FOWPAL to Ring Peace Bell in Türkiye to Pray for People Affected by the Earthquakes
The deadliest earthquake to hit Türkiye and Syria in 200 years struck on February 6, killing over 50,000 people. Since then, more than 6,000 aftershocks have occurred, putting people on edge. The protracted conflict between Russia and Ukraine, which has been going on for over a year and has put Europe and Asia in danger of war, has created a terrible geopolitical situation. Currently, the world desperately needs powerful positive energy to calm people's hearts.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the founding of Türkiye, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze, president of the Federation of World Peace and Love (FOWPAL), will lead a delegation of international volunteers to Istanbul from March 10 to 17 with the 240-kilogram Bell of World Peace and Love, which has garnered the peace wishes of 464 influential leaders from 128 nations, including heads of state and government.
They will host ancient solemn bell ringing ceremonies to pray for the people of the world, hoping that the souls of the deceased will rest in peace and the living will be comforted and that all disasters will be averted and there will be peace on Earth.
To Ring the Peace Bell to Pray for the World and Comfort People’s Hearts at the Critical Moment
During the ancient ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love, the bell ringers and other participants will express their respect for Heaven and Earth and all other living things. Through the peaceful sound of the bell, FOWPAL aims to awaken people’s conscience, consolidate their collective love of the world, and pray for everyone. Three devastating earthquakes occurred in 1999, including a 6.0-magnitude earthquake in Colombia, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Izmit, Türkiye, and a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Taiwan, causing many individuals to lose their loved ones and homes. On September 25, 1999, Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze held a prayer ceremony, inviting nearly 40,000 people from all walks of life, to unite their kind intentions and prayers to comfort the terrified souls. Dr. Hong also issued “Love of the World, A Declaration of Peace,” expressing the aspirations of all humanity.
In 2001, when the 9/11 terrorist attacks occurred in the United States, Dr. Hong and members of his delegation witnessed the tragedy firsthand and held several ceremonies of ringing the Bell of World Peace and Love in New York for three consecutive days. The MNN TV in Manhattan broadcast the ceremonies on September 12th, sending blessings to all corners of the United States.
Connecting and Inspiring Visionary Leaders in 128 Nations to Exert Positive Influences
The collective thoughts of humans shape their future. In the past few decades, Dr. Hong has led the FOWPAL delegation to 101 countries, organizing bell ringing ceremonies and the World Leader Summits of Love and Peace.
To date, 464 influential leaders in 128 nations have rung the Bell, including 51 heads of state and government and seven Nobel Peace Prize laureates. Across countries, races, and faiths, the ringers have made peace wishes with reverence for Heaven and Earth, praying for all living creatures and continuing to exert their positive influences to contribute to world peace. In 2005, Leonel Fernandez, the then president of the Dominican Republic, for example, rang the Bell of World Peace and Love and made a wish for peace in New York, and he fulfilled his commitment to peace in 2008 by successfully defusing a potential war among Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
From June 2022 to January of this year, FOWPAL also hosted bell ringing ceremonies at other important events, including Stockholm+50 in Stockholm, Sweden; the 25th Eurasian Economic Summit in Istanbul, Türkiye; the conference in New York during the high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly; the International Conference of Chief Justices of the World in Lucknow, India; and the International Religious Freedom Summits 2022 and 2023 in Washington, D.C.
FOWPAL Has Been Widely Praised for Promoting Love and Peace
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze and FOWPAL have received numerous awards and honors for their efforts to promote world peace over the years, including the Mahatma Gandhi Award from the City Montessori School of India in 2010, the Flame of Peace Award from the Vienna-based NGO Flame of Peace in 2018, the Global Humanitarian Leadership Award from the Foundation for a Drug-Free World Americas Chapter and COJEP International, the International Distinguished Leadership Award from the Caribbean and African Faith-Based Leadership Conference, and the Global Human Rights Award from the United Churches in 2022.
Changing Humanity’s Destiny by Promoting Conscience, Praying for the World, and Amplifying the Power of Hope
Beginning in 2018, Dr. Hong worked with the Permanent Missions of various nations to the United Nations on a draft resolution titled "Promoting the Culture of Peace with Love and Conscience" and promoted the endorsement for the Declaration of International Day of Conscience. In 2019, the United Nations General Assembly designated April 5 as the International Day of Conscience, urging the people of the world to follow and apply their conscience, so that the world can be peaceful, and every family can be happy. In 2022, Dr. Hong proclaimed September 23 as World Day of the Power of Hope and issued the Declaration of World Day of the Power of Hope, calling on global citizens to take action for the safety and sustainable development of themselves, others, and the world with conscience and the power of hope, allowing the positive energy of the universe to lead the Earth to the path of sustainable development.
In the same year, Dr. Hong also proclaimed October 16 as World Prayer Day and issued the Declaration of World Prayer Day, encouraging global citizens to pray to Heaven with sincerity and respect, as well as pledge to do good deeds and encourage others to think kind thoughts in the hopes that disasters and epidemics will come to an end soon. During this trip to Türkiye, the FOWPAL delegation will invite people to endorse three meaningful declarations to continue to motivate global citizens to do their part to save themselves and others and to move toward a more peaceful and hopeful future.
Introduction to FOWPAL: