Luanda, Angola—UPF-Portugal was invited to participate in a Think Tank 2022 event held by the Angolan chapters of UPF and its affiliated organization Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU).
The conference was held on February 19, 2022, under the theme “Reunification of the Korean Peninsula—Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity, Universal Values.”
A group of about 12 participants attended the event in person at the international headquarters of the Church of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the World, usually called the Tocoist Church. This church is much respected by the Angolan government and has expanded to other countries in Africa and to Portugal.
Many Tocoist elders and members attended the webinar along with their supreme leader, his holiness Bishop Don Afonso Nunes, considered the incarnation of their late prophet Simão Gonçalves Toco.
More than 60 people from Angola, São Tomé and Príncipe, Mozambique, Brazil, Portugal, and other Lusophone countries attended the webinar online via Zoom. In addition, an estimated 400 people watched it on YouTube with English and French interpretation.
The program included two videos: the first about the Tocoists’ activities in Angola and worldwide, and the second about UPF and Mother Moon’s peace activities.
Professor Dr. Jerónimo Liba, secretary general of UPF-Angola, gave the welcoming address. Then Dr. Manuel Domingos, the president of UPF-Angola, gave the opening speech, in which he offered underlying principles for the peaceful reunification of Korea.
The main panelists were:
Rev. Jean-Pierre Kadima, the FFWPU director for Central Africa, who spoke about “Objectives of the Think Tank and the Guiding Vision of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the Mother of Peace”;
Bishop Don Afonso Nunes, spiritual leader of the Tocoists, who spoke on "The Role of Religion for Peaceful Reunification" with many references, recognition and showing great respect for the significant peace teachings of UPF founders Rev. and Mrs. Moon;
Rev. Kinambuta Sambu Pedro, president of FFWPU-Angola, who spoke on “Understanding South Korean History, Culture, and Vision on the Peaceful Reunification of the Korean Peninsula.”
Then a short but delightful video was shown of a performance by the Little Angels Children’s Folk Ballet of Korea.
The event continued with Professor Celestino Nanizaya, an organizational psychologist from Brazil, who spoke about “Perspectives for Peace in a Changing Scenario.”
The final speaker was Dr. Sérgio Vieira, president of UPF-Portugal, who spoke about “Building New Bridges and Opportunities for the Korean Peninsula.” To read Dr. Vieira's speech, click here.
Because Rev. Jean-Pierre Kadima had to leave early, the closing remarks were offered by Dr. Manuel Domingos, the president of UPF-Angola.
It was a very good experience to work at this level with the Lusophone Africa. Since we have other important links and partnership projects with them (for example, character education), we hope to develop future programs in this and various mutual fields of interest.