(GPDN)-A few days ago Pope Francis warned the world to be alert to World War III. Meanwhile, an international suspected terrorist from UAE attempted to enter Taiwan. We thought the crisis is far away but actually it is just around us. We saw frequent occurrences of natural and man-made disasters as well as outbreaks of wars in the year 2014. Peace is not only a slogan or an ideal, but also the urging need to maintain human survival. September 21St is the International Day of Peace set by the United Nations. On the same day, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), Association of World Citizens (AWC), Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, and seventeen organizations from seven countries jointly held the 2014 International Forum on the Awakening of Conscience in the United States and different venues around Taiwan. The event gathered people of great influence to provide precious suggestions of conscience for people and the world, with an aim to creating a bright future with wisdom.
Conscience is the driving force of peace. Only self-awareness can solve conflicts with wisdom and lead people to a safe future. This Sunday ( September 21st ) the International Forum on the Awakening of Conscience on the International Day of Peace was held again, this time at Taipei City Council, the main venue in Taipei. The speeches of Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men and the president of the Federation of World Peace and Love, addressed that if we are deterred by current difficulties, we will be very likely to be defeated by the mounting challenges ahead. We need to open our minds to the messages from our hearts. Through the “awakening of the conscience” in each of us, we listen quietly to the calling from the depth of our souls and bravely do what is right. Then we will be able to see opportunities as we face the challenges before us.
Dr. Rene Wadlow, President of Association of World Citizen and the representative to the United Nations, Geneva, sent his blessing far from France. He said that as citizens of the world, we are dedicated to the emergence of a global ethic and a consciousness of humanity as one community. Together, we help to overcome fears, antagonisms, and violence and to develop a deep consciousness of the oneness of life. We seek a world free of war and the threat of war. We seek a world society with justice and respect for each person, a world society where each person's potential may be fulfilled.
During the event, “Awakening of Conscience, global movement” video was played. To keep the world from getting worse, volunteers around the world showed their support for “the Movement of An Era of Conscience.” Positive energy is spreading out everywhere. On that day,“Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience ” was announced. The declaration points out that in the face of the escalating geopolitical tensions and deteriorating living environment, human being's survival is subjected to mounting challenges. Therefore, it is imperative to promote the movement of An Era of Conscience to bring together the conscience deeply-rooted in people's hearts to enhance the awareness of global solidarity and to usher in sustainability. The following honored guests read out the declaration one by one and endorsed at the scene : Joseph Kuo,the senior movie director, Teng, Yean-sen, professor of school of Law, SooChow Univesity, Lee, Hwai-Tzong, professor of school of Law, National Chung Hsing University, Tsai, Wei-Jie, vice chairman of Chinese Association of Accountants, Lien, Fu-Long, assistant professor of department of Philosophy, Chinese Culture University, Yang, Jiong-Hua, professor of the Department of Restaurant and Institutional Management, Shih Chien University, Chang, Chen-Hsing, Managing Attorney at Li Ding Law Firm, Chu Yi-Liang, chairman of Association of Beautiful Life in Aboriginal Tribes, Chao-Chih, the assistant professor of school of Law, National University of Kaohsiung. Together with BUDI SANTOSO from Indonesian Economic and Trade Office, Taipei and Wu, Chih-Kuang, vice dean of School of Law, Fu Jen Catholic University. All the honored guests lightened up “smiley conscience ball” on the stage. They voiced their own words of conscience and hoped to awake the conscience around the world and let love and peace light up the world.
“The conscience is the root. Reopen the conscience,” the famous director Joseph Kuo noted the importance of conscience to a person’s character. He also pointed out that no matter where one is, everyone should spread the Movement of An Era of Conscience to his/her own countries. We should reopen the conscience on the International Day of Peace. “Instead of cursing the darkness, light up the light,” said Lin, Chao-Chih, hoping that all of us could be the one that lights up the light. Chang, Chen-Hsing said that “everyone awakens their conscience, and, peace is around the world.” While we are now faced with concern for food safety, as an educator of related business, Professor Yang, Jiong-Hua also hoped that everyone can awaken their conscience─“If every step in food-making process is based on conscience, people can all be free from fear and anxiety.” “We are born with conscience,” said Professor Teng, Yean-Sen in the belief that only with conscience can people respect and love one another like brothers and sisters. Both Professor Lee, Hwai-Tzong and Professor Wu, Chih-Kuang are working in the field of Law. Professor Lee expressed his hope that in an era of conscience, “everyone does the right things and do the things rightly; the government also acts according to conscience.” Professor Wu stated that people who practice law have to perform administration according to the law. While enforcing the law, do not reject anything virtuous for its pettiness, nor embrace anything vicious for its insignificance. Professor Lien, Fu-Long believed that true conscience is respecting different conscience from different people. Finance and Tax expert Tsai, Wei-Jie noted that in this period of chaos, conscience is a huge power to inspire bright and positive thoughts, which can comfort peoples’ heart, help countries progress, and create a more peaceful world. Mr. Chu, Yi-Liang from the Atayal tribe shared the faith of the Atayal as “sharing happiness, sharing governance, and sharing faults.” He said that for the Atayal, conscience is “not doing anything you are afraid of, because fear is the sign that you’re doing something wrong.” With conscience, we can make a kind society, and the society will thus grow and prosper. BUDI SANTOSO, the reprehensive from Indonesia, promoted that conscience is important not only for us, but also for the next generation.
The international forum was held around two main topics─ “Awaken the conscience, advices for governance” and “Awaken the conscience, people-centered governance,” and there were four sessions. “Awaken the conscience, advices for governance” was hosted by Professor Teng from School of Law, SooChow Univesity and Professor Lee from School of Law, National Chung Hsing University. “Awaken the conscience, people- centered governance,” was hosted by Mr. Chang, principal of National Taipei University of Business and Professor Tsai, Associate Professor at the Department of Business Administration, College of Management, Shih Chien University. Lee Yung-Ran, chairman of Chinese Association for Human Rights, Neil Peng, a famous writer, Professor Sun Yuan-Hsun, the main character of the documentary “Hero” made by National Geographic Channel, Wu, Chih-Kuang, vice dean of School of Law, Fu Jen Catholic University, and many other scholars and experts awaken people’s conscience from the perspectives of law, tax, culture, environmental protection, economy, technology innovation, and administrative system.
At the Annual UN Department of Public Information Non-Governmental Organization Conference this year, Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that he depends on NGOs to push world leaders along the right path. “You understand that sovereignty carries responsibility. You know that political power is a sacred duty. And you have absolute influence that can make history,” said Ban. On September, 1999, Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love, mentioned in “Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace” that only a sincere heart can touch the depths of one’s soul. For many years, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), Association of World Citizens (AWC), Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy have been traveling around the world to promote the idea of love and peace, and they have also invited world leaders to ring the Bell of Peace. Fernánde, President of the Dominican Republic, Wade, President of Senegal, Menezes, President of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe all have rung the Bell and have done specific acts to bring peace to their countries. To fulfill the vision of love and peace, we should start from changing ourselves. When we change ourselves and exert positive influence, the power spreads out from points to lines then to surfaces, and finally the world will change for the better! For more related news and details about the endorsement of “the Movement of An Era of Conscience,” please go to www.aneoc.org. Welcome people from all fields join the declaration movement!