The Words of the Balcomb Family
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The Words of the Balcomb Family |
New York, USA -- UPF's World Assembly launched an "Abel UN" Peace Campaign on November 22 focusing on interfaith, relief, conflict prevention, marriage and family, and environmentalism. UPF chapters and affiliated organizations, Ambassadors for Peace, and concerned individuals are invited to focus their peace-building efforts on one or more of the following program areas:
Interfaith Activism for Peace: Organize religious leaders from various traditions to engage in interfaith dialogue and cooperative action for peace. These programs can be carried out in one's community or any place where misunderstanding, tension and conflict are related to religious differences. Areas where such programs may be of great significance include Israel/Palestine, the Balkans, South Asia, the border of Thailand and Cambodia, etc.
Interfaith Council at the United Nations: Convene a consultation and inform government leaders about the importance and need for an interfaith council at the United Nations.
Humanitarian Relief: Organize a drive to raise money, food, or materials for populations in need, for example, those who have suffered from natural disasters. Areas where humanitarian relief is especially needed include North Korea and Haiti.
Conflict Prevention: In places where there are long-standing tensions and a high potential for violence and conflict, conflict prevention programs can be carried out. These may include educational programs, service projects, confidence-building dialogues, and programs led by women and youth.
Marriage and Family: Promoting and strengthening marriage and family are encouraged. Programs aimed at educating young men and women prior to marriage, or husbands and wives whose marriages can be strengthened, are of great benefit to the society.
Environmentalism and Conservation: Programs such as tree-planting, organic gardening, and clean-up of areas that have been polluted or degraded, are encouraged as part of the Peace Campaign.
Fundraising: In order to carry out any campaign, funds are needed. Donors and volunteers to raise the funds required to carry out a successful campaign.
The campaign is being launched at the World Assemblies in New York (November 22), Las Vegas (November 27), and Korea (December 4) by those who share the vision for establishing an "Abel UN," initiated by Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. This represents the ideal of universal harmony centered on God, just as Abel, a biblical figure, offered his life in service to God's will.
The initial phase of the campaign will be reviewed on February 8, 2011 at a conference in Korea. The campaign will culminate on January 13, 2013, when Rev. Moon envisions the opening of a new era of peace.
For a report of the opening session of the assembly join us on facebook: Abel UN Peace Campaign.