Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze's Hopes and Actions | WPN World People News

In the 21st century, the world faces more severe and complex challenges. In 2000, the United Nations held the Millennium Summit and set the Millennium Development Goals. At the same year’s 53rd UN DPI/NGO Conference, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze delivered a speech on “Sharing the Vision of Economic and Social Development—The Urgency and Necessity of Global Solidarity and Cooperation,” which received enthusiastic responses. During the welcoming banquet, Dr. Hong shared his ideas of love and peace with then UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. For years, Dr. Hong has shared his concepts of love and peace at numerous international conferences, promoted endorsement campaigns for key declarations, and actively engaged with UN ambassadors and NGOs from various countries to enhance consensus and cooperation.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, center, celebrates the 5th International Day of Conscience with former Prime Minister of Lesotho Pakalitha Mosisili, 3rd row, 3rd from left, former President of Ecuador Rosalía Arteaga Serrano, 3rd row, 2nd from right, and other leaders.

In 2014, Dr. Hong initiated the movement of "An Era of Conscience," and on August 17 of that year, a global launching ceremony for the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience was held in San Jose, USA. Since then, people from 200 countries and territories have signed the declaration. Starting on April 5, 2018, Dr. Hong, in collaboration with the Permanent Missions to the UN of Bahrain, Kiribati, Equatorial Guinea, and others, held over ten meetings at and around the UN headquarters in New York and the UN Office in Vienna to work on the draft resolution titled "Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience." On July 25, 2019, during the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, the resolution "Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience" submitted by Bahrain was passed, designating April 5 as the International Day of Conscience. In 2023, Dr. Hong was awarded the President's Lifetime Achievement Award by U.S. President Joe Biden, recognizing him and the members of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) for contributing a total of 1.2 million hours of service to the U.S.

In 2024, the fifth International Day of Conscience was celebrated globally. On April 5, the United Nations headquarters in Geneva held seminars and musical events to mark the occasion, while on April 4, the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace was organized at the UN headquarters in New York. The summit was co-hosted by the Permanent Representative of Kiribati to the UN, Teburoro Tito, and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL, under the theme "Amplifying the Power of Hope for a Better World." The event was broadcast live globally via UN Web TV. Led by Dr. Hong, a cultural goodwill delegation composed of six organizations, including Tai Ji Men and FOWPAL, held a five-day celebration from April 3 to 7 at the UN headquarters in New York, as well as in New York and California, engaging participants from 63 countries. Former Ecuadorian President Rosalía Arteaga Serrano, Deputy Prime Minister of Kosovo Emilija Redzepi, and former Prime Minister of Lesotho Pakalitha Mosisili were among the visionary leaders who attended in person, along with nearly 100 attendees, including Mayor April Verlato of Arcadia, and other community leaders.

On April 3, a dinner and a ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love were held at the Westin Hotel in New York. In his speech, Dr. Hong said that although the Earth and humanity are facing unprecedented challenges, if every global citizen adheres to their conscience, harnesses the power of hope, and practices good deeds, and if leaders confront the shared crises with compassion, courage, and wisdom, while actively seeking peaceful, harmonious, just, and win-win solutions to benefit the Earth and all people, these crises can be transformed into opportunities for positive change. By gathering the power of hope, humanity can be guided toward a sustainable future, with the hope that wars will cease, the pandemic will end, and people will enjoy safety and peace.

Hugues Sanon, special envoy of the COJEP International to the UN, and Dr. Bernard Fialkoff, president of the Americas Chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, on behalf of New York State Senator George Borrello and New York State Assemblyman Andrew Goodell, as well as various leaders and organizations, presented a Resolution to Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, commending his selfless contribution to the world and declaring him as a Global Distinguished Peace Ambassador.

This award recognized his lifelong efforts, since founding Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy in 1966, in guiding his dizi (apprentices) to promote Tai Ji Men culture worldwide, contributing to social harmony, and enhancing people's physical, mental, and spiritual health, advancing the world toward love and peace. It also honored his founding of FOWPAL in 2000 in the U.S., through which he has spread the culture of love and peace via public service activities, gaining widespread global recognition and praise.

In the U.S., Dr. Hong was awarded honorary citizenships from four cities: Tacoma, Washington; Monterey Park, California; Honolulu, Hawaii; and Cupertino, California. Three cities have also designated special commemorative days in his honor: Washington, D.C. designated March 22, 2000, as "Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy Day," Honolulu, Hawaii designated September 16, 2001, as "Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze Day," and Berkeley, California designated August 5, 2005, as "Federation of World Peace and Love Day." He has also received numerous honors in Europe, Asia, Oceania, and Africa.

In 2024, Dr. Hong was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Creazione Cultural Association in Italy, recognizing his outstanding contributions to promoting world peace. He also received the 2024 Turin Global Peace Award, acknowledging his more than 50 years of tireless efforts in fostering cultural exchange, facilitating dialogues of wisdom, and promoting the culture of love and conscience for peace, as he traveled across five continents and over 100 countries in pursuit of world peace.