MANNAM Peace: A thought of peace with a happiness quote.

Happiness is the perfume you can't

pour on other without getting a few

drops on yourself.

This quote has really touched me.

Happiness is like perfume. If you pour it a little bit in your room, the room will be filled with its fragrance. 

On the other hand, if you don't have the fragrance, it can never be wafted.

Think about the world peace relating to this.

I think it is the same as this.

Wishing for world peace is like perfume.

If you’ve got the will of it, it will be wafted to the world.

It will never be true when you don't wish for it.

"You can spread the positive thinking of peace to the world.

That will make the peaceful world."

MANNAM Volunteer Association

www.mannamintl.org

MANNAM Peace - UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon urges ceasefire in Syria's Qusayr

UN Secretary General Bank-Ki-moon urged the two of the Syrian government and the militants to stop the war for the relief work of the wounded and civilians isolated in the fighting in Qusayr.

Mr.Ban said, "The Syrian government has a responsibility to protect the civilians in the area within a jurisdiction." and he demanded that the both sides, Syrian government forces and the militants let the trapped civilians and the wounded escape the town for the evacuation.

According to a statement, Mr.Ban stressed the both sides to do their utmost to avoid civilians casualties, and warned they would be held accountable for any acts of atrocity carried out against the civilian population of Qusayr.

UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos and UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay said, “We understand there may also be as many as 1,500 wounded people in urgent need of immediate evacuation for emergency medical treatment, and that the general situation in al-Qusayr is desperate.”

They also said there were reports that civilian neighborhoods continued to be indiscriminately attacked and that other major violations of human rights and international humanitarian law were being committed.

Qusayr, as a strategic point, located on the route between the capital city, Damascus and the coast, which used to be taken by the militants, was recaptured by the Syrian government forces last month backed by the Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah.

Rami Abdulrahman, of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights(SOHR), an information office reporting the Syrian civil war said, "The battle is continuing in the northern area of Qusayr. The Syrian government forces are increasing their military strength and the militants are mobilizing all what they have to fight against them as well.

World Peace: Youth walk for Peace

Do you believe World Peace is possible?

I am sure if we all believe that.....

 it is possible.

MANNAM Peace : Happy Parents' Day!!

Happy Parents' Day!!

May 8th is Parents' Day in Korea.

In Korea, we usually get some carnations to present to our parents.

And we present some gifts and cards to each parent to show how much we love them.



Through this day, we could realize how precious things or people we have around us.

There are numerous things to appreciate, but we sometimes forget about them.

Like the air, water, and all the nature and people around you.

Those give you a life and make you happy without pay or reward.

How thankful they are!!

Why don't you think about those things and express your love to them?

MANNAM peace: Boy killed in Boston blast wrote..

Boy killed in Boston blast wrote,

'No more hurting people. 

"Peace"

Almost a year ago, 8-year-old Martin Richard wrote four simple words on a sign at school.

"No more hurting people," it said.

For the camera, he held up the bright blue sign decorated with hearts framing the word "Peace."

It's a photograph that many find difficult to look at Tuesday as they struggle to comprehend the violence that took Martin's life.

On Monday, the boy and his family were watching the Boston Marathon near the finish line when two bombs exploded just off Copley Square in the heart of the city. Martin's mother, Denise Richard underwent surgery for an injury to her brain, and Martin's 6-year-old sister lost her leg. Both were still hospitalized.

The boy's father, William Richard, said.

"My dear son Martin has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Boston. My wife and daughter are both recovering from serious injuries. We thank our family and friends, those we know and those we have never met, for their thoughts and prayers. I ask that you continue to pray for my family as we remember Martin. We also ask for your patience and for privacy as we work to simultaneously grieve and recover. Thank you."

Source : CNN News

「No more hurting people. "PEACE"」

When I saw the message the boy held, I felt sorrowful.

A tragic incident was happened just this week in order to express the terrorists' anger.

I don't want to know why they did this crazy job. Just I want to know why should they have chosen the way. Why did they target the innocent people.....

The terrorists must have their own families. They couldn't do this if the their families were there because they would love theirs.

What if every one regards others all around the world as a family? Then the world may be full of love. It would be wonderful when we make a concession a little bit and understand one another like a family.

Like the pure kid's hope, I hope the world peace. It's the reason why I'm volunteering at MANNAM Volunteer Association. MANNAM grounds on all people from the world, irrespective of their differences, unites and works towards the goal of the world peace and a culture of respect and tolerance through true volunteerism.

That is the vision of MANNAM and it's my vision as well. I sincerely wish the whole world can become one with love and peace. And I wish every one is happy through experiencing MANNAM.

No more hurting people...

I wish we can grant the pure boy's hope.

Written by

Hwang, Jae-yeon

MANNAM Peace: What is the world you have been longing for?

What is the world you have been longing for? what is the world you would like to hand down for your descendants? People wish for peace but think it is like a dream which is difficult to come true. However, if these little dreams come together, what would happen?

 In the late 1990s there came the financial crisis called the IMF crisis in Korea. Due to the economic depression, many people lost their jobs and the crime rate increased rapidly.

Korea submerged into the desperate situation. However, people wanted to take their country out of this situation. Somebody's little wish to save their own country turned out to become our wish to save our own country. Along the way, the gold collection campaign started in the wish of saving country and spread nationwide. It had played an important role in Korea's economic recovery.

Likewise, it would be impossible for just one to make something happen, but possible for all of us to do so. I believe it is the same as peace. You wonder how peace can be achieved. MANNAM, the volunteer association, has done many things for the peace achievement. For example, last September, MANNAM held the World Peace Festival and representatives of various countries across the globe, such as diplomats, world leaders and international press, were in attendance and many brought their families and friends to this event. It was held in order to demonstrate the spirit of peace and join with others in the same goal. This year Mannam plans to found a youth organization and perform its ceremony for the sake of cessation of war.

The slogan of MANNAM, 'When light meets light, there is victory', is being built up by us. The peaceful world which everyone wants and we have to hand down for our descendants!

Would you join us to make it together?

MANNAM Peace; We are working on it to achieve Peace.

Nowadays, in Korea, there is a gentle spring breeze and flowers in full bloom that make people's heart flutter. However, situations in Korea do not seem to settle down.

South and North korean use the same language and live in the same land. But both South and North have lived divided for over half a century. At the present day, South Korea is paying sharp attention to North Korea due to their threat of a nuclear weapon.

What makes it happen? We have heard "The world is one" without any difficulty since we were young. However, it is not difficult to realize that the world is not one. Before I met MANNAM Volunteer Association, I didn't even think about that we can unite the world into one. Now I am sure what we need acutely, in order to unite the world, is "Peace".

We, MANNAM, aim for "Peace" and try very hard to actualize it. Peace is not a dream which can't come true. Peace can be made! MANNAM hosted the World Peace Festival on 16th September last year with Honorary President Man Hee Lee and Chairwoman Nam Hee Kim for all who desire peace without discrimination of race, border, religion etc.

It was the peace movement.

I expect that world peace will be achieved in MANNAM by all of the Mannam members.

♬♩ Everytime we give it all

we feel the flame eternally inside us

lift our hands up to the sky

the morning calm helps us to

live in harmony for all time

Hand in hand we stand

all a cross the land

we can make this world a better

place in which to live

Hand in hand we can

start to understand

breaking down the walls that

come between us for all time

Arirang

Hand in hand we stand

all a cross the land

we can make this world a better

place in which to live

Hand in hand we can

start to understand

breaking down the walls that

come between us for all time

Hand in hand

Hand in hand

Hand in hand ♫♪

1988 Seoul Olympic Official Song - Hand in Hand (song by Koreana)

(The 24th Olympic Games, Sep 17 - Oct 2, 1988)

Earth Day and MANNAM

Do you know what April 22 means? It's Earth Day!

Earth Day was founded by John McConnell in 1970 as a way to bring people's attention to the environmental problems. Earth Day started in San Francisco, and now many countries over the world celebrate Earth Day.

Most people around the world live modern lives driving cars and working in offices. Modern lives give us a very comfortable life. However, they are not all it's cracked up to be.

Our lives are very different from those of our ancestors. People have pursued a more convenient life and exploited the environment in order to achieve their goal. As a result, human's life has changed a lot from that of its beginning. Environments like Land, air, water which are necessary for life on earth are destroyed. Now people are paying the price for their reckless destruction of nature and endless greed suffering from a variety of the environmental pollutions like land, air and water as well as the natural disaster such as an earthquake, a flood and a drought.

It is very meaningful to celebrate Earth day. Nature is not the object of the exploitation, but the being together with us. Nature will return to us as much as we love and prevent it so that human and nature will go on forever.

We receive for free beautiful and vast nature that our ancestors did not pollute. Therefore, we ought to give it back to our descendants as our ancestors did.

MANNAM will increase awareness and care for our planet!

One of our actions to care the Earth is a Tree Planting.

Here is the details.

▷Time: 2-5PM Saturday, 13rd April 2013.

▷Venue: Exit 1, Line 6, Sangam World Cup Stadium Station.

▷Preparation: Personal snacks and water, Suitable clothes, shoes and cap(The hill where we will plant a tree is high)

▷Donation: We receive donations from some corporations. Please donate your precious time!:D

MANNAM) National Tree Planting day in Korea

Today, April. 5th is National Tree Planting day in Korea.

To celebrate this, Korea Forest Service has distributed seedlings to people throughout the nation.

Here is an article related it.

Nambu Forest Service said a lot of citizens took part in the event of "Have my own tree" co-hosted with Andong-si and were given trees free at the parking lot of the riverside of the Nakdong river before Andong Youth Center at 10 am on Tuesday, May 2.

Thru this event, about 48000 trees including pine trees, apricot trees, hovenia trees, walnut trees were distributed in 5 trees per person on a first-come first-served basis. In addition, the signature campaign for the fire prevention was also taken place in consideration that spring is the most fire-prone season.

Nambu Forest Service Director Kim Pan-suk said, "We promoted this event in the hope that the local people think the importance of the trees and forest by planing and taking care of trees themselves. It would be good to plant a tree with family even in a busy life."

source: www.forest.go.kr

What an awesome campaign!!

It could be so nice to have my own tree through this.

Similarly, MANNAM Volunteers always want to do something for world as well.

So, why don't we get some seedlings and plant them nearby our places?

I think the earth would say "thank you!" to us. :)

MANNAM) See! You will be healed like me :)

Look at the flowers!

A student of mine came to me and gave these flowers which she had picked on the roadside. She said, "It's spring, Jane! These are for you. Aren't they beautiful?"

Absolutely, they were so~~~~ beautiful!!

These days, I'd been bored with everyday routines, exhausted by managing my students every day. But she healed me with the pretty flowers.

The term "Healing" has been so popular these days in Korea. Healing foods, healing tea, healing trips and so on. You can hear those terms everywhere.

Why do people like those things so much?

I guess people need "Healing". In other words, they are so exhausted with lots of stressful tasks. They may need to be healed by eating healthy foods, drinking some tea, or traveling because they feel unhappy with their lives.

Perhaps, you've so much focused on your work only, so you haven't had much time to look around people around you. You might care of yourself only and it could make you lonely and unhappy.

Then, why don't you care of your neighbors? Having some time with your friends is good. Share your happiness with somebody. Like my lovely student did, if you share your feeling and express your love to your neighbors, your life must be better. You can be healed by doing so.

 

Peace? It is Possible with MANNAM.

Hello. I'm a kindergarten teacher in Korea. It's been 3 years since I met MANNAM Volunteer Association. I got to knew this group through an event named 'Love for Taegeuk, and Love for Mugungwha' which was hold in MANNAM. I saw some bent old men with white hair. There brilliant eyes said they were not ordinary old men. They were the people who had took a part in the Korean War in 1950-53.

The event was to commemorate them who devoted their lives to our nation and people. To thank them, MANNAM members made a huge flag, Teaguekgi, with thousand of people's hand prints.

I visited there by chance and I was impressed after I'd looked around the event booths and performance. I would have liked to join MANNAM volunteer group. So, I signed up there.

This was how I join MANNAM.

Now, I've got feeling that Peace is possible through MANNAM and it's never far away.

I asked one of my students who was 6 years old.

"What do you think peace is?"

She said, "Peace is loving each other."

The other kid said, "Peace is smiling, sharing chocolate with friends."

For adults like us, we think peace is much complicated and difficult to achieve. But for the pure kids, peace is just loving and sharing each other.

What do you think Peace is?

I‘ve been learning from MANNAM how could we love each other, make up for each other's weak points with no racial or cultural discriminations. MANNAM volunteer association has been doing many things to achieve its goal which is Peace, and I'm sure we are making happy and peaceful world.

I'm very pleased I could help my neighbors in need and make peace in the world. I think I became one of  the small peace makers for the society and the world.

Why don't you be a small peace maker like me? Volunteering is not difficult and it brings you happiness to your life. Somebody is waiting for your help somewhere. I hope you can hold out a helping hand to somebody.

written by

Na-yeong

MANNAM Meets Papua New Guineans

Papua New Guineans have been urged to join in the global community to celebrate World Peace in South Korea.

 

The celebrations are held annually on September but as a lead-up the Organizers will visit PNG in April.

During their stay, the honorary Chairman MAN HEE LEE will hold talks with Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.

 

The celebrations at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul, South Korea will coincide with PNG’s Independence celebrations but at a global level it will be colourful and specular as participants unite for world peace.

 

The event is organised by MANNAM Volunteer Association. The NGO works to achieve peace and freedom for all people beyond boundaries of culture, religion and race.

 

The gathering is an ideal opportunity for nations to learn from each other. It is also a time to reflect on the different government policies that may have caused internal riots, protests or external wars.

 

Its hope Papua New Guinea will participate in this year’s World Peace celebrations.

 

Bridgette Komatep, National EMTV News

 

 

http://www.emtv.com.pg/news-app/item/png-urged-to-join-in-world-peace-celebrations

MANNAM - Think about Reunification of Korea.

Reunification of North and South

Nowadays, it is very rare to see country divided by north and south, or west and east, and many people already think that all people and countries in the world is one. However, there is one country divided into North and South, and this is known by many people in the world. Do you know which country is this? This is our country, Korea. There are many problems of this, and I think that we should be united fast now. Then, I will tell you the three main reasons why we should unite fast : economy, peace, and development.

First of all, it is about the economy. It is because we, Korea is using too much money in protecting us and making weapons. North Korea is busy at making dangerous weapons such as nuclear weapons, and South Korea is busy at putting money to protect our country. For South Korea, we are using 20-30 trillion for the protection of ourselves! This is very serious problem, and actually we can use those much money for educating the children, or building buildings which we need in our country. Therefore, we have to be united to save our money.

Secondly, it is about the peace. It is because we, Korea is with worry and stresses because of the fact that we are divided into North and South. Especially for North Korea, most of their nations are working as a soldier obligatorily, even though they do not want to. I think if we are united, we could be free from these things, and lots of people want the unification of North and South Korea for this reason. Therefore, we should be in peace by the unification.

Lastly, it is about the development. It is because we, Korea can be developed more when we unite. Actually, South Korea is already much developed and North Korea is not. Because of this reason, many South Koreans can disagree to unite. However, even if we, South Korea is much more developed than North Korea, we do not have much resources. Our main things are only many people to work, and many people's brains. Then, how can we be stronger, and more developed? It is to unite, with North Korea, because North Korea has much resources under their territory. Also, when the people in North Korea and South Korea are joined, Korea's density of population can be very high as other much developed countries. Therefore, we must be united to be developed, and to be stronger.

As you can see, those are the three main reasons why we should unite fast. I hope the unification of South and North Korea be realized fast. Let's effort with our best, so that our Korea which is devided, can be united!

(source: Naver Knowledge in)

While reading this article, I fully sympathized with this opinion.

The nuclear problem of North Korea is now a big issue around the world. Most people in the world have cold glances to North Korea and many of Koreans don't want to be reunited because they think reunification makes lots of social and economy problems in our society, South Korea. However, here is what I want to tell them, let's see the good sides of it.

Why? Because North Koreans have the same ethnic roots with us. They could be our family. What if your family members are dying of hunger? What if they do wrong? Do you want to just ostracize them? They are the only people have same language of us in the world, not our enemies.

I'm not saying North Korea is doing well. I don't support the government of it. Just I want to say that we need to think about this matter deeply. No one wants War and everybody wants Peace. As one of MANNAM members, I hope we could make Peace of world starting from reuniting Korea.

What do you think of this?

A thought about MANNAM with Teogye Lee Hwang

Yesterday, I was listening to the radio on the way driving home. The radio hosts were talking about Teogye Lee Hwang, who was a famous scholar and politician that valued people's virtue. He was admired by many people, and the reason for that was because of his humble and noble character. And then the host continues to tell a story.

When Lee Hwang's son was getting married, it was said that his son's wife came from a household that was well-off than his. Parents of both families met to discuss about the wedding; however, the bride's family immediately disrespected and treated Taegyo Lee Hwang with contempt. One of the bride's family members deliberately poured water on his chair and ordered Taeygo Lee Hwang to clean it up. Taegyo Lee Hwang could've been angry at them for putting him to shame, but he didn't.

This is what he said.

The honor of the family does not go wrong when one says it's wrong. When our family begins to do the same by resenting and quarreling with the other family, that is when the honor of the family goes wrong.

Besides, even if we were to be treated contemptuously and started to hate them back, how troubled my daughter-in-law, who just became a part of the family, would be? For the sake of my daughter-in-law, let's try to put this matter behind us. Several thoughts came to my mind after hearing this. It made me think 'how did I treat those who sent me cold glances,' and 'like the in-laws, was there ever a time that I sent cold glances in situations I didn't know about?'

And then I thought about MANNAM. Regarding this, people do not have a positive view on MANNAM, but is spoken about in an ill-manner. However, the MANNAM that I have felt and seen was not the place people have been claiming that it was. There is no discrimination nor is there a force upon religion. We pursue a world of peace, no war or disputes, but bring different cultures together in unity. This is what MANNAM promotes, and this is the MANNAM that I have felt. I am confident that by participating in MANNAM activities, we will be closer to achieving world peace.  

How must I feel about those who criticize against things that they don't even properly know about? Like Taegyo Lee Hwang, even if the people were to criticize MANNAM, it's wouldn't be right to do the same to them. We must have a heart that is big enough to embrace even these kind of criticisms.

Samil Jeol;March.1st Independence Movement Day in Korea

Yesterday was holiday in Korea. I met one of my foriegn friend but he didn't know why did we commemorate that day. How about you? Do you know about you?

It is the day for commemorate Korean Independence Movement. We called it Samil jeol. Literally, it means March 1st day.

It was March 1st. around noon in 1919. What made the Korean get angry and what happened on that day? Korean kept protesting against Japanese who had been illegally taking control of Koran heritage and rights.

Japanese conquered Korea and got all the power. Thus, Korean couldn' t learn their language and culture and controlled everything at that time. They wanted to make us like their people.

Korean made quiet riot against them. Ryu Gwan- Sun, one of the representive, led the movement.

It was not guilty but she went to jail after that movement. She got killed with tough torture. She was only 18 years old and dead very young. She didn't deserve it at all and was absolutely innocent.

After independce of Korea, we have commemorated her and the people who devote their lives for our nation.

As one of Korean people, i admire them and want to give my thank to them.

Source: http://m.blog.naver.com/joinpeter

Dosan encyclopedia.

My Happy Voluntary work in MANNAM

 I am a member of MANNAM. I am writing because I'd like to share my happy feeling with others who are hesitating to do volunteer work.

I teach Korean language and visit an orphanage and a hospital with foreign members regularly. I like to be a friend with the foreign members because I can get a chance to learn many things, especially about their cultures.

I think that exchanging our thoughts each other is the first step to make the world be one and I really appreciate having these meetings.

In addition to, I have been learning a spirit of sacrifice through volunteering. I had not realized before. After joining voluntary works I just started to think that I got so many thankful things around me. I have a sweet family, friends and health. When I realized this, I felt I was a happy person. Being able to help somebody in need is a really great job. I will keep doing voluntary work, sharing my talents, time and my happiness.

I guess that making the world be happy is not that difficult. Just share your heart with your neighbors. That's enough. You know? All the big trees are also started from each tiny little seed. Please remember it. Thank you.

Written by
Hyo-jeong Lee

MANNAM MAN meets Gamcheon Cultural Village

Greetings!!

I have been to Gamcheon Culture Village on last day of seollal holiday( korean New Year's day). Gamcheon Culture village is located in Busan, which is the second largest city in Korea. Since 2009, the village has been subjected to be remodelled and renovated as a part of government-supported art projects. The dense houses of this small hillside village makes a view with colorful buildings. If you are interested in photography, there are many opportunities to take photos than expected.

When I had arrived there, I, firstly, bought the colorfully-illustrated map which costed just 2,000 won. There are 7 blanks on the map that you should collect stamps each place. If you collect all seven stamps from all places marked on the map, you can get either two postcards or one printed photo you take for free at Hanuel maru which is located at the top of the village. But I couldn't. That day was National Holiday, so many people were there. :)

One place attracting my eye was House of Peace.

A sign was posted in front of the house.

[ Peace is invisible to the eye and inaudible to the ear. But still, peace is the container can hold everything in the world. This work is the visualization of the peace as a container can hold everything. Moonlight shines on everything fairly. It doesn't care whether they are rich or poor, what race and religion. Peace is the basis of equal and fair living for the whole human kind. ]

I have been deeply moved by this sign before entering this house.

These papers were posted by hundreds of people who wished real peace. 

I think that peace start from respecting different minds from your thoughts.

These days I've been working for one volunteer association called MANNAM on the weekends. Its ultimate goal is world peace through volunteering. This pure volunteer association grounding on all people from the world, irrespective of their differences, unites and works towards the goal of the world peace and a culture of respect and tolerance through true volunteerism. This is MANNAM's vision and I love it.

Volunteer work provides meaningful life to us as heaven gives us the light, rain, and air. Not expecting in return, like nature does. That's a real PURE volunteer work.

I am so happy that I could something for people in need. Honestly it makes me feel valued. I'm going to a hospital on this Saturday to treat sick children. The volunteers including me are preparing something special for the little friends.
Would you come with me? :)

www.mannamintl.org

I am an Office Worker!! I am a member of MANNAM!!

 I am an officer of a building company. I have been engaged in there for 3 years.  It was April 2012 when I started to join MANNAM. I had been tired of my repetitive life. At that time, one of my friend told me about one volunteer association called MANNAM and recommended to join the volunteer group. Honestly I had never heard the name before. Anyway he told me that it could bring me some happiness. At first, I turned it down because I thought I should spend lots of time and money if I joined there. Working in my office was hard enough for me. But he kept persuading me. He said I could feel happy while I helped people in need.
"You just need a little bit of spare time and passion.", he said.
So I decided to join MANNAM Volunteer Association.

 Before, I had been New Zealand for a while so I knew about the feelings of staying abroad. I knew well how difficult it was. So I started to help them with teaching Korean language and Korean culture to adjust this strange land. It was very easy for me to make them understand my culture,  but it was something special for them. The foreigners really thanked me for helping them. It was also great I was able to know about their countries and cultures.
 I felt great while I helped them. Amazingly, volunteering was healing my stress.

A few months later, I got a chance to manage sports teams. Through sports, we could get closer each other. It refreshed my boring life and brought happiness to me. Before doing that, I was a person who just knew oneself only and didn't care others so much. Now, however, I feel very happy that I could help someone.

 The best memory I have during activities is 'The Children Abuse Prevention Campaign' held on Children's day 2012. It was a campaign that we tried to let people think about how many children were under unfair situations and participate in the campaign through doing variety performances. We did Flash Mob to gather people and make them aware about the serious social problem with pictures and articles.
To prepare this campaign, we gathered some foreign friends who were interested in volunteering and talented at dancing. Thanks to the volunteers, about 100 people  were able to join Flash Mob. We practiced only twice before the event. But did a great job. And we made some clay toys to offer every children we met there.
 A lot of people watched our Flash Mob and hundreds of children enjoyed our program joyfully. I felt so amazing that we had made this wonderful event by ourselves and also could reduce this terrible problem at least once by doing this campaign. How worthwhile it was! I will not forget this forever.

 As an office worker and also a member of MANNAM, I have been volunteering on every weekends, helping Korean language class, joining orphanage volunteers, visiting a hospital to treat sick children and so on. It really brings me happy and pleasure. I have got much more passion about the world peace through those activities within MANNAM. If we share our thoughts about peace and love with our neighbors, I think the world peace is possible.

Thank you.

Written by
Min-uk Choi

How our reaction to North Korea should be

I lived in Vietnam for 6 years since 2004. As you know, Vietnam is a communist country. When I lived in there, I had been feeling difficult and sad to vietnamese friends who were under pressure from polices and soldiers. They did not look happy under communism. At least I felt so. I think FREEDOM is a real basic right of human being.

I read news below at early morning 7, Feb.

“If the enemy [North Korea] is actually about to use a nuclear weapon, a preemptive strike is also one of our possible reactions,” Jung Seung-jo, chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a briefing of the National Assembly’s National Defense Committee yesterday.

When I read this news, one story called [The Wind and the Sun] came into my head. One day two of them were bored so that they bet who took a traveler's coat off . Do you know who won and how to win?

The reason that we could say "peace", it is assumed Non-Violent. Peace is difficult but easy. I mean Political, Religious, Race peace is very difficult but our peace is easy. Let's try MANNAM's first principle "We strive to be a source of light and hope for others"

One of chances to spread light and hope is a Volunteer Work. Volunteering will give the meaningful and positive impact to your community. Besides it can have many benefits for yourself too.

Volunteering is sharing yours with others. Volunteering is giving yours to others. Do you worry about there would be no more yours someday? Do not worry. You will get more than you have shared.

Thank you.

Written by

Yeong jae yu

My Seollal(Korean New Year's Day)

There is a big holiday in Korea called Seollal which is Lunar New Year's Day. On Seollal, each family member get together, have a chat and cook some special foods. One of the most typical dish that we feast is ddeok-guk. It is a rice cake soup and very delicious. Even if you are not Korean, you may like its light and clean taste.

By the way, do you know why do we eat ddeok-guk on Seollal?

Seollal, the day we have ddeok-guk, literally means the beginning of the year and also it's the time winter turns into spring. This rice cake is symbolized for living healthy and longevity with having a good harvest because of its long shape. So eating ddeok-guk, you could have the warm energy in your body. And we believe that sharing ddeok-guk with neighbors means sharing the good fortune with them together.

I will eat this delicious dish with my relatives on this Seollal as usual. My relatives gather in grandparents' house. My aunt and uncle drive for 5~7 hours to meet us. We will have great time, talking, laughing and preparing some traditional foods. We have not only the traditional foods but also variety traditional games for Seollal. We enjoy them all together, from little kids to grandparents.

Could you imagine how peaceful and happy the day would be?

However, at this moment, I'd like to say that there could be someone who are not able to have this peaceful and happy time with their family or relatives. I am talking about "War". Some children and young men could be fighting in the war holding guns to survive even at this moment. The words, like 'family' or 'happiness' are far away from them. I think we should not forget those people. We need to take care of those situations because the world has been getting closer and people living in each country become neighbors as we express 'global village'. If so, the world peace should be needed and the war should be stopped so that the children and young men won't be dragged to the battle.

In MANNAM Volunteer Association, we share our thoughts for world peace and try to make world be the place fulling of happiness and love. The MANNAM volunteers from all over the world seem to look different in color, race, culture, gender and religion, but those are not important to us. Whatever you have, whoever you are, we don't care. If you accept the differences and admire each other, we can understand each other. Furthermore we can be friend or family living in "global village". And when we understand and respect each other, the war will be end at last. Like MANNAM slogan says, 'When Light meets Light, there is Victory', the world peace is possible if there's someone desire to make it. And the "light" could be YOU and I.

That's all what I am thinking.

You and I, we can make the world bright.

Written by

Na-yeong Yoon.