Art & Culture | WPN World People News

March 2nd is Chinese Lantern Festival in 2018. The festival has been celebrated everywhere and over 2000 years. Pingxi Sky Lantern festival is one of the most popular local events, special in Lantern Festival, in the world. A group of volunteers from Tax and Legal Union attends this event and, at least, releasing thousands of sky lanterns between March 1st, and March 2nd, 2018. Volunteers of Tax and Legal Union hope to have better living standards, to maintain local companies in Taiwan, and to resolve the difficulties of low-income on younger generations.

The local media in Bahrain devoted much coverage to the exchange of ideas on love and peace between Bahraini Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed bin Ibrahim Al Mutawa and Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze.

The delegation visited St. Petersburg, Russia. Viacheslav Kalganov, deputy chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg, received them on behalf of the governor.

In 2004, Dr. Hong presented the endorsement of the declaration of “Love of the World, A Wish for Peace” from 2 million people worldwide to the United Nations, accepted by Joan Kirby, chair of the 57th Annual DPI/NGO Conference.

A good or evil thought of the head of a country often becomes the key factor affecting the international situation. For a long period of time, Dr. Hong has led the cultural goodwill group to visit every populated continent, promoting the ideas of peace. They have also invited world leaders to ring the Bell of World Peace and Love and make wishes for peace.

During the Rio+20 Conference, Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley rang the bell and made his wish.

In 2001, Dr. Chih-Cheng Chiang (second from left) of the International Martial Arts Federation awarded Dr. Hong (right) certificates of merit. Mr. Sawamura (first from left) was the general umpire.

With frequent occurrence of international conflicts and environmental disasters, the forces of civil organizations that transcend national interests are becoming more and more important. For a long period of time, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, Zhang-men-ren (grandmaster) of Tai Ji Men, has been the mentor and good friend of many presidents and world leaders. They correspond with Dr. Hong frequently. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations, expressed in several of his letters his gratitude to the NGOs led by Dr. Hong for the help and support they offered to the UN.

Tai Ji Men Shifu and dizi have traveled to 78 countries across every populated continent, taking part in over 2000 cultural performances in Taiwan and abroad to promote citizen diplomacy, love, and peace as well as to introduce Taiwan to the world.

Tai Ji Men Shifu and dizi were warmly welcomed at Gimhae International Airport. This journey has been considered a significant breakthrough since Taiwan and South Korea severed their ties in 1992.