First EU Location: Estonia

Dr. Thomas G. Walsh, UPF Secretary General
Tallinn, Estonia
June 23, 2006

Mother Moon and Hyun Jin Nim traveled from Baku, Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea to Tallinn, Estonia on the Baltic Sea in Northwestern Europe.  Estonia is a former Soviet Republic that is now a member of the EU. It so happened that June 23, the day of our arrival, is also the National Victory Day, commemorating the victory of Estonian forces over the Germans in 1919. Most Estonians were at parties and celebrations, on this their main national holiday.

The main event was held at 4:00 pm in the Reval Hotel Conference Center. The conference hall was filled 30 minutes prior to the opening, with approximately 500 in attendance, including many Ambassadors for Peace and many university students.  Dr. Reet Pool gave the opening remarks on behalf of Ambassadors for Peace.  A letter of congratulations was read from former Prime Minister Indrek Toome. A local football team that had participated in the Interreligious Peace Sports Festival was in attendance.  A delegation from Helsinki, Finland, crossed the Baltic Sea by ferry to attend the event, including the three generations of the Hassinen family.

The entire event was organized beautifully. Dr. Joon Ho Seuk, regional chair of the Universal Peace Federation-Eurasia, asked Akiro Nakamura to coordinate the program. The Hinterleitner and Lee families, along other families and their handsome and beautiful second generation contributed to the success.

Following the main event, there was a reception. Many young students were very inspired by the message and the entire event. These included university students who had traveled 100 to 200 kilometers away to attend such an event for the first time. All those I spoke to were so grateful.

Later that evening Korea played Switzerland in the World Cup, and many people joined Mother Moon and Hyun Jin in watching the game and cheering.

The following morning, Mother Moon spoke from her heart: "Every day is a great new day. Every day you should wake up with a heart of gratitude, bursting with a desire to share this great blessing. As I travel the world, I see many people who have been so touched and whose life has been transformed. When people come to understand, they will come alive. Even a three-year-old child can distinguish between fresh fruit and rotten fruit. How about you?" She encouraged her audience to spread the message that she and her family have been giving each night throughout the nation and region.