CategoryGlobal Efforts for Peace

On April 9, the Soka Gakkai’s Seikyo Shimbun reported that Soka University has decided to offer a learning and research environment for students forced to discontinue their studies at Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics. In 2003, the two universities established a formal academic exchange agreement. 

From March 30 to April 7, the exhibition “Everything You Treasure—For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons,” jointly created by the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) and the SGI (Soka Gakkai International), was held at the University of La Salle in Madrid, Spain. The exhibition was hosted by the university’s Institute for Studies of Religions

On March 20, SGI-Dominican Republic (SGIRD) held a hybrid general meeting at its culture center in Santo Domingo commemorating the 56th anniversary of the forming of its first chapter and the 50th anniversary of the founding its fife and drum corps. At the meeting, new national-level leadership appointments were made. Eiji Nishio and Victoria Kimura

The City of Aliso Viejo recognizes Soka University of America (SUA) as a “Trusted Partner” supporting the city.   Mayor Ross Chun and Mayor Pro Tem Richard Hurt presented SUA President Edward M. Feasel and Archibald E. Asawa, vice president for finance and administration, with a certificate of recognition in February. President Feasel acknowledged the

On March 17, in response to a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit the northeast coast of Japan, the Soka Gakkai set up an emergency communication center at the Soka Gakkai headquarters in Tokyo and also centers in the affected region. On the same day, an online meeting was held, connecting the headquarters with the Tohoku

On March 10, the Soka Gakkai donated 30 million yen (US$258,617) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), contributing to humanitarian assistance to Ukrainians forced to flee their homes. UNHCR Japan Representative Karen Farkas visited the Soka Gakkai Headquarters in Tokyo to meet with Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada, and expressed her gratitude

On March 9, a video developed by Amnesty International, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCR) and the SGI (Soka Gakkai International) was screened during the 49th session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC49). The video introduced the gender-focused human rights education work of Dejana Stosic from Serbia. On March 16, at

On March 8, Inés Vázquez González of Soka Gakkai Spain represented the Buddhist Union of Spain at an interfaith symposium on women, leadership and religion in Madrid. Commemorating International Women’s Day, the event was organized by the Foundation for Pluralism and Coexistence that is affiliated with the Prime Minister’s Office. Ms. Vázquez joined a panel

Soka Gakkai organizations in Panama and Mexico held events to commemorate March 8, International Women’s Day. On March 8, SGI-Panama organized an online seminar on gender equality featuring three guest speakers that spoke on the importance of women having the freedom to choose their roles at home and in society, and the significance of inner-motivated

On March 6, the Eighth Headquarters Leaders Meeting and the Second Youth Division Leaders Meeting of the decade toward 2030, the 100th anniversary of the Soka Gakkai’s founding, was held at the Kanagawa Ikeda Memorial Hall. Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada announced that the Soka Gakkai would make a financial donation to the United Nations

On March 4, the Soka Gakkai affiliated Ikeda Center for Peace, Learning, and Dialogue, organized its first virtual Dialogue Nights event of 2022. The theme was “Countering Burnout with the Power of Connection.” Participants discussed the importance of cultivating genuine connections with others to counter physical and mental fatigue.

On February 27, SGI-Argentina opened a new center in the city of Mar del Plata in Buenos Aires Province. On the same day, it held a youth peace festival at the new center, which featured dance and musical performances and included a tango performance by its fife and drum corps.   

On February 24, SGI-UK Vice National Student Division Leader Lucy Plummer spoke in a panel session at the Faith for Earth Dialogues at the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) 5.2, hosted by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). In dialogue with a young Muslim climate activist, Sanaa Pasha from Youth Strike for the Climate, Ms. Plummer spoke

On February 17, the Soka Institute of the Amazon joined the new Amazonas Hub of the UN Global Compact. The UN Global Compact, the world’s largest corporate sustainability initiative, engages the business sector in adopting sustainable and socially responsible policies, and the hub will bring together leaders from various sectors within the State of Amazonas

On February 14, Soka Gakkai Mexico (SGMex) General Director Nereo Ordaz Anzurez participated in a ceremony commemorating the 55th anniversary of the Treaty of Tlatelolco (the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean). Held at the Foreign Ministry of Mexico, the event was attended by high-level diplomats from many

On February 11, Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG) held a webinar to mark the 30th anniversary of the formation of its Education Division. A panel discussion was held on the theme “Creating a Century of Peace by Raising Global Citizens through Humanistic Education,” with emphasis on how to make education accessible to all children. Panelists included

Meetings were held across East Asia to celebrate the Lunar New Year. On February 1, SGI-Philippines held an online meeting in which dance and song performances were presented. Soka Gakkai Malaysia and SGI-Hong Kong streamed commemorative videos.

From January 29, facsimile editions of Lotus Sutra manuscripts from the Lotus Sutra Manuscript Series, published by the Soka Gakkai and the affiliated Institute of Oriental Philosophy (IOP), have been exhibited at the Southern Branch of the National Palace Museum (NPMSB) in Taibao City, Chiayi County, as part of the exhibition “The Arts of the Lotus Sūtra.” The series is

On January 25, the Soka Gakkai’s Seikyo Shimbun reported that an Azerbaijani edition of The World Is Yours to Change, a compilation of six thematic essays by President Daisaku Ikeda, was published by Sharg-Garb Publishing House in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. This is the first book to be translated into Azerbaijani among President Ikeda’s works, which have now

On January 25, Taiwan Soka Association (TSA) was among 44 organizations to be awarded a Gold Award by Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture. It received the award in recognition of its contributions to the conservation and development of art and culture in Taiwan. At the award ceremony held at the National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall