Rev. Abednego Dlamini, Chair UPF Swaziland |
Seven hundred people gathered at the Bill Gallagher Room of the Sandton Convention Center on November 12 to inaugurate the Universal Peace Federation in South Africa as well as Southern Africa.
The program started at 5:15 pm with the M.C., Mr. Teddy Govindasami, an Ambassador for Peace, welcoming everyone and inviting Rev. Herbert Syré to offer the invocation. Rev. Syré said his “family is following Dr. Sun Myung Moon’s teaching on interreligious and international marriage” and that “Father and Mother Moon are a great inspiration for my family.” Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu leaders were also called to give invocations.
Then Rev. Jean Augustin Ghomsi, Southern Africa Sub-Regional Director, thanked the South African government, especially the Department of Home Affairs, for facilitating the arrival of guests from other countries. Father and Mother Moon had been invited to attend but were unable to for health reasons.
Prof. Gampi Matheba, Vice-President of South African Association of Political Scientists |
He described the Universal Peace Federation as providing "a mechanism for cooperative peace-building efforts among governmental, religious, cultural, education and civil society representatives, all working together with mutual respect and a shared commitment to cooperation and good governance.”
He said that South Africa will benefit because of the UPF, giving as an example the participation of two South African teams, Kaizer Chiefs and Sundowns, in the Peace Cup Soccer Tournaments in 2003 and 2005 as well as the “New Village Movement” and “New Heart Movement” initiated by Father Moon that can help address the challenges of the nation's “dual economy.”
Prof. Jameson Kurasha from Zimbabwe stated that Father Moon’s ideas are creating a revolution around the world with the concept of “families without borders.”
Prof. Gampi Matheba, Vice-President of the South African Association of Political Scientists, described the work of Father Moon as complementary to that of the South African government and the administration of President Thabo Mbeki.
Rev. Senator Abednego Dlamini from Swaziland said he learned all he knows about peace from Father Moon. He called for Father Moon’s message to be taken to Swaziland, a sentiment echoed by other delegates from Swaziland.
Hon. Dorothy Motubatse-Hounkpatin, Member of Parliament and Ambassador for Peace, presented a gift from the President’s Office and conveyed the government's hope that Father and Mother Moon can promote moral renewal in the country.
Dr. Thomas Walsh, as special representative of the founders, led everyone in the World Peace Blessing toast of marriage rededication. He then read the Peace Message of the global tour. The audience followed the text attentively.
At the end, Hon. and Mrs. Mathaba came forward to offer flower bouquets to Dr. Walsh representing Father and Mother Moon along with a special gift from Lesotho.
Rev. Ghomsi thanked the audience for their support and exhorted everyone to join hands with UPF to end conflicts and pool resources to build more schools and equip more hospitals.
Musical offerings from three choir groups, The Sensational Sopranos, Rejoice, and Pioneers, captivated the heart of everyone.
To read the inaugural peace message, click here.
To download a report booklet of the UPF Founders' 2005 World Peace Tour, click here.
|
