Despite Busy Week of Protests, Peace Conference Shines Through

Over 50 diverse faith and community leaders shared their vision for peacebuilding before an audience of more than 600 youth at the “We Are One: Advancing the Voice of Peace” on Monday. The peace conference, which took place at The Grand in Long Beach, came during a week stacked with the 25th Anniversary of the L.A. Riots, People’s Climate March, and May Day protests.

 

But Long Beach residents and other Southern Californians were ready for a shift away from unending political rhetoric and violence in the news. “I feel so stressed to always have to protest or be against something these days,” said Tim Pheng, 24-year-old Long Beach resident. “It’s like we’re always expected to have to react to something. But I think people forget that there are still so many reasons to come together for something rather than [being] divided.”

 

Hosting the event was the Los Angeles branch of international peace non-profit “Heavenly Culture, World Peace, Restoration of Light.” HWPL began as a grassroots peace movement in South Korea in 2012 and has since expanded to more than 100 branches globally, receiving recognition from the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureates for its work in peacebuilding and non-violence, as well as mobilizing women and youth through the International Women’s Peace Group (IWPG) and the International Peace Youth Group (IPYG) respectively.

 

Among the religious leaders in attendance included Sikhs, Muslims, Cao Dai reverends, Catholics, Christians, Buddhists and more, as well as local police captains and city councilmen. The atmosphere was far from stale, as leaders were able to break away from their typical speeches to charm the audience with their humor and sincere desire to see peace fostered within their communities.

 

Following roundtable discussions outlining conflict resolutions, HWPL Chairman Man Lee shared a keynote address on the importance of interfaith dialogue to promote religious tolerance and an understanding of peace in one’s scriptures. He also explained the meaning behind HWPL: “heavenly culture” as in emulating the skies that provide light, rain, and air to all without discrimination; “world peace” as in peace should not only belong to one individual or city, but the globe; and “restoration of light” as in ridding the world of corruption and restoring faith in mankind. “All of us, we are not two but one,” said Lee. “But what do we need to be one in? We need to be one in the work of peace.”

 

This conference was the first in Chairman Lee’s lineup of meetings during his Los Angeles visit and marks the beginning of his 25th “World Peace Tour” in the last five years. “When I look around in my travels, and I do travel a lot around the country and around the world, I meet a lot of political, religious, community, and business leaders,” said Waqas Syed, secretary general of the Islamic Circle of North America. “I see peace cannot be achieved unless the laws of peace can be accepted and implemented and mediated by someone today, and that someone, my dear friends, is HWPL under the leadership of Chairman Lee.”

 

Other highlights of the night included Councilmember Elito Santarina promising to work with HWPL to establish a “Peace Academy” in the city of Carson, a colorful peace song performance by IPYG volunteers, and an inspiring mood many guests who attended the gathering were able to leave with.

 

“I’m really glad I came,” said Carson resident Geraldine Awosanya, 28. “I liked it a lot. We need more peaceful discussions like this one to bridge people together. We need more space[s] to

hear each other out.”