Humanity faces serious global challenges; peace and security, environmental issues, inequality, unfair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines, human rights, malnourishment and hunger, refugees and migration, corruption, and gender equality, to name a few. National and international solutions cannot be achieved through political compromise alone; they must involve a commitment to personal change and shared values. The core values that UPF seeks to implement are universal values, interdependence, and mutual prosperity.

1:00pm

Peace Building Principles for an Equitable and Sustainable World

Lasting peace is secured not merely through laws backed by the government, but by a rising awareness of our universal solidarity as one human family. The loss of values is serious because it causes materialism – using people for one’s own sake, destroying relationships between parents and children, siblings, husband and wife. Additionally, the decline of moral and spiritual values has led to psychological and spiritual exhaustion.
Presenter: Dr John Bellavance

1:40pm

The Need for Universal Values: Their Determination and Identification

Abstract: “More than ever before, universal values are acutely needed in this age of globalization”, warned Kofi Annan, UN Secretary-General, 1997-2006. He was right, why we need universal values is academic. As the title of this seminar suggests, understanding what these universal values are is urgent and indispensable and is our immediate global challenge. This understanding must be able to embrace all histories, religions, ideologies and philosophies, and bring unity among them. It will!

Presenter: Dr. Robert S. Kittel

Co-Chair, Universal Peace Federation – Asia Pacific

2:40

The War in Ukraine-Russia; An unjustifiable position

The question in everyone’s lips is, Why is this happening? How could this happen in 2022? There are the facts, and there is Fake News. The presentation will address the facts and give an overview of the current state of the war and its impact on displaced persons coming to Australia. In addition, some insight into the speaker’s visit to the Polish, Ukraine border to assess the situation to ensure support is delivered.

Presenter: Stefan Romaniw OAM

Former chairperson of the Victorian Multicultural Commission and Multicultural Arts Victoria. Medal of the Order of Australia for service to education and language learning. He is the First Vice President of the Ukrainian World Congress and Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations.