In a moving and dramatic display of national pride and unity, the citizens of Mongolia made a clear commitment to peace and prosperity at the Global Peace Festival in Ulaanbaatar. Just a few short weeks after disputed elections threatened to bring this historic Asian nation to the brink of civil war, Sukhbaatar Square was once again filled with a huge crowd. This time, they sang and danced for peace.

The Festival marked the culmination of several days of activities including a city-wide service effort, a youth arts competition, speaking, dancing and song contests and an International Leadership Conference drawing delegates from Asia, Europe, and Oceania.

“Mongolia, Eurasia and the whole world need a new vision of peace for the 21st Century,” said Universal Peace Federation co-chair Dr. Hyun Jin Moon in his keynote address. “Unlike the secular thinking of our recent past, it should be a spiritual vision, rooted in universal values. Although territorial, ethnic and national divisions and broken economic and social ties all provoke instability, uncertainty and violence, the nations and peoples of this region need a new peace initiative based upon our common values. That vision, of One Family under God, is the clarion call of our age!"

Building a New Culture of Service

With over 50 percent of Mongolia’s population now jostling for space in Ulaanbaatar, the city is facing a crisis as it struggles to make room. Most at risk are the children of new arrivals. The Women’s Federation for World Peace has been providing schooling, clothing, and meals at the fast-growing Yargui Kindergarten. Volunteers from the Global Peace Festival helped beautify and grade the school grounds, removing dangerous rocks and working with the children to paint cheerful murals pointing to a better future.

The project at Yargui was just one of a city-wide initiative encouraging young Mongolians in particular to take responsibility for their neighborhoods and their cities, including a cleanup day that attracted more than 11,000 volunteers. “It’s more than just an aesthetic choice,” said Ulaanbaatar planning director Berit Bauar, commenting on a recent spate of manhole cover thefts that pose a real threat to public safety. “Projects like this can help us all realize that we must take responsibility together.”

International Leadership Conference

In addition to widespread civic action, the Universal Peace Federation is committed to leadership education as an important step in bringing peace. The International Leadership Conference was attended by 250 delegates from 38 nations, including more than 20 former heads of state and senior government ministers from central Asia and Oceania. “We need to find a better way to choose better leaders,” said the Hon. Stanislav Shushkevich, former president of Belarus and a member of the UPF Presiding Council, “and this peace education initiative can be an important first step.”

The UPF Peace Education program is starting to attract real interest in nations around the world interested in finding a new paradigm of leadership and good governance. “At the Global Peace Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, Prime Minister Raila Odinga credited the UPF Peace Principles with having helped him to defuse a post-election crisis,” says Secretary General Thomas Walsh, “and in Nepal we were also able to play a significant role in bringing warring parties to the table.”

In addition to the UPF Peace Principles, the conference also included special sessions of the Mongolian Peoples’ Federation for World Peace, examining the legacy of the golden age of Mongolia under Chinghis Han, and the role that Mongolian family traditions might play on a larger regional stage.

Main Peace Festivals in Sukhbataar Square

Despite a cold rain and chilly breeze, a large and enthusiastic crowd started to assemble early for the finale celebration in Mongolia’s most famous public space. Anxious to help rather than just be spectators, many of those present had participated in the earlier service projects; some had helped financially by adding donations to their ticket purchases. The event was broadcast live and on the internet by Ulaanbaatar Broadcasting System, UBS, which reported “hits” from viewers around the world.

“This is the start of a better day for our country,” said UPF Mongolia Secretary-General Enkhtaivan Chinzorig. “We’re very grateful to the hundreds of partners and sponsors who helped us to come this far. Now our challenge will be to take this momentum and work for lasting change in the months to come.”

From Ulaanbaatar, the Global Peace Festival now moves on to Ottawa, Canada; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; London, England; and five other locations with a grand finale in Brasilia in December.