Buenos Aires, Argentina—The Peace Road 2016 event in Argentina was a walking tour and bike ride through Buenos Aires.
On the day of the event, October 2, 2016, there was a light drizzle of rain. The program began with welcoming remarks, which were given by Mr. Carlos Varga, president of the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification (FFWPU)-Argentina; Mr. Miguel Werner, secretary general of UPF-Argentina; and Mr. Emanuel Sayavedra, president of the Collegiate Association for Research of Principles (CARP)-Argentina.
The start line of the 7 km (4.3 miles) Peace Road route was the zero-mile marker at the Mariano Moreno Plaza in front of the National Congress building.
The walking tour stopped at the homes of historical men and women, including José de San Martín, considered the “Father of the Nation;” Manuel Belgrano, who created the Flag of Argentina; and María Antonia de San José (also known as Mama Antula), who is considered the “spiritual mother of Argentina.” Stops were also made at the Metropolitan Cathedral, which is the main Catholic church in Buenos Aires; the Santo Domingo Convent; and La Piedad Church, where Ambassador for Peace Mr. Christian Oreb, general coordinator of Red Cooperar, a civil society network, shared interesting stories about San Martín and Belgrano with the participants.
The participants also walked an “infinity circle,” the logo of the Peace Road, walking to the headquarters of Argentina’s three governing bodies: the National Congress, the Palace of Justice and La Casa Rosada (The Pink House).
After more than three hours of walking and cycling in the rain, the participants had lunch at FFWPU’s headquarters, and enjoyed a delicious cake made for the occasion. Then, everyone sang the traditional Korean song, “Come Along Unity,” in Korean, as a way of connecting with the purpose of the Peace Road, which is “connecting the world through peace” and “realizing the dream of one global family.”
The Peace Road 2016 was formally launched in Argentina on August 31 at the Salón Bioy Casares in Buenos Aires city. Two videos were shown at the launch: “Extreme Engineering: Bridging the Bering Strait,” a segment of a Discovery Channel documentary, and “Introduction Peace Road 2016.”
Background of the Peace Road
The Peace Road is a project that seeks to bring all nations together. In 1981, the idea of a “World Peace Highway” was proposed at the 10th International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences (ICUS) in Seoul, Korea by UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon. He emphasized the need for creating a highway that would connect Korea and Japan, two former enemy nations, together. During the world tour inaugurating the UPF in 2005, Rev. Moon called for the construction of a “World Peace King Bridge Tunnel” across the Bering Strait as a way of uniting east and west, north and south, the U.S.A. and Russia. This international highway would allow all people to travel on land from Africa’s Cape of Good Hope to Santiago, Chile, and from London to New York, connecting the world as a single community.
The Peace Road initiative, which seeks to “connect the world through peace” and “realize the dream of one global family,” also supports the peaceful reunification of the two Korea’s, as well as promotes the building of a world peace park in the demilitarized zone that divides the Korean peninsula and the creation of a 5th UN headquarters in Korea.
Conclusion
In the past, the building of highways, bridges and tunnels to overcome physical and geographic boundaries not only improved means of transport in general, but also enhanced the exchange and coexistence among peoples. Today, in places of crisis and conflict, improved and innovative transportation can only contribute to new possibilities of mutual encounter and understanding, and more opportunities of development and sustainable progress. In short, Peace Road is the convergence of the efforts of individuals and organizations, who seek to overcome national, cultural, religious and racial boundaries, supporting the ideal of one global family that recognizes the same Creator.
For more information on the Peace Road, please visit: http://peaceroad.net/?page_id=630.