Commemorating the 125th anniversary of NZ women’s suffrage at Ikeda-Hall Peace Park
We commemorate the 125th anniversary of New Zealand women's suffrage at Ikeda-Hall Peace Park in Rotorua with women of SGINZ planting two new cherry trees.
New Zealand Open Day – 26 August
On Sunday 26th Aug 2018, SGINZ will be hosting the New Zealand Open Day under the theme 'Peace Through Humanity and Diversity'. There will be an exhibition, games, entertainment, kids story telling, Introduction to Buddhism and more. The venue is the SGINZ's New Zealand Culture Centre at 40 Eaglehurst Road, Ellerslie, Auckland. The Open day will be from 10am until 1pm, all are welcome to attend, this event is open to the public.
Tūmanako 2018
This year is looking like it will be bigger and better Tūmanako exhibitions than ever. HERE'S THE INFORMATION For information on the Auckland event below (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.
BAN TREATY OFFERS CHANCE FOR A WORLD FREE OF NUCLEAR ARMS
SPECIAL TO THE JAPAN TIMES The crucial second round of negotiations on a treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons will take place from June 15 at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Almost 130 countries, or two thirds of U.N. member states, participated in the first round of negotiations held at the end of March, which became the site of vigorous debate with the active participation of civil society. Nuclear weapons are capable of annihilating humankind and the global ecosystem, and the threat they pose is, if anything, growing. The upcoming negotiations seek to achieve a fundamental breakthrough in this situation. “We hibakusha have no doubt that this treaty can — and will — change the world.” This statement made by an atomic bomb survivor at the March negotiations was…
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…