Ringing FOWPAL’s Peace Bell for the World | WPN World People News

Oscar Arias Sanchez, 1987 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former President of Costa Rica, center, receives the FOWPAL Peace Bell Award from Dr. Hong.

At a critical juncture when the world faces multiple crises, the 19th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates took place from September 18-21, 2024, in Nuevo León, Mexico. This year’s summit, themed “Peace and Progress: A Path to Collective Prosperity,” was organized by the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, in collaboration with the Encuentro Mundial de Valores A.B.P. and the Nuevo León State Government. Nobel Peace Prize laureates, peacemakers, and influential leaders gathered for a series of panel discussions, forums, and dialogues aimed at enriching social structures and establishing a new framework for global peace.

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and Zhang-men-ren (grandmaster) of Tai Ji Men, led a delegation to the event to share the vision embodied in the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope. During the summit, FOWPAL organized the Bell of World Peace and Love ringing ceremony, in which six Nobel Peace Prize laureates rang the bell, sending forth their blessings for world peace.

Six Nobel Peace Prize laureates rang the ancient Bell of World Peace and Love, making wishes and expressing their blessings and hopes to actively promote peace worldwide.

Kailash Satyarthi, Nobel Peace Prize laureate of 2014

1992 Nobel Peace Laureate Rigoberta Menchú Tum rang the Bell and stated, “May peace be harmony and balance, enabling us to live in fullness as joyful beings.”

2003 Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi rang the Bell and stated, “Wishing peace for Korea and Unity of North and South Korea.”

2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Tawakkol Karman rang the Bell and stated, “My wish is for peace, justice, freedom, democracy, and rule of law.”

2011 Nobel Peace Laureate Leymah Gbowee rang the Bell and wished “That Every Human Person live in dignity—without fear.”

2014 Nobel Peace Laureate Kailash Satyarthi rang the Bell and stated, “Let us ignite the spark of compassion. Let us globalize compassion. Let us harness compassion for sustainable peace.”

2015 Nobel Peace Laureate Ouided Bouchamaoui rang the Bell and stated, “May God bless all of us.”

Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze presented the FOWPAL Peace Bell Award to the six bell ringers, sharing the vision and journey of promoting a culture of peace with love and conscience. Dr. Hong also invited the Nobel Peace laureates to endorse the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, which received enthusiastic support.

Dr. Hong, who was instrumental in the UN’s adoption of the International Day of Conscience, understands that achieving global peace requires not only an awakened conscience but also the positive power of hope and good deeds from everyone. In 2022, he continued to advance the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, bringing its theme to the United Nations Headquarters in New York. Through worldwide visits and cultural exchanges by the FOWPAL delegation, the declaration has received endorsements from individuals in 173 countries, including heads of state, Nobel Peace Prize laureates, and leaders of UN-affiliated NGOs.

Ongoing Efforts to Support the UN’s Global Solidarity Initiative

In the 21st century, the world faces increasingly severe and complex challenges. In response, the United Nations convened the Millennium Summit in 2000, where global leaders formally adopted the Millennium Declaration and established the Millennium Development Goals. That same year, the 53rd UN DPI/NGO Conference, themed “Global Solidarity: The Way to Peace and International Cooperation,” underscored the hope that NGOs could transcend borders and political divisions to foster international cooperation. At this conference, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze delivered a speech titled “A Vision for Economic and Social Development: The Urgent Need for Global Solidarity and Cooperation,” which resonated widely with the attendees. Dr. Hong later shared his vision of love and peace with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at a welcome reception.

Dr. Hong has long championed global unity and cooperation through continuous action, maintaining correspondence with world leaders and actively participating in major international conferences. Through cultural exchanges and by hosting the World Leader Summits of Love and Peace and bell-ringing ceremonies, he promotes a powerful symbol of action. When the Bell of World Peace and Love is rung, each ringer makes a wish for peace, with its sound resonating across the land, creating a positive impact at a pivotal moment in the world’s destiny. As of September 24, 2024, a total of 583 influential leaders from 150 countries, including 72 heads of state and government and 15 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, have rung the Bell, amplifying the influence of peace at this critical juncture in world history.

2001: Commemorating the Anniversary of WWII’s End

On August 15, 2001, at the World Peace Night to commemorate the 56th anniversary of the end of World War II, four Nobel Peace Prize laureates rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and offered blessings for global peace.

Oscar Arias Sanchez, 1987 Nobel Peace laureate and former President of Costa Rica, rang the Bell and wished “For the whole world to enjoy peace.”

Frederik W. de Klerk, 1993 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former President of South Africa, rang the Bell and wished “That we will achieve peace, through winning the war against poverty, through expanding democracy and through reaching out to each other.”

Joseph Rotblat, 1995 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, rang the Bell and stated, “Remember your humanity.”

Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, rang the Bell and stated, “Peace will prevail when individual’s and people’s voices are truly heard in determining their future.”

Dr. Hong, center, and four Nobel Peace laureates, from left: Jody Williams, former President Oscar Arias Sanchez of Costa Rica, former President F.W. de Klerk of South Africa, and Sir Joseph Rotblat.

2012: United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Rio+20

The 2012 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, gathering representatives from 193 nations and thousands of civil society groups to discuss the challenges and opportunities of “sustainable development.” During the conference, ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love took place, with 25 global leaders ringing the Bell, including heads of state, ministers, and NGO leaders. Notable bell ringers included Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla Miranda, Angolan Vice President Fernando da Piedade Dias dos Santos, former President of East Timor and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta, Portuguese Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, and Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Thinley.
Jose Ramos-Horta, former President of East Timor and recipient of the 1996 Nobel Peace Prize, rang the Bell and wished for “world peace,” symbolizing his dedication to pursuing peaceful solutions for East Timo’s issues.

Jose Ramos-Horta, Former President of East Timor and 1996 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Global Awakening of Conscience: Igniting a Sustainable Future

In October 2023, the Israel-Palestine conflict erupted once again. Additionally, various natural and human-made disasters continued to pose serious challenges worldwide. On October 9 and 13, the Federation of World Peace and Love convened the World Leader Summit of Love and Peace in San Jose and Pasadena, California, respectively. Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze delivered a compelling address, urging a collective awakening of conscience and global unity to transform the world. Distinguished leaders from diverse fields, including education, religion, and human rights—such as Pakalitha Mosisili, former Prime Minister of Lesotho; Ivo Josipović, former President of Croatia; Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago; Abdessattar Ben Moussa, Nobel Peace Laureate of 2015; and Jerry White, Nobel Peace Laureate of 1997—shared their visions of peace. The Summit was widely praised as a groundbreaking model for innovative solutions and international collaboration.

Three former heads of state, two Nobel Peace Prize winners, and Dr. Hong, third from right, delivered speeches on love and peace.

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