Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Thoughts about Peace
By UPF Ambassadors for Peace
We are all one human family. Peace can be achieved. I know it will be done. It is a question of time, humility, simplicity, and our willingness to reach out. - Hon. Jose de Venecia, Jr., Former Speaker, House of Representatives, the Philippines
Every religion calls for man to do good and to stop doing bad. - Chief Imam Sheikh Assane Cisse, President, African American Islamic Institute, Senegal
The base of human society is the family, and if we secure that sanctity of the family unit, we bring a process that leads to a morally and spiritually good community, country, and world. - Rt. Hon. Hamilton Green, Prime Minister, Guyana (1985-92)
All religions insist on peace. From this we might think that the religious struggle for peace is simple … but it is not. The deep problem is that people use religion wrongly in pursuit of victory and triumph. This sad fact then leads to conflict with people who have different beliefs. - H.E. Abdurrahman Wahid, President, Indonesia (1999-2001)
It is extremely important to consolidate all efforts that advance peace and stability at national, regional, and global levels; therefore, we will not spare any effort to promote peace and coexistence through dialogue among the different cultures, religions, and peoples of our globe. - H.E. Mohammad Karim Khalili, Vice President, Islamic Republic of Afghanistan
World peace does not come about by the signing of agreements and treaties. World peace will not be established even if the images of war temporarily disappear from the media. We have wrongly confused progress in economics diplomacy and science with the far more elusive—and much more vital—ethical progress that is needed for true peace. - Yamba Elie Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso
Living for the sake of others sounds so simple, almost too simple. If every person in the world was raised with that ethic, we would have a world of peace, a better tomorrow where men and women have learned to live and love in friendship. - Amb. Phillip V. Sanchez, former US Ambassador to Colombia and Honduras
One of the thorniest problems of this age is the matter of war and peace. A clear point of view that promotes a peace agreement to solve all conflicts is very necessary, and to bring people of different denominations and nations closer together is worthwhile. - Hon. Jaromir Kohlicek, Member, European Parliament for Bohemia and Moravia, Czech Republic
Tell the truth with love, and face reality with courage. Religious leaders should be headlights on the road to peace, not tail lights. - Rev.Walter Fauntroy, former US Congressman for Washington, DC
More attention needs to be paid to the significance and importance of moral and ethical values in leadership. - H.E. Mohamoud Adam Bechir, Ambassador of Chad to the US
If we can live the dream of beginning a trip from the tip of South America and travel without being hindered by borders to the eastern hemisphere of this planet, all of us and our children will happily understand that the work of mankind is not to destroy but to build up. - Dr. Carlos Enrique Pena, Vice Rector, University of Santa Maria, Venezuela
All my life I have been struggling to attain happiness and love. This is what we live for. I am ready to die to make it possible for everyone to live this way. - Dr. Eliezer Glaubach, former city councilman, Jerusalem
We live today at a time when the world is always facing one global crisis or the other. To promote peace, we must understand the root causes of conflict and promote enduring solutions. - Chief Dr. Ernest Shonekan, former President, Nigeria
Ordinary people long for peace and cry out for an end to conflict. We must have continuing dialogue and personal commitment in order to have peace. - Hon. Gaqo Apostoli, former Member of Parliament and government minister, Albania
Our desire is to cultivate good character in the children and youth of Thailand and protect them from harm. - Dr. Suthin Nophaket, Commissioner, National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
It is a noble intention to bring women from different countries, races and religions to listen to options and strategies as to how we can work together to create peace in our life and the world. - Hammidah Abdulleh Bahashwan, Singapore
Our task in all our activities is the same: peace within the family, whether we speak about the nuclear family, the family of our society, or the global family of mankind. - Galina A. Kharitonova, President, Life NGO, Russia