The New Era of Peace for International Human Rights

Congratulatory Letter from Mr. Douglas Mattern, President of AWC

Dear Dr. Hong, Jason Cherng, and all the Tai Ji Men and members of the AWC Taiwan Branch.

Congratulations on holding this important meeting on the anniversary of the great 2001 World Citizens Assembly. We have the fondest memories of that Assembly and all the wonderful work and great spirit that you demonstrated. We have held 11 World Citizen Assemblies in cities around the world, but the Taiwan Assembly will be remembered as one of the best. In the tradition of World Citizenship Day, that was such a tremendous event in Taipei Stadium last year, our AWC Branch in Sofia, Bulgaria carried on this tradition with a successful celebration on March 20. The subject of this meeting is very critical in light of what is happening in the world today. We all remember the hope and optimism so dramatically expressed in celebrations around the world less than two years ago at the dawn of this new century and new millennium. Tragically, so much of this spirit has turned into disappointment and even despair among millions of people in the developing world. In this year of 2002, the world is haunted with the same brutal violence that marred the entire 20th century. Moreover, military spending is being dramatically increased, along with the development of new weapons.

What went wrong? And, most importantly, how can we change course with the beginnings of a new civilization that is based on respect for life and the environment.

I believe that our movement, World Citizens, offers the best course of action, because this is the one concept that transcends the political, religious, cultural, and racial divisions that divide humanity today.

The theme of your meeting is wonderfully set out in the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. We need to use this document more and expose it to our schools, churches, and politicians, and use it more within our own movement.

The Association of World Citizens has some very exciting projects under development. We need the help of the Taiwan branch with all your impressive talent to help make these projects a success.

Let me conclude by say that Human Rights means the right to peace, to be free from hunger, from oppression, from exploitation. And human rights can only be guaranteed when we create the global village of lasting peace, with social and economic justice, and the new civilization that I mentioned. World Citizens must lead the way.

I wish you a very successful meeting.