Youth from eight faith-based organisations and sporting clubs have climbed Mt Vaea to promote world peace.

The youth members of the International Youth and Students for Peace Samoa, Universal Peace Federation, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Bahai, KLAS Taekwondo and Tong il Moo Do Martial Arts scaled the mountain last Saturday.

One of the leaders of the inter-organisation groups, Rev. Maugana’i Seti Suafa of the Heavenly Parents Holy Communion in Samoa, told the Samoa Observer in an email that the prayer mountain event is the first of three events that they plan to host as part of their annual international peace road. 

“The founders launched the visionary "International Peace Highway" project at the inauguration of the International Conference for the Unity of the Sciences in Japan 1981. Advocating private and government collaboration with interdependence, mutual prosperity and universal values, work started on a tunnel joining Japan and Korea,” he said.

“High level deliberations and collaborations are progressing for a highway joining Africa to North and South America via Eurasia with an epoch defining peace bridge spanning the Bering Strait.”

When asked about how these events can promote peace, he said this year’s Samoa’s peace road mountain prayer and collaborative peace events would spark a "holy ball of fire" with the help of faith groups, non-government organisations, governments and indigenous nations.

"Arirang an old Korean folk song about longing for peace was sung by all. Finally ‘Mansei’ cheers and wishes for peace and blessings for 10,000 years rang out over Mt Vaea,” he added.

“These three simple ‘holy spirit ceremonies’ will be relayed on mountains all around the Pacific Rim nations.”

He further stated that other themes of peace include Indigenous nations seeking maternal healing and reconciliation of historical hurt.