UN International Day of Peace Munich

On the occasion of the UN International Day of Peace, which is celebrated annually on 21st September, UPF Munich invited to an interreligious peace meeting. This year’s motto of the UN was “Climate Action for Peace“.

We added the subtitle “Active for a Climate of Peace” and expanded the topic, so that not only climatic phenomena for peace were addressed. Twenty people from different reli- gious communities accepted the invitation.

München After the introductory words of the moderator, Robert Ben- 21. September 2019 tele of UPF Munich, the background of this memorial day was briefly presented and the speech of UN secretary-general An- tonio Guterres was read aloud. It seemed to all participants that environmental degradation and climate change could lead to serious global crises and conflicts, such as: fights for water or other important resources.

Dr. Alfons Wellenhofer, UPF, said that everyone can be a building block of peace - in the family, in the environment, with friends, in society, at the workplace - everywhere one can contribute to peace and thus contribute to a climate of peace. Many micro-climates of peace cause a corresponding large-scale weather situation.

Gottfried Hutter, Roman Catholic theologian and a great connoisseur of the situation in the Middle East, showed ways in which a lasting and above all honorable peace could be achieved in the region there.

Billie Wegman, a clergyman at the Church of Scientology in Munich, also pointed out how conflicts triggered by disturbances or interests of third parties can be resolved through com- munication.

Annette Bentele read passages from the autobiography of UPF founder, Rev. Moon, in which he made it clear that religions should never be there for themselves, but should always work for the benefit of the people and for peace.

Levi Wegmann and Nenad Butic on their guitars proved that music can also be a powerful tool for creating peace, one in the more modern style, the other in the classical style.

A peace prayer was also given much importance in the meeting.

After the respective presentations and the final lovingly prepared snack, coffee and cake, there was still a very lively and fruitful exchange.

Robert Bentele, UPF