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Peace Summit 2023: Session VI-B: IAAP
Written by Ms. Nancy Hewitt and Dr. Thomas Selover
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Seoul, South Korea—The International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP), Session 6B, was held on May 4, 2023 as part of Peace Summit 2023. The moderator was Dr. Thomas Selover, International Co-coordinator of IAAP.
Welcoming Address: Dr. Thomas Walsh, Chairman of UPF International
Dr. Thomas Walsh officially opened the International Academic Conference, co-hosted by Hyojeong Academic Foundation. He commented that he was impressed by the extensive library that HJAF staff transported to the convention site at Seoul Lotte Hotel World. Dr. Walsh warmly greeted the many eminent personages present in the Emerald Ballroom. In his remarks, he emphasized that our association of scholars is working together to develop important content to fortify the core ideals, values and principles of a peace ideology, to help a world in dire straits owing to degradation of culture and breakdown of families. Korea is a great nation of bright, hard-working people—yet its birthrate is plummeting. We must reinvigorate energy and passion to build a good society. Happy families and hope for the future are essential. Educational institutions must inspire leadership with meaning and purpose based on core values and ideals. We must prevent conflict and build peaceful, stable, loving societies. Our troubled world needs you, your work, your research, writings and publications to get us back on the right track. UPF, IAAP, and HJAF stand together for the cause of global peace. I wish you great success in building Heavenly Unified Korea and a Heavenly Unified World. Thank you! God bless you!
Opening Address: Dr. Sung-Bae Jin, Chairman of Hyo Jeong Academic Foundation
Dr. Sung-Bae Jin remarked that Korea rose from the ashes of war. Once a recipient of aid, we have become a donor. Our hallyu culture and products have gone global. Now Korea is of central importance in world affairs. Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol addressed the U.S. Congress and was given a standing ovation. He praised General MacArthur’s ingenious Incheon landing and American heroism at the Battle of Jangjeon Lake. UN troops died to protect “people they’d never met in a country they’d never heard of.” They saved Rev. Sun Myung Moon and Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon from North Korean communism. The US strived for decades to reduce tensions over denuclearization. Former Secretary of State Pompeo, who led nuclear disarmament talks, spoke at this Peace Summit. Why did 40 years of North-South negotiations disappear like smoke? True peace cannot be built on materialism and class struggle—a camouflage peace. Liberal democracy based on rational freedom only yields relative peace. Peace under dictatorship promoting hatred is short-lived. True peace can only be Peace Essentialism, genuine and eternal peace rooted in God’s love and heart, exemplified by the lives of Father and Mother Moon, whose thought led to the collapse of the communist Soviet Union. We are a family with one Heavenly Parent, based on a philosophy of heart. Serene peace in the mature human family is finally dawning.
SECTION I
H.E. Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba, Vice President (2003-2004); Founder, National Christian Coalition, Zambia
H.E. Dr. Nevers Sekwila Mumba noted that Africa has been the focus of conflict between East and West, both taking advantage of Africa’s rich resources. Even more serious are internal conflicts among tribes and individual interests. African countries must unite internally and stand together. The UPF and the African Union are forums by which we can meet, constructively resolve issues, and work for peace in solidarity.
Hon. Dr. Mohamad Habash, Chairman, Human Fraternity Center; Associate Professor, Abu Dhabi University, UAE
Hon. Dr. Mohamad Habash stated that no one has a right to force people to war. Religious scripture has been widely interpreted to justify war. This is a violation of God’s word. God does not want wars. The UN is supposed to preserve peace, but has failed. The Universal Human Rights Declaration omitted the right not to participate in war—a fundamental human right. Dictators cannot wage wars if their people refuse to fight. International organizations must protect the right not to fight in a war, which is a sacred human right which God approves.
Dr. Frank Kaufmann, President of PWPA USA; Editor in Chief of New World Encyclopedia; President of Twelve Gates Foundation, USA
Dr. Frank Kaufmann focused on spiritual and political concerns for Western civilization following the crucifixion of Jesus. History is viewed variously: Classical (practical interests, conflict, domination); Heilsgeschichte (Jewish hope from scripture, Jesus’ words); Theology (God-centered logic: Augustine, Aquinas); and Apologetics (St. Paul, Unificationism). Jesus’ crucifixion contradicted Jewish hopes of the Messiah; it had to be explained with new Christian theology. The Messiah’s teaching should have gone to the people of Asia who were spiritually prepared, but after his crucifixion, theology became contradictory. Christianity went to Rome and Europe, barbarian lands centered on paganism and physical might. The path went on to nations of science and technology. According to Toynbee and Rev. Moon, the path of Messianic ideology to establish God’s Kingdom should return to the Far East Asia to realize fruition.
Commentators
Dr. Osvaldo Adriano De La Guardia Boyd, has served more than 43 years in Public Administration, Panama
Dr. Seng Somony, Secretary of State, Ministry of Cults and Religion, Cambodia
Rev. Hideo Oyamada, Former Chairman of UPF-Japan and former President of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, Japan
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