Calling for the Awakening of Conscience in Global Citizens Making the UN’s Adoption of the International Day of Conscience Possible - International Day of Conscience on April 5 | WPN World People News

Ambassadors and deputies from various Missions to the UN join the panel for a group picture at the conclusion of the World Peace and Love Conference with the theme of Transforming Our World: Global Partnership for Sustainable Development, at the United Nations on April 5, 2018 in New York. (AP Images)

In 2004, at the age of 70, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze launched the movement of An Era of Conscience, emphasizing that for the sustainable development of the Earth and for the common welfare of all humanity, people should gather good words and kind deeds to create a world of love and peace. He also led FOWPAL, the ECOSOC-accredited NGO Association of World Citizens (AWC), and Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy to jointly launch the movement. On August 17, 2014, a ceremony was held in San Jose, U.S.A. to kick off the global endorsement campaign for the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience," and to date, people in 200 countries or territories have signed the Declaration.

From left, H.E. Mr. Mohammed Saleh Ali Rashid Al Gheilani, Head of the Permanent Observer Mission of the Gulf Cooperation Council to the UN (Vienna); H.E. Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Ambassador of Bahrain to the UN (Vienna); Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL; His Lordship Bishop Camillo Ballin, Apostolic Vicar of Northern Arabia; H.E. Mr. Ibrahim Assaf, Ambassador of Lebanon to the UN (Vienna) and H.E. Mr. Mohamed Samir Koubaa, Head of the Permanent Observer Mission for the League of Arab States to the UN (Vienna), pose with a poster written "Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience" in Vienna, Austria, Oct. 10, 2019.

Beginning on April 5, 2018, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze convened more than ten meetings at and around the United Nations in New York and Vienna, in cooperation with the Permanent Missions of Bahrain, Kiribati, and Equatorial Guinea, to work on a draft resolution titled "Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience." On February 5, 2019, the Declaration of International Day of Conscience was launched at the United Nations in New York, which was translated into 53 languages. The Declaration reminds the people of the world to heed the voices of their conscience, encourages everyone to self-reflect to attain inner peace, and urges governments and organizations to organize events to promote conscience education and facilitate a global truce and peace talks, with the objective of awakening the conscience in all people and bringing peace to the world.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, is honored by New York City Mayor with a citation. From left, Harlem Globetrotter Bobby Hunter, New York City Sheriff Anthony Miranda, Dr. Hong, and Johnny Ford, president of the World Conference of Mayors. (AP Images)

On July 25, 2019, during its 73rd session, the UN General Assembly adopted a draft resolution titled "Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience" submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. In just one and a half years, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze led a delegation to 38 countries to promote a culture of peace with love and conscience.

FOWPAL hosted the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace and ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love in New York on September 23, 2022. Johnny Ford, president of the World Conference of Mayors, declared the evening of September 23, 2022 as Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze Night.

Taking Actions of Conscience: The Key to Solidarity and Transformation for Sustainability

September 23, 2022 Declared as Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze Night

The current global situation is even more chaotic than that on the eve of World War II. The 77th session of the UN General Assembly opened at the UN headquarters in New York on September 13, 2022, with High-Level Week taking place on September 19-23, bringing together heads of state, foreign ministers, and other leaders from more than 150 nations. “Our world is in peril and paralyzed,” warned UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the opening of the UN General Assembly, stressing that countries must now stand together.

The theme of the UN General Assembly 2022 was "A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges.” FOWPAL, the Permanent Mission of Kiribati to the UN, International Federation for Peace and Sustainable Development (IFPSD), Africana Women Working Group at the UN, Marmara Group Foundation, Foundation for a Drug Free World Americas Chapter, and COJEP International co-organized the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace and the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love on September 23, 2022, where over 100 influential leaders from 27 nations attended the event, symbolizing civil society organizations' efforts to assist the United Nations in promoting world peace.

President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau and Amb. Teburoro Tito, former President of Kiribati and current Ambassador of Kiribati to the UN, attended the Summit. Ambassador Tito expressed his gratitude for the close friendship that FOWPAL has maintained over the years with the Permanent Mission of Kiribati to the UN. On July 25, 2019, the UN General Assembly adopted the resolution submitted by the Kingdom of Bahrain, designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, delivered welcome remarks, emphasizing that only by taking concrete actions of conscience to support reconstruction and recovery can humanity prevent or mitigate future crises and benefit the Earth and all humanity. He stated, “Conscience is the foundation of human beings and the cornerstone of global stability and sustainability. Conscience guides us to tell true from false, right from wrong, and good from bad, as well as helps us establish priorities. Persistence brings strength. We need to strive for a better tomorrow. That is the way forward and will lead to a hopeful future.”

Thirteen leaders rang the Bell of World Peace and Love, including H.E. Madam Fatima Maada Bio, First Lady of Sierra Leone; Dr. Ada Okika, UN Coordinator of Africana Women Working Group at the UN; Rev. Dr. Agorom C. Dike, president and founder of the Caribbean and African Faith-Based Leadership Conference; Johnny Ford, founder and president of the World Conference of Mayors and Historic Black Towns and Settlements Alliance; Anthony Miranda, New York City Sheriff; and Bobby Hunter, retired Harlem Globetrotter and chairman of United Churches.

On behalf of the mayor of New York, Johnny Ford, founder and president of the World Conference of Mayors, and Harlem Globetrotter Bobby Hunter, presented a citation from Mayor Eric L. Adams to honor Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze. The citation states, “Today's summit serves as a reminder for us all to work towards a better tomorrow, and it also provides an opportunity to commend FOWPAL's president, Dr. Tao-Tze Hong for his commitment to uphold the values of peace and love shared by people in the five boroughs and far beyond. I look forward to the many years Dr. Hong and every gathered will continue to foster positive change as we unite to #GetStuffDone and rebuild, renew, and reinvent our global city. Now therefore, I, Eric Adams, Mayor of the City of New York, on Friday, September 23rd, 2022, do hereby confer this citation on: Dr. Tao-Tze Hong.” In the capacity of the president of the World Conference of Mayors, Johnny Ford proclaimed the evening of September 23, 2022 as Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze night.

The summit also featured cultural performances. The youth members of FOWPAL electrified the audience with their powerful cultural performances. Their peacock dance served as a reminder to individuals to spread goodwill and make the world more beautiful. Their demonstration of martial arts embodied the purpose of martial arts, which is to prevent war and advance morality. The audience was inspired to dance happily together with them by their energizing celestial dragon dance. FOWPAL also presented two songs “A Prayer for Peace” and “We Can Change the World” to pray for the world and effect positive change.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World Americas Chapter and COJEP International presented the Global Humanitarian Leadership Award to Dr. Hong in recognition of his advocacy of love and peace around the world.

To date, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze has received many awards from around the world, including the World Citizens Award for Sustainable Development, the Humanitarianism Award, and the Justice and Freedom Award in the United States; the FIRMA Global Peace Award and the Flame of Peace Award in Europe; and the Mahatma Gandhi Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award in Asia. H.E. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, the president of Gambia (1996-2017), as Commander-in-Chief of all Gambian Armed Forces, made Dr. Hong the highest ranking Medal of Honor recipient.