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J.-P. Ostberg: Road to World Peace
Written by Jan-Peter Ostberg, Chairman, Swedish Institute for Ethic and Society
Friday, May 16, 2014
Reflection on participating in the MEPI Pilgrimage for World Peace, May 12-16, 2014, Israel
Road to World Peace: A Brief Outline from a Geopolitical Perspective
Is world peace possible?
This is a very relevant question. Is world peace just an impossible dream, a wishful thinking, something worth striving for but never to be attained? Future will tell, but not to do our utmost efforts to attain it would be to let future generations down. So, what can the world community do to reach this lofty goal? A strategy would certainly be helpful, so I will share some thoughts on the subject.
First of all, I want to say this: I believe we can create a world of peace on all levels: inside our hearts, in our families, in our schools and our societies and nations, on a global and cosmic level, and finally peace with God. I believe that because I am inspired by Father Moon’s vision and achievements. I can see a starting point for that elusive goal, world peace.
I attended a MEPI conference May 12-16 arranged by UPF and the Women's Federation for World Peace in Jerusalem and could there see an innovative and realistic approach to the problems of the Middle East region. From that experience I was moved to write on the subject "Road to World Peace."
Part of the problem, part of the solution
In order to find the road to peace, it is a good start to look at the main obstacles, the hot spots on the globe. One of these spots is no doubt the Middle East and the relations among Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab states. This is a deep-rooted problem, symbolized by the Temple Mount. Jerusalem is a holy city for Jews, Muslims and Christians, roughly half of the world population, and can only be dealt with successfully on the basis of interfaith work, which UPF is so good at. If the path of reconciliation can be the main direction for the region it opens up great possibilities. The development of Israel, a country in the desert plagued by war and terrorism, is very impressive. With the use of cutting-edge technology in various fields, Israel has become one of the most advanced nations in the world. With the growing cooperation between Israel and Jordan as a model, the Middle East could be a dynamic center for the world, but this will only happen based on interfaith work and women taking part in social and political development.
Let’s look at the other half of the world population, those living in Asia apart from the Middle East. If Israel is the key nation in world dominated by the Abrahamic faiths, Korea can be seen as the key nation in Asia. One is reminded of Tagore’s description of Korea as the lamplight of Asia. The question about Korean reunification highlights the relationship between the three great powers of USA, Russia and China. If Korea can be successfully and peacefully reunited, Korea and Japan can become a dynamic center for the development of a peaceful and prosperous world, just like Israel and the Arab states.
Russian-American partnership
If the problems in the Middle East and Northeast Asia are to be solved, there is the necessity of a cooperation and indeed a partnership between Russia and the USA. If they support opposite sides in a conflict, there is a tendency that nothing much will happen in the field of reconciliation. This is very clear concerning the issue of Korean reunification. At present it is not in China’s interest that reunification takes place, since the Chinese leadership has embarked on a rather expansionist-type of policy, bullying their neighbors, which of course causes frictions with neighbors such as Vietnam, Japan and India. Only a close and long-reaching partnership between Russia and the USA has the chance to convince the Chinese leadership that it is in China’s best interest to work with rather than against their neighbors.
Considering all this, it is easy to conclude that it is important that UPF and the Women's Federation for World Peace gain wider support in the United Nations and opinion-makers of the world!