WFWP Taiwan's Annual General Assembly and Election of the 11th Board of Directors and Supervisors
Written by: Dr. Kho Pui Wun
On Saturday, May 13th, 2023, the Women’s Federation for World Peace in Taiwan (WFWP Taiwan) conducted its Annual General Assembly and election of the 11th Board of Directors and Supervisors at Howard Civil Service International House in Taipei. Over two hundred people attended the event, including the chairman of The Washington Times, Mr. Thomas P. McDevitt, who was invited to be a keynote speaker, dignitaries such as the senior advisor to the President of Taiwan, Republic of China, Dr. Chang Po-ya, and the executive director for NGOs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mrs. Wu Zu Juin, and hundreds more distinguished guests from the fields of academia, media, business and women's associations. During the event, a celebrated wellness dance expert, Ms. Yi Tian-hua led a wellness exercise session and Mr. Chou Kao-chun, a renowned saxophonist, was invited to play a “Love and Peace Concert '' as a guest performer. Those gathered created a warm and grand atmosphere.
President Moriko Hori, the newly appointed President of WFWP International, conveyed her congratulatory remarks. She shared how for the past 30 years WFWP has been engaged in many activities aimed to eliminate factors that hinder the realization of peace, including poverty eradication, crime prevention and family reconstruction education. She stressed the importance of collaboration through the Global Women's Peace Network (GWPN), an initiative of WFWP, with other organizations, governments and individuals to achieve world peace.
The chairman of The Washington Times, Mr. McDevitt, received enthusiastic applause when he greeted the attendees in Chinese saying, "Hello, I love Taiwan." He went on to give his keynote address, sharing how The Washington Times strives to be a trusted force in providing a balanced perspective to counter mainstream media, with a strong commitment to representing the voices of those who lack power or influence. He echoed the assertion made by Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the co-founder of WFWP, that the media should be the conscience of society.
Considering the issue of widespread misinformation on social media, Mr. McDevitt emphasized the importance of enhancing media literacy and utilizing media in a responsible manner. He encouraged those in attendance to be vigilant in assessing the credibility of information before consuming them, ensuring they rely on trustworthy media outlets. He also encouraged those listening to distance themselves from social media and dedicate a few hours to reading, allowing for deep contemplation, and recommended four resources from different fields: Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport, The Art of Impossible by Steven Kotler, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life by Nir Eyal and The Divine Principle by Rev. Sun Myung Moon. According to Mr. McDevitt, reading valuable resources can enhance focus and deep thinking, helping individuals to navigate social media without confusion and embrace a happier and more fulfilling life. Before concluding his speech, Mr. McDevitt encouraged WFWP to consider developing programs that address the issues of social media for youth and society and emphasized the importance of inviting experts to collaborate in finding solutions for youth and society.
An undergraduate student at National Chengchi University who participated in the event described her experience as follows: “After the event, I decided to challenge myself by disconnecting from my phone and engaging in reading poetry. At first, I experienced a sense of discomfort as I had grown accustomed to using my phone for entertainment. The need for deep thinking and understanding poetry made me feel restless. However, as I calmed my mind, I began to realize the benefits. In the following days, I discovered an improvement in my productivity and experienced a sense of relaxation and well-being for both my mind and body.”
Since its founding, WFWP Taiwan has been dedicated to creating new possibilities for the lives of women in Taiwan. Now, under the leadership of Mrs. Hou Mei-hua, the President of WFWP Taiwan, and the support of the newly elected Board of Directors and Supervisors, WFWP Taiwan will continue to uphold its principles and contribute to the creation of a civic minded society based on true love and peace.
