STOCKHOLM +50 calls for urgent action and follows the guidance of conscience
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze (center), H.E. Donald Kaniaru (right), former Director in the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation at UNEP, and Qaiser Nawab (left), Director of Business Development for the Middle East, with the volunteers.
This year, the United Nations has convened Stockholm+50 international conference under the theme of “A Healthy Planet for the Prosperity of All - Our Responsibility, our Opportunity”, co-organized by Sweden and Kenya. At the opening ceremony on June 2, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged, “GDP is not a way to measure richness in the present situation in the world. Instead, we must transform to a circular and renewable economy.” He emphasized, “Let us not forget that when we destroy a forest, we are creating GDP. When we overfish, we are creating GDP.” Looking back at the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment held in Stockholm in 1972, which was the first global discussions of sustainable development and resulted in establishing the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Fifty years later, humanity still faces the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. The environment is deteriorating much faster than human expectations. In 2022, the two-day Stockholm +50 conference featured four plenary sessions, three leadership dialogues, hundreds of side events, and webinars and brought together people from all over the world. Among them, two of the associated events were specifically themed on "Conscience" and a number of bell ringing ceremonies were organized to pray for the global environment.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze (right) presents an honorary certificate to Dr. Aldo Manos, former Director of United Nations Environment Programme.
Based on Conscience, Responsible Citizen for Environmental Care
In the associated events posted on the Stockholm +50 website, a number of topics were featured for discussion. There are two events specifically addressed with the theme of “Conscience”, which was co-organized by Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy (Tai Ji Men), the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), and Association of World Citizens (AWC). On June 3, the Love and Peace World Leaders Summit was held in the SKYTTEN conference hall of the Best Western Hotel in Stockholm, both in physical and online, under the theme of “Responsible World Citizens and Healthy Planet–How Conscience-Driven Solutions Can Accelerate Ecosystem Restoration”. Conscience-based solutions to foster environmentally responsible global citizens and accelerate ecosystem restoration were discussed in the summit.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, the leader of Tai Ji Men, delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing, “In light of the current challenges and crises we face in our living environment, we cannot afford to waste time. Now is a critical moment for everyone to participate and take action for our planet. Inspiring people's hearts to return to nature's way and to restore a healthy, prosperous, and sustainable planet depends on the guidance of our conscience and is the shared responsibility of all world citizens, and this cannot be delayed.” “When everyone follows the guidance of their conscience, the problems we encounter today can be resolved. As long as we stop acting in our own self-interest and instead consider the well-being of the entire Earth and all of humanity, we will be able to achieve a healthy, sustainable, and affluent planet. In the face of the daunting challenges, we must take immediate action. When we treat the disadvantaged and suffering people in the world as our brothers and sisters, we can expand the capacity of people’s hearts and broaden their horizons, making it possible to realize a peaceful and beautiful world where everyone follows their conscience and every individual and family is happy.”
Prof. Rene Wadlow, president of the Association of World Citizens, stated on line, “World Citizens stress conscience as a guide for creative action to develop a world society of shared values. Conscience provides an ethical basis for the whole structure of human rights. We strive to make the world a more humane dwelling place for ourselves and for future generations. We move toward a peaceful, just and ecologically-responsible future.”
Dr. Aldo Manos, 89, is a former Director of UNEP and has been dedicated to environmental protection. He attended the forum, rang the Bell, and stated, "I know that peace is our most important objective, but we also know that it's the most difficult one, so this requires all our commitment, all our energy, and all our faith, and I am very humbled and honored to be invited here today. The bell in all religions in the world is rung as a message to the world and to "somebody else" so that what we hope will be realized, and with the help of everybody, it will be realized." He emphasized, “Conscience is the essence of environmental protection.” As a veteran of the world's first Earth Summit 50 years ago, he is now invited back to Stockholm+50 and encourages young people to go beyond their dreams and return to Stockholm+100 in 2072.
Sustainable Development Starts from the Heart
11 Bell Ringers Make wishes for Peace
Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Ghana's Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, rings the bell and makes a wish.
The Ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love became a feature of the Stockholm+50 International Conference and related events. Through the ancient World Peace Bell Ringing Ceremony, the world's conscience was awakened and the ringers were encouraged to make their wishes for world peace and sustainable development, and to act on their wishes.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze (right) presents a Compass Clock of Conscience to H.E. Eve Bazaiba Masudi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze has actively promoted the culture of peace with love and conscience throughout the world for more than 20 years as the leader of the World Love Goodwill Cultural Group, which has traveled to 101 nations on five continents. More than 50 volunteers flew to Stockholm from all over the world at their own expense, carrying the Bell of World Peace and Love in the hopes that it would help spread peace, praying for the blessing of all living things and the restoration of the earth's ecology. From June 1st to 3rd, a number of ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love were held in Stockholm, with 11 influential leaders ringing the Bell, including officials from the United Nations Environment Programme and environmental ministers, in order, Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation of Ghana; Dr. Maminata Traore/Coulibaly, Minister of Environment, Energy, Water and Sanitation of Burkina Faso; Harald Fries, Director and Deputy Head of Department of International Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sweden and Ambassador of Sweden to the Philippines (2010-2016); Amb. Nancy Karigithu, Principal Secretary and Special Envoy for Maritime and Blue Economy of Kenya; Eve Bazaiba Masudi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Environment of Democratic Republic of Congo; Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management of Belize; Carlos Manuel Rodriguez, CEO and Chairperson of Global Environment Facility and former Minister of Environment and Energy of Costa Rica; Philda Kereng, Minister of Environment and Tourism of Botswana; Dr. Aldo Manos, former Director of UNEP; Donald Kaniaru, former Director in the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation at UNEP; and Qaiser Nawab, Director of Business Development for the Middle East.
H. E. Donald Kaniaru (center),former Director in the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation at UNEP and Qaiser Nawab (right), Director of Business Development for the Middle East, listen to the history of the Bell of World Peace and Love shared by the volunteers.
The world's 400th bell-ringer was Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, Ghana's Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, who rang the bell with a wish for "absolute peace among the peoples of the world. I believe it is God's will that I am here," he said with excitement. Being the 400th bell-ringer is no accident. It is very important. In my life, even though I am not perfect, the words conscience, morality and ethics have always been true in my life. ...... I'm grateful. I'm glad I participated in such a spiritually uplifting event."
Ambassador Nancy Karigithu, Kenya's Special Envoy for Oceans and Blue Economy and Principal Secretary of State, rang the bell and said, "When you talk about conscience and compass, it touches my heart. I feel like I have become new and different. I want to encourage you to keep spreading this message, because this is the way of the world and the future. When I rang the bell, I was thinking about my five-year-old granddaughter and the world I live in now, and I hope that the world of the future will be much better than the world of today.
Eve Bazaiba Masudi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's deputy prime minister and minister of the environment, rang the bell and made the wish, “For a better world, peace, love and security.”
H.E. Donald Kaniaru, former Director of the Division of Environmental Policy Implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme, rang the bell and made a wish, "Peace is the basis for life and development, it is the basis for mutual understanding among human beings. Being one with nature is the hope of humanity. Therefore, for our well-being, we should all recognize it.
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze presented to each of the bell ringers a Compass Clock of Conscience and An Anthology of Conscience by Dr. Hong. The Clock represents time, direction and goal, guides people toward the right path of life, and reminds them to seize every moment and to practice conscience and good deeds in their lives. The anthology is a collection of the excerpts on conscience from Dr. Hong’s speeches presented on various occasions around the globe, which serves as a wellspring of wisdom for the recipients in the promotion of a culture of conscience. To date (2022/6/15), 417 world heads of state and leaders from 128 countries have rung the Bell of World Peace and Love, including 49 heads of countries and governments, seven recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize, and ambassadors and leaders from every country who have ever served in the United Nations. Presidents Senegallwald, Fernandez of the Dominican Republic, and Menes of So Tomé and Principe were among those who rang the bell and made a wish for peace. They then mediated disputes in neighboring countries or peacefully resolved domestic coups in order to spare people from the suffering of war and to uphold their commitment to a stable world and sustainable development.
We can change the world by responding to the Declaration of Conscience
“Our Only Home: How Conscience-Driven Education and Solutions Can Accelerate Ecosystem Restoration for a Cleaner, Greener Planet," an online event was held in response to World Earth Day on June 5. The event covered how conscience-based education and solutions can accelerate Ecosystem Restoration for a Cleaner, Greener Planet. The forum also featured highlights of the Stockholm+50 conference, including a bell ringing ceremony, and advice, music and dance from a variety of people.
Tai Ji Men dizi perform inspiring songs and dances during the forum.
During the forum, Tai Ji Men dizi performed inspiring songs and dances, including "We Can Change the World," "The Angel in Your Heart," and "Happiness Is Everywhere." Through these performances, they encouraged everyone, regardless of race, age, work, or other factors, to follow their conscience and take positive action in their lives to make the world a better and joyful place.
This year, they specially promoted the "Global Endorsement of Declaration for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peace " and the "Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and Declaration of International Day of Conscience", hoping that everyone will make their commitment to environmental protection. To date, the " Declaration for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peace" have been endorsed by more than 3.73 million people from 180 countries and a CD with 2 million signatures was submitted to the United Nations in 2004 to express people's desire for peace and sustainability. The "Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and Declaration of International Day of Conscience" has been endorsed by people in 196 countries. With the promotion of a culture of love, peace and conscience, they hope that more conscientious people will support the endorsement of the Declaration and continue to promote the values expressed in the Declaration to help our world move towards a better future.
Link to “Global Endorsement of Declaration for Human Rights of World Citizens and Peace”
Link to "Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience and Declaration of International Day of Conscience"
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