International Youth Groups initiated World Peace movement in South Korea
By icekbs | Posted April 24, 2013 | South Korea
Despite threats of war and warnings for foreigners to evacuate Seoul from North Korea, on the 21st of April 2013, about 2,000 young people gathered at Gwacheon's Seoul Grand Park to hold a truly meaningful event. The "10km Walk in their shoes" event has become an annual event for MANNAM Volunteer Association. Previously the event has been covered by international news groups from countries such as Turkey and Pakistan as the volunteers of MANNAM walked to raise awareness for topic relevant to situations their nations were experiencing. Today, however, the focus was the launch of the MANNAM International Youth Coalition (MIYC).
The event drew attention to the need for practical ways with which to achieve peace both within and between nations. The event was unique in that the volunteers in South Korea did not walk alone. 25 youth organizations from 17 other nations have all planned similar events to be held within the next week - all in the name of celebrating MIYC and making a statement for peace.
The event began with speeches from representatives of student youth organizations and the 'Pledge of Peace' in which all in attendance were asked to pledge their efforts to uniting the youth of the world under the banner of peace and restoration for the youth of the world. Following the opening, the day was filled with K-pop flash mobs, inspiring card-sections performances, and, of course, the walk itself. Besides the main program items, there were many meaningful side-programs to be experienced, and participants could be found writing messages of peace, leaving their mark on a section of a giant thumb-printed flag (a project to be unveiled later this year), or creating customized MIYC peace badges.
Tanner Gerschick, a US citizen said, “I participated the event because I thought it was very inspiring that many diverse young people gathered to let the world know about peace. I wish that the event can be known to as many people as possible.” One of a the event organizers mentioned, “when the youth of the world become one, the war will end and peace will become a reality. MIYC is planning to request that world leaders sign an international Memorandum of Understanding focusing on world peace and the cessation of war - especially because it is old men who dream up wars, and the youth who go out and die in them. If the youth, being set on a creating a world free of war, refuse to fight, then who will fight the wars?"
Currently, MIYC sports over 92 affiliated youth groups from 75 different countries around the world. This year they will be hosting many such events, you can follow their progress through the MANNAM international homepage: www.mannamintl.org
