Dear friends of WFWP, The pain and outrage over the Boston bombing are still in our bones. As we keep going on about our lives, we come to realize more and more that the police, government, and other institutions are rather limited in what they can do to effect REAL CHANGE for the better. What can we, WFWP and you do about it? We can do more than we think! Looking over this month's edition of our newsletter, and reading between the lines of the articles, I especially sense that women are the answer! Once having dealt with their own pain successfully, once having healed themselves and equipped themselves with spiritual and scientific knowledge, they have the capacity and most of all the HEART to turn pain into purpose. Such women of victory can then devise creative solutions for even the most hideous crimes, such as human trafficking and other violence against women, and for even the most dreadful scenarios, such as war. In this year's women's leadership retreat in San Antonio, Texas, we focused on the very theme of "Spirituality, Healing, and Service" inspired by our founders' example of "Living by the Logic of Love" and "Living for the Sake of Others." They - and we - encourage all women at this time to reeducate their families and their greater community in sound family and moral values, demonstrating the power of love in action and mentoring the next generation. WFWP will put new initiatives in place to facilitate that, and we hope for your support and involvement as well. With warm wishes, Angelika Selle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   Contact: Bob Selle   Media Relations WFWP   Women's Federation for World Peace   Phone: 301 792 4393   E-Mail: \n This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   Monday, March 18, 2013   Washington , DC – Wealthy, democratic Japan is not ordinarily thought of as an abuser of human rights. But in that nation today, literally thousands of adults – 80 percent of them women -- have been kidnapped by their family members and subjected to forced conversions because of their chosen faith. The abuse of human rights and dignity embodied in these kidnappings cries out for our attention -- and must end!   The victimizations are going unpunished by the authorities because the Japanese government views them as "family matters."   "The institutions of the Japanese legislature, courts, and media must be brought to bear to halt the immediate intolerable abuses," said Angelika Selle, president of the Women's Federation for World Peace USA (WFWP). "However, to achieve a true long-term, sustainable solution to the problem, the institution of the Japanese family must be addressed," she added.   “It is important to remember that our aim is to approach this and all issues with a mother's heart, trying to create harmony in the family. Before we can wish to create harmony in the family, we must have harmony within ourselves as women. By recognizing our value and taking care of ourselves we can approach this and any obstacle with 'the logic of love.' We believe that this is the key to bringing about lasting peace and resolution of the human rights issue in Japan," Selle said.   Her statement was given on the eve of a public-awareness event March 19, 2013, sponsored by the George Washington University…

The guests were welcomed with a delicious breakfast at the "Peace Embassy" on Upshur Street in Washington, D.C. on February 9. Nearly 40 concerned women and staff attended, including several supportive men. Mrs. Tomiko Duggan, Vice Chairwoman for Global Women's Peace Network (GWPN) and Director of the International D.C. Office of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), welcomed the guests and gave an explanation of the need for such an organization as the Global Women's Peace Network, which is a project of WFWP, with UPF lending its active support. The purpose of the GWPN is to create a network of women who work together across barriers and territorial lines and, by pooling their expertise, to help relieve the suffering of humankind. With high morals and universal principles of service and a mother's heart of love for others, GWPN can bring like-minded women together to fulfill the unfinished work of the United Nations. Mrs. Duggan introduced Mrs. Angelika Selle, President of Women's Federation of World Peace, USA and the Chairwoman for the GWPN in the U.S. Mrs. Selle gave a truly inspiring PowerPoint presentation on "HerStory", showing historical insights into the need for a women's era. She highlighted the necessity for women's increased leadership at all levels of society to resolve the problems plaguing the people of the world, and to finally establish lasting peace in the human family. One poignant image was the founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, herself from Korea, tenderly holding the hand of a small African child. A mother's heart can transcend all obstacles to give healing love. Mrs. Selle's husband, Bob, and their daughter, Tanya, a University of Maryland student, attended the program, a reminder that when family members choose to work together, miracles can occur. After the presentation, each participant was given an opportunity to…

On Januay 19, some 40 women who gathered for a Women's Federation for World Peace seminar based on the practical philosophy of WFWP Founders the Rev. Sun Myung Moon and his wife Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, with an emphasis on "HerStory," were in for day of education and healing. The theme of the seminar was spirituality and healing in action, particularly as it applies to women's growth and the development of healthy families. Mrs. Angelika Selle, President of Women's Federation for World Peace USA, spoke on "Women as the Turning Point in History," depicting women's history to date, in the context of famous women who were misunderstood or ignored yet had still made a difference. In that context, Mrs. Selle shared about the purpose and founding of WFWP in 1992, when Rev. and Dr. Moon proclaimed the arrival of a New Era of Women and the need for women's leadership worldwide. WFWP USA Vice President Mrs. Juanita Pierre-Louis, in her warm and personal way, introduced the "Principles of Creation" as they apply to physical and spiritual health. The Rev. Dr. Gilda Price spoke on the "Cause of Human Suffering – Unlocking the Secret," passionately explaining how premature and selfish sexual relationships are at the root of societal problems, and how they cause immense suffering to this day.To prove the truth of this, Mr. Richard Panzer, founder and Executive Director of the Institute for Relationship Intelligence, Inc., shared about the sad reality today of young men and women engaging in premature sex and the sad statistics that stem from that. The WFWP Clean Slate curriculum is based on one he developed. The final session dealt with Principles of Restoration and Reconciliation: Women as Healers in This New Age," which was powerfully presented by Mrs. Selle. She went deeply into how…

The fog in the morning of the Women's Federation for World Peace seminar gave a sense of being enveloped in God's womb – a quiet and reassuring place where miracles are born. In the spirit of the morning, on this Saturday, January 12, 2013, in Fairfax, Virginia, a historic event was about to be birthed. The Washington, D.C. metro area chapters of Women's Federation for World Peace (WFWP), DC, Virginia, and Maryland organized a seminar on purity, which explored the question: "What does abstinence have to do with peace?" Like the historic birth of Jesus, the seminar seemed to emerge quietly and modestly at first, but then it became charged with excitement and urgency. This was indeed a seminar wherein women could further their understanding of their role as mothers of this world, and, more importantly, gain the tools for bringing about real and sustainable peace. On this Saturday, WFWP Virginia Chairwoman Mrs. Katherine Cromwell warmly welcomed about 30 women and quite a few men to the Northern Virginia Learning Center. She introduced Mrs. Angelika Selle, WFWP USA President, who welcomed them to the "virgin" area of Virginia – further alluding to the seminar's topic. Mrs. Selle, through showcasing the efforts of various ongoing abstinence programs, shared the crucial relevance of abstinence and purity to building a peaceful world. She also emphasized that the audience, as enlightened women and men, must use the tools currently being presented, and get moving with promoting peace through purity. Mrs. Heidi Iseda, the National Clean Slate Program Coordinator from Los Angeles, then began presenting the Clean Slate training program. She first introduced the program, and then demonstrated the undeniable importance of abstinence education for both children and parents worldwide. From October of 2007, Mrs. Iseda was the Director of the Clean Slate Education program,…

Dear Friends, Greetings to all and Happy New Year 2013! As we also celebrated the Chinese New Year on February 10, let's claim double good fortune! According to the Chinese Horoscope, 2013 is the Year of the Snake. The snake symbolizes wisdom, beauty, and endurance. It can also symbolize the shedding of our old skin, leaving the old behind -- both of which we need to embrace for an awesome new year and new beginnings! This year, WFWP USA is already off to a powerful start with a flurry of activities and new initiatives, as you can see in this edition of our e-news. To summarize briefly, already this year: We held 12 introductory Clean Slate seminars (an abstinence-based program) in different locations around the U.S. We launched the "HerStory" presentation, which is based on the spiritual underpinnings of WFWP and the teachings of our Founders, in New York City. We officially introduced the Global Women's Peace Network (GWPN), a new project and initiative of WFWP, in five cities: Boston, Atlanta, Chicago, Minneapolis and Washington, DC. Both Vice President Juanita Pierre-Louis and I were on the road almost every weekend, sometimes in sub-zero temperatures and snow to make that happen. The most recent GWPN event, a brunch, was held in the nation's capital not long ago, and was especially rich in content. It focused on a new PowerPoint presentation explaining the GWPN in the context of WFWP's "HerStory" material and the notion of the arrival of the Era of Women's Leadership. The brunch was co-sponsored and co-organized by WFWP USA and the Universal Peace Federation (UPF) DC office which is under the leadership of Mrs. Tomiko Duggan. Last year, Tomiko and I were appointed to lead the GWPN in the U.S., as Vice Chairwoman and Chairwoman respectively. As you might…

On a bright, clear January day, with Minnesota's typical subfreezing temperatures, the members of the Women's Federation for World Peace Minnesota chapter were able to restart their engines, warm up their minds and hearts, and begin anew. Forty-four women attended from Minnesota and North Dakota. The local chapter worked to prepare a most loving atmosphere with fresh-cut flowers and a lovely lunch of various soups and salads. The meeting was held on Saturday, January 26 at the Unification Church in Minneapolis. U.S. President Angelika Selle came from the Washington, D.C., area to preside over the one-day conference titled, "Women as the Turning Points of Peace: New Era, New Mindset." She gave an overview of the past to reacquaint the participants with the foundation years, starting in 1992 when Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the founder along with her husband, the Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, began WFWP as a worldwide women's organization. Its vision remains the same: to empower women with knowledge, skills and supportive community to discover their unique value and bring lasting peace. Emphasizing the need to get back to basics, Mrs. Selle pointed to the WFWP motto "Living by the Logic of Love" as the key for this era and time in history. Loving our enemies, she said, is crucial for bringing lasting reconciliation and peace to our worldwide community, starting with ourselves. She also pointed out the difference between WFWP and many other women's groups. "We are not a feminist movement," she said, "nor do we compete with men. Instead we work side by side with our brothers and husbands to improve society centered on true family values." The plan for the future, she continued, is go "deeper and wider" after the past 20 years of foundation work by WFWP, which is now more than ever…

On November 15, our sister organization, the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), invited our president to attend a traditional tea ceremony in a beautiful Washington, D.C., residence transformed into what is called the Peace Embassy. It was attended by women diplomats, ambassadors, and ambassadors' wives, all of whom were happy to take time out from their busy lives and be transplanted for a few hours into the tranquility and healing atmosphere of a traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Mrs. Tomiko Duggan, public affairs director for UPF International, explained beautifully the very profound meaning of this ceremony, which is normally partaken of in a special tea house. Mrs. Duggan, clad in a traditional kimono, said, "Upon entering that place, everyone 'loses' their position and treats each other as fellow human beings. It is a time to relax, enjoy, and share, as one remembers the meaning of four important characters," which are: Wa - Harmony Kei - Respect Sei - Purity Jyaku -Tranquility Wa is the state of harmony and beauty that creates a feeling of goodness. Kei is the attitude of respect for all things. This is not only a sincere respect for human beings, but for the sanctity of nature and all material objects. Sei is purification. The pure heart without flaw makes a person honest, truthful, and sincere. In the tea ceremony, there are several movements made by the master in the process of preparing and serving the tea that symbolize the purification of the heart. Jyaku is the level of enlightenment, when you are in oneness with the universal principle. At this stage, there is only tranquility in one's heart. After everyone partakes of a cup of bitter tea prepared in front of us by the tea master, everyone receives a special, nicely decorated sweet made of rice cake to…

President Angelika Selle was invited to Moscow to speak at and help celebrate the 20th anniversary of WFWP there with Russian women, some of whom had attended the October "Turning Point" Assembly in Las Vegas. International President Lan Young Moon, representing WFWP co-founders Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon and her late husband, Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon, conveyed the keynote address. Mrs. Selle and her daughter Tanya, who accompanied her (paying her own way), represented the United States and were able to create relationships of heart, connecting deeply to the soul of the Russian women there. The 20th anniversary assembly hall at the Beta Hotel overflowed with women leaders, mothers, young women, and even men who came to celebrate, honor, and uplift the work of WFWP in Russia. Mrs. Olga Vakulinsky, chairwoman of Russia and a vice president of WFWP International, warmly introduced each speaker and then proceeded to acknowledge founding members of WFWP Russia as well as long-term members who had made a solid foundation for the organization. In order to celebrate the occasion, it was a real treat to hear and see a professional balalaika player and dancer in her native Russian costume, followed by a more modern-day singer, a young lady who sang a moving song to all mothers in the audience, as it was Mother's Day in Russia that weekend. Our international delegation was also invited for sightseeing and for meeting a famous woman artist, Helena, whose passion it is to revamp ancient Russian traditional clothes into modern and elegant ones for the sake of bringing Russian culture to the world through her exhibitions. Most of all, what Mrs. Selle and Tanya experienced there as they socialized with Mrs. Vakulinsky's family and shared deeply with women via interpreters is that the Russian soul of mothers is…

New York Christmas Benefit Concert for Schools of Africa Project WFWP members in New York gathered for a special Christmas celebration and Schools of Africa fundraiser, celebrating Christmas and the end of 2012 with song, dance, and fellowship. Robert Hall, a choir director in New York, put together a small but strong choir that performed for the party. Angelika Selle, president of WFWP USA, spoke about the Schools of Africa project and the 2012 accomplishments of WFWP. When she took the stage to speak, she surprised the audience with a song, singing both in her native German as well as in English. Beryl Green, a WFWP New York member, commented that she was astonished, because she had no idea Mrs. Selle could sing so beautifully. The sisters also held a raffle to benefit the Schools of Africa project. But the most moving part of the evening was the moment in the program when Mrs. Selle was offered a gift basket – and then insisted on sharing the gifts with others. Some attendants were moved to tears by her act of generosity.