Surinamese President Rings FOWPAL’s Peace Bell Dialogue of Wisdom: Creating Opportunities for Love and Peace | WPN World People News

Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL (Federation of World Peace and Love), had a dialogue of wisdom for love and peace in Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, on October 12, 2024.

Paramaribo, Suriname, October 14, 2024 – Suriname’s President, Chandrikapersad Santokhi, warmly welcomed the delegation of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) in person in Paramaribo, Suriname’s capital, on October 12, 2024. Led by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, the delegation arrived in Suriname on October 9, marking the 112th country FOWPAL has visited for cultural exchange. During their meeting, President Santokhi and Dr. Hong had an insightful exchange of ideas on love, peace, conscience, and sustainable development, and President Santokhi rang the Bell of World Peace and Love.

FOWPAL hosted a bell-ringing ceremony, and Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi rang the Bell of World Peace and Love in Paramaribo on October 12, 2024. He expressed Suriname’s collective wish for a peaceful and harmonious world.

President Santokhi expressed heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hong and the FOWPAL delegation, recognizing the significance of their visit. He emphasized his pride in Suriname’s commitment to promoting peace, diversity, and sustainable development. President Santokhi emphasized that Suriname is a diverse nation, known for its tolerance and respect for differences and that his national values align with the global need for peace and sustainability.

During the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, presented Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi with the “Key to the Heart,” symbolizing a world leader is the “key person” to shape the world’s destiny.

Dr. Hong shared with President Santokhi FOWPAL’s ongoing efforts to promote love and peace around the globe. Since May, Dr. Hong has led delegations on a tireless journey to spread the message of conscience, love, and peace across various nations. This journey included a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, as well as visits to Greece, Italy, and five Central Asian countries. In September, during the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates in Mexico, FOWPAL hosted a bell-ringing ceremony, where six Nobel Peace Prize laureates rang the Bell. Following this, it hosted and participated in a series of events in New York to celebrate the International Day of Peace and the World Day of the Power of Hope. In October, the delegation continued its mission in South America, visiting Ecuador and Colombia, where they invited ministers and leaders from various fields to ring the Bell, joining forces to promote global peace and sustainability.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL, presented Suriname’s President Chandrikapersad Santokhi a scroll of “Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace” during the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love.

During the meeting with President Santokhi, Dr. Hong highlighted the importance of culture, stating, "Good culture leads to good education, good education leads to a good economy, and a good economy leads to a better life." Dr. Hong also presided over the ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love and explained the profound meaning behind the bell-ringing: “Spreading the culture of conscience across the universe, uniting the world in heart and solidarity. The clear sound of the Peace Bell reaches Heaven. May the world be filled with love and last forever.”

The bell-ringing tradition is performed with deep reverence, as each toll sends heartfelt wishes for global harmony and sustainability. President Santokhi highlighted the importance of the Bell, describing it as a powerful symbol of peace and global unity. He stated, "We call on all individuals, all nations, to be agents of peace, and to act with love and conscience.” He also expressed his wish “for a better world where love and peace are part of the daily lifestyle.”

When President Santokhi rang the Bell of World Peace and Love, he expressed Suriname’s collective wish for a peaceful and harmonious world. He envisioned a future where love and peace serve as foundational principles, ensuring the well-being of all people.

To commemorate the occasion, Dr. Hong presented President Santokhi with several symbolic gifts, including a conscience scarf, a certificate of honor for the bell-ringing, the “Key to the Heart,” symbolizing a world leader is the “key person” to shape the world’s destiny, a scroll of “Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace,” and “The History of International Day of Conscience,” which highlights the key cooperation between FOWPAL and various UN Permanent Missions, leading to the UN's designation of April 5 as the International Day of Conscience.

Since the inception of the Bell of World Peace and Love, 593 influential leaders from 151 countries, including 73 heads of state and government and 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, have rung the Bell and made their wishes for global peace and sustainability. President Santokhi joins a distinguished group of global leaders dedicated to peace. President Fradique de Menezes of Sao Tome and Principe (2001-2011), President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal (2000-2012), and President Leonel Fernández of the Dominican Republic (1996-2000 and 2004-2012), rang the Bell and made wishes for peace during their tenure and later mediated between neighboring countries to defuse potential wars, fulfilling their promises to help stabilize and sustain the Earth.

At the conclusion of the meeting, President Santokhi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hong and the FOWPAL delegation for sharing their message of love, peace, and conscience with the people of Suriname. He also expressed his hope that the delegation would carry Suriname’s spirit of love and peace back with them. Reflecting on his experience ringing the Bell, he remarked, “It's very important to take this message in the heart. Me as leader, it's very important to accept this message of love and peace and to express it to my leadership, to my people, to have love and peace among our people.”

President Santokhi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Hong and the FOWPAL delegation for sharing their message of love, peace, and conscience with the people of Suriname.