Lee Man Hee, I have provided an astonishing Such method. However, the  Most Important thing is never stopping peace activity. Even though It Might seem slow in the  beginning, it will spread fast through worldwide someday. Is not this the coolest  thing-bringing peace to the world? How about being in part of it? :) 









Reference: http://ipyg.org/about/

Korea, a step forward towards Unification

Lately, I saw the news of Korean President Park Geun Hye is pushing for an end of South and North Korea’s division and she actually made her moves. She met Angela Merkel, a chancellor of Germany, and shared her vision of unifying Korean peninsula. President Park mentioned Germany as a role model for a peaceful reunification. 

I think the leader’s action is very significant in order to realize the ideal of unification. If the leader only makes a speech of peace and not put into action, the peace will never proceed. So, I think President Park’s move is a good start for proceeding and took one step forward towards Korea unification. If a leader takes an action, the rest of the citizens will follow eventually. Of course, it takes time; it might take longer or shorter than you think. You know that Germany took 45 years. Korea has been divided over 60 years and it is time to make a move! I, personally, want to see Korea unification while I’m in Korea. I always felt sorry for the separated families and the poor surroundings of the North. I hope all of this will be solved when Korea gets united. Korea fighting! :)

Reference:http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-03-25/park-looks-to-once-divided-germany-to-spur-korean-reunification.html

Photo Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/788917.stm