Puzzle of conscience: Awakening to the rule of law- Number of nations joining “An Era of Conscience” increases to 187

(Reported by Susan Wu)

Mr. Rui Nene, vice president of the Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau, endorses the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience, adding one more “puzzle piece” to the global “puzzle of conscience” and raising the total number of nations joining the movement to 187. The positive ripple effects of the movement have kept expanding.

Everyone is the leader of his/her conscience.  Have you joined the movement of An Era of Conscience?  The movement, launched at the beginning of the year, has spread across the globe, including New York, where flash mob performances called “Battles to Protect Conscience” were given on the streets, and the UN Headquarters, where numerous NGO representatives showed enthusiastic responses to the movement during the 65th Annual UN DPI/NGO Conference.  Recently, the movement has spread to India.  Mr. Rui Nene, vice-president of the Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau, and Chief Justice Menkerious Beraki of Eritrea both endorsed the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience, adding two more “puzzle pieces” to the global “puzzle of conscience,” and raising the total number of nations joining the movement to 187.  The positive ripple effects of the movement have kept expanding.

156 chief justices, judges, government officials, and NGO representatives from 62 countries attended the 15th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World held in India, an important event for the judicial profession around the world.  After hearing the explanation about the significance of the movement of An Era of Conscience (ANEOC) from international volunteers for ANEOC, Mr. Rui Nene, vice president of the Supreme Court of Guinea-Bissau made the hand gesture of conscience, which symbolizes to “protect the conscience in our hearts and create an era of love and peace.” Guinea-Bissau, a West African country bordered by the Atlantic to the north and once colonized by Portugal, declared independence in 1973.  It has three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.  Eritrea, a country in north eastern Africa, became independent from Ethiopia following a referendum in 1993.  The fact that the two prominent figures in judiciary led others to join the movement of An Era of Conscience symbolized that the power of the awakening to the rule of law will bring more happiness and blessings to the world’s people, as Article 6 of the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience clearly states, “Conscience is the fundamental core of a prosperous nation and a peaceful society. National governance should be based upon the people and ruled by law to ensure the protection of human rights and dignity.” 

The one-week International Conference of Chief Justices of the World was held from Dec. 10-16, 2014 in Lucknow, India.  Over the past ten plus years, the organizer of the event, City Montessori School, especially invited chief justices of all nations to convene for the protection and promotion of children’s welfare and discuss ways of uniting the world for children through enforceable world law and effective global governance.  The meeting aimed to find better solutions to problems like worsening nuclear arms races, global climate change, civil wars, race wars, terrorism, drug abuse, poverty, and diseases, which are threatening the human race’s continued survival.  However, despite the efforts, the world is still troubled by all kinds of problems, new and old.  This year, a group of international volunteers for ANEOC brought the message about the ANEOC movement to the event and brought hope to all the participants.  It seemed that the attendees have found the root to all problems.  Within days, 114 attendees from 36 nations had warmly joined the endorsement for the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience, including former presidents of Romania, Croatia, Albania, and South Africa, Minister of State, Minority Affairs Government of India, Speaker of Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly, Speaker of Nauru Parliament, Uundersecretary of state at the Cambodia Ministry of Justice, 4 chief justices, and 32 judges from around the world.

During the one-week 15th International Conference of Chief Justices of the World, international volunteers for ANEOC share with the attendees the movement of An Era of Conscience and receive enthusiastic responses from the attendees.

During the conference, 15 international volunteers for ANEOC shared the idea behind the ANEOC movement with the other attendees through singing, videos, youth forum, and endorsement activities for the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience.  The volunteers also went to schools to explain the movement to students and invite people from all walks of life to join the movement.  Dr. Hong Tao-Tze, the initiator of the movement and vice president of the Association of World Citizens (AWC), NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC and associated with the UN DPI, said, “With conscience comes a peaceful world; with happiness comes a joyful family.” Under Dr. Hong’s guidance, international volunteers for ANEOC, mainly composed of members of AWC, the Federation of World Peace and Love, and Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy, continue to promote the ANEOC movement.  To date, the Declaration for the Movement of An Era of Conscience has been translated into 10 languages, and more information about ANEOC and endorsement for the declaration is available at www.aneoc.org.