[HWPL]

[HWPL] ‘World Alliance of Religions Peace Day’ and ‘HWPL Day’ Declared in Manhattan, New York

The Manhattan Borough President's Office, New York City, proclaimed September 18th 2015 'World Alliance of Religions Peace Day' in the Borough of Manhattan

During their 31 peace tours, there is one place that Chairman Man Hee Lee of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) and his peace delegation frequently visited to listen to calls for peace from people around the world: New York, the headquarters of the United Nations and a city where Chairman Lee met numerous UN dignitaries to secure a consensus on world peace.

What drew particular attention was the declaration of September 18 2015 as 'World Alliance of Religions Peace Day' by Manhattan Borough President's Office, New York City, which is in close proximity to the UN headquarters. This declaration had been proclaimed by HWPL at the 1st Annual Commemoration ceremony of the WARP Summit held in Seoul, Korea on that same day.

The content recorded within the declaration that was signed by Gale A. Brewer, the then Borough President of the New York City borough of Manhattan, is HWPL's founding declaration of the 'World Alliance of Religions Peace Day' on September 18th 2014 and the signing of the 'World Alliance of Religions Agreement' during the 9.18 WARP Summit at the 63 Building (63 Square) in Seoul from the 17th-19th September 2014. The signing ceremony was warmly welcomed. Former President Brewer also explained the background to the announcement of the declaration, saying, “Support for the annual commemoration of the 9.18 World Alliance of Religions' Peace (WARP) Summit, which fosters cooperation between individuals, groups and nations beyond creed, is growing in the city.”

Brewer said, “The philosophy of HWPL is to bring people of different religions together based on the concept of ‘heavenly culture’. It plays the role of making things one.” She said, "Recognizing HWPL's commitment to world peace, we declare Friday, September 18th 2015, as 'World Alliance of Religions Peace Day' in the borough of Manhattan."

Brewer stamped the written declaration with the official seal of the borough of Manhattan.

Brewer's support did not stop there. Two years later, on May 8th 2017, Brewer officially designated March 14th, the day of the proclamation of the ‘Declaration of World Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW, 10 articles 38 clauses)’ , ‘HWPL Day’.

On the first floor of the HWPL Peace Institute in Gapyeong district, Gyeonggi province, various awards and gifts given to Chairman Man-hee Lee and his peace delegation by people during their global peace tours are displayed.

The response of the Manhattan Borough President's Office to Chairman Lee and his peace mission did not come out of nowhere.

It was in July 2012 that Chairman Lee began to form a consensus with the locals in New York. On his second overseas tour, Chairman Lee invited the Christian community and those with an interest in the Bible to an Open Bible Seminar. From that time on, the scope of participants expanded beyond numerous religious circles, beginning with a conference hosted in New York on May 15th 2014, during the 10th Peace Tour, where 130 local faith leaders participated and promoted religious harmony at the Interfaith World Peace Conference hosted by HWPL at the Pennsylvania Hotel in New York.

Up to this point, peace discussions with people of religion had been mainly conducted in New York, but after that, the scope of activity expanded to a peace movement for global peace that would transcend creed, race, border and ideology.

During the 14th Peace Tour and third visit by Chairman Lee to New York, Chairman Lee met with UN officials in earnest. On September 2nd 2014, the UN Peace Conference was held at the Millennium Hotel and was attended by representatives from the United Nations, including the late Noel Sinclair (former President of the UN Security Council), Mary Singletary (President at the National Council of Women of the United States), Isaiah Chabala (former Ambassador of Zambia to the United Nations, Founder and President of Visionary Empowerment Inc.), and Carlos García (former Permanent Mission of El Salvador to the United Nations, Founder of CG Global Consultant).

Al Jazeera conducted on-site coverage of the Peace Conference and reported the news locally. Chairman Lee had a meeting with 'Queen Mother' Dr. Delois Blakely, Community Mayor of Harlem and UN Goodwill Ambassador to Africa, whose autobiography is understood to be the inspiration for the film and stage musical 'Sister Act'. Upon hearing Chairman Lee's message of peace, she said, "I am very grateful to God for sending Chairman Lee." Chairman Lee said, "It is being proven to us all that world peace is achieved through actions, not just words." She expressed her gratitude for the inclusion of (HWPL's) Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War within the UN Declaration, and delivered a letter of appreciation to Chairman Lee assuring him of her full support.

Securing participation in this peace movement, Chairman Lee not only met the 'Queen Mother', but also the heads of Yemeni regional peace groups, UN media outlets, UN Global Education First Initiative (GEFI) Chernova Steering Committee, and UN Secretary-General's Envoy on Youth Mr. Ahmad Alhendawi.

Participants hold hands and sing in jubilation following the signing of an agreement at the 'World Peace Convention Ceremony' at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on December 4th, 2014.

When Chairman Lee revisited New York on December 3rd 2014 during his 16th peace tour, the '2015 World Peace Convention Ceremony' was attended by about 500 people, including UN ambassadors from 7 countries, 16 media outlets, people of religion, lawyers, and various peace organizations. At this meeting, Chairman Lee delivered a keynote speech. The peace conference concluded with participants standing, holding hands and their respective national flags and joyfully singing a song of peace. UN officials acknowledged it as a sight to behold at the noble United Nations Headquarters, and praised Chairman Lee for his efforts in bringing unity to the global community.

On September 28th 2015, at the time of the 70th session of the UN General Assembly, Chairman Lee was invited to the Global Peace Leadership session held in Conference Room 3 of the UN headquarters. At that time, Chairman Lee was conducting his 20th peace tour. Held under the theme, ‘World Peace: Consultation Between Religious Leaders and the Role of Women and Youth’, reports on the progress of HWPL’s Peace Tour and World Peace Summit were also presented.

The event was attended by many people who had attended the 2014 World Peace Summit, including former Minister of Foreign Affairs in Bangladesh, Dr. Kamal Hossain; Alvind Bora, Chairman of the Federation of Jain Associations in North America; Princess Maria Amor Torres; and Founder of the South Asian Bar Association, Inderjit Singh. When local religious leaders in New York heard the news of Chairman Lee's visit, they invited Chairman Lee to deliver a message of peace. At the Religious Leaders Meeting held at Trump World Tower on that day, Chairman Lee emphasized the movement of the WARP Offices and encouraged the religious world to become one by comparing their respective scriptures.

At the '2018 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development' conference on May 31st 2018, Chairman Man-Hee Lee speaks to UN ambassadors from 145 countries about the urgency of proposing the DPCW to the United Nations for the 'enactment of an international law to cease war'. On that day, HWPL delivered the book 'True Story of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL): Peace and Cessation of War' - produced by Chairman Lee and detailing the results of the peace tours of the Chairman and his peace delegation - to the ambassadors of each country

During his 25th peace tour, Chairman Lee visited New York again. On May 6th 2017, at the Religious Leaders' Conference held at Hotel Pennsylvania, Fateh Aliya (President of Yemeni American Association) and Eric Adams (Brooklyn Borough President) co-presented the Peace Achievement Award to Chairman Lee in recognition of his outstanding contribution to peace for humanity.

At the 'Cessation of War Peace Memorial Festival' held at Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park on the 8th May 2017, William Bendon Hubell (Founder of the Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park and US Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations) came up with an innovative solution to achieving peace among politicians, legal circles, religions, women and youth. He actively led the activities within each group and presented Chairman Lee with the Peace Achievement Award.

Support for the global peace movement of Chairman Lee and his peace delegation gained further momentum and, on May 31st 2018, during the 28th Peace Tour, the '2018 World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development' was held at the UN headquarters with HWPL drawing in the participation of UN ambassadors from 145 countries. A global consensus was reached in support of the 10 Articles and 38 Clauses of the DPCW for the cessation of war and achievement of world peace. As the final speaker, Chairman Lee emphasized the need for adoption of the 'Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW)' and the necessity for “enactment of an international law for the cessation of war”. Attendees expressed their support with a standing ovation. Currently, the 10 Articles and 38 Clauses of the DPCW is being proposed to the United Nations for enactment as international law.

Peace!