[ 2014-09-17 ]

International law to be amended to prevent unjust wars
The iconic former Olympics Stadium at the heart of
the sprawling South Korean Capital, Seoul, will
this week play host to the “the Olympics of the
faithful”--as humanity's quest to rid the world
of war and establish ever-lasting peace among
religions and cultures is set to gain global
currency—with tens of thousands of people
gathering in the historic stadium for world's
biggest peace summit of all religions.

The three-day event is being convened by the
Seoul-based international organization for
Heavenly Culture, World Peace, and Restoration of
Light (HWPL), in partnership with the Berlin-based
Institute for Cultural Diplomacy.

Founder and President of the HWPL International,
Man Hee Lee, who was on a three-day pre-summit
working visit of the United States, was at his
passionate best in highlighting the achievements
of the NGO over the years and his expectations
from the summit—while pitching to the press the
need to amend the existing international law and
replace it with one that will make provision for
checkmating and punishing leaders who violate the
law by perpetrating war or seeking to cause one.

“Many people have worked for peace, and many
have received peace awards. There are many laws,
many governments, many religions with various
scriptures and leaders, but nothing has changed in
the world as wars and all forms of conflicts are
still going on,” The one-time war veteran
lamented.

“But I have the answers: I would like to
advocate the need to amend the international law
and have world leaders sign that they will not
cause war anymore. And if they violate this law,
they have to pay a penalty for abusing the law,”
he added.

Dubbed “World Alliance of Religions Peace
Summit“ the marathon sessions promises to be a
“fit-for-purpose heavy lifting” aimed at
rousing humanity to the need to get to the
fundamentals of their respective beliefs—to find
a common thread that binds all faiths as one, and
reject all forms of hostilities towards one
another.

Over the years, the peace summit convener has
succeeded where others have failed—After 40
years of fighting between Muslims and Catholics on
the Island of Mindanao, with some 12,000 lives
lost to the conflicts—many Christian and Muslim
leaders, as well as the United Nations did
intervene but the fighting hardly stopped. Man Hee
Lee was invited and after his mediation, the two
conflicting parties smoked the peace pipe, and at
the last check, the peace is holding.

Asked what message he had for African leaders, Man
Hee Lee said, of all the countries he has visited
over the years, it's Africa that is dearest to his
hearts. After departing Seoul on world tour, said
the HWPL Chair, Africa was his first stop. He,
therefore, urged African leaders to partner with
him to bring a lasting solution to the many
conflicts on the continent.

In attendance will be a number of current heads of
states and governments, as well as a large group
of former presidents and prime ministers,
spiritual leaders from all religions, heads of
non-governmental organizations, heads of academic
institutions, and traditional leaders among tens
and thousands of women and youth groups.

HWPL's women's wing—International Women's Peace
Council (IWPC) with Ms. Nam Hee Kim being the
chairwoman, and the International Youth Peace
Group (IYPG), will both play key role at the
summit.

Prominent on the summit's agenda is the drafting
and ratification of the first intentional
interfaith constitution. Following the opening
ceremony on Wednesday September 17, the summit
will break into various thematic sessions on such
topics as: Dialogue of Mutual Understanding for
World Peace, Women's Network for World Peace,
International Policy Making to Promote World Peace
and the Cessation of War, Inter-religious Dialogue
for Creating World Peace, as well as Conflicts and
Peace Building.

Other sessions will deliberate on: The Role of
Global Leaders and Organizations in Establishing
World Peace, Middle East and North Africa-The Role
of Leaders in Peace and Human Rights, as well as
Resolving Conflicts and Divisions.”

Prior to the event itself, there will be a press
conference, a preliminary meeting of Youth Leaders
for World Peace and the Cessation of War, as well
as a Preliminary meeting of World Leaders for
Peace and the Cessation of War.

There will also be an Alliance of Religions
Agreement Signing Ceremony, and the summits ends
on September 19 with Proclamation Ceremony of
Alliance of Religions and World Peace Walk,
Alliance of Religions and World Peace Walk,
Post-Event Press Conference, and the Victory
Festival of Alliance of Religions.

Source - MyjoyOnline

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