SGI New Zealand Members Commemorate Kosen-rufu Day - Mar 16

SGI-New Zealand members met on March 16 at the SGI-New Zealand Culture Center in Auckland. The "Gandhi, King, Ikeda" exhibition, which introduces the human rights and peace activism of three 20th century leaders--Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Daisaku Ikeda--through panel displays, was shown and "A Quiet Revolution," a documentary film about individual empowerment, was screened.

SGI-New Zealand Hosts Interfaith Peace Conference in Christchurch - Mar 21

SGI-New Zealand held an Earth Charter conference in Christchurch on March 21. Moana Cole, a Catholic peace activist in New Zealand, Ola Kamel, representative of the Islamic community in the Canterbury region, University of Canterbury Peace Studies Professor Peter Lowe, and SGI-New Zealand Public Relations Director Ian Gordon served as panelists. The audience discussed topics such as: "What can one citizen do to contribute to peace?" and "How can we overcome apathy and disempowerment?"

One participant was encouraged by the positive discussions on peace--unhindered by animosity or hatred--that were generated in a warm but serious atmosphere among people of diverse religious and cultural backgrounds. Another said the conference felt like a blueprint for a peaceful society. Still another was interested in learning more about the activities of the conference sponsor, SGI-New Zealand.