Marching to a differnet drum

Of all the ideas for promoting world peace and abolishing war, ringing a bell, banging a drum and doing martial arts exercises might seem one of the least promising. The 11th World Citizens Assembly in Taipei starting today, however, could confound the cynics.

Delegates from around the world will be turning up for the four-day event,which is hosted by the Association of World Citizens Taiwan and the Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy (太極門).

Behind these organizations and the Federation of World Peace and Love [FOWPAL] is Hong Tao-tze (洪道子), a doctor of Chinese medicine, philosophy and qigong -- a form of exercise and breath control.

This 59-year-old Pingtung-born shifu -- a teacher or master -- believes cultural exchange activities can bring understanding and goodwill to the world.

Hong's base of support comes from the tens of thousands of disciples worldwide who study heart kungfu under his tutelage. The Tai Ji Men Qigong Academy is based in Taiwan, where there are 12 academies, and the US, where there are two. Followers practice forms of breath control through music, dance and martial arts exercises.

Textile industrialist, Jack Chang (張文僖), who is a disciple of Tai Ji Men says, "Tai Ji Men Qigong is about cultural exchanges, popular performance and a happy way of touching hearts ... gaining and giving understanding. People feel a sense of peace from our performances and if you like someone you are not going to kill them. We are spreading good vibrations and harmony."

This idealistic or spiritual approach toward world peace might seem nebulous but has a solid record of achievement.

The Association of World Citizens [AWC], of which Hong is honorary vice chairman, is a San Francisco based group with branches in 50 countries and has organized assemblies in many of the major cities of the world, including New York, Paris and Tokyo.

The organization has NGO status with the UN and the theme this year, Creating a Culture of Peace for the 21st Century, is part of the UN sponsored International Decade for a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World.

In addition to seminars on the UN and civil society, abolishing war, globalization and peace and love, there will be keynote speakers, workshops and networking dinners, all to take place at the Grand Hotel (圓山飯店).

Tai Ji Men will perform one of their unique drum, martial arts, dragon or lion dances on each day of the event.

There will be the solemn ringing of the Peace Bell,which was made by FOWPAL and is the symbol of the organization. Inscribed on the bell are the words, "Love of the World, a Declaration of Peace."

For more information call the Association of World Citizens at (02) 2785-9360 or visit http://www.wca2001.org.tw