Distinguished leaders, honored guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Today, in this beautiful and solemn building where the United Nations General
Assembly meets, I
greet you with deep gratitude for the opportunity to express my passionate
concerns and views
about the future direction of the world and the United Nations.
The sole purpose of all my undertakings in many areas over the past forty
years has been the
realization of a peaceful world that is the desire of God and humanity.
This longing for a peaceful
world has also been the core reason I have dedicated myself to the promotion
of inter-religious
harmony and cooperation.
In the twentieth century, humanity has experienced many severe conflicts
and unspeakable acts
of violence, especially through the horrors of the two world wars, and
through the seventy years
of the Cold War and communism. When the Cold War ended, the world had a
brief moment of
celebration, as if peace had arrived. But, then, very soon humanity realized
that the end of the
Cold War did not automatically mean the advent of an age of peace. Even
at this moment, fierce
wars and brutal massacres are going on in numerous places around the globe.
Conflicts arise for many reasons. But one of primary factors contributing
to their emergence is
the deep-rooted disharmony that exists among the world's religions. Therefore,
when we witness
the many global tragedies occurring around us, we should recognize how
critically important it is
that the religions come together, dialogue with one another, and learn
to embrace one another.
In the modern age, in most nations, religious ideals have come to hold
a place wholly separate
from the centers of secular political power, and most people have come
to accept this reality as
the way things ought to be. I believe, however, that it is time that international
organizations
whose purpose is to support the ideal of world peace reconsider their relationship
with the
great religious traditions of the world.
On this point, the United Nations, more than any other international organization,
can set a
good example and lead the way. The world has great expectations for the
United Nations as
an organization embodying humanity's aspiration for peace. In the United
Nations, the
representatives of all nations work in concert to promote peace and human
prosperity.
Of course, the conscientious efforts to establish peace, undertaken by
these national
representatives at the United Nations, often meet stubborn resistance.
The accomplishments
and achievements attained through the United Nations have been significant.
However, there is
much room for improvement. I believe there is an urgent need today, within
the United Nations
and through its many activities, to encourage mutual respect and increased
cooperation between
the world's political and religious leaders.
The original ideal for human beings is that we live with our mind and body
united in resonance
with God's true love. It is because human beings resemble God as His sons
and daughters that
the mind and body of each individual can truly unite without struggling
against each other. Within
God there is no disharmony between internal and external characteristics.
This is so because
the absolute God has no contradiction or conflict within Himself.
The human ideal to achieve oneness of mind and body can be realized only
when people completely
possess God's true love. The biblical verse, "Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called
children of God," illustrates this point. Peacemakers are persons
whose mind and body are in unity
centering on the true love of God.
As a result of the fall, human beings lost the standard by which our minds
and bodies could be
brought into oneness and harmony, and humanity has lived in internal strife
and self-contradiction.
The clashes of the mind and body within the individual have expanded and
now manifest themselves
in the family, society, nation, and the world.
For example, this unresolved struggle between mind and body is what precipitated
the elder brother
Cain's murder of his younger brother Abel.
All the conflicts and wars in history have been essentially battles between
a Cain camp, relatively
tending towards evil, and an Abel camp, relatively tending toward goodness.
Humanity must end
these struggles between Cain and Abel camps and restore the original state
of harmony and love.
To do this, each of us must end the conflict between our mind and body,
and bring them into harmonious union.
The principle that mind and body must be united should be applied and practiced
not only by individuals,
but it should be applied on the worldwide level. For this purpose, I founded
a number of organizations to
achieve world peace. For example, I established a number of inter-religious
initiatives, such as the Inter-
Religious Federation for World Peace, to promote cooperation among religions,
which represent the
internal world of the mind. Also, to address the external management of
human affairs, representing the
body, I have worked to promote harmony among nations through the activities
of the Federation for World
Peace, the Federation of Island Nations for World Peace, the Federation
of Peninsula Nations for World
Peace, and the Federation of Continental Nations for World Peace. Most
recently, signifying the emergence
of an era when mind and body, or religion and rational governance, can
work together cooperatively,
I founded the Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace.
At their root, human problems are not entirely social or political, and
so social and political approaches
will always be of limited effectiveness. Although secular authorities rule
most human societies, religion
lies at the heart of most national and cultural identities. In fact, religious
faith and devotion have far
greater importance in most peoples' hearts than do political loyalties.
The time has come for religion to renew itself and manifest true leadership
in the world. People of faith
should feel responsibility for the plight, suffering and injustices experienced
by the world's peoples.
Religious people have not been good examples in the practice of love and
living for the sake of others,
and for this reason should engage in deep self-reflection. It is time for
religious people to repent for
their preoccupation with individual salvation and narrow denominational
interests. Such practices
have prevented religious bodies from giving their utmost to the cause
of world salvation. Our age
more than any other demands that we go beyond our faiths, and the interests
of particular religions,
and put our love and ideals into practice for the sake of the world.
In particular, God calls upon us leaders, especially religious leaders,
in hope that we will stand against
the injustices and evils of the world, and bestow His true love upon the
world. Hence, all people of faith
must become one in heart in order to give full expression, both in words
and actions, to God's passionate
desire for humanity's restoration and peace.
World peace can be fully accomplished only when the wisdom and efforts
of the world's religious leaders,
who represent the internal concerns of the mind and conscience, work cooperatively
and respectfully with
national leaders who have much practical wisdom and worldly experience
about the external reality or
"body." In this light, it is time for us to give serious consideration
even to the prospect of restructuring
the United Nations. For example, perhaps it is possible to envision the
United Nations as a bicameral institution.
The existing United Nations structure, composed of national representatives,
may be regarded as a
congress where the interests of each member nation are represented. However,
I submit that serious
consideration should be given to forming a religious assembly, or council
of religious representatives
within the structure of the United Nations. This assembly or council would
consist of respected spiritual
leaders in fields such as religion, culture, and education. Of course,
the members of this inter-religious
assembly will need to have demonstrated an ability to transcend the limited
interests of individual
nations and to speak for the concerns of the entire world and humanity
at large.
The two chambers, working together in mutual respect and cooperation, will
be able to make great
advances in ushering in a world of peace.
The wisdom and vision of great religious leaders will substantially supplement
the political insight,
experience and skill of the world's political leaders.
Even at this moment, more and more conflicts are breaking out across the
world over disputed borders.
As a result, the world is sustaining substantial loss of human life. In
addition, the money poured into
war-making and peacekeeping runs into the billions of dollars. So many
resources and efforts are being
wasted. Yet, comprehensive solutions have not been fully achieved with
respect to any given conflict.
To solve this problem, I would like to make some proposals for your consideration:
I propose today that the United Nations and religious leaders join their
hearts and work to create
peace zones in areas of conflict. Whether the disputed borders pass through
rivers, mountains, fields,
or the sea, we can create buffer zones or peace zones along these borders.
These zones would be governed directly by the United Nations. People from
around the world dedicated
to the establishment of peace would be allowed to settle in these zones.
The United Nations would be
responsible to provide guidance to those living in these areas so that
they come to embody the founding
ideals of the United Nations and comply with its declarations for peace.
These peace zones would be
havens that exist for the sake of peace, prosperity, and reconciliation.
They would be free of racial and
sexual discrimination, human rights violations, and war. These areas would
also be ecological and
environmental havens for the entire natural world.
To create such zones of peace, freedom, and ecological harmony, the concerned
nations would have
to be willing to provide the necessary land. This is not a simple matter,
for there will be resistance to
the surrender of land, even for a peace zone. I have dedicated much effort
toward finding solutions to
this problem, particularly as it applies to my native land, Korea.
I have taught that there is a providential significance to Korea's having
been a victim of the Cold War
. As you know, both the division of Korea and the war that followed are
outgrowths of the Cold War.
The Korean War, in which the youth of sixteen countries shed their blood
under the United Nations flag
to protect freedom, was a righteous war unprecedented in history. I remain
ever grateful to the United
Nations and those sixteen nations. And yet, the peaceful unification of
Korea still remains to be
accomplished. For this reason I have continually pondered about the United
Nations' solemn mission
for building a world of peace and how this relates to God's providence.
I sincerely hope that the current mood of reconciliation and cooperation
between South and North Korea,
which began last June, will continue. I hope the entire demilitarized zone
along the 155-mile military
demarcation line that crosses the Korean Peninsula can be turned into a
peace zone under U.N. jurisdiction.
I believe the United Nations will take the lead in this effort and build
exhibition halls, museums, educationa
l sites, and peace parks in this zone in order to teach visitors important
lessons regarding peace.
I am purchasing almost 1.2 million hectares of fertile land in South America's
MERCOSUR countries to
help compensate countries for any land they may lose as a result of the
establishment of U.N. peace zones.
I have already notified leaders of North and South Korea that I am prepared
to turn over to them portions of
that land in South America for their use.
As I make this proposal public, it is my fervent hope that world leaders
of good will can understand this purpose
and join with me. In particular, I hope that they will join me in willingly
donating their land and money for use in
creating U.N. supervised peace zones. These zones, under U.N. leadership,
will give rise to ideal moral societies
where nature and people live in harmony.
Already in December 1998, I proposed the founding of an International Peace
Fund in an address I gave to religious
leaders gathered for an international conference that had as its theme,
"Realizing the Interfaith Ideal: Beyond Dialogue
into Practice." All the leaders who participated in that conference
resolved to initiate a movement in which the world's
religious people would lead the way in making donations for world peace.
I proposed that donations be given in amounts
related to the number seven. Because various individuals and countries
face differing economic realities, one person
might find it difficult to give even seven dollars, whereas someone else
might be able to give even $7 million. I believe
that if all religious people on earth become one in heart, they will actively
participate in this fundraising effort.
The funds thus created would be used to establish peace zones and to teach
the ideals of peace and the methods to
achieve it. In addition to religious people, the United Nations too could
encourage all nations and their peoples to make
annual contributions to this fund. These funds might be donated under
the name of the "White Cross Fund."
Wealthy philanthropists, business leaders, and industrialists, leaders
in other fields, along with individuals, and
organizations, would be encouraged to actively participate in the construction
of U.N. peace zones. In this way,
they could lead the way in creating an atmosphere of peace and in raising
the necessary funds.
Furthermore, one of the reasons I founded the Inter-religious and International Federation of World Peace was to help create an inter-religious assembly to serve as a senate or council within the United Nations. To implement this plan, I propose that each nation, in addition to its current ambassador, send a religious ambassador to the United Nations to serve as a member of the religious assembly, or U.N. senate.
The mission of the representatives to this U.N. senate would require that they have a genuinely ecumenical or inter-religious consciousness and that they have the training and ability to teach a universal, transnational ideal of peace. The nature of their purpose and mission would prohibit their promoting the narrow interests of a particular country. Rather, they would carry out their duties for the ideal of peace in the world and for the sake of all humanity in accordance with God's Will.
The inter-religious ambassador appointed as a member of the United Nations senate or council should have a global consciousness and take responsibility to represent the United Nations' global vision and agenda. In this sense, these persons could be thought of as global ambassadors from the United Nations. Wherever they go in the world, these ambassadors would promote movements dedicated to the realization of peace and social welfare. Moreover, in all nations, they would serve as conscientious guardians of lofty ideals such as justice, security, and peace.
This will provide hope to the citizens of the world, and especially the youth. People will then have the opportunity to see with their own eyes the emergence of young people around the world seeking true love and lasting peace. Those selected as ecumenical and transnational ambassadors will also be able to help guide and supervise various U.N. sponsored projects in health, education, welfare, and other fields.
I have worked through many groups and organizations to educate people around the world about the meaning and value of true love and true families, transcending religious denominations and nationalities. By use of the term "true," I mean centered on God's original will and purpose. My continuous investment in this area and ongoing efforts for dialogue and reconciliation over the last decades have demonstrated beyond any doubt that the strongest foundation for the unity of humanity is the universal and essential love generated through the ideal of the true family.
Based on these considerations, I urge all the organizations connected to the United Nations to uphold and promote the ideals of true love and true families. For this reason, I would like to make another proposal, that the senior decision, makers at the United Nations proclaim, in accordance with existing procedures and regulations, a special day to be commemorated worldwide. I understand that the United Nations has made proclamations such as the International Year of the Family, and that it has declared various ten-year objectives such as the "Decade to End Poverty." Along these lines, I propose that the United Nations establish an official commemorative day to uphold the ideal of the family, so that the world can remember and celebrate this day every year.
Specifically, I propose that True Parents' Day be established as a day of global celebration. I have already initiated such a day that has been signed into law by the United States Congress. Each year, in America, model parents and families from throughout the nation are honored. By celebrating such a day each year, transcending barriers of race, religion and cultural differences, and loving and cherishing each other, we will be able to fully experience our true and common human roots, and understand the preciousness of true families. This day will be a special day of truly global commemoration, and a beginning of the celebration of the oneness of the world as one global family, leading us beyond all confrontation and strife.
Respected world leaders, let us join our hands and hearts to improve our institutions and organizations so that the precious wisdom of religion, along with that of scholars, statesmen, and people of insight and knowledge, can be mobilized to solve the serious and urgent crises of the world.
I believe solutions to world problems can come about if we establish the proposed council composed of religious leaders, in cooperation with the political leaders and diplomats of the current United Nations. The Inter-religious and International Federation for World Peace will promote this ideal, for religion can offer great service in providing guidance in matters concerning the Absolute Being, the world of transcendence, our eternal life and the spirit world. For this purpose, the IIFWP will make devoted and sacrificial efforts to attain the goal of world peace. It will strive to establish the Kingdom of Heaven of eternal love and harmony, and the fatherland of God, where the United Nations' efforts for peace are honored, and where all humanity forms one universal family as brothers and sisters under God, the Parent.
I believe that the world leaders and officers of the United Nations, who possess knowledge, experience and wisdom, can offer many recommendations for implementing the proposals I've presented to you today. If we work together and make continuous efforts, peace and happiness will surely be realized on Earth.
I pray that God's blessing be with your families and your endeavors. Thank you.
 |
 |
||
 |
2000" Opening the General Assembly,
T
(summary of the keynote speech)
1), Installation of religious Council
The existing United Nations has been made by the representative of our country, you can think of,
instead of the House of Representatives to speak for the interests of each nation. On the other hand,
such as prominent religious leaders, and ask that seriously to consider that you configure religion Congress,
or the United Nations of the Senate by the leaders of the spirit world. At this time, the ultra-sectarian
religious Congress, beyond the understanding of the regional individual state, you should speak for the
interests of the entire planet stars and humanity.
Both houses are mutual respect, by cooperating, it will be able to contribute
greatly in terms of
accomplishing world peace. Political Keirin of leaders of the world, it can be effectively complemented
by the great wisdom and vision of the religious leaders of the world.
2), Installation of Peace Zone
The world is also a growing number of conflict areas around the border
now.
By war region, the world and the tremendous casualties, and poured the war costs and
peacekeeping costs to reach several billion US dollars, we are wasting too effort and a lot of
resources. Compared to this, there is no place to show the progress of the resolution to
the satisfaction as one place only in this place, the United Nations and religious leaders
representing the nation combined mind, is what it is proposed to create
a peace district in all of
the border. Mountains and rivers, or regardless of the to be the sea If it is plain, is the draft
in the vicinity of whole area of conflict areas and border buffer area,
namely that the peace district.
In making the parks, we ask that the United Nations is us take theinitiative
.
This is alive in the world, if all religious people become one in emotionally, not only actively to do
participate in fund-raising of funds, it is construct a peace district by this way gathered Fund,
It will be able to be used to teach the ideals and wisdom for peace. The United Nations, not only
religious people, every year for all the countries, will be able to be instructed to pay the (named
for example "Hakujujikai expenses") voluntarily peace fund.
Wealthy philanthropist and business community leaders, including the business people, various
circles each layer of leaders and organizations, and even individuals who actively complicity in
United Nations peace district construction, a worldwide peace mood construction and fund-raising
exercise in order to, and it must take the initiative.
3), Installation of the parents of the day, home of the day
(Note complement 1: In prior to this, Rev. Moon presented the Peeace
Zone at the 10th ICUS (Seoul, November, 1982 )in his proposal of the
International Highway Project
(Note complement 2: The third proposal, the day of the True Parents,
was adopted on September 17, 2012. on 1,June. the United Nations
implimened as "World Parents Day" every year since 2013.