8th September 2024
This is Our Age Peace Festival
Combining Hiroshima Peace Day, vibrant youth activities and the Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition, the This is Our Age Peace Festival aims to inspire people with a focus on peace and sustainability.
- From 10am-4pm at University of Warwick
This is Our Age Peace Festival
8th September 2024
Combining Hiroshima Peace Day, vibrant youth activities and the Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition, the This is Our Age Peace Festival aims to inspire people with a focus on peace and sustainability.
- From 10am-4pm at University of Warwick
The This is Our Age Peace Festival seeks to empower today’s youth in our local communities and foster unity and collective action in society. The event will take place on 8th September 2024, at University of Warwick from 10am-4pm, based on Buddhist philosophy and guided by the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’.
The “This is Our Age” initiative is created by young people from SGI-UK, with the aim of fostering a sustainable and harmonious world through promoting the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) is a non-governmental organization and has been in consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since 1983. Soka Gakkai International and Earth Charter International jointly created the Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition, which uses the “Learn, Reflect, Empower, Lead” formula outlined in Daisaku Ikeda’s proposal on education for sustainable development.
This is Our Age Festival Lineup
Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition
The Seeds of Hope and Action Exhibition will be featured, an exhibition co-created by SGI-UK and Earth Charter International on the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Participants of all ages will be able to visit the Seeds of Hope and Action exhibition from 10am-4pm.
Hiroshima Peace Day
Focusing on peace and nuclear disarmament, the Hiroshima Peace Day event will feature a diverse agenda.
It is suitable for students from the ages of 15-25 and is also open to members of the local community.
Peace Fayre
With a range of youth workshops and children’s activities related to the SDGs, a family-friendly peace fayre will take place throughout the day.
The event will also feature music and opportunities for meaningful discussions on peace and sustainability.
To view the festival’s programme in full, please click here.
"I disarm myself"
On 8th September 1957, 2nd Soka Gakkai President Josei Toda made his historic declaration calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons during a meeting of 50,000 Soka Gakkai youth members in Yokohama, Japan. At the time of this speech, 3rd Soka Gakkai President Daisaku Ikeda was just 29 years old.
Driven by a determination to turn his mentor’s vision into reality, President Ikeda has sought out paths to nuclear abolition, the renunciation of war and the construction of a culture of peace through engaging in dialogue with leading thinkers and decision-makers. From 1983 onward, he authored 40 annual peace proposals aligned with UN ideals and consistently addressed global challenges, including nuclear disarmament and building the culture of peace.
On the 67th anniversary of Toda’s declaration, we will celebrate President Ikeda’s unwavering efforts and the profound impact of his life with a shared purpose to revive humanity and firmly establish the dignity and value of all life.
Featuring a diverse agenda, the event explores the idea of humanistic society to build long lasting peace in its broadest sense, to inspire and empower people and to connect with our local communities.
“Everything starts with people. Unless people themselves change , there can be no personal happiness, no social prosperity, no world peace. Human revolution itself is the driving force for a new century that truly celebrates humanity.”
Daisaku Ikeda – The New Human Revolution, Volume 22
Daisaku Ikeda
“Life is the most precious treasure in the world.”
Daisaku Ikeda – The New Human Revolution, Volume 22
Daisaku Ikeda (1928-2023) was a Buddhist philosopher, peacebuilder, educator, author and poet who dedicated his life to fostering a lasting culture of peace through dialogue.
As third president of the Soka Gakkai, founding president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and founder of several international institutions promoting peace, culture and education, he championed the power of dialogue as a central means to addressing global challenges.
The Peace Festival seeks to empower today’s youth, inspiring them to engage in dialogue and tackle personal and global challenges. By valuing their own lives and the lives of others, they contribute to lasting peace and meaningful impact in society, guided by the principle of ‘leaving no one behind’.
Peace Proposals
Between 1983 and 2022, Daisaku Ikeda authored 40 annual peace proposals. These proposals delve into the interconnectedness of fundamental Buddhist principles and address the myriad challenges confronting global society.
Beyond this, Ikeda tackled issues like education reform, environmental conservation, UN engagement, and nuclear abolition. His proposals, along with statements on contemporary challenges, serve as a driving force, guiding grassroots initiatives toward a lasting culture of peace.
To view the full list of 40 peace proposals, please click here.
