Hak Ja Han
September 8, 2016
Read by Sun Jin Moon
Launching of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace in the UK
Westminster, House of Parliament, London, United Kingdom
Sun Jin Moon's Opening Remarks
Distinguished members of parliament! Participants in the UPF International Leadership Conference, from Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa. Ladies and gentlemen!
Good afternoon.
It is an honor for me to stand here today in this historic venue and to be with all of you.
Before I deliver the Founder's Address, I would just like to say how deeply moved I was last night at the opening banquet of the ILC, to witness, in one room, so many participants from all races, religions, and schools of thought; men and women, young and old, people of all ages devoted to the realization of world peace, who are tirelessly working in all sectors to create sustainable global development and harmony as one united family under God.
Despite the constant news of a world drifting off into oblivion, where division, borders, walls, armaments, war, devastation, ignorance, self-interest, poverty, lack of human and moral rights and the outright destruction of life on this planet plague and darken our daily existence, I witnessed something completely different yesterday!
I saw a ray of hope and felt for the first time in a long while that change is possible when we are united as one under the divine light and truth of God, our Heavenly Parent, and when we work together to live in balance and harmony with all life.
I was truly inspired by the sincere heart and the passionate exchange of amazing individuals, leaders, teachers, heroes and saints who I believe are pioneering an enlightened way of life, based on a higher consciousness to live for the sake of others. Such people do not just talk about peace, rather they work to actualize peace in their homes, communities, societies, nations and the world.
To all the distinguished parliamentarians and organizers, volunteers and participants in the ILC here in London, gathered now in this historic Palace of Westminster, meeting place of the houses of parliament of the UK, I deeply want to thank you and convey my deepest respect and love to you all for bringing this dream of peace to life on this glorious day. Can we give a round of applause to all the great men and women in this room. Thank you!
With that said, I would like to deliver the Founder's Address of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, True Mother, my mother and the Co-founder of UPF who truly wanted to be here with you today.
I know that she and my father, the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon, are here with us in joyful spirit.
I will do my best to convey the warmth of love and the hopes for peace that she has in her heart and I invite you to all pay close attention to her message:
UPF Co-Founder's Address
Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon
Your Excellencies. Distinguished parliamentarians from throughout Europe, Eurasia, the Middle East and North Africa. Honored Participants in the International Leadership Conference of the Universal Peace Federation. Ladies and Gentlemen.
I am pleased to address you today here in the historic Palace of Westminster, meeting place of the two Houses of Parliament for the United Kingdom, the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
I believe it is very significant that we have gathered here for this special session of UPF's International Leadership Conference, and the launch, in this region, of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace. I am encouraged that parliamentarians have come together from not only the United Kingdom, but also from many other European nations, as well as from nations of the Middle East and Eurasia.
My late husband, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, and I have always taught that individuals in every sector of society -- including government, civil society, religion, business, academia, and so forth -- have a responsibility to work to build a world of universal and lasting peace. This is especially true of parliamentarians.
The parliament in any nation is the house of the people, a place where the voice of the people may be heard and the public good advanced by democratically elected representatives, parliamentarians.
Representative democracy is a noble tradition, with roots that date back many centuries, and now the most widely practiced form of governance.
Although you have gathered here from nations around the world, you share a common appreciation and respect for serving as the representatives of the people who elected you. You are servants of the people, and, as such, are expected to serve the public good, guided by basic principles of good governance: accountability, transparency, inclusivity, and respect for human rights and the rule of law.
Good governance is secured not only by the policies and laws of the political system. It is also necessary that those who hold positions of power be people of good character, guided by their conscience and universal moral principles. Good governance also depends upon a well-educated and morally responsible citizenry.
It is for this reason that, throughout history, religion has been an important factor in contributing to the moral and spiritual development of both the political leaders and the citizens. It is imperative that, within modern democratic systems, we do not lose sight of God, our creator and Heavenly Parent, nor of the spiritual principles and laws that have been taught throughout the ages.
My husband and I have dedicated our lives exclusively to building a world of lasting peace. This has been our lifelong mission.
We have always taught that peace is not merely an absence of violent conflict. Peace comes into being whenever relationships are characterized by harmony, balance and mutual respect. Such relationships are created when we practice unselfishness, living for the sake of others. This is the essence of True Love.
True Love is the essence of God, who created all things, as our Heavenly Parent. We all have a nature that derives from our common origin. That is why we are capable of practicing True Love, toward one another, and toward all things in the world around us.
Our purpose and responsibility as the sons and daughters of God, our Heavenly Parent, is to become individuals of True Love, with mind and body united; on this foundation we can build marriages and families of True Love, as the foundation for the society and the nation; and in turn we should care for the planet and all the forms of life that make up our environment. If we fulfill this responsibility, we can establish a world of peace.
My husband and I have applied this ideal, and the principle of living for the sake of others, in every sector of society.
We have always honored individuals who applied these principles in their spheres of professional life, appointing them as Ambassadors for Peace. Many parliamentarians around the world have been appointed as Ambassadors for Peace and they work closely with UPF and other affiliated organizations of our movement.
In addition, I recently inaugurated the Sunhak Peace Prize to honor individuals and organizations who have dedicated themselves to serving the well-being of others and of future generations. The first Sunhak Peace Prize was presented in August 2015, and the second Prize will be awarded in February 2017.
When I spoke at the United Nations in Vienna in May of last year, 2015, I called for a spiritual awakening. The member states of the United Nations should not merely follow their national interests. Each member state should seek to serve the whole purpose, the larger purpose, looking beyond national self-interest. When we observe the world from God's point of view, we see the world from a larger perspective. No matter what our field of endeavor -- priest, parliamentarian, or professor -- we should be committed to and guided by universal moral and spiritual principles. Whether we are the mayor of a small town, the pastor of a small church, or the president of a nation or the secretary general of the UN, this is our eternal responsibility. This is the responsibility of each parliamentarian gathered here.
In the year 2000, my husband and I spoke at the United Nations in New York, calling on the United Nations and the member states to consider an innovative proposal, namely, that the United Nations build within its system an interfaith council, consisting of religious, spiritual and moral leaders who could advise, collaborate and deliberate with the representatives of the member states. Such a council could serve as the voice of universal values and principles.
The UN emerged in the World War II era, more than 70 years ago. Whereas there are UN Headquarters offices in New York, Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi, there is no such office in Asia, even though we are living increasingly in an Asia Pacific age. In many ways, the geopolitical, economic and social center of gravity of our world is shifting toward Asia. With this in mind, UPF and other affiliated organizations of our movement, are advocating for consideration of a 5th United Nations office to be established in Korea.
I hope you will reflect on this proposal. I believe a 5th UN Office on the Korean peninsula, perhaps in the DMZ, with support of both Koreas, would go a long way toward establishing peace on this peninsula and toward peace in the Asia Pacific Region.
In closing, I want to emphasize the importance of the role of parliamentarians. You represent the people. You are entrusted by the people with a great responsibility. If parliamentarians of the world join together in harmony and cooperation for the sake of peace, we can transform the current reality of our world, creating a world of joy, harmony and lasting peace. With this in mind I encourage you, on this day, to form the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace, centered on the principle of living for the sake of others, and centered on God, our Heavenly Parent. You are the representatives of the 7 billion people of the world. If you join together in this way, there is nothing we cannot accomplish.
Let us work together to build a world of lasting peace.
Thank you for allowing me to share these words with you today. May God bless each one of you, your family and your nation.
End: This concludes the Keynote Address of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. Namaste!