FOLLOW US

FacebookInstagramYoutubeLinkedinFlickr

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 2024
S M T W T F S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31 1 2 3 4

Peace Education

Asia Peace Conference Inaugurated

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Representatives from 16 nations attended the inaugural Asia Peace Conference held in Kuala Lumpur, Nov. 26-27. The conference seeks to advance Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s call for a Global Movement of the Moderates by incorporating spiritual values into models of good governance in order to foster sustainable peace and universal prosperity.

malay-apc-2-4053
malay-apc-2-4053_02
malay-apc-2-4053_03
malay-apc-2-4053_04
malay-apc-2-4053_05
malay-apc-2-4053_06
malay-apc-2-4053_07
malay-apc-2-4053_08
malay-apc-2-4053_09
malay-apc-2-4053_10
malay-apc-2-4053_11
malay-apc-2-4053_12
malay-apc-2-4053_13
malay-apc-2-4053_14
malay-apc-2-4053_15
malay-apc-2-4053_16
malay-apc-2-4053_17
malay-apc-2-4053_18
malay-apc-2-4053_19
malay-apc-2-4053_20
malay-apc-2-4053_21
malay-apc-2-4053_22
malay-apc-2-4053_23
malay-apc-2-4053_24
malay-apc-2-4053_25
malay-apc-2-4053_26
malay-apc-2-4053_27
malay-apc-2-4053_28
malay-apc-2-4053_29
01/29 
start stop bwd fwd

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, Senator Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon, told the 150 delegates gathered, “This conference is a platform to promote critical awareness of the need for interfaith understanding and the pursuit of peace and human dignity.”

Senator Koh Tsu Koon, the guest-of-honor, noted that social justice and prosperity were essential for social harmony and saw this conference as a positive initiative that combined government and private sector efforts.

Thirteen organizations supported, sponsored or partnered together to host this two-day program held at the InterContinental Hotel in the capital:

  • The Universal Peace Federation-Malaysia
  • The Prime Minister’s Department, The Department of National Unity of Malaysia, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Tourism Malaysia
  • The Pure Life Society, The Women for Family Welfare Promotion, The Buddhist Maha Vihara, The Malaysian Hindu Sangam, Malaysian Interfaith Network
  • FE Brands (M) Sdn Bhd, the Asian Broadcasting  Network (M) Sdn Bhd and the Sunway Group

At the beginning of the opening session, YBhg Tan Sri Dr. Devaki Krishnan, president of UPF-Malaysia (the main organizer), thanked the government of Malaysia—especially the Office of the Prime Minister, the various NGOs, and delegates who all invested so much to make this inaugural assemble a milestone success.

She applauded the 71 international delegates who came from as far away as New York City, USA, as well as those from the Asia Pacific region: Myanmar, India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Taiwan, Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, Korea, India, and Singapore. In addition over 121 prominent participants from Malaysian joined the conference all for the purpose “to promote reconciliation, mutual respect, harmony and cooperation in our region.”

malay-apc-2-4053_30
malay-apc-2-4053_31
malay-apc-2-4053_32
malay-apc-2-4053_33
malay-apc-2-4053_34
malay-apc-2-4053_35
malay-apc-2-4053_36
malay-apc-2-4053_37
malay-apc-2-4053_38
malay-apc-2-4053_39
malay-apc-2-4053_40
malay-apc-2-4053_41
malay-apc-2-4053_42
malay-apc-2-4053_43
malay-apc-2-4053_44
malay-apc-2-4053_45
malay-apc-2-4053_46
malay-apc-2-4053_47
malay-apc-2-4053_48
malay-apc-2-4053_49
malay-apc-2-4053_50
malay-apc-2-4053_51
malay-apc-2-4053_52
malay-apc-2-4053_53
malay-apc-2-4053_54
malay-apc-2-4053_55
malay-apc-2-4053_56
malay-apc-2-4053_57
malay-apc-2-4053_58
malay-apc-2-4053_59
malay-apc-2-4053_60
01/31 
start stop bwd fwd

Dr. Thomas Walsh, international president of UPF, read a message on behalf of the International Chairman, Rev. Hyung Jin Moon. He reminded the audience that “Peace, in its essence, is a religious ideal.”

For this reason, he said, Muslims greet each other with “Salaamalekem,” Jews say “Shalom,” Hindus chant “Shanti,” and Christians speak of Jesus as the “Prince of Peace.” But, he emphasized, “Father Moon teaches us that the root of peace is the God-centered family…[which then extends] over time to the tribe, society, nation and world.”

Concluding his remarks, Dr. Walsh warned that atheism, moral relativism, free sex, and selfish materialism would lead humanity down a path of spiritual poverty and destruction.

Dr. Chung Sik Yong is regional chair of UPF-Asia, a regional grouping of 20 nations in South and Southeast Asia. At the opening plenary session he recalled Rev. Sun Myung Moon’s proposal to establish an interreligious council at the United Nations. Such a council, he said, was absolutely essential because “interreligious understanding and cooperation would be the most effective means to bring about a world of peace in the future.”

Dr. Yong, who lived in Malaysia for six years, 1990-96, and had two of his children born here, went on to explain that without an interreligious council the UN would find it difficult to fulfill its mission because, more than nation-states, religions carry on the spiritual wisdom and heritage of humanity.

There were five plenary sessions. Each focused on a unique aspect of good governance that was essential for building and sustaining peace.

If you find this page helpful and informative please consider making donation. Your donation will help Universal Peace Federation (UPF) provide new and improved reports, analysis and publications to you and everyone around the world.

UPF is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization and all donations are tax deductible in the United States. Receipts are automatically provided for donations of or above $250.00.

Donate to the Universal Peace Federation: Your donation to support the general programs of UPF.

Donate to the Religious Youth Service (RYS): Your donation will be used for service projects around the world.


Donate to UPF's Africa Projects: Your donation will be used for projects in Africa.




Related Articles

UPF-Sweden Program Features UPF's Principles of Peace

Stockholm, Sweden—UPF’s Principles of Peace were at the center of the third Nordic Peace Seminar.

UPF-Peru: Mayor Named Ambassador for Peace

Santa-Chimbote, Peru—The Mayor of the province of Santa-Chimbote, Eng. Luis Gamarra Alor, was named Ambassador for Peace.

UPF-Canada Convenes Webinar on “Viewing the DPRK from Within”

Canada—The sixth webinar in UPF-Canada’s “Viewing the DPRK from Within” series was held.