Athens, Greece - The Global Peace Tour 2009 took place in the heart of Athens with a full evening program of entertainment, presentations on globalization, family, society and environment, and on UPF’s peace-building principles. Also presented was a letter of support received from the governor of Athens. The keynote address was read by Dr. Yong Cheol Song.

We are most grateful for the abundant support and multiple contributions of many Ambassadors for Peace and of the special adviser to UPF Greece, Mr. Shunichiro Yoshida, without whom we could not have held this event at such a place and so gracefully! The Old Parliament venue was very difficult to secure as it is reserved only for high-level individuals and organizations of prestige.

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This neoclassical building which was the first permanent seat of the Greek House of Representatives from 1875 until 1932 and the place where the first Greek democracy was established 1924, became the place for holding our historical event. The Old Parliament now functions as the premier national historical museum.

There were several challenges to preparing the event, with the country in recession and the fever of upcoming elections, coupled with an unrelated labor demonstration taking place on the same day at the center of the city that threatened to turn violent.

Although the demonstrators had begun throwing stones and police started advising people to avoid approaching the place, more than 50 people gathered on time and others arrived just as soon as they could. Thanks to wonderful music played by one of our Ambassadors for Peace, the spirit stayed high.

We started with the reading of a letter of support sent by the governor of Athens, followed by opening remarks and the presentation of papers. As we were coming close to the end of the first session, finally three key people who had been delayed by the demonstrators arrived.

Among the participants were four representatives of embassies, one sub-mayor, eight university professors (current or retired), 23 representatives of NGOs, and one Buddhist leader. All presentations contained significant content. A young professor skilfully translated and summarized each speech without delay, and at difficult times our young technicians gave the right solution.

The day after the event, we received congratulations from the leadership of the Old Parliament with the comment," It was a very wonderful event! Congratulations!"

For the keynote address and more information about the peace tour, click here.