Moscow, Russia—UPF celebrated the International Day of Peace with an art exhibition launching its newest association.
The Russian chapter of the International Association of Arts and Culture for Peace (IAACP) was inaugurated on September 24, 2021, with an exhibition of paintings titled "The Joy of Life."
The exhibition in the Moscow Peace Embassy included works by Tatyana Kuznetsova, a member of the Union of Artists of the Moscow Region; Ekaterina Samitina from Samara; and Natalia Rumyantseva and Irina Getman from Moscow.
The moderator of the program, UPF-Moscow Chair Dmitry Samko, explained that every year on September 21, International Day of Peace is celebrated around the world. This day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 as the day of strengthening the ideals of peace among all countries and peoples. The theme of the 2021 International Day of Peace is "Recovering Better for an Equitable and Sustainable World.
Dr. Alexander Shapiro-Suliman, the general secretary of the Alliance of the Peoples of the World, gave a welcoming speech.
UPF-Russia President Maria Nazarova briefly reported on recent UPF programs. She then gave an introduction to IAACP, explaining the vision of UPF co-founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon for the newest UPF association. IAACP is intended to be a positive impetus toward strengthening the culture of peace and neighborliness.
Mrs. Nazarova read from Mother Moon’s memoir:
If we had the opportunity to express the distinctive feature of all the organizations we created in one phrase, it would be the phrase ‘culture of a heart of filial piety.’ A heart full of filial piety signifies sincere devotion and love for our Heavenly Parent. The heart is the very essence of beauty and the primordial foundation of love. It is beauty that makes love flow forever. The culture of the heart transcends time and space. In the world where the will of the Heavenly Parent is fulfilled, the pure and impeccable culture of the heart flows like water and sways like the wind, finding expression in all kinds of creativity.
Writer Svetlana Savitskaya, the founder of the Golden Feather of Russia national literary prize and editor-in-chief of the All-Russian independent newspaper Youth of Muscovy, spoke about pressing issues in the life of writers. In particular, she raised the issue of copyright. She then offered a practical proposal for cooperation.
Konstantin Krylov, secretary general of UPF for Eastern Europe, presented Ambassador of Peace certificates to three distinguished recipients:
- Natalya Tolstaya, a psychotherapist, positive psychologist, writer, and TV and radio presenter. Her programs featuring pop stars, famous artists, and athletes are watched by hundreds of thousands of people.
- Aliya Bulatova from the city of Kazan, a laureate of the Russian President's Prize for the best social project, clinical psychologist, and founder of the School of Modern Psychology.
- Zorak Petrovsky from the government of the Russian Federation.