Federation of World Peace and Love

Commemorating International Day of Peace

The Sound of the Bell of World Peace and Love Resonates at Times Square, NY during the 77th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 77)

The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened at the UN headquarters in New York on September 13, 2022, with High-Level Week taking place on September 19-23, bringing together heads of state, foregin ministers, and other leaders from more than 150 nations, the largest gathering of its kind since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

International Day of Peace on September 21 is a day sanctioned by the United Nations and dedicated to world peace. It is observed annually by many nations and designated as a period of non-violence and cease-fire, allowing access to humanitarian aid in combat zones. The theme of the International Day of Peace 2022 is: "End Racism, Build Peace."

Racism is prejudice, discrimination or hostility towards one or more persons by an individual, community or institution based on their membership in a racial or ethnic group. Racism is a form of injustice. When there is injustice, peace cannot be achieved, and the driving force behind respecting diversity and creating a multi-win situation that benefits oneself and others comes from conscience. A more peaceful future will be achievable when we eliminate all kinds of injustices in our lives, including racism, wealth inequality, and tax injustice.

To commemorate this special day, Paul Sladkus, the founder of Good News Corporation, organized an event at Times Square on September 21, under the theme “Pause the World for Peace.” It was an all-day event where different organizations came together, shared their ideas, music, and aspirations for love and peace. It was also broadcast to over a hundred million people at the same time.

FOWPAL was invited by Sladkus to conduct ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love at Times Square, which was very significant because 21 years ago after the 9/11 incident FOWPAL was at Times Square in New York as well. They conducted a bell ringing ceremony then to share with everyone their blessings for New York and the whole world.

With frequent occurrence of natural and man-made disasters around the world, holding bell-ringing ceremonies in New York on the International Day of Peace 2022 was even more meaningful. FOWPAL conducted two bell ringing ceremonies, one with the ancient Bell and the other with the Golden Bell, bringing the energy of love and peace to everyone once again, wishing all a very blessed day and very blessed life.

The President of FOWPAL, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze rang the Bell of World  Peace and Love to pray for world peace and sustainability. He also made three wishes: the first wish for all people to follow their conscience and do good deeds; the second wish for all living creatures to live in safety and peace; and the third wish for global peace and sustainability. The sound of the bells resonated across Times Square and warmed people's hearts.

Paul Sladkus, founder of Good News Corp, has been working in the media promoting love and peace for 50 years. He is the 432th ringer of the Bell of World Peace and Love. When ringing the Bell, he wished “that at 12:01 peace continues throughout Mother Earth for All.” During an interview, he mentioned that FOWPAL has been a part of the family and that FOWPAL came to New York many times with the happiest of all happy people.

Bell-ringers of the past comprise leaders of all fields from 128 countries, including 49 heads of state and government, 7 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, UN ambassadors, and other visionary leaders. The ceremony of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love is an ancient, solemn ritual in which ringers make wishes for peace with a reverent heart toward Heaven and Earth, and then spread them with the sound of the Bell to all living things. The bell ringers are encouraged to exert their positive influences to advance global peace and sustainability.

Jonathan Granoff, the president of the Global Security Institute, mentioned, “World peace begins within the heart of every one of us. And anytime people focus on the power of love, rather than the love of power, change can take place. So I join you in honoring the sacred gift of peace, which is the living presence of the Divine, in every single heart. And every time we remember that power of love, we're ringing the Peace Bell in our own hearts. And if we ring enough of those hearts, there'll be peace in the world.”

AV Young, an artist and founder of Battery Tour and United Nations Youth SDG Leader said during an interview, “We all should be coming from a place of love, whether you're a corporation, whether you're a kid in the classroom, you're an artist.”

Michele Bongiovanni, the CEO and founder of HealRWorld and Music for Climate Justice stated, “There's nothing more important to our world than peace. We must come from a place of peace within and we can help the world to heal.”

The youth members of FOWPAL sang “A Prayer for Peace” to pray for the world and deliver blessings and hope.