ASEZ WAO’s Conference with the Minister of Environment of Peru

ASEZ WAO, the World Mission Society Church of God Young Adult Worker Volunteer Group, met with Albina Ruiz Rios, the Minister of the Environment of Peru. Minister Ruiz is an environmentalist and social entrepreneur from Peruvian Amazon. She has received numerous environmental awards from various agencies and organizations. She became acquainted with the Church of God by participating in an environmental cleanup, which was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Korean ASEZ WAO members who visited Peru in the end of April. Being deeply moved by the steady and positive activities of ASEZ WAO, she also participated in the ASEZ WAO Environmental Forum, which was held at the Church of God in Faucett, Peru, on May 7.

During the environmental cleanup, Minister Ruiz promised to meet with the Korean ASEZ WAO members again, and she participated in the conference held by ASEZ WAO despite her busy schedule while she was in Korea on a trip for attending 2023 Korea-LAC Future Cooperation Forum in the middle of May. On May 17, around 500 Korean ASEZ WAO members attended the conference held in the seminar room of New Jerusalem Pangyo Temple in Korea.

Around 4 p.m., the conference began with loud cheers from the ASEZ WAO members for welcoming Minister Ruiz. The conference topic was “One Step to a Green Earth.” General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol expressed his gratitude to Mrs. Ruiz and said, “One step of ten people is more important than ten steps of one person. Each individual is weak, however, if we take action together, we can surely overcome climate change.” He hoped that the conference would become a meaningful opportunity for strengthening solidarity to respond to climate change.

At the conference, the Church of God and the Ministry of Environment of Peru signed a Memorandum of Understanding [MOU]. By doing so, General Pastor Kim Joo-cheol and Minister Ruiz paved the way for cooperation to resolve environmental issues.

The conference consisted of the presentation by an ASEZ WAO member, a lecture by Minister Ruiz, and a Q&A session. When the ASEZ WAO member introduced the Green Workplace Project for saving energy and resources at workplace for the earth, Minister Ruiz said that it was important for young adults to play the role as the “pillars of society” for resolving environmental issues. She pointed out that population growth and urban concentration were the causes of environmental problems, and emphasized the importance of taking action and strengthen solidarity for combating climate change in a way that transcends generations. Through the Q&A session, she generously gave advice to the ASEZ WAO members based on her accumulated knowledge and experience.

Kim Ji-hoo, an ASEZ WAO member (from Seongnam) said, “It is easy to think of protecting the environment, but it is a great challenge to take action for it. Today, I’m deeply impressed to hear that Ruiz has been taking action to combat climate change. I’ve been convinced that we can surely change the world if we are interest in the environment and take action for it.” Ha Seong-min, an ASEZ WAO member (from Jinju) said, “I went to Namibia as an Overseas Culture Experience Group member this spring. While cleaning up with the local members, I felt that we could draw more people’s participation through our little action.”

ASEZ WAO, having both enthusiasm and practical ability, is planning to actively carry out environmental activities on the global stage, based on exchanges and solidarity with experts from the world.

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