The United Nations, having the goal of world peace, made development a priority and created the United Nations Development Program. The UNDP conducted development programs and research worldwide for several decades; its expertise commands respect and humility. Yet, the UNDP itself often revised drastically its own approach of development; its own literature contains much self-criticism. It will surely continue to do so. The Universal Peace Federation offers constructive insights in this ongoing debate.

Link to powerpoint   - Notes Following (Numbers relate to slides)

UNESCO, Paris, 12-14 April 2012

Capacity for Otherness in Pluri-Identity Societies

Fundamental Changes in the Structures and Interaction Patterns of our Societies

The recent decades have been marked by a continued decrease in interstate conflicts and wars. Yet at the same time new challenges on our security agenda have emerged which are related to processes of intra-societal disintegration. These societal challenges and the related lack of security, rule of law and of a public sense of common purpose have, however, not yet been fully addressed in national and international policies and programmes of action. Societal disintegration reflects to some extent the various fundamental changes in our societies, including the widening gaps in income and related marginalisations, the renewed enhancement of religious faith as an element of identity, the affirmation of different cultures and of ethnic and linguistic identities.

Session VII:  A Life in Service to Peace (Photo Link)

Tim Miller–Vice-Chair of the Universal Peace Federation in Europe. He has been instrumental in developing UPF’s European Leadership Conferences since 2004,with more than 50 such conferences having taken place until now in Europe, mostly in United Nations institutions and national Parliaments in the last year.

After describing UPF founder Reverend Moon’s childhood, Mr Miller recited the poem, “Crown of Glory” written by Reverend Moon, the founder of UPF, when he was only 15 years old, showing his deep heart even at this early age. He explained that Rev. Moon had been tortured when he worked for Korea’s independence during his student days in Japan. Nevertheless, rather than harbouring resentment, he assisted many Japanese to leave Korea following its liberation after WWII.