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| Norma J Ogle juneokc3 | Fw: Fw: Fw: SGI Headline News | Sat, 27 Mar 2004 00:19:03 -0600 |
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NEWS: Headlines
Friday, March 26, 2004
19th Installment of SGI President's Essay Series
"Travels Around the Globe"features the Rhine in Germany.
In the 19th installment of his "Travels Around the Globe: My Home
Is
the World" photo essays, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda writes about
Germany. Mr. Ikeda recalls his fourth visit to Germany in June 1983,
when he met renowned German educator, Dr. Josef Derbolav. and
engaged in a dialogue with him on a scenic boat ride on the Rhine River.
Along the Rhine stand a number of old castles surrounded by green
vineyards, most built by feudal overlords to protect their lands from
marauders. It is said that there are more castles in the Rhine valley
than in any other river valley in Europe.
During their meeting, Mr. Ikeda and Dr. Derbolav discussed
legends
associated with the Rhine, such as the story of Lorelei, the beautiful
water
nymphs, whose enchanting songs lured sea captains to their deaths.
In the essay, Mr. Ikeda writes that even though times may change,
what will eternally remain, like the eternal flow of a great river, is
the
boundless spiritual path trodden by individuals of staunch conviction
and faith, who have withstood and resisted incomparably harsh
persecutions.
SGI-Indonesia Opens Two Centers
SGI-Indonesia recently opened two new centers in Semarang on Java
Island and Palembang on Sumatra Island. Some 500 attended the opening
at the Semarang Center, including a representative of Indonesia's
Ministry of Religion and Semarang Mayor Sukawi Sutarip. The Palembang
Center opened on March 21.
SGI-Indonesia General Director Udin Tirta congratulated the new center's
opening and called on everyone to further advance with harmonious unity
to build peace and friendship in their local communities.
SGI Members Worldwide Commemorate March 16
SGI youth members throughout the world met on or around March 16, a
commemorative day in the SGI. On March 14, SGI-UK, SGI-Belgium,
SGI-Finland and SGI-Austria held meetings, in their respective
countries. Some 1,500 SGI-UK members gathered in 10 cities.
SGI-Belgium members studied "Many in Body, One in Mind," from
Nichiren's writings. At the meeting in Finland, participants doubled
in number from last year and half were non-member friends. Some 600
SGI-Peru youth met on March 16 at their center in Lima.
Thursday, March 25, 2004
Zhaoqing University, China, Establishes Daisaku Ikeda Research Institute
Zhaoqing University, Guangdong Province, China, recently established
the Daisaku Ikeda Research Institute. Zhaoqing University President
Kuang Bang Hong and Professor Zeng Zheng were appointed institute
advisors and Assistant Professor Qiao Liyuan, institute director. The
institute has almost all of Mr. Ikeda's books published in China. It
plans to publish research papers on Mr. Ikeda's peace and education
philosophies next year, and to host an Asian academic conference in
the near future. At the inaugural ceremony on March 19, President
Kuang expressed his hopes that many Chinese people will gain a deep
understanding of and apply Mr. Ikeda's peace ideals, educational
philosophy and perspectives on literature and arts.
Wednesday, March 24, 2004
"Gandhi, King, Ikeda" Exhibition Opens in Perth and Palmerston, Australia
Morehouse College's "Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building Peace"
exhibition, introducing the human rights and peace activism of three
20th century leaders, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jr. and
Daisaku Ikeda, recently opened in Perth in Western Australia and
Palmerston in Northern Territory, Australia. Both cities designated
the exhibition as official events to celebrate Harmony Day (March
21), a day for reflecting on and celebrating Australia's cultural
diversity.
The exhibition in Perth opened on March 16 at the Governor Stirling
Tower. Guests attending included West Australia Premier Dr. Geoff
Gallop and the State's Office of Multicultural Interests (OMI)
Executive Director Dr. Leila de Mel. Dr. Gallop praised the SGI's
social contributions and Mr. Ikeda's efforts to teach people to live
with compassion for others. OMI's Senior Community Relations Officer
Paul Rafferty commented that the exhibition was impressive and he was
amazed to know how much impact one individual can make to transform
society through positive contributions.
The exhibition in Palmerston was displayed from March 13 through 22
at the Palmerston City Library. Palmerston Mayor Annette Burke
visited the exhibition and praised the SGI's activities that
contribute to empowering people in society.
University of Manitoba's Student Weekly Publishes SGI President's
Essay on Nonviolence
Manitoban, a student weekly of the University of Manitoba (UM) in
Winnipeg, Canada, published SGI President Daisaku Ikeda's essay
"Heroes of Nonviolence," in its March 10, 2004 issue. In the essay,
Mr. Ikeda writes "The essential nature of nonviolence is that it is
rooted in the inner, personal transformation of individual human
beings. As a result, the changes that are realized in society as a
whole through genuine nonviolence are fundamental and enduring."
Introducing the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr.,
who maintained faith in the power of the human spirit and its
limitless potential for good, Mr. Ikeda expresses his belief that
"With faith in each other and in our humanity, we can effect a
lasting and positive transformation in our world." CJUM, a UM campus
radio station, also introduced Mr. Ikeda's essay on its March 10
program. In January 2004, "Gandhi, King, Ikeda: A Legacy of Building
Peace," an exhibition introducing the human rights and peace activism
of the three 20th century leaders, opened at the University of
Manitoba.
SGI-Italy's Human Rights Exhibition in Rome Closes
SGI-Italy's exhibition "The City of Human Rights--Rome" (tentative
translation), held at Trajan's Markets from November 2003, closed on
February 13. SGI-Italy, Rome City and the Gorbachev Foundation
sponsored the exhibition, which Italy's Presidential Office and UNHCR
supported. Approximately 16,000 visited, including 8,000 students
from some 300 junior and senior high schools. The exhibition panels
consisted of seven human rights issues, such as refugees, conflicts,
poverty and discrimination. Rome Mayor Walter Veltroni commented that
the exhibition contributed to raising young people's awareness of
human rights and building world peace.
Tuesday, March 23, 2004
"Another Way of Seeing Things" Wins Top Honors in Short Film Category
at Tiburon International Film Festival, USA
"Another Way of Seeing Things", a short film, challenging media
stereotyping, won the Golden Reel Award for Best Short Film at the
third annual Tiburon International Film Festival, USA, "Understanding
the World Through Film."
The Tiburon Festival is one of the fastest-growing international
film festivals in the USA today. During the one-week festival from
March 12-19, more than 1,300 films were submitted from over 50
countries, and 230 were selected for screening, including 135 in the
short films category.
The film "Another Way of Seeing Things" is based on an essay of the
same title from Daisaku Ikeda's book "The World is Yours to Change".
Filmed in Turkey in 2003 and narrated by Academy Award-winning actor
F. Murray Abraham, "Another Way of Seeing Things" tells the story of
British historian Arnold Toynbee's experiences as a journalist
covering the Greco-Turkish war of the 1920s. He listened to both
sides and attempted to counteract the prevailing bias against Turks
and Muslims in general. The production team for "Another Way of
Seeing Things" included SGI-USA members Dan Arden, a television
producer based in Los Angeles, California, USA, and Cory Taylor, an
Emmy Award-winning director.
The awards ceremony took place on March 19. Mr. Arden and Mr. Cory
received a certificate from the festival founder and executive
director Saeed Shafa.
Mr. Shafa stated,"The first time I saw 'Another Way of Seeing
Things', I was so amazed because the philosophy of the film matched
our philosophy for the festival, which is to connect with people from
other cultures and seek their perspective." He said the film took top
honors because, "The message of the film is very significant and
moving."
At the screening on March 18, the film received a prolonged round of
applause from the audience, made up of local citizens and visiting
filmmakers. One high school teacher said, "This film is a great
educational tool. It teaches that the problems of the world stem from
nationalism and hatred or indifference toward people different than
you. The author's point about the importance of developing our
sensitivity and respect for others is a crucial one for our times."
[Adapted from a Soka Gakkai International press release dated March
22, 2004, and other sources.]
SGI Members Worldwide Commemorate Kosen-rufu Day
SGI youth members throughout the world met to commemorate March
16,
Kosen-rufu Day, in their respective countries.
SGI-Paraguay youth met on March 14 at their Paraguay
Culture Center in Asunci.
Representatives shared their experiences of practicing Nichiren
Buddhism and explained the significance of March 16, 1958, a day
epitomizing youth accepting responsibility for creating lasting peace.
SGI-Paraguay General Director Kaoru Kurita encouraged
participants. Some 250 SGI-Bolivia youth met for local meetings on
March 14. At the Santa Cruz Chapter meeting, a young woman told of
overcoming life's vicissitudes and creating family harmony with her
Buddhist practice.
SGI-Bolivia Young Men's Division Chief Toshihiro Nakajima under
scored the fortune of having a mentor in life who helps guide one to
discover life's purpose.
On March 14, SGI-Switzerland held their second youth general
meeting
in a suburb of Zurich, with a theme "Youth, Stand Up With a Great Vow."
SGI-Switzerland Young Men's Division Chief Matthias Brodbeck
and Young Women's Chief Raffaella Fontana encouraged everyone to
succeed in their endeavors. SGI-Norway members met on March 15 in
Oslo and Bergen. Participants, including non-member friends, strengthened
friendships.
The SGI-Hong Kong young women's chorus held a concert on March 14, to
commemorate its 30th anniversary and to celebrate March 16, at the
SGI-Hong Kong Culture Center. The group presented 18 songs, including
Chinese folk songs and current pop tunes.
On March 7, some 300 SGI members gathered at the SGI-New Zealand
Culture Center in Auckland. Representatives shared personal
experiences of their Buddhist practice. Yoichi Furuya and Mary
Gordon, newly appointed student division leaders in SGI-New Zealand
Pacific General Chapter, expressed their resolve. SGI-New Zealand
Women's Division Chief Jessica Phuang and Men's Division Chief Ian
Gordon attended a meeting in Tauranga City.
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