[HWPL]

[HWPL] The 5th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit: "All Presidents in the World: Please Sign the DPCW & its 10 Articles 38 Clauses"

On September 18th 2019, attendees of the 5th Annual Commemoration of the 9.18 WARP Summit cheer on at Suwon World Cup Stadium

“The global village is now all within Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light. I would like to speak a word to all the presidents of the world, including the president of my own country: Please sign the 10 articles and 38 clauses of the DPCW and allow the people of each country to inherit and live in a world of peace without war.”

The above appeal was made by Chairman Manhee Lee of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) at the ‘5th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit’ at Suwon World Cup Stadium, Gyeonggi Province, on September 18th 2019

The Peace Festival that day, held under the theme ''Legislate Peace': Implementation of the DPCW for Sustainable Development'', was carried out to legislate the 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)' for global peace. It was a scene where people no longer had to envision world peace as a mere dream, but as a reality.

Roughly 300,000 people from 166 places in 113 countries, including 40,000 HWPL members who filled the stadium, and participants from 33 locations in 29 regions throughout Korea, participated in the event, making it a great success. The opening celebration of the 5th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit, which focused on inviting Korean personnel for the first time, created a shifting perspective of peace within Korea.

Foreign dignitaries who filled every corner of the stadium had begun preparations one year in advance of the event, and came to Korea at their own expense. Their enthusiasm was proof that the message of peace proclaimed by Chairman Man-hee Lee was, and is, alive in their hearts.

HWPL Chairman Man-hee Lee emphasized the necessity of enacting international law for the realization of the ‘Declaration of World Peace and Cessation of War' at the 5th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit held on September 18th 2019

The card section performance, put on by about 6,000 members of International Peace Youth Group (IPYG), was deeply moving and a spectacular sight to behold as they moved in unison. The message delivered deeply resonated within the hearts of the crowd. Since the Gojoseon kingdom (2333 BC), the Korean people have had to overcome adversity through a tumultuous history that includes foreign invasions, Japanese colonization, division into North and South due to the Korean War, with dazzling growth through the Saemaul Undong  (New Village Movement).

As the railroad had been disconnected following the construction of the 38th parallel, the scene of the unification train heading to Pyongyang unfolded like a movie, and was met with thunderous applause and cheers that erupted throughout the stadium as guests held their breath in anticipation. With a child's voice sounding the words, "Who will save the world from war?", the phrase 'DPCW 10 Articles 38 Clauses' was spelled out during the card section. This was followed by another voice responding, "You who support the 10 articles and 38 clauses of the DPCW are the protagonists of peace," which again was met with waves of great cheer and emotion.

The card section and mass games performances held at the opening ceremony of the 5th Annual Commemoration of the 9.18 WARP Summit, hosted by Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light, at Suwon World Cup Stadium on September 18th 2019

In contrast, outside the stadium that day, about 10 people mobilized sound equipment in order to disrupt the event. During the event, the electricity was cut, thereby creating an unprecedented situation. Nevertheless, the event went on in an orderly manner without any disturbance, as scheduled.

Venerable Seong-oh, who has attended the annual commemorative ceremonies for two consecutive years, said, “There is talk that the people who are obstructing this event is the Christian Council of Korea (CCK). People who obstruct such a good peace event are not Korean.” Speaking strongly, Venerable Seong-oh said, “This event transcends religion. People should not act like that at an event that unites people."

Myung-ok Choi, who attended the annual commemoration said, “I was surprised that everyone cooperated and held the event as one despite all the disturbances going on throughout the event. I realized that people's wish for world peace is great."

The ‘DPCW (Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War)’ is a bill that was completed in 2016 following the 3rd meeting of the HWPL International Law Peace Committee comprised, among others, of Narinder Singh, Chairman of the UN International Law Commission. The DPCW has been commended as the most powerful and effective tool to cease global conflicts.

The main theme of this event was participation in the 'Legislate Peace (LP)' campaign that has spread like wildfire worldwide. ‘LP’ is an acronym for ‘legislate’, meaning 'enacting into law’, and ‘peace’.

Since 2014, HWPL has been materializing the LP campaign for the prohibition of war through conferences by sector. As a result, an international law for sustainable peace in the form of the 10 articles and 38 clauses of the DPCW was declared. Moreover, various projects have been carried out around the world urging for submission of the DPCW to the United Nations for enactment as international law. In addition, it has contributed to the inter-religious WARP Office peace dialogues, the creation of a peace curriculum for cultivating the value   of peace among global citizens, and a citizen-led campaign to end wars.

A press conference for the opening of the 5th Annual Commemoration of the WARP Summit was held at Ramada Plaza Suwon in Paldal-gu, Suwon city, Gyeonggi province on September 18th 2019

HWPL presented handwritten letters, written by citizens of every country expressing their wish for peace, in order to attract support for the DPCW. In addition, a 'Peace Letter' campaign was launched, in which handwritten letters have been continually sent to leaders of each country. To date, 600,000 peace letters have been delivered to leaders in 192 countries. On the 19th, global representatives from the fields of politics, academia, religion, women and youth gathered and were divided into five groups to discuss the cessation of war and implementation of world peace in the global village.

Various conferences, held at The K Hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seocho district, Seoul, included the '2019 Conference for the Implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War', '5th International Religious Leaders Conference', '2019 International Women's Peace Conference', 'HWPL Peace Education Conference' and the '2019 International Youth Peace Conference'. At the '2019 Conference for the Implementation of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War', 1,200 participants signed a peace resolution as a pledge to participate in the LP campaign.

Through his presentation, Chairman Manhee Lee said, “Why should we enact the DPCW as international law? It is because current international law cannot bring conflict to an end”.

Afterwards, speakers requested support so that they could serve as a bridge for peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula and a world of peace. Seong-hee Jeong, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Peace Railway, said, “I am confident that if the DPCW becomes an effective and binding bill after it is proposed at the UN, it will greatly contribute to the realization of lasting peace in our world, beyond the peaceful reunification of the Korean peninsula.”

“Many countries and international organizations have been working for peace, but they have not been able to resolve religious hatred that is at the root of conflict,” said Jeong-su Ye, President of Sungkyunkwan Judo Association. Appealing for support, he said, "That's why we need a peace agreement on a national level, and that will come in the form of the DPCW. The DPCW has compiled the principles of peace that this present age demands”.

On September 19th 2019, on the second day of the 9.18 Peace Conference, conferences per sector were held at The K Hotel in Yangjae-dong, Seocho district, Seoul. The photo shows participants at the '2019 International Women's Peace  Conference'

Peace!!