SGINZ Study Review
Welcome to the SGINZ Study Review Register below to join the SGINZ 2021 Study Review (happening between March and September 2021 with the final review in October). (more…)
TŪMANAKO! Whakatāne Children’s World Peace Flags
Report by Laura Gow On 6 August 2017, the opening ceremony for Tūmanako was held outside Whakatāne library. It was an amazing community celebration with over 450 people attending. The ceremony began with a Karakia and blessing, and included items from the Schools throughout Whakatane. This was followed by words from Whakatāne’s Mayor, Mr Tony Bonne and a waiata sung by members of SGINZ. A representative from each of the nineteen schools that took part in Tūmanako cut the ribbon at the entrance of the library to open the exhibition. Due to exhibition space being limited, the Whakatāne District Council decided that rather than ask each child to create an artwork for peace, instead they would encourage children to design and create a peace flag for Tūmanako. Preschools and primary…
SGI urges nuclear weapons abolition at Vatican conference
Tokyo, 13 November, 2017: Hiromasa Ikeda, Vice President of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) Buddhist association, joined other participants in stressing the moral case for ridding the world of nuclear weapons and urged increased efforts in raising awareness at the conference on ‘Perspectives for a World Free from Nuclear Weapons and for Integral Disarmament’ held at the Vatican in Rome on 10/11 November. Mr Ikeda stated: ‘Nuclear weapons are dangerous from a security perspective. From an ethical and moral perspective, they are wrong. This renders them unacceptable in any hands. With the geopolitical risks of nuclear conflict rising to unprecedented levels, it is vital that this awareness be shared widely by all people.’ He also stressed the SGI’s educational focus on creating opportunities for dialogue. ‘This can foster a shared awareness…
SGINZ supports 30th anniversary of New Zealand’s nuclear free legislation
In an event organised by the Peace Foundation and supported by SGINZ the 30th anniversary of New Zealand's nuclear free legislation was celebrated in Auckland with 100's of people forming a giant peace symbol. The SGINZ brass band and behind the scenes support groups contributed to the event which was covered in local media Stuff and TV1
SGI Statement on the adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons
On July 7, 2017, the United Nations adopted a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons, marking an important step toward their eventual elimination. The SGI issued the following statement applauding this historical advancement, noting the need to now create broad support for the treaty and for the ongoing global endeavour to realise a world without nuclear weapons.
TUMANAKO! Children’s Art Works for a Peaceful World 2017
TUMANAKO! Children’s art works for a peaceful world commemorating Hiroshima Day is an opportunity for 8 to 15-years-old children to create artwork sharing their aspirations for a peaceful world. The artworks will then be displayed at exhibitions around the country. There will be an opening day events in August.
Peace Essay
We are constantly confronted by images of violence but rarely by images of peace. Peace can only come about if we visualise it and make it happen at all levels of society. This essay competition is aimed at eliciting youth’s voices in the creation of a more just and peaceful world. To this end the National Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies (University of Otago) and Soka Gakkai International New Zealand* have launched the Aotearoa/New Zealand Youth Peace Essay Award. We invite young people between the ages of 17-25 to take part in this peace essay award by expressing your thoughts on various peace-related issues at local, national and global levels. Award To Enter the Contest Submission Theme of 2016: “Unity in Diversity” In 2016 we invite participants to respond to the broad theme of Unity in Diversity. Societies that respect people’s different identities while developing a strong sense of community are…
SGINZ Auckland Centre Open Day
On Sunday July 3rd, the doors of the SGINZ Centre in Auckland will be open to friends and members of the public from 10am to 1pm providing visitors with an opportunity to see the activities that SGINZ undertakes, and meet members. The open day will include an array of engaging activities catering for all ages including information stalls, entertainment, interactive displays as well as plenty of exciting goings-on for the kids.
SGI representatives participate in the WW100 Peace Conference
SGI's Kimiaki Kawai speaking on the panel Kimiaki Kawai, Director of Peace Affairs at SGI Tokyo, attended the “World Without War, Actions for Peace” Conference in the Sir Paul Reeves Building at Auckland University of Technology on 19-20 September. He participated as a speaker on the inter-religious panel discussion “Establishing Peace Through Religion” and spoke about SGI’s international efforts to achieve a nuclear free world.
SGINZ Presents Nuclear Zero Petition at Rotorua Peace Park Anniversary
The 15th anniversary of the Ikeda Hall Peace Garden in Rotorua was celebrated on Sunday 27-September with a ceremony and presentation of over 16,000 signatures for the Marshall Islands Nuclear Zero campaign. The cherry blossoms were in stunning full bloom on a perfect day. Speaking to the close to 300 people in attendance were former Rotorua Mayor Graham Hall, whom the garden is half named after (and who MC’d the event), current Rotorua Mayor Steve Chadwick (who also attended the opening 15 years ago). [caption id="attachment_244" align="aligncenter" width="500"] The Ikeda Hall Peace Garden September 2015[/caption] Wellington Mayor Celia Wade Brown (attending in her capacity as Executive Leader for Mayors for Peace), Hon Phil Goff Member of Parliament (in his capacity as current Chair of the Parliamentarians for Nuclear Non-Proliferation and…