“The culture of peace must spread beyond the national level and begin from the community.”
On the 19th August, the Seoul-Gyeonggi Southern Branch of Shincheonji Volunteer Group held the 8th ‘Love Your Country, Share Peace’ meeting to create a forum for dialogue for realising peace on the local community level. The event was attended by about 500 people, including people from all walks of life in the region and people of national merit, to share social issues in each region under the theme of 'Direction of Service for Realising Peace in the Community' and to provide volunteer services that citizens can feel. The vice-director of the Seoul Gyeonggi Southern Branch, who served as the presider, said:-
“Conflicts and disputes must be resolved from the point closest to our lives, from the community. We know what issues and conflicts are occurring in the region, and we will discuss ways to resolve them.” He explained, “We've gathered in one place to think about this together. We wish to discuss the problems scattered throughout the region and come up with a way to resolve them through volunteering.”
The CEO of a company who attended that day said, “Rather than theoretical discussions about peace, it would be good to hold meetings in the form of volunteer work in companies and to conduct volunteer activities such as an environmental cleanup on a regular basis to form a culture of service for the benefit of others, starting from office workers. Individualism is only worsening. I hope that every citizen will expand their awareness of service and peace by practising small things.”
A member of a civic group said, “Peace without alternatives only creates anxiety and worry. Peace needs the power to keep everyone together. In other words, the power of the public is needed. The truth is that peace is easier said than done.” He added, “I hope that many such events will be held in the future so that the public will become aware of the importance of peace.”
In addition, prior to the meeting, a consensus on world peace was formed through hands-on activities including production of a large handprint Taegeukgi (Korean national flag) and Mugunghwa (hibiscus, the national flower of the Republic of Korea), a 6.25 War/Peace photo exhibition, a booth commemorating patriotic martyrs, and writing a message of peace to those who participated in the Korean War.
Lastly, an official from the volunteer group emphasised, “Leaders from all walks of life must put their heads together to go beyond the Volunteer Group's own activities and cultivate the spirit of peace and love for the country, starting from the community. We plan to form a sustainable peace community that establishes the standard and direction of good peace practice.”
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