Umbrella Revolution - Hong Kong

I didn’t know much about it these days, but it seems that many big accidents have occurred in the world. Recently, a large scale demonstration which even young students participated in broke out.

Hong Kong’s citizens who desired for complete free direct election system against intervention of election of Hong Kong’s chief executive collided with Chinese government.  It was named ‘Umbrella Revolution’ since citizens blocked teargas with their umbrella.


Umbrella Revolution gathered the maximum 60,000 people as it was the largest scale challenge after Hong Kong’s return to China in 1997. This situation tested ‘one country, two systems’ which was Hong Kong’s governing principle and plan for unification with Taiwan. Deng Xiaoping achieved returning Hong Kong to China from United Kingdom by suggesting ‘one country, two systems’ which guaranteed Hong Kong’s high autonomy and economic freedom. However, Hong Kong citizens opposed and protested since China limited candidates for minister of administration to celebrity who gained a majority vote from pro-Chinese Electoral College.

It is said that this challenge was named as ‘Umbrella Revolution’ due to influence of a 17-year- old student activist, Josyuawong(picture)


He established middle and high school student activist groups and took on representative at the age of 15 in 2012. Also, he led this demonstration and stood shoulder to shoulder with university students and representatives of citizen organizations.  He attracted voluntary participation from citizens and students, saying “I don’t want to see elementary students protesting for Hong Kong’s democracy after 10 years.  It is our responsibility.” Some people are concerned about probability for it to develop into the small scale Tiananmen Square protest.
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I hope that this protest could be settled peacefully as young students participate for reaching democracy.

The Wingbeat for Peace

The book “Butterfly Effect” was popular once. A wingbeat of a small butterfly may create a typhoon on the opposite side of the earth.
  
Among the 7 billion population of the world, I am just a small human being. But I think sharing my idea on peace through my blog where I communicate with other people can be kind of like a butterfly's wingbeat.

Although there are many precious things in this world, but I think nothing is more worthwhile as peace. It is never too late to start doing something worthwhile. I believe that realizing peace on earth has effects on not only an individual, but also all the people around the world, and moreover, our descendants.

Wars gave us a great deal of damage for both physically and mentally for a long time. My grandparents experienced a war first hand. I haven't experienced any direct damage from war, but I can't say it has no influence on me. When I get married and have a son, he will be obligated to go to military. There is no 100% guarantee that my son will return safely home after his fulfilling duty of national defense. My imagination may be excessive but everyone is under the influence of the war unless we put an end to all wars for good. 

I know realizing world peace by bringing in an end to all wars won't become true in a glimpse of an eye. But maybe if we gather our hopes for peace we could accomplish our goal in our generation.




"The future depends on what we do in the present." It is the words of Mahatma Gandhi.




Gandhi said that the future depends on what we do in the present. If we make efforts to achieve peace now, then we will live happily with our descendants in a peaceful and wonderful world in the future. I hope my wingbeat for peace will start a butterfly effect to make world peace into reality that everyone longs for.

Give a big hand to all those people who work for peace on this planet!

With White Lotus, Love of White Lotus

The Lotus Flower Festival in Mu-an.

The Lotus flower means “purity” and “pure mind”. It is known as the flower that symbolizes Buddha who tried to save people from the tough and dark world by blooming the pure flowers and strong- looking leaves.

The white lotus.

It’s common to see red lotus flowers around us, but the white flowers are rare to see. Mu-an which is located south part of Korea, however, has the biggest white lotus plant in Korea. I will write about it today. The Mu-an Lotus Festival started in 1997 is the biggest lotus festival which is held annually in Korea. The title of it in this year is “With White Lotus, Love of White Lotus” and the festival lasts 4 days; Aug. 14^th – 17^th 2014.

 The festival lasts 4 days; Aug. 14^th – 17^th 2014.

An ordinary pond has become the huge white lotus plant and it is due to the late Su-dong Jeong. Mr. Jeong planted twelve lotus roots around a reservoir in 1995 when the Korean War had just ended. Just one man’s small affection and effort for the lotus made these beautiful flowers bloom all over the area and also this lovely festival can be held these days.

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Specially, it is held with one of Buddhist denominations called the Korean Buddhist Jogye Order in this year so the event has various experience booths such as lightening lamps, experiencing tea ceremony, and so on. This park is known as the lotus habitat. There are not only lotuses but also many flowers like red lotus, prickly water lily, water snowflake and marsh flower. So, you can enjoy them with the beautiful summer scenery.

There are many flowers which are no use after blooming and falling. However, Lotus has nothing to waste. After the flowers fall from the stem, there are fruits which are rounded hexagonal. You can use them as the natural medicinal ingredients and they can be also used as a piece of decoration in your house. And with the roots of lotus that has many holes, we can make delicious dishes. Furthermore, you can taste lotus leaves as tea and drink which are popular. I like lotus tea because it makes me feel relaxed when drinking it.

In the garden, there are three courses; Beakryeon, Suryeon, and Gasiyeon. Each course has its own story on it, so it is good to walk thinking of their meanings. I hope you could have a good time in Mu-an Lotus Festival. 

I hope true peace will come in Ukraine

The way to solve the Ukrainian civil war 

 

Two months left until Ukraine government forces and Russophile militia conclude a ceasefire agreement after the lasting civil war. The leaders in Germany, France, Russia and Ukraine are hoping the ceasefire will be alleviated soon. Ceasefire in the war means that the war is not yet to be ended, just paused for a while. So, what should they do to make Ukraine enter into a peace agreement? In this case, Ukrainian civil war was started by the local sentiments. Ukraine has been through a lot of hardships historically by around the close countries. So, it has caused the Ukrainian local sentiments between the East and the West to last for a long time politically, economically and socially.

Now In Sloviansk, State of Donetsk, the eastern Ukraine, there are so many casualties due to the civil war between the government troops and the militia. How can we observe this Ukrainian situation? Also, what kind of lesson can we learn from that? What can we do to solve this problem? I think we need love beyond the border, race and religion and practice of peace by Man Hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light. Over the past centuries, we know that many wars had been taking place here and there in the world due to ideological, racial and religious conflicts. Now is the time that we really need peace. So, I would like to introduce an article that can be an indicator for practicing peace. Let's find out the answer from 'The Declaration of World Peace’ by Man Hee Lee, Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light. 

 

 <The Declaration of World Peace>

The life that grows on the earth is sustained from above – by light, by the rain, and by the air they provide unconditionally to all living beings.
We have received the precious gift of life from above, let us give glory to heaven, and live in peace on earth.
This is the truest teaching of heaven.
With this eternal gift - the grace and life we have received – are we entitled to fight, kill and destroy one another?

 

We cannot claim to desire peace and continue to provoke one another, causing conflict for the sake of valuing our own national interests above those of others. Of what use is a young life, born in our day and age, if it is thrown away in this manner – thrown away without having had a chance to bloom?What price can compensate for the loss of a life? Do these young souls have another chance at life?As emissaries of World Peace; as people who are working towards the restoration of humanity through a new and heavenly culture, we declare the following:
We call on the heads of state of every country to sign an international agreement – a commitment to bringing all wars to an end. We ask them to do this from a spirit of deep-seated love for the people of their country.

We call on all youth to unite in an effort to stop wars and pursue the restoration of peace by registering to the one and only existing “International Youth Coalition”. For World Peace to become a reality, this is the duty of all youth, everywhere.

The only way to stop the fighting and pointless, tragic deaths, is to stop fighting. Nobody can ask for anything greater than this. The efforts of the young people of the world today in pursuit of peace – will remain as a never fading light of life for all future generations.

Furthermore, we call on every person, every man, woman, and child in the world, to pick up the mantle of peace. In whatever way you can, we ask that you work to further the cause of world peace and restoration, making it a reality in your direct environments. Lastly, we call on the media to port responsibly and promote a message of peace to the world. World peace and restoration of light have been started simultaneously with declaring this declaration.