2015 International Forum on Peace Culture
In Support of International Day of Friendship
Today, on the International Day of Friendship, we celebrate and witness the preciousness of friendship. True friendship embodies courage and wisdom. That’s why it can stand the test of time and last forever.
While technology has advanced over time, the fine essence of culture has been enriched by the passage of time and delivered the energy to purify and nurture people’s hearts and souls.
Culture is the foundation of a nation. In the long arc of time, we witness elements of eternity in the essence of culture, that is, peace, love and human rights. Peace, love and human rights are inter-dependent upon one another. Human rights are the dignity of humanity. It’s the mutual respect among all human beings. Only with love can we have human rights. Only with human rights can we live in peace. And peace can only be achieved with love and human rights. These three most valuable treasures all originate from the God-given conscience that we were all born with, but we must remain vigilant as they are easily tainted, distorted and taken away in the tests of daily life.
The movement of ‘An Era of Conscience’ is needed to revitalize a culture of peace. The goodness within our hearts is awakened when we are moved by the arts we see or hear. The potential in our hearts is unleashed when we help others. When we have heart-to-heart exchanges through culture, we transcend the barriers of nationality, race, language and religion to build a heartfelt friendship that goes beyond space and time. This is the love of conscience which brings a culture of peace to the earth and human race.
At this chaotic time, people should preserve and promote a culture of peace as it encompasses love and human rights. Life is short, but culture can be passed down from generation to generation. Friendship between nations that builds on a culture of peace is highly valued. Let’s unite together to work selflessly. Let’s connect through sincere friendships. As we embrace a culture of peace and put it into practice, we will usher in a positive future for the next generation.
As UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said "On this International Day of Friendship, let us cultivate warm ties that strengthen our common humanity and promote the well-being of the human family," we are here to take action and give blessings for the International Day of Friendship.