As preparations are made for celebrating another UN Week of Interfaith Harmony, it is to be hoped that religious leaders will rise to the challenge of moving beyond friendly but symbolic gestures to an open examination of the deep-seated changes that must be made if religions are to embrace their joint responsibility as champions of peace.

Washington, DC, USA - On a beautiful autumn day, UPF's DC Office presented Japanese tea ceremonies for invited guests from the Washington diplomatic community, friends of UPF, and Ambassadors for Peace. Two tea ceremonies, with an accompanying afternoon lunch and evening dinner, were held on November 10 at the UPF Peace Embassy.

This paper investigates potential avenues of encouraging the United States and Canada (federal and local governments as well as their business and NGO communities) to consider building in stages a Bering Strait tunnel, connecting Alaska and Russia.

UPF chapters throughout the United States celebrated the Day of Peace with a wide variety of program, many featuring representatives of different faiths speaking of shared values.

On September 9, 2011, the United Nations General Assembly convened for a special Commemoration of the 10th Anniversary of the attacks of 9/11. This significant ceremony was held in the General Assembly Hall.  The United Nations brought together member states to mark this solemn occasion, in hopes of moving forward for a better and more secure future for generations to come.

New York, USA - As the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on the US nears, old wounds open and fresh wounds are created even in what is intended to be a process of reconciliation. As Ambassadors for Peace we offer hurting people a healing process.

Washington, DC, USA - The UPF-DC office is organizing a UN International Day of Peace program under the theme, “Make Your Voice Heard” on September 29 at The Washington Times building.

Washington, DC  - Thirteen Malaysian Parliamentarians, led by Dr. Chong Young Yoo of UPF-Malaysia, attended a special International Leadership Conference for Parliamentarians convened in Washington DC, USA on the theme of “Leadership, Good Governance, and Interfaith Cooperation.” The July 11-17 visit to the US was sponsored by Universal Peace Federation.

UPF-Richmond, Virginia - We flew from Washington, D.C., to Kingston, Jamaica. Four Ambassadors for Peace (AFPs) from Richmond and Washington, D.C.: Ven. Cang Kim; Rev. F. George Russell; Mr. Roderick Jennifer; and Mr. William Russell. Over 80 AFPs, family, friends and new contacts attended the UPF conference at the Stella Maris Catholic Church Hall, Kingston. The warm, hospitable smiles of Jamaicans welcomed us.

Washington, DC, USA - The UN International Day of Families was commemorated at The Washington Times’ Beech Room in the District of Columbia on June 17. Diplomats, media representatives, community activists, and NGO leaders made up the one hundred guests. The six speakers represented a wide spectrum of thinkers dedicated to supporting and strengthening families worldwide.

Washington, DC, USA - May 26 was the hottest day of the year with the temperature at 90 degrees. The driveway and entrance to the UPF Peace Embassy was watered down to cool it and to welcome the guests, signifying purification of the surroundings of the "Tea House" as the guests arrived. Black sedans and diplomat-plated cars arrived one by one, dropping off their guests who were greeted at the door by a kimono-clad hostess.

Las Vegas, Nevada, USA - Filled with the vision and belief that Las Vegas will soon gain a new reputation as a “city of giving,” Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon told an international audience of over 3000 on May 21 that God himself had great expectations for the long-notorious gaming capital of the world. “This is a time of quiet revolution,” the UPF Founder declared, “a time when the long of sin and suffering will forever end, and a new age of God’s peace will begin.

New York, USA - Five Permanent Missions to the UN joined UPF in sponsoring a program on “Addressing Poverty by Strengthening Families” at the Office of the Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations on May 16.

New York, USA - A Japanese Tea Ceremony was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Tunisia to the United Nations on April 27 at the Tunisian House.

Washington, DC, USA - “Addressing Poverty by Strengthening Families” will be the theme of a luncheon program commemorating the International Day of Families at The Washington Times Building on May 17. Speakers will include diplomats and NGO leaders talking about their work to uplift needy families and promote social inclusion.

Tokyo, Japan - Dr. Ron Patterson of Christian Disaster Response conducted a two-day training program March 29 and 30 for 50 Japanese Youth Ambassadors for Peace who volunteered to help clean up after the March 11 tsunami that hit Japan's east coast.

Washington, DC, USA - "Women and the World at a Turning Point" will be the theme of an International Women's Day observance at The Washington Times headquarters at 1:30 pm March 30.

Detroit, USA - Alexander (Sasha) Mishnaevsky, principal violist of the Detroit Symphony, performed excerpts of my new work, "Juxtapositions: Suite for Sasha for Electric Viola and Chamber Orchestra," as part of a benefit concert by musicians of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra on March 6.

New York, USA - “Women and the World at a Turning Point”, a parallel event of the UN’s 55^th Commission on the Status of Women, sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Nigeria and the Permanent Mission of the Slovak Republic to the United Nations, was held at the Nigeria House on March 2, 2011. The program was chaired by H.E. Mrs. U. Joy Ogwu, Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN, in collaboration with Universal Peace Federation.

Washington, DC, USA - The UPF-DC Office organized an interfaith luncheon program under the theme of the “Interfaith Cooperation and Universal Peace” on February 24. The program was co-sponsored by The Washington Times Foundation and held in the Beech Room of The Washington Times building.