Southern California’s international volunteers of conscience promote "An Era of Conscience" in UN

Reporter Crystal Wang, Los Angeles

    The 65th Annual UN DPI / NGO Conference will be held at the United Nations headquarters in New York from Aug.27-29; international volunteers for “An Era of Conscience” from the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), based in Walnut, Southern California, will travel to New York to participate in the meeting, exchanging ideas and experiences with other UN NGO elites from all over the world and sharing the results of their promotion of "An Era of Conscience."

Mr. Nelson Huang, chair and president of APAPA SCR (middle), Mary Ng, vice president of Chinese American Association of Walnut (right), Dr. An York Lee, former chair of the California Acupuncture Board (second from right), and Dr. Chung-Ming Liu, a retired professor of atmospheric science from National Taiwan University (right), extend their support to FOWPAL’s international volunteers of conscience.

    Most of the UN NGOs work on human rights, environmental protection, sustainable development, peace, and related issues, and their members are not only concerned about global issues, but also committed to promoting civic affairs and social development. The Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) was founded in 2000 in California. Over the years under the leadership of Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of FOWPAL and Zhang-men-ren (leader) of Tai Ji Men, FOWPAL members have participated in the Annual UN DPI / NGO Conference, held World Summit of Love and Peace, hosted ceremonies of ringing the "Bell of World Peace and Love," and conducted cultural exchanges to spread the idea of love and peace and promote world peace. So far, 263 heads of state and prominent leaders in all circles have rung the peace bell. This year the FOWPAL members, in addition to participating in the NGO annual conference, will hold "World Summit of Love and Peace” to actively promote and share the results of the movement of "An Era of Conscience." They will also invite a number of UN ambassadors and NGOs from all over the world to take part in "An Era of Conscience."

      FOWPAL Public Affairs director Michael Selfridge said, "The world situation is getting worse: environmental pollution, climate change, global warming, disease, terrorist attacks, war, etc. Recently we have seen Ebola virus, which has a high mortality rate, quickly spread to West Africa, the war in Ukraine, and terrorist threats, demonstrating that there is too much damage, hatred, greed, and contention in the world and the world really needs love and peace. The movement of An Era of Conscience is to inspire all people in their respective positions to speak from their conscience, do things from their conscience, and through the movement we will consolidate the positive energy and influences to jointly create a world of love and peace. "

     Michael Selfridge has followed Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze to attend UN NGO conferences and other important meetings for the earth’s sustainable development. In April, 2008 he met with Mr. Fernandez, then president of Dominican Republic, praising his efforts in exercising his positive influences to bring peace to Latin America. On September 15, 2005, President Fernandez attended the “World Summit of Love and Peace." During the meeting, he rang the "Bell of World Peace and Love" and together with Dr. Hong turned the symbolic "key of the world." He made a heartfelt wish for peace: "I wish that people from over the world can understand each other, and that love and peace can prevail." After that in March 2008, President Fernandez used his wisdom and influence to mediate the disputes among Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela and timely defused a possible war, bringing peace to the world.

A group picture of FOWPAL’s international volunteers of conscience before departure.

      The movement of "An Era of Conscience" was initiated by the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), the Association of World Citizens, NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC and associated with the UN DPI (AWC), and Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy on January 1 this year. So far, people in 162 countries and 1605 organizations worldwide have participated in the movement, including Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, President of Latvia, Prime Minister of Tanzania, etc. In the greater Los Angeles area of Southern California, Congressman Edward R. Royce, Chair of the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs, California State Senator Bob Huff, mayor and council members of Walnut City, mayor of Azusa, and other prominent leaders of the community have enthusiastically responded to the movement. In addition, Mr. Nelson Huang, chair and president of APAPA SCR, Mary Ng, vice president of Chinese American Association of Walnut, Dr. An York Lee, former chair of California Acupuncture Board, Dr. Chung-Ming Liu, a retired professor of atmospheric science from National Taiwan University, etc. visited the headquarters of FOWPAL to extend their support and best wishes for the group of international volunteers of conscience who are attending the UN NGO conference in New York.

      The group of volunteers is composed of people from different ethnic groups such as European, Burmese, and Chinese and from various backgrounds such as lawyer, accountant, architect, musician, office worker, student, etc., and most of them are young people. Fletcher Wu, only 16, currently a sophomore at Walnut High School, is the youngest among them. This is the first time that he follows other FOWPAL members to the UN headquarters to participate in the event, which is a very precious experience in his life. Since childhood Fletcher has learned to think positively and actively participated in various activities for public welfare, which has caused him to have happy energies. He considers helping others as a very happy thing: "I like drumming, dancing and photography. The thought that to contribute my little power can help others really makes me very happy.  My words of conscience are: I will take good care of myself, so my parents won’t worry about me. I feel that speaking from the conscience and doing things from the conscience is not a big deal. Everyone can do it. "

      Musician Susan Wang said, "Young people are the world’s future hope. I hope young people around the world can care about the world, help others, and work together to respond to An Era of Conscience and inspire all people to exercise their conscience. Then the damage to the Earth will be reduced, and the environment can have sustainable development. "

      Harvard University graduate, currently a professional architect CiCi Han, specially took a leave of absence from her busy schedule to attend the annual UN NGO conference. She hopes to contribute her modest efforts and do something meaningful for the world. She remarked, "In recent years natural and man-made disasters have frequently occurred all over the world. I feel people’s hearts are deluded. Only through awakening the conscience in each heart, can there be hope to improve the destiny of mankind."

      As Dr. Hong, the initiator of the movement of “An Era of Conscience,” stated, “If everybody acts according to his/her conscience, world peace will become a reality.  If everybody is cheerful, all families will be happy.”  Your words of conscience and acts of kindness are a positive contribution to your family, society, nation, and the world.  We cordially invite you to participate in the global endorsement for the “Declaration for the Movement of “An Era of Conscience.” Please go to the movement’s website at www.aneoc.org and click on “Declaration” on the upper right-hand corner.  After reading the contents of the declaration, please endorse it and fill in your name, nationality, and organization. You are also very welcome to submit your words of conscience (100-300 words) with your photo to the movement’s website at www.aneoc.org. or send your video or audio recording (about 30 seconds) or drawing, painting, or comics to info.aneoc@gmail.com.  Organizations are welcome to jointly promote the movement of "An Era of Conscience" and create a world of love and peace together.