Peace and Development

A 30-strong audience commemorated the UN International Day of Peace at a screening of the documentary film “Within the Eye of the Storm”, held at the Peace Embassy in Thornton Heath on 27 September. This exceptional film follows the parallel stories of Palestinian and Israeli fathers who both suffered the pain of bereavement when their daughters were killed in the conflict but who chose to set out on a journey together to humanize the enemy in order to prevent the vicious cycle of retaliation in themselves and their societies. The audience were visibly moved by the tremendous courage of these two men, who overcame the instinct for vengeance and instead sought understanding, reconciliation and justice with accountability. The film was introduced by Margaret Ali (Director of UPF-UK), who is a personal friend of the film director, Shelley Hermon. A sum of £140 was raised through donations collected at the event, and these funds will be used to promote the film in schools in Israel and Palestine.

Today in Parliament there was an event featuring Princess Yvonne Chaka Chaka, UNICEF and Roll Back Malaria Goodwill Ambassador and co-hosted by a number of groups including the Universal Peace Federation - UK. Justina Mutale and POWER 14 have been organising this programme as part of Black History Month. The event will be hosted by the Rt. Hon. Baroness Sandip Verma, Parliamentary Under Secretary for Energy and Climate Change. Below are the biographies for the speakers. (Photo of Justina Mutale, Baroness Verma and Yvonne Chaka Chaka in the House of Lords courtesy photographer695 More Photos Link)

YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA known as the Princess of Africa, Yvonne is a South African Superstar and legendary singer with 30 years in the music industry, boasting twenty two albums, with many Platinum and Gold hit records, making her one of Africa's most successful artists.

African Womens Role South African Superstar and Legendary Singer, YVONNE CHAKA CHAKA who is also UNICEF & Roll Back Malaria Ambassador and Founder of Princess of Africa Foundation will be a Keynote Speaker at a 'Africa Rising: The Role of the Diaspora African Woman' Conference on 2nd October from 1.00 pm to 4.00 pm, together with Justina Mutale, who is African Woman of the Year 2012, International Women’s Think Tank Global Envoy and World Leaders Forum Advisory Board Member. For conference tickets please see here

Henri Pierre Koubaka Monthly Ambassador for Peace meeting to consider Sustainable Development Goals. More Photos http://bit.ly/1ruNsAw

ONE GLOBAL HUMAN FAMILY BUILT ON LOVE, PEACE & UNITY

By Justina Mutale

African Woman of the Year 2012 and UPF Ambassador for Peace

2^nd Anniversary of the Ascension of Father Sun Myung Moon

Founder of the Universal Peace Federation

Lancaster Gate, London, Saturday 16^th August 2014

Each time I switch on the television in the past few months, I am greeted with horrifying images of war - images of humans killing other humans. Humans fleeing war waged by fellow humans; humans dying from gunfire or bombs dropped by fellow humans; humans dying of hunger, poverty, dehydration, lack of water, lack of food, lack of shelter - all caused by fellow humans. Humans fleeing their homes or being chased out of their homes by other humans; humans becoming refugees in their own homes and in their own countries; humans trying to flee to neighbouring countries for safety, from fellow humans.

'Breaking the Slave Chain' a Youth UPF and ABSoc event in SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) University of London last night. Humphrey Hawksley (BBC World Affairs Correspondent), Hannah Bruce (Ethical Trading Initiative), Colleen Theron (Stop the Traffik)