| February 22, 2005 |
| SGI-USA Hosts Youth Nonviolence Conference to Celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day |
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| Youth participants at "Visions of Peace: From Indifference to Making a Difference" at the SGI-USA New York Culture Center |
On January 17, a national holiday to celebrate and honor the life and achievements of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968), SGI-USA Northeastern Zone hosted the second annual nonviolence conference for youth at the SGI-USA New York Culture Center. The Temple of Understanding, a nongovernmental organization for promoting interfaith dialogue and education, cohosted the event. SGI-USA youth representatives and some 200 local high school and university students from New York City, ages 14 to 25, participated. Entitled "Visions of Peace: From Indifference to Making a Difference," the conference included workshops, lectures, films and entertainment on peace, nonviolence and harmonious coexistence. At a group discussion on "nonviolence and religions," an SGI-USA youth representative introduced Nichiren Buddhism's nonviolent philosophy and concept of "human revolution," an inner-directed, self-reformation that leads to positive changes in one's immediate environment and society. "Victory Over Violence," an anti-violence campaign spear-headed by the SGI-USA youth division, was also introduced.
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| Morehouse College Sponsors "Gandhi, King, Ikeda" Exhibition at Yale University, USA |
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| Guests from the local community, university faculty and students attend GKI exhibit opening at the Yale Afro-American Cultural Center in Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA |
On January 29-February 9, the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, hosted "Gandhi, King, Ikeda--Peace Through Nonviolence" exhibition at Yale Afro-American Cultural Center in Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Yale Coalition for Diversity collaborated on the event introducing the human rights and peace activism of three 20th century leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and Daisaku Ikeda. Many distinguished guests from the local community and university faculty and students attended the opening, including Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter Sr., dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel; and Saraswathi Vedam, assistant professor of nursing at Yale and chair of the Yale Coalition on Diversity.
At the opening, Dr. Carter and Ms. Vedam spoke, respectively. Dr. Carter emphasized the need to eliminate the root cause of violence, an "epidemic" prevailing in our society and victimizing the socially vulnerable, including children. He also expressed his respect for Mr. Ikeda for his efforts to establish an educational system and various institutions promoting a permanent peace. Ms. Vedam expressed her pleasure to host the event to promote diversity, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, which, she believes, are important values for peace in U.S. society. She also stated that the show teaches the importance of courage to overcome violence through the three leaders' nonviolent struggles.
Former President of Thoreau Society Ronald A. Bosco gave a commemorative lecture at the closing ceremony on February 9. Dr. Bosco stated that Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry D. Thoreau harmonized through their poetry. He emphasized that their spiritual legacy has been inherited by Gandhi, King and Ikeda through their peace and nonviolent activism.
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| Writer Ishmael Reed and Jazz Pianist Mary Watkins Collaborate on "Poetry for Peace" in San Francisco: Selections of SGI President's Poetry "Fighting for Peace" Introduced |
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| Ishmael Reed |
On January 23, a poetry reading titled "Poetry for Peace," featuring renowned African American writer Ishmael Reed, took place at Koret Auditorium, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco, California. Dunhill Publishing, the African American Center of the San Francisco Public Library and Friends of the San Francisco Public Library sponsored the free program.
Mr. Reed introduced SGI President Daisaku Ikeda and read selections from Mr. Ikeda's book of poetry, Fighting for Peace, along with his own poetry. A jazz ensemble accompanied the poetry, led by eclectic composer-pianist Mary Watkins and versatile drummer, classical guitarist, improvisational cellist and music educator Joyce Kouffman. Mr. Reed, who contributed a foreword to Fighting for Peace, praised Mr. Ikeda as someone who challenges stereotypes and providing a message of peace and optimism about our common future, in a chaotic time. Some 250 cultural figures and local residents attended. A local cable television covered the event. [English translation of the poetry of Daisaku Ikeda, Fighting for Peace, is published by Dunhill Publishing, San Francisco, California.].
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| Poetry reading, accompanied by jazz combo |
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Attendees at "Poetry for Peace" at Koret Auditorium, San Francisco |
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