A Meaningful Peace Talk For This Generation.

Everyone says they like 'peace' but most people shake their heads when I ask "Anyway is it something possible to get the real peace?" I sometimes wish this world be peaceful, but there seems no action plan that I think to myself the peace is just an ideal concept on opposite side of war as the reality is hard to survive.

Oneday I saw an internet news about Mindanao, Philippines that there had been civil war for 40 years and finally concluded a peace agreement by Peace advocate Man Hee Lee. It was so amazing that I suddenly focused on the background for the peace pact.

Mindanao from google map

Mindanao is the second largest island in the philippines where 22 million people live on. In the late 14th centuries, the Islam were established in Mindanao and the Roman Catholics were spread in Spain colonial era. Today the majority of Mindanaons practice Islam, about 61% of the population. Also there are some Christians (32%), and Buddhists(4%) and the rest are belong to a sizable animist or pagan communities.

However, following the outbreak of 2nd world War, many farmers were forced to migrate to Mindanao and they came into severe conflict by diverse religion with different languages. In result, MNLF (Moro Liberation Front) was organized asking for their independence against the Philippines goverment. Due to widespread poverty and religious differences, the island has seen a communist insurgency as well as armed Moro separatist movements.
Since then endless war continued in the island with more than 140 thousands of casualty that it was one of the representative area of conflict in the Asia.

In the island of war where frequent deaths are everywhere matters, nobody has imagined the peace would come to this area even in this peaceful way. World peace activist Chairman Lee hosted the Peace Walk in the downtown area of General Santos where approximately 1,000 participants including students of Mindanao State University, members of International Youth Group, and religious leaders joined the event, transcending the boundaries of religion and nationality for the first time in this region. This movement created a great sensation and hopes among the Filipinos, who yearn for peace and it initiated a wave of peace within international societies, media, and people.

After the Peace Walk, students of Mindanao State University, Youth Groups, Mayors, University professors, Catholic leaders and Islamic leaders, who had participated in the Peace Walk gathered in the conference room of a hotel located in downtown General Santos. Speeches about conflict and the solution to peace in Mindanao Island were delivered by Man hee Lee. 
The representatives of Catholic and Islam united to sign the peace agreement for ending the war and achieving World Peace and pledged to work together with Man hee Lee.

nevertheless, I feel sad for this great news was not widely known to the people. I would like to join to the peace group and become a reporter to let them know what is going on for peace in this present time. The peace is not something impossible, it could be accompolished in our generation!!