The Sunhak Peace Prize, the Korean Nobel Prize, will spread its vision of peace.
The chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee is Il-Sik Hong
MC:
The awards ceremony for the Sunhak Peace Prize will be held on August 28. We invited the chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, Il-Sik Hong, to further explain what the Sunhak Peace Prize is and its meaning.
Chairman Hong, could you please explain what this prize is?
Chairman:
Yes, it is an international peace prize which will be awarded for the first time this year. It honors individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions to peace. Particularly, the Sunhak Peace Prize has a concept of peace for future generations and we are focusing on people who make efforts to bring peace to the world. This year’s theme is ocean. We announced our inaugural laureates on June 9 at the National Press Club in Washington D.C., U.S. The awards ceremony will be held this coming August 28 in Seoul.
MC:
What does “Sunhak” stand for?
Chairman:
Similar to the Nobel Peace Prize, it is after the founder’s name. ‘Sunhak’ is composed of the first names of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, who have devoted their lives for the peaceful vision of one family under God.
MC:
If the Sunhak Peace Prize starts this year, then will it be awarded annually?
Chairman:
Yes, each year we will focus on a particular peace theme.
MC:
Since this is the first awards ceremony to be held, as the chairman you must feel a heavy responsibility..
Chairman:
Yes, I feel a very heavy responsibility as the first chairman of the committee. Especially, in Korea, there are many people who do not know much about the Sunhak Peace Prize yet, so I have the responsibility to publicize it and make it well known. I’m very dedicated to this task.
MC:
Who else is involved in the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee.?
Chairman:
Various kinds of people in the world are involved in our committee. Including the former Secretary General of the United Nations Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former Japanese Defense Minister Ohno Yoshinori, and the Big Chief monk of Bulguksa Temple, Jogye Order Venerable Seong-Ta, there are 15 committee members who are representatives of politics, media, education and religion.
MC:
You mentioned the theme of this year is the ocean. Is there any reason for this?
Chairman:
Yes, so far we have a stereotyped thinking that peace is the opposite meaning of wars. But in fact, there are a plethora of catastrophes which bring more serious worries and misfortunes to human societies and we thought we have to change our perception of peace. In the 21th century, not a war but climate change like the tsunami phenomenon happened in 2009 is more severe threat to future peace. The El Niño phenomenon and environmental disasters due to energy depletion are the main issues. Oceans cover 71% of the earth. There are vast resources and ocean regulate climate. This being so, the Committee decided on the ‘Ocean’ which is an alternative solution of peace for human beings and a treasure house for future generations as the theme for the inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize.
MC:
You mentioned the Committee already announced the laureates, President of Kiribati Anote Tong and Indian Dr. Modadugu Gupta as the dual recipients. Would you like to tell us the reason for the selection of President Anote Tong?
Chairman:
First of all, the Republic of Kiribati is an unfamiliar country so many people do not know about it. Kiribati is an island country located on the vicinity of the equator in the South Pacific. The citizens have not done anything wrong, but due to global warming, their land is in danger of being submerged. H.E. Anote Tong is the president of this small island country. He raised awareness of the importance of climate change and sought action by the international communities. He gave a warning to the wealthy countries emitting lots of carbon dioxide and urged the international communities to take action to protect the people struggling at the frontline of climate change. Furthermore, Pres. Tong is a global leader who devoted himself to passing down a clean earth to future generations.
MC:
Would you like to introduce the other laureate, Dr. Gupta?
Chairman:
Yes, he is a professor at Calcutta University and he has dedicated his whole life to leading a Blue Revolution by developing aquaculture techniques as an alternative solution to future food crises. The Blue Revolution is the significant increase of aquaculture production due to innovative techniques while the Green Revolution is the rapid growth of agricultural output. Dr. Gupta has been a pioneer of the Blue Revolution since the 1960s. He taught his aquaculture methods to the extreme poor in Southeast Asia, in places such as Bangladesh, and in Africa. He improved the nutritional status, the rights of women, and the self-resilience of those living in poverty through his training.
MC:
Will the laureates will receive cash prize?
Chairman:
Yes, the laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize will receive the Sunhak Peace Prize medal, a certificate and a cash prize of Korean \1 billion (~USD $1 million).
MC:
What is the distinct characteristic of the Sunhak Peace Prize?
Chairman:
Most peace prizes award the peace dedications of the past. However, the Sunhak Peace Prize focuses on the contributions for future peace. Future peace may seem a bit distant, what the current generation has done will negatively or positively affect future generations. That is why the future is always up to the people who are preparing. God never gives future glory to those who are not preparing. The Sunhak Peace Prize focuses on climate change based on this peace vision. The Sunhak Peace Prize will continue to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and create a peaceful civilization for future generations.