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[ABC Radio Australia] Kiribati president Anote Tong garners Sunhak Peace Prize for climate work
President Tong’s interview upon receiving the Sunhak Peace Prize12 June 2015Tong: It is exciting. Of course, I have been nominated also from Australia I believe for the Nobel Peace Prize and so this came to me as a complete surprise. I am excited. I think it would add a lot of momentum to the advocacy and the campaign. The timing is very good. It comes before the meeting in Paris at the end of this year and the campaign that I have been on for more than twenty years now has been something that…it’s had its disappointments, but I think more recently, there have been more people getting engaged and for me that is quite a change from what it was. And so this award I think, I’ve received other awards that recognized the same thing and undoubtedly they’ve added a boost to the campaign.MC: There is a $1 million US dollar prize attached to the award I understand. Now I presume that money will go straight back into the ongoing campaign.Tong: I know that the campaign will be ongoing. I finish my term in office at the end of this year, most probably the beginning of next year. But I see the campaign as not ending there. I know that my colleagues in the region are also very much engaged, so I think yes, we will continue the campaign. Whatever resources and whatever support we can get, I think it’s important we need to continue to shape international thinking on the issue because there are still people who don’t believe that climate change is an issue that merits urgent attention. So I’m hoping very much that this award will come a long way towards making that emphasis.MC: So what are your intentions when you come to the end of your period of office? Are you intending to become a full-time climate change campaigner?Tong: I’ve had 3 terms. That is of course the limit, 3 four-year terms. I will not be running for parliament. I don’t expect that I will do that, but after a good break, I can make a decision as to what to do next, but certainly, climate change has always been and I believe will continue to be very much on my agenda.MC: The positive news of course is that you have been recognized through the winning of this award, the Sunhak Peace Prize. But it comes at the same time as climate change talks have been taking place over there in Germany, in the city of Bahn. And the word we’ve been getting there is that they haven’t been entirely successful. What is your understanding, and are you satisfied with the outcome?Tong: We don’t want to repeat the mistake that we made in Copenhagen in 2009. We all went with very high hopes of a very positive outcome. But I think the world is a lot more complicated. There are a lot of interests at play here. But I think the very fact that it was at the top of the agenda is in itself a very strong indication that it is being taken seriously. I know that there is a focus of attention. It is going to be difficult to get absolute agreement on the final detail. There are countries particularly in Europe that are giving it a lot of attention. There will always be some differences as to the extent to which countries collectively will wish to go. So I don’t think I am too disappointed. I try not to be too optimistic. I’ve learned my lesson.MC: You mentioned earlier being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Australia. Ironic, bearing in mind that perhaps Australia and Canada are seen as the arch-enemies at the moment in terms of the global battle against climate change. Tong: It’s a question of priority. I know that perhaps Australia does not regard the threat of climate change as the top of the agenda. And I can understand that. You’ve got places to go with the sea-level rises. But I think the question is more of a moral one. Do we have the moral conscience to understand that what we do will impact those on the other side of the world, or even close by. And that’s always been the way I’ve shaped my advocacy on climate change, the greatest moral challenge that humanity has ever faced. And I think the future of humanity and this planet will be determined by what we do. We’ve got to understand this, and if not our very future, then the future of other people’s children. And so do we have the moral conscience or go ahead and disregard those costs. That is the question that will judge us as human beings.MC: The Paris Summit of course comes in December. It may very well be one of your last acts as president to be involved in those talks. So I assume you would want to go out on a high, and get a meaningful agreement.Tong: I’ve been working at it for most of my Presidency for the last 12 years. I’ve been working on this from the end of last year until the beginning of this year, I’ve been visiting a number of capitals in Europe trying to get some support. I am very encouraged by what is coming forward. At the end of last year, of course, we’ve had the support of the United States and China, which was something that has always been the missing part of the whole process. We needed these two to be part of this in order for it to be meaningful in many ways. And so that is an achievement. Of course, I have also visited other parts of the world following that meeting. I have had the opportunity to meet the prime minister here, and he has promised me a commitment. He is planning to meet with the leaders again in the few weeks ahead. And so I am seeing positive signs. That perhaps we will come away with a more forthcoming agreement. And of course, the host, the President of France, has also met Pacific Leaders and he has made an undertaking that he will do everything in his power to see that we have a positive outcome.[Source - http://bit.ly/1QxzaMy ]
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[Chosun News] President of Kiribati and Dr. Gupta, the inaugural laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize
President of Kiribati Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first dual laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize which has $1 million US dollars prize. The Sunhak Peace Prize is established by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. This award reflects her profound hope of continuing her husband’s legacy of peace and the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee (chairman Dr. Il-Sik Hong) annually selects the nominee. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.The Committee held a press conference in Washington D.C., and announced, “We have selected His Excellency Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, for his efforts at the forefront of the climate crisis and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta of India, for developing an alternative solution to the expected future food crisis.”President Anote Tong emphasized that his nation could be uninhabitable by the 2050s because of the rising sea levels caused by climate change, and urged the international communities to embark upon immediate and concrete action. He has been consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.The ‘Pioneer of Blue Revolution’ Dr. Modadugu Gupta developed innovative aquaculture methods, and miraculously gave the poor in Asia and Africa a way to earn their independence. [Source - http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/06/10/2015061000129.html ]
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[Chosun News] President of Kiribati and Dr. Gupta, the inaugural laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize
President of Kiribati Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first dual laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize which has $1 million US dollars prize. The Sunhak Peace Prize is established by the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. This award reflects her profound hope of continuing her husband’s legacy of peace and the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee (chairman Dr. Il-Sik Hong) annually selects the nominee. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.The Committee held a press conference in Washington D.C., and announced, “We have selected His Excellency Anote Tong, President of Kiribati, for his efforts at the forefront of the climate crisis and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta of India, for developing an alternative solution to the expected future food crisis.”President Anote Tong emphasized that his nation could be uninhabitable by the 2050s because of the rising sea levels caused by climate change, and urged the international communities to embark upon immediate and concrete action. He has been consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.The ‘Pioneer of Blue Revolution’ Dr. Modadugu Gupta developed innovative aquaculture methods, and miraculously gave the poor in Asia and Africa a way to earn their independence. [Source - http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2015/06/10/2015061000129.html
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[Join News] President of Kiribati and Dr. Gupta, the first co-recipients of the Sunhak Peace Prize
President of Kiribati Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first dual laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize.The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee (former president of Korea and chairman of the committee Dr. Il-Sik Hong) held a press conference announcing its inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize laureates on June 8 (Monday) in Washington D.C. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of the future generations.As a dual laureate President Anote Tong dedicated himself to raising public awareness of the severe impacts of the climate crisis to the international community in order to address its impacts on his country of Kiribati, which is gradually being submerged due to rising sea-levels caused by climate change. The ‘Pioneer of Blue Revolution’ Dr. Modadugu Gupta developed innovative aquaculture methods, and miraculously gave the poor in Asia and Africa a way to earn their independence.The laureates will share $1 million US dollars prize. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[source - http://article.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=17990875&ctg= ]
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[Join News] President of Kiribati and Dr. Gupta, the first co-recipients of the Sunhak Peace Prize
President of Kiribati Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first dual laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize.The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee (former president of Korea and chairman of the committee Dr. Il-Sik Hong) held a press conference announcing its inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize laureates on June 8 (Monday) in Washington D.C. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of the future generations.As a dual laureate President Anote Tong dedicated himself to raising public awareness of the severe impacts of the climate crisis to the international community in order to address its impacts on his country of Kiribati, which is gradually being submerged due to rising sea-levels caused by climate change. The ‘Pioneer of Blue Revolution’ Dr. Modadugu Gupta developed innovative aquaculture methods, and miraculously gave the poor in Asia and Africa a way to earn their independence.The laureates will share $1 million US dollars prize. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[source - http://article.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=17990875&ctg= ]
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[SBS CNBC] President of Kiribati and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first laureates
The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of the future generations.President Anote Tong has been regarded for his great effort to bring about a consensus by the international community concerning climate peace and urge for cooperation for the rights of climate refugees.Pres. Tong has led the world’s largest marine protection and ocean management initiative even as his own country faces submergence within the next 30 years due to rising sea levels, and consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He created the ‘Phoenix Islands Protected Area’ the largest existing marine World Heritage Site and helped organize the Pacific Oceanscape.Dr. Modadugu Gupta has been widely recognized for ‘developing innovative fish farming methods’ to address the food crisis of the poor, and known as the ‘Architect of the Blue Revolution’, and the ‘Saint of the Poor in Southeast Asia’. He successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production.In order to develop a regionally compatible method of aquaculture, he ignored threats to his life insisting on visiting war-torn conflict areas and continues to devoted himself to research, helping to spread his method of low-cost highly-efficient ‘IAA (Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture).’Dr. Il-Sik Hong, Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee said, “the Sunhak Peace Prize is a peace prize for the future generations.” and further added, “to address the climate and food crises, I am very pleased to award President Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta as dual laureates of the first Sunhak Peace Prize. These two laureates are even now strongly committed to defend the future peace of humanity.”The Sunhak Peace Prize annually awards $1 million US dollars, the largest of any prize money in Korea. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://sbscnbc.sbs.co.kr/read.jsp?pmArticleId=10000738833 ]
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[SBS CNBC] President of Kiribati and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta have been selected as first laureates
The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of future generations.President Anote Tong has been regarded for his great effort to bring about a consensus by the international community concerning climate peace and urge for cooperation for the rights of climate refugees.Pres. Tong has led the world’s largest marine protection and ocean management initiative even as his own country faces submergence within the next 30 years due to rising sea levels, and consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He created the ‘Phoenix Islands Protected Area’ the largest existing marine World Heritage Site and helped organize the Pacific Oceanscape.Dr. Modadugu Gupta has been widely recognized for developing innovative fish farming methods’ to address the food crisis of the poor, and known as the ‘Architect of the Blue Revolution’, and the ‘Saint of the Poor in Southeast Asia’. He successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production.In order to develop a regionally compatible method of aquaculture, he ignored threats to his life insisting on visiting war-torn conflict areas, and continues to devote himself to research, helping to spread his method of low-cost highly-efficient ‘IAA (Integrated Aquaculture-Agriculture).’Dr. Il-Sik Hong, Chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee said, “the Sunhak Peace Prize is a peace prize for the future generations.” and further added, “to address the climate and food crises, I am very pleased to award President Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta as dual laureates of the first Sunhak Peace Prize. These two laureates are even now strongly committed to defending the future peace of humanity.”The Sunhak Peace Prize annually awards $1 million US dollars, the largest of any prize money in Korea. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://sbscnbc.sbs.co.kr/read.jsp?pmArticleId=10000738833 ]
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[Hankyung Newspaper] The Sunhak Peace Prize announced its inaugural laureates
The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee held a press conference announcing its inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize laureates on June 8 (Monday) 12pm at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. His Excellency Anote Tong, President of Kiribati (63), and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, Indian fisheries scientist (76) have been selected as first dual laureates to receive the award. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and ‘Sunhak’ is the first letters of their names. This award reflects her profound hope of continuing her husband’s legacy of peace.As a dual laureate, Pres. Anote Tong has been regarded for his effort to protect marine ecosystems even as his own country faces submergence within the next 30 years due to rising sea levels, and consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He improved global awareness of the severity of climate change and sought for action by the international community for its solution like the ‘Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA)’, the largest existing marine World Heritage Site. He also contributed greatly in building up awareness on the protection of human rights for climate refugees through the ‘migration with dignity’ program.Dr. Modadugu Gupta has been widely recognized for ‘developing innovative fish farming methods’ to address the food crisis of the poor, and known as the ‘Architect of the Blue Revolution’, and the ‘Saint of the Poor in Southeast Asia’. He successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production. Dr. Gupta’s advisory services have been taken advantage by a number of international organizations such as United States Agency for International Development (USAID).The laureates will share $1 million US dollars, the largest of any prize money awarded in Korea. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015060989451]
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[Hankyung Newspaper] The Sunhak Peace Prize announced its inaugural laureates
The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee held a press conference announcing its inaugural Sunhak Peace Prize laureates on June 8 (Monday) 12pm at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. His Excellency Anote Tong, President of Kiribati (63), and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, Indian fisheries scientist (76) have been selected as the first dual laureates to receive the award. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the wife of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and ‘Sunhak’ is the first letter of their names. This award reflects her profound hope of continuing her husband’s legacy of peace.As a dual laureate, Pres. Anote Tong has been regarded for his effort to protect marine ecosystems even as his own country faces submergence within the next 30 years due to rising sea levels, and consecutively nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. He improved global awareness of the severity of climate change and sought action by the international community for its solution like the ‘Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA)’, the largest existing marine World Heritage Site. He also contributed greatly in building up awareness on the protection of human rights for climate refugees through the ‘migration with dignity’ program.Dr. Modadugu Gupta has been widely recognized for developing innovative fish farming methods’ to address the food crisis of the poor, and known as the ‘Architect of the Blue Revolution’, and the ‘Saint of the Poor in Southeast Asia’. He successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production. Dr. Gupta’s advisory services have been taken advantage of by a number of international organizations such as the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).The laureates will share $1 million US dollars, the largest of any prize money awarded in Korea. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://www.hankyung.com/news/app/newsview.php?aid=2015060989451]
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[Kyunghyang Newspaper] President Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta, the first dual laureates
President of Kiribati (62, left), and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, Indian fisheries scientist (75, right) have been selected as the first dual laureates to receive the Sunhak Peace Prize.“We are honored to announce that the first Sunhak Peace Prize will be presented to these two deserving individuals,” said Dr. Il-Sik Hong, former president of Korea University and chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee. “President Tong and Dr. Gupta are worthy Laureates because they have made the world a better and more peaceful place. Hunger, poverty, and climate change lead to global conflict and human suffering, and both men have devoted their lives to furthering peace by finding sustainable solutions to these pressing problems.”President Anote Tong emphasized that his nation could be uninhabitable by the 2050s because of the rising sea levels caused by climate change, and urged the international communities to embark upon immediate and concrete action. The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee said, “Furthermore, Pres. Tong is devoting a significant amount of his energy to defending the rights of his citizens through the ‘migration with dignity’ program, which is a vocational training initiative for local residents who are forced to leave their homes due to climate change so that they will not be treated as ‘refugees’ but as valuable members of the work-force. The other laureate Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production.”‘Sunhak’ is the first letter of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of future generations, in order to inspire a new civilization of peace, annually awarding up to US$1 million. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201506092121025&code=100100]
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[Kyunghyang Newspaper] President Anote Tong and Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta, the first dual laureates
President of Kiribati (62, left), and Dr. Modadugu Vijay Gupta, Indian fisheries scientist (75, right) have been selected as the first dual laureates to receive the Sunhak Peace Prize.“We are honored to announce that the first Sunhak Peace Prize will be presented to these two deserving individuals,” said Dr. Il-Sik Hong, former president of Korea University and chairman of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee. “President Tong and Dr. Gupta are worthy Laureates because they have made the world a better and more peaceful place. Hunger, poverty, and climate change lead to global conflict and human suffering, and both men have devoted their lives to furthering peace by finding sustainable solutions to these pressing problems.”President Anote Tong emphasized that his nation could be uninhabitable by the 2050s because of the rising sea levels caused by climate change, and urged the international communities to embark upon immediate and concrete action. The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee said, “Furthermore, Pres. Tong is devoting a significant amount of his energy to defending the rights of his citizens through the ‘migration with dignity’ program, which is a vocational training initiative for local residents who are forced to leave their homes due to climate change so that they will not be treated as ‘refugees’ but as valuable members of the work-force. The other laureate Dr. Modadugu V. Gupta successfully bred improved species of fishes such as ‘tilapia’ and ‘silver barb carp’ which he correctly identified would thrive in the Asian rural environment, and revolutionized the aquaculture industry with an explosive increase in production.”‘Sunhak’ is the first letter of the late Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon. The Sunhak Peace Prize was established to search for individuals and organizations that have contributed to the peace and welfare of future generations, in order to inspire a new civilization of peace, annually awarding up to US$1 million. The award ceremony will be held this coming 28 August 2015 (Friday) in Seoul, Korea.[Source - http://news.khan.co.kr/kh_news/khan_art_view.html?artid=201506092121025&code=100100]
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[Yonhap News] Kiribati president, Indian scientist named winners of Sunhak Peace Prize
WASHINGTON, June 8 (Yonhap) -- The president of the Central Pacific island nation of Kiribati and an Indian scientist were named the inaugural winners of a peace prize established by the wife of late Unification Church founder Moon Sun-myung, organizers said Monday.Kiribati President Anote Tong was selected for his role in the fight against climate change, while Indian biologist Modadugu Vijay Gupta was recognized for his development and dissemination of low-cost techniques for freshwater fish farming, organizers of the Sunhak Peace Prize said.\"Dr. Gupta and President Tong are worthy laureates because they have made the world a better and more peaceful place,\" said Hong Il-sik, president of the prize committee, in a statement. \"Hunger, poverty, and climate change lead to global conflict and human suffering, and both men have devoted their lives to furthering peace by finding sustainable solutions to these pressing problems.\"The prize was founded in 2013 by Han Hak-ja, the widow of the late Moon, \"to recognize individuals, who have willingly sacrificed themselves for peace, and praise them for their works,\" the organizers said.The winners will be given US$1 million in prize money. The award ceremony is scheduled to take place on Aug. 28 in Seoul.[Source - http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2015/06/09/0301000000AEN20150609000200315.html]
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- Sunhak Peace Prize
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Future generations refer not only to our own physical descendants
but also to all future generations to come.Since all decisions made by the current generation will either positively
or negatively affect them, we must take responsibility for our actions.
