The story of people in need to be protected, “Save the Children.”

Nowadays, Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza strip is drawing heavy attention from worldwide presses. Korean media also reports what is happening in Gaza strip day after day. Actually, I don’t wonder whatever causes the conflict. No matter what the reason is, war is the worst option because it makes innocent people sacrificed and killed. There is nothing more precious than life. Especially, victims in war are the weakest people who are not able to flee from the war due to the lack of money, who are caught because of their uncomfortable body, who are weak women and so on..
Among these, what makes me feel heartbroken the most is children.
That’s why the selfishness of adults has caused wars and it has deprived the children’s naïve smiles and hope.
Now, we need to think how far the distance is between war and a life filled with peace in children’s shoes.

This is the first poster.
A boy is playing with a gun, another is fishing. The boy with a gun seems quite serious and militant to say that is a toy-gun,
What is he aiming at?

There are people submerged under water due to the flood on the one side. On contrast, there are people playing in the water on the other side.

This is the last poser.
On both sides, people are running.
People on the left side are desperately running in order to save their lives.
However, it seems that a person on the right side is jogging and she looks leisurely.


When we look into each poster image of children, all of them are aimed to show the same thing.
Children are playing.
People are swimming.
People are running.


They are doing same things. But, the environment around them is quite opposite.
Why do they seem different although they do the same?
We should think on our own what the reason is and who has to be responsible for.
This is an advertisement of the story of people in need to be protected,” Save the Children”.

Remains bucket Challenge

Ayman al Aloul, a journalist based in Gaza, dumped a bucket of sand, rocks, and shrapnel over his head to bring attention to the plight of Gaza — a challenge based directly on the Ice Bucket Challenge that’s still going viral.

Journalist Starts ‘Rubble Bucket Challenge’ to Bring Attention to Gaza.
However the use of water is more important than to empty over our heads
And even if the water is available it is difficult to freeze it.
And when we tried to make the Palestinian version, we looked around us, we find the place as you see (destroyed buildings) therefore I decided to sue it instead of iced water. This challenge is no for specific people but for all people who sympathize with the Palestinian people. We do not ask for material aid anybody wants to help Gaza should invent his own idea. We asked for solidarity position especially from those who have followers and audience. We need these positions.
We do not have water but this is what we have. Perhaps I will not find water to wash up when I return home, so if you saw me dusty in next reports try to forgive me and try to sympathize with us.
 We can make world peace a reality.

you are more beautiful than you think - dove

Warm Ice Water, “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge”

Do you know the world-wide syndrome “Ice Bucket Challenge”?
Today, I’d like to introduce this campaign.

 

 < 빌게이츠 Bill Gates>

 

Ice Bucket Challenge or ALS Ice Bucket Challenge is a social campaign to help the people who have ALS which is known for Lou Gehrig's disease.
A person pours ice water on himself or donates money to association of ALS in America.


This movement which was started from summer in 2014 spread quickly and now it became a worldwide syndrome.
It has increased its fundraising from $50,000 to $15600,000 just for 1 year.

Then, why do people pour "ice water" on themselves?


Because ice water can make people feel the similar pain of Lou Gehrig's disease which contracts muscle as body is paralyzed with the cold ice water.


This campaign starts with taking a video. First, the participant designates next 3 people whom he wants to join this challenge, and let the them pour the ice water on themselves, or donate $100 to the association of ALS within 24 hours.

And then, the next participants just pour the ice water on themselves. However, pouring ice water becomes a sort of trend so that many people both pour ice water and donate.


Actually, this campaign comes from this.


“Cold Water Challenge” which people enter cold water instead of ice water became a trend in 2013, but it was criticized for the reason that it has a health risk. However, the “Cold Water Challenge” became a trend again because a man whose names is Amado Huizar challenged with a suggestion of completing the challenge by entering water or donating to the others. This movement has become a trend also in New Zealand, encouraging donation to Cancer Society.


Then a golf channel in America started this challenge with ice water instead of cold water on June 30, 2014. After then, a golfer Chris Kennedy challenged to his niece, Jeanette Senerchia whose husband is Lou Gehrig's disease patient. And Senerchia posted an “Ice Bucket Challenge” video which was taken by her daughter on a social network. Pat Quinn, a Lou Gehrig's disease patient who watched this video posted that on his facebook, and it seemed to be a growing trend.

I’d like to briefly introduce some celebrities who got the “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge.”

<조인성 Inseong Cho>

                                                         <양동근 Dongeun Yang>


I can feel cool and funny just by looking at these photos.


As celebrities participate in this donation, I’m giving my attention to Lou Gehrig's disease and I also want to participate in this campaign too although I’m just an ordinary person.

As far as I know, there is not clear remedy for the disease, I hope long-stay hospitals for Lou Gehrig's disease could be constructed and research in the treatment will be developed continually.


And I really hope that donations from many people all over the world can be used for curing all the patients who are suffering from Lou Gehrig's disease as soon as possible.

Warm Ice Water, “ALS Ice Bucket Challenge” keeps going on~!!

Pope Francis, “Actively strive for peace.”

Pope Francis visited South Korea last week. He is evaluated as the most charming Pope of all time because he is always humble. Generally, new popes name after the Saints designated by the Catholic Church according to its custom. However, nobody had chosen the name, ‘Francis’ so far. Why did he choose ‘Francis’?


Who is Saint Francis of Assisi?

Francis was born rich in Assisi, Italy about 800 years ago. He used to lead a life of debauchery when he was young. One day, he found enlightenment and he let all things he had go. Then, he turned his back on the world falling into poverty by himself and has looked after people who are sick and weak. After he died, he was venerated as a saint by Anglican Church as well as Catholic Church. Francis’ spirit has inspired the Pope Francis so that the Pope lives an upright life according to his principle and is devoted himself to working for the poor and alienated people.



The Pope Francis realized that every human being has human dignity in everywhere each person is, such as in a family, a church or a society. So, he has tried to make a world filled with hope through unity and harmony. Such his move seems to be influenced by his experience that he had worked in a chemical factory in his childhood. After he grew up, he has helped the people who suffer from military dictatorship, poverty, drug and violence in his motherland, Argentina. Because he practices what he preaches, his actions arouse respect from many people.

Before his visit to South Korea, the Pope Francis revealed top 10 secrets to happiness and it is gaining much popularity with many people. What we sympathize the most is the 10th tip.

“10. Actively strive for peace.” Peace cannot be achieved when we just stay silent doing nothing, but it can be achieved when we lead the world to peace. We in a state of truce need to make our voices for peace. When he was leading a church, cruel wars had happened by a military dictatorial government. He has been trying in a nonviolent way to reduce the sacrifice saying, “The cost of violence is always paid by the weakest people.”

Like what he said, wars are still happening all around the world. The damage of children who are still being attacked from Gaza accounts for 1/3 of all. Wars make many guiltless people as well as children sacrificed. This is the problem that we must solve on an international scale. So, we need to work solving the problem.


Some Korean Catholic priests who went abroad to study in Vatican puts meanings that the Pope’s visit is for seeking Vatican’s role to alleviate the tension and to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. No matter what his purpose to visit Korea is, I really want everyone to become one and make a voice for peace. So, I hope all of us try and work for it.
.
If we don’t work for peace, peace can never be achieved. Just as the Pope Francis acts up to his word, let us be the ones who work for peace. Therefore, I hope we can put an end to wars and live in a peaceful world happily as soon as possible.

“Peace is our common objective” said Mr. Man Hee Lee

These days there are some horrific events in vast areas of the globe. No one can know when wars will happen and when people will face their own death due to the severe diseases. There is no safe place, and a series of horrific accidents and incidents have continued throughout the years.

I searched news on the Internet with a great hope to hear some peaceful news instead of the series of bad news. And I found news about Mr. Man H. Lee, the Chairman of Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light (HWPL), who is never contrary to my expectations. Today, I’m going to introduce his quotes about peace.

 

 

 

On 2nd July, there was a peace conference at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. It was hosted by IPCGE (Inter-Parliamentary Coalition for Global Ethics). Many international leaders from all over the world were attended, including Mr. Man H. Lee, the former president of Rumania, the former UN Secretary General, religious leaders and congressmen around the world. And Mr. Lee delivered the keynote address. What do you think about what he said at that moment? He put emphasis on the legislation of law regarding world peace, and the role of religious leaders as a guide for peaceful culture, and especially the creation of peaceful culture with regard to 11 UN resolutions.

 

After this conference, he again became the keynote speaker at the symposium which was co-hosted by Montenegro and ICD (Institute for Cultural Diplomacy) on 9th July. “Almost all of the disputes and conflicts over the world have taken place because of the difference of ideologies, religions, and cultures. To relieve this issue the whole world must have a common objective to peace and become one so that a peaceful culture can be settled on this earth.” said Mr. Lee.

 

The audiences were responding very positively on his speech. In addition, the ICD representative and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Montenegro delivered letter of appreciation to Mr. Lee (the chairman of HWPL) and Mrs. Nam Hee Kim (Chairwoman of IWPG). And many international leaders from secular and religious sectors also signed the peace agreement. I think interest in peace cuts across the lines of boundary and religion. 

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At a press interview which was held right after their return he said, “We should solve the fundamental matters of the various problems in the world.” And “First, all presidents around the world should enact a clause for the cessation of wars and world peace in the international law. Second, the religious world, which is the main cause of major disputes, must be united.”

 

 

Do you know the fact that 80 percent of the world’s population is the religious people? I had seen and heard about many people who determined to be a non-believer because many believers cause wars habitually and seek their own interests. Ironically, believers keep people who are trying to be on God’s side from pursuing their belief. There is no religion in the world which desires disputes and deaths. That’s not the will of God. If God’s will is peace and life, I think Mr. Lee is the right person who is working in accordance with God’s will. As a person who is waiting for the peaceful world, I appreciate his movements for world peace and I look forward to his next peace activities.

Noblesse oblige; to be, not to be seen(Esse Non Videri)

Noblesse oblige is high levels of moral obligation that is required to high class as we know.
It was originated from kings and the nobles who showed a moral sense in early Roman times.  For example, when there were big wars like World War I and II, the sons of the nobles were out to fight in war rather than spare themselves. Like this, Noblesse oblige means that wealth, power and reputation require the privileged people with responsibilities towards society. Recently, it has made headlines that there is a family in Europe who practices noblesse oblige. And I would like to introduce a Korean family which also had practiced noblesse oblige.


1. The motto of Wallenberg Family in Sweden; Esse Non Videri.
Wallenberg family is the owner who has 14 large corporations accounting for 30% of Swedish GDP and 40% of Stock market in the field of finance, construction, aviation, electronics, telecommunication and pharmaceutical company.

 

Wallenberg family tries to keep the family business but it is possible when there is someone who is suitable for managing their family’s heritage. The heir has to graduate from a prestigious university, enter the naval academy, and go into international financial center without help of his or her parents. Because of checking and balance of competition, there must be always two people for tricky and difficult verification which takes more than 10 years. Besides, it is required to employ labor representative as a board and 85% of profit should give back to the society for public like universities, library constructions and so on.

Even though they have great power and influence, the family has never been on the list of 1000 world’s billionaire and the 100 richest people in Sweden. So, they are receiving much love from Swedish people. They became a pride of Sweden by carrying out all their responsibilities instead of taking privileges.

 

“To be, not to be seen (Esse, Non Videri)”





Choi Family in Kyeongju City in South Korea; Do not let anyone die of hunger within around 100 ri (39.3km) from my house.

 

There is Kyodong Choi Family in Kyeongju City in Kyungsangbuk-do, South Korea.
For 400 years, 9 people of their family became ‘jinsa’ who passed civil service examination and 12 people became millionaires. Kyodong Choi Family is astonishingly well off and has a house with 99 rooms. Even though they are very wealthy, they are not well-known in Korea. There are some reasons for that. That is why they have principles which are like their family mottos.


-Never take positions which are higher than the level of ‘Jinsa’ (the lowest government position): the whole family can badly get influenced by a high position.
-Don’t accumulate more than million straw bags per year. Too much greed would cause troubles. If there are more than million straw bags, the rest should be given to the society.
-Serve strangers well enough: treat whoever came to our house with full of warm heart and enough food
-Don’t buy a land in a year of bad harvest: do not make people upset by buying a land which has no grocery to eat.
-Daughters in law must wear cotton clothes (plain clothes) for 3 years: If she knows the difficulties, she will understand the difficulties of other people.
-Don’t let anyone die of hunger within around 100 ri (40km) from my house: especially in a year of bad harvest.


The family has never taken higher positions and when they have enough money, they have given back some money to society. So, there was no one in the family who could be remembered by people and that is the characteristics of the family. I am so proud of the fact that there’s such a family in Korea.
Those families are good examples in our society where people only cherish themselves and don’t take care of other people. There are many people in the world who do good things without revealing their deeds.
I would like to be such a person who does good things like those families.

Global peace activist

 

When I was surfing the internet, I saw the news about peace agreement in Mindanao, the Philippines, which had lasted for 40 years, by a messenger of peace who has traveled around the world 10 times.

The messenger of peace who has traveled the world 10 times?

I might be exhausted by just one flight, but who is this man?

And I know well about Mindanao. That is the territory where there are constant wars and conflicts.

However, how was it possible to get a peace agreement and end the wars in that island Mindanao? I was starting to wonder about him. 

 

Korea is separated by North Korea and South Korea. So there are many adults who desire unification. But, on the other hand, students usually have no interest in unification.

What was worse is that there are some children who don’t know the fact that North and South Korea belong to the same nation originally.

I think Korea will be a country that has big power in the global world, if Korea achieves to be unified. But some people are against to be unified. 

I really want Korea to be a peace country that has no relevance to war anymore. 

While thinking about peace I tried to find activists who have given their effort to peace.

 

Global peace activist

Mahatma Gandhi / India Oct 2, 1869 – Jan 30, 1948

▶ Career

Nonresistance Nonviolent Movement

Non-violent civil disobedience in protest against British rule in 1942

Non-violent resistance in protest against annual meetings of Indian National Congress in 1991

Declaration of Satyagraha in 1919,

 

 

▶ Quotes

The future depends on what we do in the present.

Gandhi who is known as peace activist led India to independence and he attempted to practice nonviolence.

 

Martin Luther King / American

January 15th, 1929 - April 4th, 1968

Peace activist who made a movement about African-American Civil Rights Movement and led Civil Rights Movement based on nonviolent.

 

▶ Career

African-American’s Right Activist.

Leader of ‘Civil Rights Movement’ based on nonviolent

Found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in 1957.

 American Baptist minister in Montgomery in 1954.

▶ Awards

Received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.

▶ Quotes

Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

 

Nelson Mandela / The Republic of South Africa

July 18th, 1918 - December 5th, 2013

Mandela was the 1st President of South Africa where dominated by white men

And he was a peace activist who fought for African- American right and peace

▶ Career

Elected as South Africa’s first president in 1994. 

Secretary General of the Non-Aligned Movement in 1998

▶ Awards

Jawaharlal Nehru prize during his time in prison in 1979

Bruno Kreisky Prize for Human Rights

International Simon Bolirar Prize at UNESCO

Nobel Peace Prize in 1993.

International Amnesty’s Ambassador of Conscience in 2006

▶ Quotes

Peace is the greatest weapon.

 

Teresa / Yugoslav

August 26th, 1910 - September 5th, 1997

▶ Career

Founded of Missionaries of Charity in 1950.

Founded Washington Teresa’s home in 1995.

▶ Awards

First winner of Albert Schweitzer prize in 1975

Nobel Peace Prize in 1979

▶ Quotes

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Sister Teresa is called as Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa was a peace activist who practiced love and peace by loving week people and by loving people having a hard situation

Abraham Lincoln / America

February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865

▶ Career

Registered United States Republican Party in 1856

Elected 16th United States president in 1861

Emancipation Proclamation in 1963

▶ Quotes

A government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Lincoln is one of my favorite and respectable people to me.

He was reared in a poor family. So, he couldn’t finish his school-life. But he became a self-educated lawyer and always stood by weak people and cheered them up.

 

When everybody regarded African-Americans as slave, and when South and North America were in conflict with each other because of the different ideology for slavery, President Lincoln led the civil war to victory and achieved Emancipation.

Peace activist Lincoln lived in a polite and earnest manner.

 

 

And lastly, Peace Activist Mr. Man Hee Lee made the peace agreement in Mindanao, the Philippines!

 

He brought about the cessation of bloody conflicts in the Philippines which had continued for 40 years and he’s leading a private peace movement group now.  

 

I’m really proud that he is a fellow countryman.

I hope he leads Korea’s unification like President Lincoln who led the America’s Unification.

And I want Korea to be a boastful nation that can finally achieve reunification.

Shakira; a guardian angel

All of you may know well the Brazil world cup which was held lately and marked the beginning of summer.  Do you remember an angel wearing a red dress and singing the song ‘La La La’ at the closing ceremony? This angel was a global pop star Shakira (Full name: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll) from South America.


Her family became bankrupt when she was 8 years old. After being at an orphanage with her father, she realized that there are many poorer children on the earth. Since then, she has made a resolution herself that she’ll help children around the world. When she turned 18, she got prominence in Latin America with her major-label debut “Pies Descalzos”, and founded the Pies Descalzos Foundation at 20. It is a Colombian charity with special schools for poor children all around Colombia. That name of the foundation is taken from Shakira’s third studio album called Pies Descalzos. That is, she began to work for children in earnest since then.
 
.

 

She was also appointed as a UNICEF ambassador and carried out various child protection activities from all parts of the world including her country Columbia.  At her age 36, she had a baby shower together with UNICEF and received presents for children. Those presents were not for her baby, but for all of children to save their lives even though she was pregnant at that time. Below is her maternity photograph.
 

Besides, she donated 4 million dollars for restoration from Hurricane Katrina and has worked on photo maternity shoots to raise money for charity. Also she donated her income from record sale to the African charity. In this respect she is famous not only for activities for child, but also for her steady donation.


Shakira thinks that she should devote herself to search the method to solve and inform the conflicts occurred all around world, and she practices it indeed. People usually help other people after their life becomesw sufficient. But if you look around, some people give a helping hand to others even though their life is not that sufficient. I think Shakira might be able to also practice her activities as she got a spare time and enough money to help others. But she deserves to be respectedwith regard to her devotingattitude for solving problems. There is no doubt that she is a guardian angel of children because she has kept her good mind and has truly practiced what she thought at 8 years old.

 

While talking about her, I am reminded of a phrase ‘the results turn out just as one expects’. Recently, I had an opportunity to talk with a man about peace. He wanted peace but seemed to think peace will be never accomplished. I wonder whether he really wants peace. How many people in the world really desire peace? I think many conflicts on the earth result from the disruption of peace. There will be only sufferings from disputes and conflicts in the situation that peace is punctuated. In this regard, world peace is the only solution. We should have a mind for the peace as Shakira gives hope to many children of the world. In this way, I again think about peace today.

Summer Night Fever at Rock Festival

Summer Night Fever at Rock Festival
How do you spend this hot midsummer night? Don’t you stand the heat all night long with while exhausted? Can you think of anything to cool off? Air conditioner? Beach? Even if you don’t go so far, you can find good thing to beat heat: that is Rock Festival in August. I would like to introduce a brief schedule of the events below. (Unfortunately some festivals,  like Anshan Valley Rock Festival or Jisan World Rock Festival, are not scheduled to be held this year.)

1. Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
Date: Aug 01, 2014 - Aug 03, 2014
Place: Incheon Songdo PENTA PARK
#This year marks the 9th anniversary of Rock Festival held in Korea, and it is the oldest Rock Festival in the country.
The ticket is discounted 20% for citizens or undergraduate students in Incheon, and soldiers.

2. Busan International Rock Festival
Date: Aug 08, 2014 - Aug 10, 2014
Place: Busan Samrak Ecological Park
#You can see various band groups from Korean amateur bands to world-famous bands. And there is a benefit that this festival is available free of charge. I’m looking forward to this midsummer night's Rock Festival in Busan.

3. Goyang Rock Festival
Date: Aug 08, 2014 - Aug 10, 2014
Place: HallyuWorld, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
#This festival aims to enable Asian bands in Korea, China and Japan to communicate and to provide an opportunity to become active on a worldwide scale.

4. Hyundaicard Citybreak
Date: Aug 09, 2014 - Aug 10, 2014
Place: Seoul Sangam World Cup Stadium
# Muse and Metallica performed at this festival last year, but Maroon 5 and Ozzy Osbourne called godfather of heavy metal will be performing this year.
The ticket price is 165,000 won per a day; it is certainly more expensive.
Given its high value, however, it would not much too much to pay.
You can get 20% discount if you pay by Hyundai Card.

5. Supersonic
Date: Aug 14, 2014 (only one day)
Place: Seoul Olympic Park
#This festival is a hot topic among many Rock Festivalgoers. It is because Queen and Adam Lambert are scheduled to come to South Korea and perform in collaboration. Also, you can meet various singers including Phoenix and A Great Big World. This festival features that it will be performed in relays for a day.

6. NOW Festival
Date: Aug 15, 2014 - Aug 16, 2014
Place: Olympic main stadium, Jamsil sports complex
#This festival will be held in combination of YG Entertainment and AIA insurance company for the first time. Many celebrities will make some special stages, such as Lady GaGa, Psy, and Bigbang. Lady GaGa fans- let’s get together!


I found something while I organized the schedule of Rock Festivals. That is the genre of Rock festival becomes more various; it includes not only passionate performances but also lyrical ones. Though I don’t limit my favorite genre into one, it left much to be desired with respect to the fact that the color of Rock festival seems to fade. The number of Rock Festival was reduced than last year. But if you want to make your midsummer night more special, how about going and feeling the festival fever at Rock Festivals in Korea?