The Irina Project: Sunhak Peace Prize turns Ukrainian crisis into an opportunity

If you feel a bit powerless about the crisis in Ukraine or are currently too busy to pay attention, which is perfectly understandable, please don’t read this Memo of 825 words. If you think that we can only pray and fast and offer devotion, and it will be enough, please focus on this, we need this.

If you are motivated to be proactive you may be interested by this approach which is a bit “out of the box”.

The inspiration came through prayer and devotion but consists of an immediate action plan. I am searching for people of good will, both within and without Unificationist circles to build the momentum.

The Project is simply called Irina Project, Irina is a common name of Russian and Ukrainian women and means “Peace”.

The Irina Project focuses on the role of Donetsk and Lugansk for world peace. It includes a paradigm shift in the analysis of the crisis.

Please read and comment, let us see what can be done next.

The Irina Project - Donetsk and Lugansk to become international cities of peace for the unity in Europe and for World Peace

“Two cities have been formed by two loves: the earthly by the love of self, even to the contempt of God; the heavenly by the love of God, even to the contempt of self.” (Saint Augustine)

The cities of Donetsk and Lugansk are equally loved by both Russian people and Ukrainian people. More importantly, God loves them and the whole world and should love them too.

However, possessive and nationalistic love may lead to much attrition and destruction of the cities and their people, as has been evidenced so many times.

We should manifest a love for these cities which will save them and magnify their value for the rest of the world. Why and how?

We now offer a possibility that both cities become cities of peace, and not cities of war, by the will of God and the good will of many. Here is the proposal for a project. It is followed by a proposal for a steering committee of people in charge of making it possible, and lastly by a tentative calendar.

1. The Project

War and peace require sacrifice.

Today, it is possible for both Donetsk and Lugansk to become international cities of peace, for the advancement of a culture of common ideals, common good and common prosperity in Europe and for the world.

Russia and Ukraine will agree, with the will of the people in both cities, to create two model cities with extraterritorial status under United Nations sovereignty. Later, they may become two microstates in Europe and laboratories for peacemaking, creating an unprecedented model of governance.

Russian and Ukrainian people of the civil society will play a central role in the vision of this project. They need to offer greater sacrifice of selflessness for peace than soldiers ready to shed their blood and the blood of civilians for war. We call for courage, which has an emotional, intellectual and moral component. Though the plan is idealistic at this conjuncture of crisis and danger, it remains feasible.

Drawing in their orthodox heritage and rich cultural past, as well as their excellent level in science and technology, people of good will from Russia and Ukraine will build two cities with a strong ethics, a good constitution, a good governance, and a model of economic system for a peace economy focused on agriculture, tourism, service, leisure industry.

Both cities will be equipped with excellent academic institutions to foster peace. Under the general title of peace studies, the two cities will have complementary role.

With the expertise of the United nations,

Lugansk will focus on the internal component of peace with departments of Interreligious studies for peace Intercultural studies for peace Academy of political science, diplomacy Geography, history, literature, arts, ethnology, tourism Research on a Eurasian model of development

Donetsk will focus on the external components of peace Faculties of science and engineering Space technology Renewable energy Etc.

Both cities will become cosmopolitan and will serve as laboratories for a better governance. High quality professors and students will work in a very pleasant international environment, with a financial contribution of all nations.

The territories surrounding Donetsk and Lugansk will host an international peace park with total extraterritoriality.

A special role will also be given to the harbor of Mariupol (450,000 people) on the Sea of Azov. Mariupol will be developed into a financial place. It will also host the major international peace airport. The city will become a major center for diplomatic activity in the world as well as a place of tourism.

It will foster the value of hospitality which was so central in the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur at the end of his life.

People in these two microstates will offer the best of Slav values for a better world. They will create a new type of nation, with absolute patriotism for peace, but not nationalism. They will live with the honor of having repudiated war forever and become peaceful nations, sanctuaries of perpetual peace in Europe.

2. The Committee of Stakeholders of the Project

The project will be carried by the Sunhak Peace Prize, on behalf of Reverend and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon. Dr. Hak ja Han Moon will mobilize the expertise of Ban Ki Moon Macky Sall Hun Sen Manuel Baroso Anote Tong Mounib Yunan Gino Strada Sakeena Yacoobi Warris Dirie Sarah Gilbert Etc.

To convince the current presidents of Russia and Ukraine, and then their parliaments to study the project together. If the delegation of the Sunhak Peace Prize is welcome, it will mobilize many other stakeholders from various fields

3. A Calendar

If the proposal is accepted, ideally, a world summit should be convened in Donetsk in April 2022, and a second one in Lugansk in September 2022, with delegations from around the world, who will be actors of a giant step toward world peace.