peace 4 one

As Korea’s Arbor Day on April 5 approaches, I found myself thinking about what I could share with my child. Around that time, I came across news about a tree-planting event in Sri Lanka. It made me realize how a simple act like planting a tree can carry such deep meaning. 🌿 Why Do We Plant Trees on Arbor Day? Arbor Day is more than just a day for planting trees. It’s a small step toward protecting the environment and preparing for future generations. As a parent, I often wonder what kind of world we will leave behind. It’s something I find myself thinking about often. This tree-planting effort in Sri Lanka felt like one possible answer to that question. 🌏 Tree Planting Across Three Regions of Sri Lanka On February 4, Sri Lanka’s Independence Day, tree-planting events were held simultaneously in Moratuwa, Kandy, and Jaffna. What stood out wasn’t the scale, but the approach. It was the way different regions came together under one shared message. 👉 “Together We Grow” This phrase was a...

As a parent, I sometimes catch myself wondering about this. “Why do people end up in conflict?” And that thought often leads to another question. How can we live alongside those who think differently from us? Recently, I came across an article that offered an interesting clue to this question. It was about an effort to resolve interreligious conflict through dialogue—centered on something called “Comparative Scripture Discussions.” 🌿 What if religion became a starting point for understanding, not conflict? At its core, religion exists to offer people guidance and comfort. Yet in reality, it often becomes a source of conflict. This is where a new approach emerges—Comparative Scripture Discussions, a form of dialogue centered on each religion’s scriptures. Instead of insisting on personal beliefs, participants compare scriptures like the Bible, Quran, and Buddhist texts, asking, “How do you interpret this?” Through this, they create a space for open questions and shared unde...

 🌊 The climate crisis now feels deeply human On January 31, HWPL Global Region 11 hosted an online event called “Pacific Voices.” The event brought together people from various fields to discuss the climate crisis affecting Pacific island nations, especially countries like Fiji. What stood out most was that the climate crisis is no longer just an environmental issue. ✔️ Resource-related challenges ✔️ Migration and resettlement challenges ✔️ Land and rights issues I was struck by how all of these issues are interconnected and can lead to conflict between people. ⚖️ When laws fail to keep up with reality I was also struck by the keynote speech from a High Court judge in Fiji. The judge pointed out that outdated colonial legal systems still remain, failing to reflect today’s climate realities. Simply put, the environment is changing rapidly, but institutions are failing to keep up. It became clear how this gap can lead to conflict. 🏝 Land is more than just property In the Pacific, l...

– Reflecting on the 10th Anniversary of the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW) Sometimes, while watching the news, a thought crosses my mind. Why is war still happening? Even with international laws and agreements, why does humanity keep making the same choices? That’s why I sometimes find myself asking this question. Even if conflict is inevitable, does it always have to end in war? There has been an effort to offer one possible answer to this question. That effort is known as the Declaration of Peace and Cessation of War (DPCW). 🕊 “Can war end?” A story that began with a declaration On March 14, 2016, HWPL officially proclaimed this declaration. The DPCW is more than just an ideal vision of peace. It was an effort to establish practical international standards to reduce war and resolve conflicts peacefully. Behind this effort is one person’s experience. It comes from the war experience of Chairman Man-hee Lee. He experienced the horrors of war firsthand as a student so...

🌍 A moment of reflection on peace while reading the news One morning, while browsing the news with a cup of coffee, a story caught my attention. It was about a peace-related agreement signed in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. HWPL, an international peace NGO, signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding with Zambian government ministries. Even though it was news from far away, I found it especially interesting. Perhaps it was because the story showed how the idea of peace can move beyond slogans and become real policy. 🤝 From civic action to government policy The agreement involved Zambia’s Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The goal is to connect community peace initiatives with administrative and security systems so they can operate within formal institutions. Often, peace activities are thought of as simple campaigns or events. What stood out was that this agreement links peace efforts with public safety and...

These days, the topic I discuss most often with children in the classroom is definitely the climate crisis. Heatwaves, rising sea levels, and pollution are no longer just exam topics—they are becoming realities that our children will face in the future. Recently, I came across an article that got me thinking more deeply about the climate crisis. The article reported on an international webinar hosted by HWPL, titled “The Continuing Impact of Nuclear Legacy in a Changing Climate.” 🌊 The Marshall Islands: Where Nuclear Testing Meets the Climate Crisis According to the article, the Pacific island nation of the Marshall Islands was the site of 67 nuclear tests over 12 years, starting in 1946. It may seem like a distant part of history, but the issue persists. The webinar highlighted a serious concern: rising sea levels caused by climate change could release radioactive materials from areas still contaminated by nuclear test remnants. It was striking to see how past military decisions are ...