Celebrating the First International Day of Conscience in Vienna
Conscience unites peace promoters together
Vienna, Austria—Continuing the strong positive momentum of the global launch of the International Day of Conscience at the United Nations in Vienna on the morning of April 5, the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL) and the Permanent Mission of Bahrain to the United Nations Office in Vienna co-hosted a gala dinner on the same day in a ballroom at the Grand Hotel Wien in Vienna, Austria. The two events were attended by peace promoters from 42 nations, including ambassadors and delegates of various nations, business leaders, NGO leaders and media friends.
T.I.R.H. Sandor and Herta Habsburg-Lothringen, the leaders of the Flame of Peace, have provided valuable support and assistance that helped make the gala dinner a great success. Many of the guests so admired the selfless and tireless promotion of love and peace by Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of FOWPAL, that they had traveled for hours just to meet with Dr. Hong and participate in the much anticipated event full of loving and peaceful energy.
Dr. Hong gave all attendees a warm welcome and stated, “Everyone here today is a key leader with strong influence. When we follow our conscience, reach consensuses and take actions to spread love to the world, we will be able to solve conflicts wisely. We will also conjoin our strengths and unleash our creativity to create multi-win situations. Let us utilize our talents and skills to create a beautiful future with endless possibilities for world citizens.”
H.E. Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Ambassador of Bahrain to the UN (Vienna), welcomed all attendees and remarked, “Regardless of our color, race, religion, or geography, we are all members of one family, sharing one thing in common--we were all born with a conscience that serves as a compass to guide us to navigate our life journeys.”
To awaken people’s conscience, an ancient solemn ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love was held; four diplomats rang the Bell: H.E. Mr. Svetoslav Spassov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to the UN (Vienna); H.E. Ms. Thitiporn Chirasawadi, Minister and Chargé d'affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy in Vienna; H.E. Dr. Khalid Al Jindan, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia to the UN (Vienna); and H.E. Mr. Mohamed Samir Koubaa, Head of the Mission of the League of Arab States in Austria. To date, 352 visionary leaders in 108 nations have rung the Bell, including 42 heads of state and government, generating powerful positive energy to help stabilize the world.
Influential leaders shared their ideas about conscience, love, and peace.
H.E. Mrs. Reema Carmona, former first lady of Trinidad and Tobago, shared, "I firmly believe that the road map to a culture of peace should be in the curricula of all schools and places of learning, and the home being the first teacher we women must become the center of peace, love and harmony in our homes and in our countries."
H.H. Prince Bernard Ndouga from Cameroon stated, “Let's go through the world like Dr. HONG. Let us remind the world, let us act, encourage, exhort others to return to this state of consciousness which is LOVE.”
H.I.R.H. Sandor Habsburg-Lothringen, Vice President of the Flame of Peace, stated, “Today is a call for us to follow that inner voice and not to be deceived in following what others are saying to but to take a stand for one’s principles and values. If we take this affirmative stand based on our own conscience we may never forget to respect the conscience, values and principles of others.”
Mag. Pater Jan Soroka, C.R. stressed that peace starts in our hearts and that we are not only talkers but also doers.
Visionary leaders, such as H.E. Mr. Mohamed Samir Koubaa, Head of the Mission of the League of Arab States in Austria; H.H. Prince Bernard Ndouga from Cameroon; Dr. Werner Fasslabend, former Minister of Defense of Austria; Mrs. Fasslabend; H.E. Mr. Anthony Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago; H.E. Mrs. Reema Carmona, former first lady of Trinidad and Tobago; T.I.R.H. Sandor and Herta Habsburg-Lothringen; H.E. Dr. Yusuf Abdulkarim Bucheeri, Ambassador of Bahrain to the UN (Vienna); Mr. Sisinio Eyebe Mbana Makina, Counsellor of the Embassy of Equatorial Guinea in Berlin; Mr. Bandar A. AL-Eryani, Counsellor of Yemen to the UN in Vienna; Mr. Saad Ali Al Dafyan, a delegate of the Gulf Cooperation Council; H.E. Mr. Svetoslav Spassov, Ambassador of Bulgaria to the UN (Vienna); H.E. Mr. San Lwin, Ambassador of Myanmar to the UN in Vienna; Dr. Guillaume Arquer; and Mr. Rafal Sobczak, Director of the Polish Institute in Vienna, were invited onto the stage to share what they would do to change the world.
Dr. Hong presented each of them with a clock, which is a compass of conscience, symbolizing that all are encouraged to follow the guidance of their conscience at all times. Dr. Hong also honored Dr. Bernd Höhle-Kleinertz, Senator of the European Senate, as well as Mr. Siegfried Wernbacher, the Flame of Peace’s special delegate for Ukraine, for their charity work and positive contribution to society.
H.E. Mr. Anthony Carmona, former President of Trinidad and Tobago, presented a special gift to Dr. Hong for his peace endeavors worldwide. H.I.R.H. Herta Habsburg-Lothringen, President of the Flame of Peace, presented the “Medal of Uniting Friendship, Freedom and Peace” to Dr. Hong in honor of his contribution to world peace.
Additionally, FOWPAL spread the message and energy of love and peace through peaceful and energetic cultural performances, such as martial arts presentations, singing, sword dance, and peacock dance, which deeply touched the audience members’ hearts. The atmosphere in the room was so cheerful and heart-warming that many guests lingered around long after the event was concluded. On this beautiful night in celebration of conscience, culture, and friendships, people’s conscience is wide awake and their hearts are united as one.
Dr. Werner Fasslabend, former Minister of Defense of Austria, said in an interview, “We Austrians are very proud that Dr. Hong started this International Day of Conscience here in Vienna.” When asked about his thoughts on the International Day of Conscience and FOWPAL, Marcus Giers, Founder of Gigi Media, said, “I have so nice feeling from all the experience of this day. This organization is for the world, very very important.”
〔Speech〕
Celebrating the First International Day of Conscience-Conscience Leads Humanity to Achieve World Peace
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, President of Federation of World Peace and Love
〔Video〕Celebrating the First International Day of Conscience in Vienna