[MANNAM World News] North youth group given nod to visit for UN event

Seoul has approved a visit from a group of young North Koreans to Gwangju that will participate in a UN-hosted international youth conference as a conciliatory mood settles over the peninsula.
South Korea’s Unification Ministry, which is in charge of all inter-Korean affairs, announced yesterday its decision to allow three North Koreans to visit the South along with an official from Pyongyang as their guardian. Relations between the two countries have entered a bright patch recently, with the joint Kaesong Industrial Complex reopening and reunions coming up for families split by the 1950-53 Korean War.
The three teenagers, whose identities have not been revealed, will take part in the seventh Youth Leadership Program being held at Honam University in the southwestern city of Gwangju. The event begins Thursday and will run through Sept. 13.
The four will arrive at Incheon International Airport via Beijing on Wednesday and leave on Sept. 4.
Hosted by the United Nations Office on Sport for Development and Peace (Unosdp) three or four times a year, the program provides leadership training for young people between the ages of 18 and 25 from developing countries, where they rarely get a chance to experience such education
The conference first convened in Doha in 2012.
During their 13-day stay, a total of 34 adolescents from 19 regions in Asia and Oceania will participate in a variety of programs including sports competitions, leadership lectures and Korean cultural activities.
Participation fees are all covered by the UN, with the accommodation provided by the Gwangju city government. Flights for all participants have been covered by Korean Air.
On Friday, North Korea sent a list of the three youths and the chaperon to the Unosdp headquarters that was handed over to the Gwangju city government. The city then asked the Unification Ministry for approval for the visit.

source: http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2976356


I  can only hope that many group of young people want to be shared equally and discuss world peace through the Youth Leatdership program.
There are few Korean people who do not long for the unification of South and North Korea.
MANNAM Volunteer also wish for world peace, and we are moving to world peace.
I hope that the day of reunification would come as soon as possible.

[World Peace] Iranian elections – Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi talks to euronews

source: http://news.naver.com

Iran is a country where the ruling class seems to thrive on hostility to the west and where much of the population is repressed, and living in dire poverty.
Iranians are now poised to vote in a new president, so what impact could this vote have for Iranians and the international community.?
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi spoke to euronews. She was recognised for championing democracy and human rights in her home country. She now lives in exile.
euronews’ Isabelle Kumar: “In past elections we’ve heard of political dissidents being persecuted, targeted. What are you hearing now?”
Ebadi: “Those events occurred in 2009. At that time, due to the extreme violence of the government, protests in the streets stopped. But the people are now manifesting their displeasure by different means and are showing they are not happy.”
euronews: “The people are also scared, are they not, because in the past universities were a hub of political activity and we get the sense, here at least, that there’s a sense of apathy, that youth are too scared to become politically engaged.”
Ebadi: :Our youth are not indifferent and they are active. That is why, today, many of our students are in jail and others have been expelled from universities.”
Bernard Smith, from the United States, sent a video question: “How significant is this election?”
Isabelle Kumar added: “This is something we ask ourselves, because could this election be a turning point or with the Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, in power, can we expect just more of the same?”
Ebadi: “These elections are not free, like previous ones, and the final decision, with respect to important political issues, lies with Mr Khamenei. In my opinion, the election itself is not important. We must wait and see if, as in 2009, people go out onto the streets or not.”
euronews: Do you think that the voting process is fair, given that already that the Guardian Council has selected the candidates, can we expect that, at least to be fair?”
Ebadi: “The current election organisation and supervision system, in my opinion, is fraudulent, and that is why I have suggested free elections are held under the supervision of the UN. Of course, I know that the government will not accept this. Only international supervision will prevent electoral fraud.”
Alicia, from Spain, also sent a video question, asking about the atomic project: “I want to know how the outcome of these elections will affect Iran’s nuclear programme.”
Isabelle Kumar added: “Said Jalili is considered one of the front runners in this election, he’s also Iran’s nuclear negotiator. If he were elected could we expect a change of tack from Iran, regarding its nuclear programme?”
Ebadi: “Whether the winner is Saeed Jalili or someone else, it will not alter [Iran’s] nuclear policy. Because in this area [Supreme Leader] Ali Khamenei is the only one who makes decisions and he will not let the President make changes.”
euronews: “There has been pressure from the international community, in the form of sanctions, you’ve spoken out against those, but what alternative does the west have when its negotiating partner is intransigent?”
Ebadi: “I’m against a military invasion or economic sanctions, because it causes a lot of harm to people. Instead, [the west] should adopt policies which directly target those who violate human rights. Instead of punishing Iran with economic sanctions, punish those responsible for violations of state and human rights.”
Irena is also from Spain. Her video question concerns life in Iran now: “I would like to know what the real situation in Iran is, because it seems quite complicated. Thank you very much.”
Isabelle Kumar asked: “In some respects, Shirin Ebadi, our vision of Iran is fed by films like ‘Argo’, by the hard-line rhetoric that we hear from the ruling class. In a nutshell what’s the real Iran like nowadays?”
Ebadi: “The feminist movement in Iran is very strong; one of the strongest existing in the Middle East. Our union movement is strong; many of our organisers are in jail. We also have a very strong student movement which has resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of student activists. The Iranians are peaceful, because for 34 years they have lived with the revolution and they also endured the eight-year war with Iraq; this is too much for one generation. So while the Iranians are not happy with the situation at the moment, they want any changes to be made peacefully. They are tired of war, of violence.”
euronews: “Finally, you have been a champion of the cause of women, of the repressed in Iran. What’s your message to those people?”
Ebadi: [To] The people of Iran, you must resist to win your rights. Keep your resistance peaceful and know that victory will come.”
To find out who the next ‘I-talk’ guest will be, or send us written or video questions, check on www.euronews.com
, or follow Isabelle Kumar or euronews on social media.
source: http://www.euronews.com/2013/06/12/iranian-elections-nobel-peace-prize-winner-shirin-ebadi-talks-to-euronews/

World Peace is an issue in many other countries around the world.
In many places, the pacifist movement is gaining increasing support among young people.   MIYC is MANNAM International Youth Coalition. As youth leaders, we understand the future of uour world is in hte hands of the youth.
The power to renew our environment, to uplift the standards of society,
to create a new culture of peace and respect between races, cultures, religions
and nations lies with the youth. We, the youth, have the power to create a better future,
one free from conflicts and war.
Today, by uniting in one purpose, let us achieve that dream and realize a vision of a world of justice, peace, security and prosperity by creating a new culture for all humanity.
This is the vision of MANNAM International Youth Coalition.
Please, join us as we build a legacy of peace the world cannot ignore.