Celebrating the 6th International Day of Conscience
Igniting the Light of Hope with Actions of Conscience
Dr. Hong, Tao-Tze
Zhang-men-ren of Tai Ji Men
Vice President of the Association of World Citizens,
NGO in Consultative Status with ECOSOC and Associated with the UN DPI
President of the Federation of World Peace and Love
April 5, 2025
Distinguished Guests, Ladies, and Gentlemen,
Good day!
It is a great pleasure to gather with you all today to celebrate the 6th International Day of Conscience. Since 2019, we have faced numerous severe challenges together. Yet, throughout this time, both governments and civil society have consistently advocated for and upheld the values and beauty of conscience. In addition to the annual celebrations held by Bahrain and other nations, FOWPAL has also actively promoted the culture of peace with love and conscience through diverse activities, even during the pandemic—efforts that have guided us through difficult times.
When people act with conscience, they make the right choices and contribute to the betterment of society. When conscience serves as the foundation for action, it fosters transparency, integrity, justice, and peace, creating an environment of trust and cooperation. In such an environment, hope can take root, as people can see possibilities for the future and believe that their efforts can bring about positive change.
Dear friends, through the collective efforts of many, we are delighted to share another piece of uplifting news: On March 4, the United Nations General Assembly officially adopted Resolution A/79/L.54, designating July 12 as the International Day of Hope. These resolutions invite all Member States to embrace hope, overcome challenges together, and work toward a peaceful and sustainable future.
Whenever disasters strike around the world, people long for conscience to guide global affairs, just as they yearn for sunlight to pierce through the darkness of a cave. The International Day of Conscience and the International Day of Hope aim to inspire individuals to rediscover the moral compass deep within their hearts—one that guides them in distinguishing truth from falsehood, right from wrong, and good from evil. These observances inspire people to embrace the power of hope and act with conscience. They encourage global citizens to uphold humanity’s core values, work together for the common good, and benefit all people through collective initiatives.
However, the human heart can be influenced by the five poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—as well as by habitual thinking patterns and external circumstances, which can easily drown out the voice of conscience. Therefore, I encourage each of you to take five minutes each day to quiet your heart, send kind thoughts, and offer blessings for yourself, your loved ones, and the world. At the same time, we must reflect on whether our actions align with the guidance of conscience—stopping evil and doing good deeds. We should remind ourselves to consistently put our conscience-driven hope into practice every day. Let us inspire our family, friends, and even people around the world to fulfill the aspiration for love and peace through the positive energy of conscience and good deeds. As long as global citizens unite with positive hope in their hearts, every day can be a Day of Conscience, and every day can be a Day of Hope. Let us take real action to save our world from the brink of collapse.
I sincerely thank each of you for your dedication to promoting the culture of peace with love and conscience in various fields. Let us continue to move forward hand in hand, fulfilling the hope of awakening conscience within ourselves and advancing global conscience-guided education for peace. All that I think and do is for global peace and the safety of the people of the world. This has been my unwavering mission since founding FOWPAL. It is a commitment to continuous action and a vision of hope. Let us uphold human rights, which are inherent, and follow the guidance of conscience and love, which lead our hope and actions for peace. May the world move toward a bright and sustainable future. May all people enjoy safety, health, and happiness. May all living beings coexist in harmony and safety.
Thank you all! May you all be blessed!