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Peace Tour Inaugurates UPF in the Marshall Islands
Saturday, December 3, 2005
At the airport, Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon were welcomed to Palau by the Vice President Witten T. Philippo representing President Kessai Note, who was on a state visit to Israel.
The inauguration of the Universal Peace Federation in the Marshall Islands took place at the main government building which houses the president’s offices and the parliament. Vice President Philippo gave the welcoming address to the audience of 300. Dr. Chung Sik Yong, Chairman of UPF-Oceania, introduced Father Moon.
Father and Mother Moon first visited the Marshall Islands in 2000. During his peace message, Father Moon expressed sympathy for the Marshallese people. “I have heard about how you have suffered due to atomic testing some years ago,” he said. “I listened to the first lady in tears sharing about this situation.”
To avoid future exploitation by powerful nations, he suggested that the Pacific nations join in a commonwealth of nations.
The event included an invitation for couples to join in a world peace blessing toast of marriage rededication.
Marshall Islands has a population of approximately 70,000. An independent nation only since 1986, Marshall Islands is in a compact of free association with the United States. The USA has a military base on one of the islands, Kwajalein, with about 3,000 personnel. Also the USA pays ongoing reparations to Marshallese who suffered from radiation due to many nuclear tests carried out on or near some of the islands in the years following World War II.
On Father Moon's initiative, a high school was established in Hawaii for outstanding Pacific Island students. A number of Marshallese youth are students at the new school.
To read the inaugural peace message, click here.
To download a report booklet of the UPF Founders' 2005 World Peace Tour, click here.