As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.
Today's
topic: MIYC, Pledge of Peace, 10 km in their shoes (4) 4 postings about one topic, wow, it's really long! Isn’t
it? Today will be the last day of MIYC. The last topic is the '10km in their shoes'!!! What's the purpose of the 10km? Why MIYC prepare 10km? Actually, this 10km event is not the first 10km event. Last
April we also had 10km event in all branches. You can follow this YouTube and
can watch the 10km of Gwangju MANNAM. → http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23NoEX525-Q
On that day, not only Gwangju but also other 12 branches
had 10km events at the same time. Then, why the 10km event was made and what is the aim of the 10km event? 10km in their shoes was an awareness campaign. Holding the
flags of the damaged countries (by war), people shouted the end of the war and
world peace out. Through walking, participants were aware of the crises that
the world faces now. The crises can be the war, climate change, disaster and
dictatorship. (Especially this 10km event was made to oppose to the war.) It
was a soundless movement toward the world. All participants walked wishing to
show their strong supports to the anti-war movement and those who suffer from
the ongoing war. 10km in their shoes was the starting point of MIYC. Through 10km
event, MIYC began to act as a representative of many youth organizations
working for world peace. It was a great step forward visible world peace.
'Is it possible to achieve world peace just by walking
10km?' People may think like this. However, if you think about the history
again then you can find that all the victories of freedom were made through the
revolution. Long time ago, people had to bleed during the revolution, but now
people don't need to bleed (ok, I admit nowadays also people sometimes (or
often) bleed for the freedom). Thanks to the development of media thing, we can
easily share our hopes and thoughts with the people who have the same thoughts
with us. In this case, people can gather through Internet (or SNS') and can
move together even though they are apart from each other. Nowadays, it is
possible to go revolution without blood. 10km event does not end as one day event. I don’t know the
exact day but I heard that soon, 10km events will be held in all over the
world. It started from one small country, Korea, but it will spread to the
world. One candle can find another candle in the darkness. I think 10km event
in Korea is the first lighted candle. And the light of the first candle spreads
to the other ‘hidden’ candles. One light looks very small and people may be
able to recognize it, but if the lights are put together, people can’t ignore
it. It is the characteristic of the light. I think all the movements for world
peace are like the candle.
It is the badge of MIYC.
We can get this badge after finishing the 10km (3km for us:P).
The mark in the middle is 'thumb prints!'
Don’t ignore the one weak candle. It can burn the entire world.
As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.
Today's topic: MIYC, Pledge of Peace, 10 km in their shoes (3) Last two posts were about my personal experience with MIYC 10 km. Today, I will post about the MIYC itself. What it is and what is the purpose of MIYC ! What is MIYC? MIYC is the acronym of MANNAM International Youth Coalition. MIYC site says that "MIYC was formed from groups of young people coming together with the vision and determination to unite people across borders, cultures, languages and races. MIYC aims to foster a spirit of appreciation and respect for the diversity of humanity, as well as for all individuals that create that diversity." What is the aim of MIYC? MIYC will organize some projects throughout the year and organizations that decided to join the movement of MIYC will engage in those projects. For those projects, there will be a youth summits and summit's aim is to develop practical and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing us in the pursuit of peace. Nobody wants war/fight. Everybody wants peace. Then why the peace couldn't be obtained until now? Because we coulnd't bring our power together. MIYC's role is to combine people's power into one way. One by one, all youth organization will join the movement of MIYC and MIYC will become more powerful. Each of us is very small, but if we put together, we can be a big power. In my humble opinion, MIYC is a very ideal coalition. MIYC is not just a group, it is a 'coalition'. You may know the clear meaning of coalition. A coalition is 'agroupconsisting ofpeoplefromdifferentpoliticalorsocialgroupswhoareco-operatingtoachieveaparticularaim. MIYC was made only to cooperate with each other aiming to world peace. That's all. Nobody can say that it is for specific one group. It can not be like that MIYC is just a good way to gather together in the name of world peace. I hope MIYC spread more further than now and through MIYC world peace would be made.
continue to → MIYC, 10km in their shoes, pledge of peace! (4)
As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.
66th National Liberation Day celebration
In Korea, there are several national holidays; New Years day, Chuseok, the anniversary of the Independence Movement of March 1st etc. Among them, for me, the most important day is National Liberation Day of Korea!!! Why? Because that Day is my birthday :P (I'm very proud of it. Many people who are born in August 15th will agree with me haha) So, many of my friends couldn't forget my birthday. In one part, my birthday is really good because many people can remember and celebrate my birthday. However in another part, my birthday is not good because it is national holiday and I can't go school on that day. (It means I can't have happy birthday party in school ;( )
So, today's topic is National Liberation Day of Korea!!! Especially the festival held by MANNAM celebrating 66th National Liberation Day. Below is the introduction of 66th National Liberation Day of MANNAM (from mannamintl.org )
"Among many 66th National Liberation Day celebrations, a festival with the hope of world peace and remembering the true meaning of the restoration of light was held on Aug. 15th, 2011. The global festival was hosted by MANNAM Volunteer Association (hereafter MANNAM) inviting ambassadors of different countries, distinguished guests and foreigners to Yongsan War Memorial. The 4th National Patriotic Citizen’s Festival expressed special love for its country and people as well as its special volunteer spirit. The event not only served to celebrate the independence of Korea and wishing for a quick reunification of the two Koreas, but also as a global festivity where the light of peace is shed on the war-filled world.
<66th National Liberation Day Celebration of MANNAM>
Like the word “the restoration of light,” foreigners from all over the world participated in the event celebrating the returned light of Korea by singing the Korean national anthem. The event brought everyone at the scene together. Moreover, as the title of the event suggested “World Peace, Festival of the Victory of the Restoration of Light,” the event started with the commemorative ceremony of the National Liberation day. The day continued with various performances, cultural booths, Korean and other countries’ traditional booths and more. During the closing ceremony, there was a laser show where a small beam of light enters and enlightens the entire world, expressing the true meaning of the restoration of light."
Although I couldn't go this festival but I'm sure it must be really amazing. Why? Because It was held by MANNAM :D !
As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.
Do
you know Nobel Peace Prize?
Every
year since 1901 the Nobel Prize has been awarded for achievements in physics,
chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and for peace. The Nobel Prize is
an international award administered by the Nobel Foundation in Stockholm,
Sweden. In 1968, Sveriges Riksbank established The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in
Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, founder of the Nobel Prize. Each
prize consists of a medal, personal diploma, and a cash award. (from www.nobelprize.org)
The
thing that I want to point out is Nobel Peace Prize. Actually Nobel is an
inventor of dynamite and he earned a fortune by running corporation. What is
dynamite? It is a bomb. Really effective bomb. Using the dynamite people
invented nuclear weapon and using the nuclear weapon, people killed countless
people. Don’t you think that it is a little bit strange? Some people say that because
Nobel felt sorry for the invention of dynamite (because it became the murder
weapon), he donated his all fortune and make the foundation. How can the
inventor of dynamite can be the founder of the ‘Peace prize’? It is nonsense. It
is funny to me.
“The said interest shall be divided into five equal
parts, which shall be apportioned as follows: /- - -/ one part to the person
who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between nations,
the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion
of peace congresses.”
(Excerpt from the will of
Alfred Nobel)
The first winners of the Nobel
Peace Prize were Henry Dunant the founder of Red Cross and Frederic Passy, a
leading international pacifist of the time. Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded
to a person or organization that effort for the peace movement, and who work
for human rights, mediation of international conflicts, and arms control. 5
people who are chosen by the Norwegian Storting (Parliament of Norway), Oslo,
Norway will choose the awarder.
I don’t know the intention of
him (Nobel) to make Nobel Prize, but one thing that I have to admit is that
people are to think about the peace one more time. For example, when the
president Kim Dae-Jung awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 2000, we Korean were to
think about the meaning of the peace. I think it is really good. In anyway,
making people think about peace is nice! Sadly, in Korea there is only one
person (Kim Dae-Jung) who awarded Nobel Peace Prize. In my opinion, there are
many people or organization in Korea who are entitled to get a Nobel Peace
Prize. Like MANNAM! MANNAM can be a strong candidate of the Nobel Peace Prize
although many people want to ignore MANNAM. Because light can’t be hidden, I
believe that someday everybody will know about MANNAM and will want to join the
MANNAM. And I will be a great person who makes people think about MANNAM in
good way by blogging :P
I hope many people have an
interest in Nobel Peace Prize and think about the peace one more time. Every
single thought come together and make the big thought like mosaic. Each unit
may be looked like very small, but if the units gather together then they can
be a big power! I hope MANNAM can be a medium for the big peace!
As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.
Do you know (or remember) the song ‘Hand
in Hand’, the official song of 88 Olympic in Seoul, South Korea?
88 Olympic is the first biggest international
event held in Seoul. The motto was ‘Harmony and Progress’ and 160 nations and
8391 athletes participated. It opened at 17th September and ends at
2nd October. More than 27,000 volunteers volunteered and about
11,331 media came and broadcasted this Olympic.
Actually I was born in two years
later from that year, so I didn’t see the 88 Olympic with my own eyes. But when
I was young, I had a chance to watch the performance of KOREANA, the singer
group who sang in 88 Olympic. It was amazing. Of course the picture quality was
not good but I can feel the atmosphere. It is a beginning of the world peace.
The title is ‘Hand in Hand’. You can imagine how it was through the title
itself. Everybody, regardless of country, religion and race, holds hand in
hand. How nice it is!
Please enjoy the lyric. (I can’t
upload the song because of its copyrightL) instead I linked YouTube!
But,,, sadly, I couldn’t find the
English version. Look at the lyric and listen to the music. It is enough for
you to feel the atmosphere.
Same as ‘Imagine’, I really like this
song ‘hand in hand’. It is really touching and sometimes I almost about to cry.
I don’t know why but I think it moved me deeply. Maybe the day that I watched
this video is the dooms day that makes me to want world peace. True peace.
Please listen carefully and be moved.
Hand in hand _ KOREANA
See the fire in the sky
We feel the beating of our heart's together
this is our time to rise above
We know the chance is here to live
forever for all time
hand in hand we stand
all across the land
we can make this world a better
place in which to live
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
Everytime we give it all
we feel the flame eternally in side us
lift our hands up to the sky
the morning calm helps us to
live in harmony for all time
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in handSee the fire
in the sky
We feel the beating of our heart's together
this is our time to rise above
We know the chance is here to live
forever for all time
hand in hand we stand
all a cross the land
we can make this world a better
place in which to live
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
Everytime we give it all
we feel the flame eternally in side us
lift our hands up to the sky
the morning calm helps us to
live in harmony for all time
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in handSee the fire in the sky
We feel the beating of our heart's together
this is our time to rise above
We know the chance is here to live
forever for all time
hand in hand we stand
all a cross the land
we can make this world a better
place in which to live
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
Everytime we give it all
we feel the flame eternally in side us
lift our hands up to the sky
the morning calm helps us to
live in harmony for all time
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in handSee the fire in the sky
We feel the beating of our heart's together
this is our time to rise above
We know the chance is here to live
forever for all time
hand in hand we stand
all a cross the land
we can make this world a better
place in which to live
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
Everytime we give it all
we feel the flame eternally in side us
lift our hands up to the sky
the morning calm helps us to
live in harmony for all time
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in handSee the fire in the sky
We feel the beating of our heart's together
this is our time to rise above
We know the chance is here to live
forever for all time
hand in hand we stand
all a cross the land
we can make this world a better
place in which to live
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
Everytime we give it all
we feel the flame eternally in side us
lift our hands up to the sky
the morning calm helps us to
live in harmony for all time
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in handSee the fire in the sky
We feel the beating of our heart's together
this is our time to rise above
We know the chance is here to live
forever for all time
hand in hand we stand
all a cross the land
we can make this world a better
place in which to live
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
Everytime we give it all
we feel the flame eternally in side us
lift our hands up to the sky
the morning calm helps us to
live in harmony for all time
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
Arirang
hand in hand we can
start to understand
breaking down the walls that
come between us for all time
hand in hand
hand in hand
hand in hand
As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.
Big Peace, small peace
What is peace? I’ve written not that many posts but all posts are
about the world peace. Then, what is the peace? Have you ever thought about the
peace itself? Many people have been saying peace, are saying peace and will say
peace. We have to know the true meaning of the peace. So I prepare the meaning
of peace (to me). I said, ‘to me’. I don’t want to force you guys to understand
my style; I just want to let people think about the peace one more.
If
you search the word ‘peace’, then you can find two big meanings of peace. One
is big peace another one is small peace. Big peace is about the country or big
group. ‘If there is peace in a country or in the world, there are no wars or
violent conflicts going on.’ is the result of the searching. No wars and no
violent conflicts is not enough. It must be going on. That is the peace. Is it
possible for people to stop wars and conflicts? Yes, I believe. So the word ‘peace’
exists in the dictionary. You may know dead language. If people do not use
particular word or language, those words will be the dead language. But look at
the word ‘peace’! I believe many people use the word ‘peace’ and this is the
possibility of peace itself! I know I have a jump in my opinion but I want to
believe. :P World peace is kind of big peace. It is related to many people not
just one person. So it needs many people’s attention to achieve. Between two countries,
between two religions and between two races, the world peace will start!
What is small peace? You may guess that it is
related to one person. Dictionary says “If
you
have
a feeling of peace, you
feel
contented
and
calm
and
not
at all worried.
You
can
also
say
that
you
are
at
peace.” To achieve small peace, just stay calm and
think about wide sea. No work, no thoughts, then you can get peace easily. (I
know it is difficult to have no work and no thoughts, but compared to big
peace, it is a piece of cake !!!!) It is only related to myself. I can make
peace by myself. In my opinion, big peace starts from the small peace. Most of all, each of
us should find small peace. And then we can pursue big peace.
So, in conclusion, to achieve ultimate peace
that I want, I have to find my own peace first. How can I find my own peace? To
me, peace is satisfaction and that satisfaction comes from helping others. I
volunteered in MANNAM as a Korean teacher and it is worth doing. Although
sometimes my students are busy and they can’t come, but I’m okay! (I’m okay
Calen and Jeff!!!! Do you hear me!!!?? I’m okay!!!!! :P) Anyway, small peace
can be achieved by volunteering in MANNAM, and how about big peace? Of course,
through MANNAM, I can pursue big peace. MANNAM is amazing association because I
can dream ultimate peace that I want! By myself, I couldn’t do anything but
with MANNAM, I can at least try to do something for peace! If you want to join
me, don’t hesitate to knock MANNAM’s door!
As one of MANNAM members (MANNAMERs), I will post about my life with MANNAM.
Jackie Cham in Mureup Pak Dosa
In Feb 28th, 2013, Korean famous
TV program ‘Mureup Pak Dosa’ broadcasted Jackie Chan as today’s guest. Chan is
a very very famous action movie star. Everybody would know him, hear about him or
watch him through movie. He is popular for his nice action and for his life as
a self-made man. He grew up in poor family so he couldn’t learn how to read and
write. He wanted to be a movie star and he remembered all the scripts that
people read to him. By that way, he appeared more than 100 movies. Isn’t it surprising?
Then why I decided to post about him? It’s
because of his dream. In ‘Mureup Pak Dosa’, he said that his dream is world
peace.
“My dream is difficult one.”
“My dream is World peace.”
“The world is too violent.”
“World needs harmony.”
“It is the time that we need the power of
truth.”
He used to worry about the people around him
because he thought everybody would think he is managing his image by saying
that his hope is world peace. He concerned about other people a lot. So he has
been hiding his dream. One day, one of his friends told to him that why don’t
you let other people know actively? And why don’t you fulfill your dream all
together? After that day, he actively let people know about his dream and do
together every time when he has a chance.
If the world is full of people like Chan,
the world would be totally different from now. The world would be filled with
happiness, kindness and peace. I’ve always emphasized the importance of first
step. First step leads another person’s first step and continually it will lead
everyone’s first step. Next is easy. Just keep walking. Everyone’s small steps
can change the world. For me, the first step was MANNAM. MANNAM gave me a
chance to think about the world peace. Of course I was interested in world
peace before meeting with MANNAM. But, thanks to MANNAM I could see the
possibility of world peace. I believe, I hope that someday, people gather
together and naturally think about world peace.
