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International Day of Peace Observed in Cameroon
Written by UPF-Cameroon
Saturday, September 17, 2016
Yaoundé, Cameroon—International Day of Peace 2016 was the occasion for Ambassadors for Peace to reflect on how they can bring lasting peace to Cameroon.
Acting as emcee at the September 17 program, Mrs. Rachel Van Iersel gave welcoming remarks, which were followed by the singing of the Cameroonian National Anthem. Archbishop Rev. Pierre Tang then offered an invocation.
UPF National Coordinator Rev. Edwin Plekhanov and UPF Chair Ambassador Dr. Chemuta Divine Banda, the president of the Human Rights Commission, were presented to the assembly.
The 2016 UN International Day of Peace message from UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon was read by university professor Dr. Ndi George, who added his own words, saying that peace will never come about if we are not all involved.
To entertain the assembly JinHee Amelia and JinJoo Vicktoriya presented songs.
A video about the inauguration of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace was shown, allowing the audience to understand the impact of UPF activities in peacebuilding. Another video about the Peace Blessing was also shown as a UPF project for world peace.
UPF-Cameroon Secretary General Innocent Ndasi Fongoh gave a presentation on UPF and its activities. He clearly said that there is no peace without God. Peace begins in the family, and we need to live for the sake of others. He talked of the Founders’ vision, the Principles of Peace, character education and living a transparent life.
As the second part of this celebration Dr. Ndi George led a discussion on how Ambassadors for Peace in Cameroon can effectively fulfill their mission; later he spoke on the importance of developing long-lasting peace. Peace should be a way of life, he said. He opened the floor for people to contribute ideas on how peace can be made concretely. After the discussion the emcee asked everybody to stand, and they sang the slogan of peace: “Peace is not a word but a way of life.”
UPF Chair Dr. Banda gave his impressions about the conference, saying, “I am really lucky that I could meet Rev and Mrs. Moon in this time of torment the world is facing. We need to be more active to impact the society. The only way of world peace is to embrace the UPF vision of peace.”
UPF National Coordinator Rev. Edwin Plekhanov gave the closing remarks: “I am so happy to realize that many people are conscious about building world peace, as we are here today.” He invited the participants to attend the Peace Road 2016, which was scheduled to take place in the town of Tiko in southwest Cameroon on Saturday, September 24. Rev. Plekhanov also encouraged all Ambassadors for Peace to engage in various peace initiatives centering on the family to bring about lasting peace.
UPF is now on a TV program, VISION 4 Channel (au Coeur du mistere), every Thursday at 8 p.m., on which Rev. Mbu Manchang Puis, who is in charge of religious affairs at UPF-Cameroon, explains the vision of peace of Father and Mother Moon.
At the next meeting, announced for September 29, two parliamentarians were scheduled to report on the launching of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace in West and Central Africa, which they attended in Burkina Faso in August.
To conclude the gathering, the participants prayed together and a group photo was taken.
Reflections by the participants
Rev. Pierre Tang: “All development is first spiritual. So, to create peace we need to embody peace. We can’t pretend to spread peace if we as individuals are not the incarnation of peace. To create peace we need to understand the importance of developing our character. We need to have a peaceful character.”
Ya Ya Ben Jaffa, director of a Muslim school: “We need to pass down this education of peace through the root. This education needs to be transmitted to the young people. Our responsibility is to spread peace. Thus, each Ambassador [for Peace] should work for that,” he said. He proposed that Ambassadors for Peace should give monthly reports of what they have contributed to long-lasting peace.
Hon. Dissake Marguerite, a member of Parliament, asked, “Why is peace so difficult to achieve? In the Bible God clearly says, ‘Thou shalt not kill.’ But then people still kill. … When someone dies, people say, ‘Rest in peace,’ even if the person had a bad way of living. Why not say, ‘Live in peace’? How can we rest in peace if we can’t live in peace? Peace is not something material; it’s first spiritual. God is peace. If we do not have God’s peace in us, how can we transmit it? We transmit peace through our character. That’s why character education is very important.”
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