Building a culture of peace is the most effective way to prevent conflict, violence, and poverty, and a family culture of heart is the wellspring of a culture of peace. UPF promotes this through World Peace Blessings.
Goal: Promote healthy marriage and family relationships grounded in true and selfless love, mutual respect, interdependence, and “living for the sake of others.”
Method: Hold World Peace Blessing ceremonies, which typically begin with invocations by leaders of various religions. Newlyweds and couples renewing their vows make a sacred promise as husband and wife to love each other faithfully, live together in peace, and raise up their children and grandchildren to uphold purity and fidelity. A special contribution to world peace is made by couples who bridge the divides of race and religion, pledging that they and their families will promote understanding, mutual respect, and harmony.
See a selection from various traditions of marriage blessings, prayers and pledges.
- Congo - UPF-Congo Commemorates UN International Day of Families
- Thailand - Asian Leadership Conference Promotes Nation Building and Peace
- Dominican Republic - Latin America-Caribbean Summit Inaugurates Regional ISCP
- Albania - Summit Explores Peace and Development in Southeast Europe
- Hungary - Hungarian Ambassadors for Peace Honor UPF Founder
- Thailand - Asia Leadership Conference Promotes Peace Principles
- Portugal - International Day of Families Observed in Portugal
- Philippines - Philippines Hosts Asian Leadership Conference
- Austria - International Day of Families Observed in Austria
- Albania - International Day of Families Observed in Albania
- Thailand - Asian Leadership Conference Focuses on UPF Peace Principles
- United States - African Culture Celebrated in New York
"Imagine two enemy families who have cursed each other throughout their lives, people who would never dream of living together. What would happen if these families joined together through an exchange Holy Marriage Blessing? A son from one family and a daughter from the other family become husband and wife, love each other and build a happy home. Would the parents in each family curse their own children? When their son loves this beautiful daughter of a hated enemy, and she as their daughter-in-law gives birth to Heaven’s grandchildren as pure and clear as crystal, the grandparents would smile with pleasure. In time the two lineages that were once soaked with enmity will be transformed." - Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, Founder, Universal Peace Federation
Madrid, España - A lo largo del año 2009 se realizaron en la Embajada de Paz en Madrid un ciclo de diez seminarios con temas relevantes al matrimonio y la familia. Con el objetivo de fortalecer la institución familiar y proveer la educación adecuada para realizarlo.
Jakarta, Indonesia - H.E. Abdurrahman Wahid, president of Indonesia from 1999 to 2001, passed away December 30. A staunch defender of moderate Islam and secular politics, he was the former leader of Nahdlatul Ulama, a Muslim group with some 40 million members. He was also a member of UPF's Global Peace Council.
Monrovia, Liberia - Solamente una vez en la historia de una nación debería ser necesaria una Comisión de la Verdad y la Reconciliación. Al examinar el conflicto que comenzó en 1979 y continuó hasta 2003, nuestra responsabilidad como liberianos era juzgar el pasado de nuestro país, a fin de trazar un futuro mejor.
Lima, Peru - El Rev. Dr. Orestes Sánchez (Presidente de la UPF Perú 2008-9) recaudaron fondos y reunieron simpatizantes para ayudarle a traer un poco de alegría navideña a los niños en Bayóvar de Canto Grande Distrito de San Juan de Lurigancho, una de las zonas más pobres de Lima. En el dia 23 de diciembre 2009 entregó juegos para los niños y también cajas de comida de plástico de modo que pudieran compartir juntos el tradicional evento de Navidad "Chocolatada" en la cocina comunitaria que es el lugar de reunión tradicional en estos barrios desfavorecidos.
Moscow, Russia - On December 20, 2009, pastor Pavel Georgievich Nikolayevsky, member of Russian National Peace Council and Chairman of the Christian Synod, passed away. Ambassadors for Peace of Russia, his friends, and colleagues mourn the passing of this outstanding peacemaker and offered their condolences to his family.
Vienna, Austria - The UPF community of Vienna celebrated “International Christmas – A Festival for Peace” with music from Austria, Russia, Africa, and the United States.
Tallinn, Estonia - Estonian peace activists and Young Ambassadors for Peace organized a Christmas performance on Dec. 19, 2009, for residents of the city home for elderly people in Tallinn.
Las Vegas, EE.UU. - No hay un lugar en la tierra igual a Las Vegas, una ciudad dedicada a la búsqueda del placer, aunque a menudo una puerta a la infelicidad y hasta la desesperación. En su primer discurso público en Nevada en casi diez años, el Rvdo. Dr. Sun Myung Moon utilizó las contradicciones de Las Vegas como una metáfora de los cambios internos necesarios para que la humanidad pueda encontrar la paz.
San Petersburgo, Rusia - Niños de Rusia, Finlandia y Suecia participaron en un festival y un intercambio cultural bajo el tema: "La luz de la Estrella Navideña", entre el 11 al 15 de diciembre. Los niños rusos habían pasado varios meses preparándose para el festival, el cual incluía un viaje a Finlandia y a Suecia.
Niamey, Niger - A Culture of Peace and Character Education were the themes of a UPF conference in the Oumarou Ganda Cultural Center in December 12.