Prior to the main World Summit program, the 26th International Conference on the Unity of the Sciences (ICUS) and 1st God and Science Conference were held from February 1-5 at the Mayfield Hotel and Kintex. This year’s conference brought together scientists, including Nobel laureates, and environmentalists on the topic of “Resolving Environmental Issues for the Prosperity of Humankind” Providing Drinking Water in Africa,” “A Plan to end World Hunger” and Educational Strategies to Solve Environmental Problems.” Participants from Europe and Middle East included Hon. Mario Salomone and Dr. Bianca La Placa, secretary-general and public relations & communications officer, respectively, World Environmental Education Congress Network, Torino, Italy; Ven. Dr. Michel Thao Chan, President and Founder, Cercle de Reflexion des Nations, and Dr. Jean-André Galeyrand, both from France.
Launched on February 4-5, the International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP) is “a new global academic initiative to identify and share the theoretical underpinnings needed to realize a world of lasting peace”. Co-sponsored by the HJ Academic Foundation of Arts and Sciences, Professors World Peace Academy (PWPA) and Sun Moon University, the Conference consisted of four separate panels.
The Opening Ceremony, moderated by Dr. Thomas Selover, president of PWPA International, was held for the launching of the International Association of Academicians for Peace (IAAP). Welcoming remarks were given by Dr. Sun Jin Moon, executive vice president of Women’s Federation for Peace International. Speakers included Hon. Chan-Yeol Lee, Chairman, Education Committee of the National Assembly of Korea; Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, Biologist and Fisheries scientist and Sunhak Peace Prize Laureate; and Amb. Marc Vogelaar, International Affairs Consultant & Former Diplomat, The Netherlands.
Professor Hanoch Ben-Pazi, from the Department of Jewish Thought at the Bar-Ilan University, Israel. Professor Ben-Pazi reviewed the philosophy of Martin Buber and Franz Rosenzweig regarding how their philosophy relates to our current challenges of remaining human in a synthetic environment. He highlighted the crisis of alienation in our increasingly technological world. He spoke of three relationships: one and self, relating to belief, one and the other, which needs genuine dialogue, and one and AI, as in relating to technology, possibly including pornography.
The main IAAP Assembly was held from February 4-5 with prominent scholars and academics from around the world. Hosted by the Hyojeong Academic Foundation, it was divided into 4 sections: Section 1 - “A Vision for the Unity of the Sciences”; Section 2 - “A Vision for World Peace”; Section 3 - “The God Conference and God as the Parent of Humankind”; Section 4 - World University Presidents’ Congress (WUPC) “What Will the University Do for World Peace?”
In Panel 1 on the theme “A Vision for the Unity of the Sciences” the speakers from Europe and Middle East were Dr. Gennady Shipov, Director, Center for Physics of Vacuum, Moscow State University, Russia, and Dr. Martin Ramirez, Chair, Center for Conflict Studies, Nebrija University, Spain. Panel 2 on the theme “A Vision for World Peace”, featured Dr. Werner Fasslabend, President, Austrian Institute for European and Security Policy, Austria; Dr. Emmanuel Dupuy, President, Institute for Prospective and Security in Europe, France; Hon. Erna Hennicot-Schoepges, former Speaker of Parliament, Luxembourg and Dr. Walter Feichtinger, Director, Institute for Peace Support and Conflict Management, Austrian National Defence Academy. Panel 3 on the theme “The God Conference and God as the Parent of Humankind” featured Professor Ben Pazi, Chair, Dept. of Jewish Philosophy, Bar Ilan University, Israel. Panel 4 on the theme “The Peace of Humankind and the Role of the University in the Next 100 Years”, featured university presidents and educators, including Dr. Vasyl Kremen, former Minister of Education of Ukraine.
All four sections of the IAAP met together to hear a summary of each section.
Dr. Hendricks summarized that this is the inaugural meeting of the International Association of Academicians for Peace. We will be focusing on ‘absolute values’, which relate to God and True Love. In the medieval times, Theology was respected as the “Queen of Sciences.” Rev. Moon says journalists shape the world for a day, while theologians shape the world for a century.
Dr. Thomas Selover, President of PWPA International, spoke of the launch of the book project, which will focus on the Science of Godism. Each book will be written by a respected scholar. Dr. Selover then read the Resolution for the Inauguration of the International Association for Academicians for Peace. The Closing Session ended with much networking and many pictures!