FOWPAL’s Peace Bell Resonates at Gala Dinner of Eurasian Economic Summit in Türkiye to Pray for People Affected by the Earthquakes

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2023-03-14

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Marinko Čavara, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, center, rings the Bell of World Peace and Love as Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), looks on during the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit on March 13, 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye. Source: AP image

In February, the deadliest earthquake to strike Türkiye and Syria in a century claimed the lives of over 50,000 people. With the war between Russia and Ukraine continuing for over a year, the international geopolitical situation has been extremely precarious, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has plunged the global economy into crisis. At this critical moment, the world urgently needs stability and solidarity. In honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Türkiye, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), led a delegation of nearly 60 international volunteers, along with the 240-kilogram Bell of World Peace and Love, to attend the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye and to host an ancient solemn bell ringing ceremony at the gala dinner on March 13, 2023 to pray for the repose of the deceased, peace of mind for the living, the cessation of disasters, the well-being of everyone, and peace for Türkiye and the rest of the world.

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Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), right, presents the “Key to the Heart” to Irina Vlah, governor of ATU Gagauzia, Republic of Moldova, during the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit on March 13, 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The key symbolizes that the conscience in everyone’s heart is the key to a peaceful world.

The 26th Eurasian Economic Summit, organized by the Marmara Group Foundation, will take place at the WOW Istanbul Hotel from March 13 to 15, 2023, bringing together heads of state, ministers, mayors, and leaders of various organizations to explore how to address the interconnected crises plaguing the world and how to strengthen global solidarity for peace and sustainability.

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Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), left, and Nasirli Emil, founder and editor-in-chief of “My Azerbaijan” International Magazine, read a book titled History of International Day of Conscience during the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit on March 13, 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The book documents FOWPAL’s efforts that made the United Nations’ designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience possible. Source: AP image

To pray for Türkiye, Syria, and the rest of the world, FOWPAL’s president Dr. Hong explained the meaning of ringing the Bell: “The world is in turmoil, and the Earth is suffering. The sound of the peace bell comforts all beings. Let us set sail with conscience and do good deeds to atone for our mistakes. Let us work together for a future of love, hope, and sustainability.”

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4.Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), left, presents the “Key to the Heart” to Marinko Čavara, deputy speaker of the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the 26th Eurasian Economic Summit on March 13, 2023 in Istanbul, Türkiye. The key symbolizes that the conscience in everyone’s heart is the key to a peaceful world. Source: AP image

After that, six leaders rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and made wishes for peace: the mayor of Avcılar Municipality, Turan Hançerli; Marinko Čavara, Deputy speaker of Parliament Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina; Ersin Tatar, the fifth president of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus;Ambassador Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States, Kyrgyzstan; Sertaç Demirezen, vice president for Overseas Operations at Navigator International; and Nasirli Emil, founder and editor-in-chief of “My Azerbaijan” International Magazine.
The solemn and peaceful sound of the Bell represents the heartfelt prayers of all humankind for the victims of the recent deadly earthquakes and led all attendees of the event to feel the energy of love and peace from Heaven and Earth and in their hearts, to inspire the world to work together for a better future, and to spread the power of light and hope in Türkiye and around the world.

At the start of the gala dinner, FOWPAL presented an uplifting and eye-catching performance entitled “2023 Love of the World Cultural Goodwill Group March Formation.” The Group has been invited to perform in the 2000 Olympic Games, the 2017 Universiade, and other important events. It was also invited to perform in front of the U.S. Capitol. At the gala dinner, FOWPAL delivered artistic and diverse presentations of martial arts that captured the essence of an ancient culture: waving flags, representing blessings for the summit and leading world citizens to spread peace; the Celestial Officials and fairies, representing blessings for Türkiye; the golden phoenix, representing light and hope; and knights-errant demonstrating martial skills with swords and other weapons, representing heroes from all over the world spreading good energy to change the world to bless the summit and lead global citizens to spread peace; young warriors displaying martial skills with fans and double sticks embodying bravery and fearlessness to create a new era; the multi-racial ensemble dance, representing the spread of love and peace and the unity of the world to create shared prosperity of global citizens.

In the past few decades, Dr. Hong has led the FOWPAL delegation to 101 countries, organizing bell ringing ceremonies and the World Leader Summits of Love and Peace. The ringers have made peace wishes with reverence for Heaven and Earth, praying for all living creatures and continuing to exert their positive influences to contribute to world peace.

Beginning in 2018, Dr. Hong worked with various Permanent Missions to the UN on a draft resolution titled "Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience" and was instrumental in the UN’s designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience in July 2019.

In September 2019, at a conference celebrating the UN’s adoption of the International Day of Conscience at the United Nations in New York, Dr. Scott Carlin, Associate Professor of Geography at Long Island University, after hearing Dr. Hong’s speech, said, “Dr. Hong's speech was deeply moving and very inspiring." Dr. Carlin also stated that the International Day of Conscience is profoundly meaningful and has far-reaching impacts on all people in all countries.

Dr. Hong has long been promoting conscience. To encourage global citizens to act with conscience, in addition to issuing the Declaration of International Day of Conscience in 2019, he also proclaimed in 2022 the Declaration of World Prayer Day and the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, in which he stated, “Love and conscience activate the power of unselfish and altruistic hope for peace. Where there is hope, there will be action, and where there is concerted action of conscience, there will be success. When everyone is willing to carry out their commitment to peace and collaborate with one another, there will be love in society, and a world filled with love will be peaceful.”

Dr. Akkan Suver, president of the Marmara Group Foundation and the founder of the Summit, values Dr. Hong’s dedication to promoting a culture of peace with love and conscience, so he invited Dr. Hong and his delegation to attend the summits in 2022 and 2023 and to host ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love at the events. On March 15 at 11:30 a.m., Dr. Hong is expected to deliver a keynote speech in the fifth session of the Summit. He will reveal the key to a sustainable future for humanity and encourage global citizens to work together for the common good, and by holding onto the key, humans will be able to find the root cause of the problems they face and find the solutions.

About the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL): Established in 2000 in the United States by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, FOWPAL is an international love and peace organization, with members from 137 nations. Over the past two decades, FOWPAL has promoted conscience, love, and peace globally. It had worked with various Permanent Missions to the UN through conferences, bell ringing ceremonies, and declaration signing, and was instrumental in the UN’s adoption of the International Day of Conscience in July 2019. It has held over 70 webinars in the past two years, fostering conscience-based sustainability.