UPF Peace Councils

4 examples -

UK, Albania, NL & Switzerland

Global Peace Council page on UPF.org - http://www.upf.org/global- peace-council – There is discussion about how it can fulfill some function.

The vision: The Council: has to move the nation in the direction of the Providence has to consist of 120 national VIP’s from 10 area’s of society meets regularly, has discussions and takes actions to move the nation into a Godly direction

Some UPF chapters established a national peace council: Albania, Benin, Germany, Israel, Liberia, Russia.

The 10 areas in the society are:

Politics, Religion/Interfaith, Business, Women, NGOs, Media, Professions, Academia, Performing/Fine Arts, Military

The situation in The Netherlands The first step is making contact with the right people

We contact people by visiting certain meetings, phone and e-mail people in order to invite them for events like cultural evenings, dinners, local or national conferences, ELCs, MEPI’s and ILCs

In general the participants experience a good and friendly atmosphere, where they can express themselves freely, meet interesting people and are taken care well (attention, food, music)

Quite some people were inspired by MEPI, seeing Christians, Muslims, Jews embrace each other

Next we seek to educate our contacts about the DP & Blessing Important also is to recognize good people by appointing them as AfP Also we ask our AfP’s to connect us to their contacts (networking) We also work together with other organizations and involve our AfP’s

Out of all these activities a core group emerged, which meets regularly and forms a beginning of a Peace Council. About every 2 months this group meets in the library of Dr Beelaerts van Blokland in Utrecht. Here reports are given about Providential activities and topics are discussed, often including an aspect of DP

Recently the topic was for instance about ‘’Interreligious Cooperation: urgent Necessity & great Chance’’

We hope soon to make this group, and membership of it, more formal as a National Peace Council,

The idea is to become an Advisory Body to Government and other important institutes, commenting on events in the news and ongoing situations.

Recently two AfPs’ reported in delight, seeing Muslims & Christians co-operate & protect each other in Egypt

Some time ago a government paper on the family (Rouvoet-nota) has been discussed

Our best achievements in 2010:

3 high level AfPs went to Japan and challenged government representatives about the “forced conversion” of Unificationists.

These AfPs also assisted in receiving the Little Angels Just their names impressed the Korean Ambassador and the Dutch Ministry of Defence to cooperate with us.

UPF/DP lecture, Partner AfP Maartje Bos, who works in Africa, at Vietnam Conference Next slide: food & music

Fatma cooked for Little Angels and Dr. Pak Merel, Scientologist, came to True Parent’s Birthday dinner

Switzerland Heiner Handshin reports: We defined our Peace Council - as an autonomous entity “Fribourg Peace Forum” (many academics in Fribourg University) www.fpforum.org

It can work in its own dynamic, raise funds, address issues, publish & edit statements, etc. and in this respect have a wider impact towards the “outside” rather than just being a sort of static structure that has an internal function within UPF-Switzerland.

Had 2 conferences in 2010

UK / Britain: http://www.upf.org/chapters/list/GB http://uk.upf.org - Robin Marsh - pa@uk.upf.org

The National Peace Council is the main vehicle to inform the main AfPs about the latest providential developments, activities & news. The Council meets twice a year in L. Gate, London This is a time to review, strategise and consult with leading AFPs. Also there is networking with & between AfPs. A membership fee is collected and the AfP’s cover the expenses of the day. Activities: some housing project and regional activities

Murad Qureshi AM

Break Out Session to Discuss a Low Cost Housing Project in Africa Sierra Leone Govt Advisor Present Jonathan Fryer

Albania Constituted a Peace Council Directing Board (12-15 participants) 120 PC members in 8 working groups Local PC’s in 5 cities

Report of National Peace Council meeting in 2009, included H.E. Mr. Alfred Moisiu, the former president of Albania, urging participants to take action against the blood feuds which still plague Albanian society.

UPF has also been campaigning on protecting women from violence and has cleaned the southern shore of Ohrid Lake, a Unesco World Heritage Site;

In June 2010, the Tirana Peace Council held a meeting to “Explore Conflict Paradigms” (Cain and Abel relationships).

Albania National chairman is Mr. Flamur Shehu, Renowned composer and director national culture center for children and member national council of the democratic party There is benefit from H.E. Alfred Moisiu (former president) Another renowned member is Hon. G. Apostoli (former minister of transportation

Global Peace Council Member, H.E. Alfred MoisiuRepublic of Albania, President (2002‐2007; National Peace Council Members: Hon. Gaqo Apostoli, Former Minister of Transportation Republic of Albania; Ali Lacej, Chairman of Presiding council of UPF Albania; Flamur Shehu, Chairman of UPF National Peace Council Albania; Secretary General, Mr. Sokol Rexhepi

Summary, Conclusion This report has not much details of organization. This might well vary from nation to nation. Important is to keep a balance between freedom & structure The Peace Council needs a spiritual base. In this area the input is needed from the Unification Movement Very important is the support of members at meetings, to be a good audience, bring guests, helping to organize and to create a good atmosphere. A good atmosphere is very important. Next is how to make more concrete actions. We still are investigating how to internally reach our AfP’s in order for them to understand the Providence and TP. How to bridge Father’s vision & their reality / experience We need to really involve AfPs in general, particularly those appointed to a Peace Council, and find a balance between them being active & taking initiative, but without them “taking over”.

In The Netherlands, Dr. Beelaerts chairs the “would be” Peace Council meetings, while Wim Koetsier is respected as the UPF Nederland Secretary General. Behind the scenes, Elfi Verstraeten seeks to “educate” Dr. Beelaerts in his role.

To make reports of Peace Council and UPF meetings is helpful, for attendees, media and UC leaders & members, especially for the networking.

Like Mr. Ian White said in our conference in December: itisall about transforming people.

To reach the heart of AfP’s we need talk and experience. The Little Angels made a deep impact. Small dinners, where we can create our own atmosphere, helps to share important things about our movement. How to make AfP’s understand that Father is the Messiah is still a big challenge.

Lecture suggestion: Missed chances for peace. 100 years history of the West ( CAUSA) Understand more how God provided opportunities and how He works behind the scenes. Our focus stays the internal input

Area’s to concentrate are: how to develop the spirit, how to become a good person, family, society – character building How to get internal change, transformation