Peace Education
UPF organizes seminars and conferences that present core values and universal principles of peacebuilding.
- Written by: Lily Lin — Secretary General, UPF-Taiwan
The Asia-Pacific region has gradually become the new center of human civilization in the 21st century with its active economic and cultural development. On January 16-19, 2009, UPF-Taiwan chapter sponsored the “2009 Asia-Pacific International Leadership Conference” in the Grant Hotel in Taipei.
- Written by: Hamish Robertson
Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago - Between the festivities of Christmas past and Carnival coming, the Universal Peace Federation managed to catch the attention of Trinidadians for a moment in January. A speech event, entitled “Good Governance and True Families” was held in the formal intimacy of the Council Chamber, City Hall, Port-of-Spain, capital of Trinidad, on January 15th, attended by more than 40 people, including the Ambassador of Costa Rica, the Mayor and the Deputy Mayor of Port-of-Spain, several district councillors, as well as religious and social leaders.
- Written by: Hermine Schellen
Beirut, Lebanon - Many people in the Middle East and in Lebanon are weary or tired of wars and conflict; that’s why any peacemaking efforts are appreciated in general in this part of the world. Because of the conflict in Gaza, a very strong determination was needed to put together a Peace Conference at that time.
- Written by: Robert Kittel, Director of Peace Education, UPF-Asia
Jakarta, Indonesia - With the sound of a gong and setting of dozens of doves to flight, plans for a peace festival in Indonesia were announced on January 14.
- Written by: Mbaye Diop, UPF-Senegal
Dakar, Senegal - Rev. Adama Doumbia visited Senegal at the end of December for meetings in Dakar and Guediaway.
- Written by: Hod Ben Zvi, UPF-Israel
Haifa, Israel - The crowd at Haifa's annual December celebrations, known as the "Holiday of Holidays," included Jews, Muslims, Christians, and Druze from Haifa and all around the country.
- Written by: Hod Ben Zvi, UPF-Israel
A variety of service and educational projects in northern Israel took place in December 2008.
- Written by: Christopher Davies, UPF-The Netherlands
Bergen aan Zee, The Netherlands - The December UPF European Leadership Conference in The Netherlands featured speakers associated with the Netherlands Institute for International Relations Clingendael speaking on security concerns within Europe and beyond.
- Written by: Leonard D. Postrado, Manila Bulletin
Manila, Philippines - Religious and political leaders from various nations shared the limelight on December 13 in front of thousands of people at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila in a show of unity and symbolic breaking of cultural barriers to become "one big family under God."
- Written by: UPF - Japan
Numazu, Japan - On November 9, 2008, a new Peace Embassy was opened in Numazu, a city in the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan. A month later, the first Ambassadors for Peace seminar was held there.
- Written by: GPF - Brazil
Brasilia, Brazil - An International Leadership Conference held at Brazil's National Museum included participants from both North and South America.
- Written by: Sung Hwa Bessell
Belize City, Belize - The Global Peace Festival in Belize was the first time that the idea of celebrating peacebuilding efforts with neighboring Guatemala had come to people's minds. Though small compared to the GPF efforts around the world, the November 28 and 29 events may impact the future of Belize and its neighboring countries in tremendous ways.