(COLOMBO, LANKAPUVATH) –A peace campaign to seek both local development and global peacebuilding with 3,500 citizens and members of an international NGO was held in Seoul, South Korea.
On October 21st, Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL) under the UN ECOSOC and DPI, held the “HWPL National Marathon Festival” as a part of its “Legislate Peace Campaign” to advocate the establishment of an international law for peace. Co-hosted by Korea Sport For All Federation, a local NGO under Seoul Metropolitan Government, the event has been served as a venue for local citizens to participate in marathon with voluntary donation for their local communities.
As for individual contribution to peacebuilding, Chairman Man Hee Lee of HWPL said, “The work of peace is given to an individual or company, but to everyone in the globe. HWPL as a peace organization under both UN DPI and ECOSOC is seeking to build cooperation with the UN focusing on cessation of war and global peace in a way that everyone in our globe can participate in this work of peace with the same heart of peace.”
The participants also wrote their signatures of support for the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW), drafted by HWPL with 10 articles and 38 clauses to advocate international cooperation for peacebuilding through peaceful settlement of disputes, respect on international law to prevent conflicts, and spreading a culture of peace. The Legislate Peace Campaign in collaboration with international and local communities around the world has received over 700,000 signatures of support for the DPCW to be introduced in international organizations and national governments.
In the participant’s interview, Jae Hee Kim, a university student said “As each signature from citizens like us is collected, we know the DPCW will be realized eventually. I am participating in this peace campaign with my own hands. I believe that this is a shortcut for the world to encounter peace, and it will go beyond not only myself but also my family and even further to my country.”
The participation of citizens in this event will also contribute to community development with their voluntary donation in the form of crowd funding. About $50,000 donated by the participants will be set up as a local development fund.
