World Needs Deeper Understanding Of Peace - Global Peace Ambassador

By Nabilah Saleh KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 24 (Bernama) -- Citizens of the world, specifically prominent leaders should engage in a common, concrete understanding of the meaning of peace, and how crucial the element is towards having an "overall peaceful" climate in the world. Somehow, the call is still a "loophole" and very much lacking in practice to bring closure to existing conflicts and wars, says Global Peace Ambassador, Prem Rawat. Marking the 2018 United Nations Day, which falls Wednesday, he hoped the life of peace that everyone deserved to enjoy would not just be validated by "sweet talks" and “historic handshakes”. "Peace remains as an elusive subject. If there are seven billion people on the face of this Earth, you can rest assured that there will also be seven billion peace definitions. "Peace is important and it is not questionable. We need to understand what it means to live together. We haven't learned that lesson. We are learning new things but we haven't learned those basics. This is what I am yet to see happening within the United Nations (UN), as an international body,” he told Bernama in an exclusive interview. Rawat, 60, who began addressing audiences as a young child in his native India over 50 years ago was met on the sidelines of his appearance on Bernama News Channel (BNC)'s ‘Special Interview’ programme held at the news agency's headquarters here recently. On Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent speech at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) which called for recognition of the Palestinian state and wanted an end to the ongoing wars, Rawat opined that proper mechanisms should be emphasised and begin taking place. “Whenever anyone comes up with an idea, to me, it is already a noble idea because it is (already) an idea to perpetuate peace. However, you have people who are not willing to listen to it. “Therefore, we need to have mechanisms to be able to act upon them. We need to have those mechanisms that actually make things like this possible,” said Rawat, who has addressed over 15 million people at live events worldwide, with his peace programmes being taught in over 80 countries. Citing his initiative through Peace Education Program (PEP) under his own label, The Prem Rawat Foundation, he said, adding it was fundamental for people to discover inner resources such as strength, choice and the possibility of personal peace in creating better and peace thinking. “My effort is very much on the grassroots level. I even went to South Africa’s Soweto (not even an exotic place) doing my complementary programme to help people explore the possibility of personal peace. “It is important to know that peace is very accomplishable and possible,” he said. In recognition of his profound impact on individuals and his contribution towards the world’s understanding of peace, Rawat has received numerous keys to cities and awards over the years and has been named Ambassador of Peace four times by UNIPAZ (the University of Peace in Brazil) and three governmental organisations. In 2012, he was awarded the Asia Pacific Brands Foundation’s Brand Laureate Lifetime Achievement award, awarded to only four others, including Nelson Mandela and Hillary Clinton. Observed on Oct 24, UN Day marks the anniversary of the entry into force in 1945 of the UN Charter. With the ratification of this founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council, the UN officially came into being. -- BERNAMA