Speeches
- Written by: Neil Bush, Chairman, Points of Light Foundation & CEO, Neil Bush Global Advisors
“I often think about how amazing the path of human development has been. How a relatively weak and disorganized species that faced threats to survival by the natural elements and by fierce predators has evolved into the dominant force on earth. Humans have a unique ability to record findings, findings that are passed down from generation to generation, with know-how always advancing. The sharing of these findings have led to remarkable medical, engineering, and scientific breakthroughs.”
- Written by: Rev. Toru Miyahara, Christian Pastor, Japan
“As I told my brothers and sisters at the WCLC Inaugural Convocation last December, I will organize a Japan Clergy Leadership Conference (JCLC) in Japan that can contribute to the development of the WCLC. JCLC will be the keystone of reconciliation among religions.”
- Written by: Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Co-Founder, Universal Peace Federation
“We cannot express in words the horrors of wars and conflicts that have arisen repeatedly, creating religious, racial and ideological barriers throughout the 6,000 biblical years of history. In addition, because of human greed and selfishness, not only humanity but also the environment is suffering. The reality is that we can no longer be onlookers.”
- Written by: Dame Patience Faka Jonathan, Former First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
“Peace is the ground upon which sustainable development is built. It is the atmosphere in which prosperity and other virtues like love and justice and equality can blossom. This is why everybody has to volunteer to promote peace, no matter our role and status in our societies. It is for this reason that I say that women are critical stakeholders in peacebuilding.”
- Written by: Hon. Khuon Sudary, Second Vice President, National Assembly of Cambodia
“The biggest question is not about what and how; it is about the will to bring about positive peace that paves the way for social and economic development based on rules of law and respect for universal values.”
- Written by: Anneli Jäätteenmäki, former Prime Minister of Finland
“Women’s participation in decision making has, unfortunately, not been an area where progress has been notable. Equality in participation and decision-making in society at all levels, from grassroots to governmental positions, is important.”
- Written by: William D. Lay, J.D., Director, School of Public and International Affairs, University of Bridgeport
“The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., in his famous Letter from the Birmingham Jail, wrote, 'How does one determine whether a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: An unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal law and natural law.'”
- Written by: Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, former Speaker of Parliament, Luxembourg
“At this very moment, some conflicts based on diversity are at the origin of a possible dismantling of the European project. The challenge of a better knowledge of the history and the culture, the language, the music and the religion of our neighbors is preliminary to understanding their attitudes.”
- Written by: Dr. Sun Jin Moon, Executive Vice President, Women’s Federation for World Peace International (WFWPI)
“God, who is the origin of love, created humankind in order to share and multiply love. We were even created to be partners and co-creators with God. If we grow in wisdom and in love – true love, that is – we will come to treat the natural world with the same loving heart that God has toward this world. We will be life-givers who resemble God and, in this respect, we would become worthy to become the true stewards of nature.”
- Written by: Dr. Andrew Wilson, professor, Unification Theological Seminary, United States
“Reverend Moon spent most of his life teaching the Principle in religious terms. Yet science was never far from his concern.”
- Written by: Sang-hyun Yoon, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee of the 20th National Assembly of the Republic of Korea
“The formidable nuclear threats from North Korea are shaking the foundation of world peace and security. South Korea is the very concerned party of these threats and likely to be directly hit by a possible attack. That is why we should be the most exemplary nation following the sanction measures to achieve complete implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution.”
- Written by: Hon. Yoshinori Ohno, Minister of Defense (2004-2005); President of IAPP-Japan
“In order to maintain peace, there is much stronger power than defense and diplomatic power. That is human relationship. We could call this sort of human relations 'peace power.' Let’s push forward this peace power. In order to strengthen peace power, let’s promote an exchange of people at all levels, particularly at the level of young people. Exchange of students is called 'ambassadors from the future.' They will surely bring peace on this earth.”