BUDDHIST LEADER'S 40TH ANNUAL PEACE PROPOSAL STRESSES HUMAN DIGNITY, NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 26 (Bernama) -- Buddhist philosopher and peacebuilder Daisaku Ikeda, president of the Soka Gakkai International (SGI), has issued his 40th annual peace proposal on Jan 26.

Titled ‘Transforming Human History: The Light of Peace and Dignity’, it offers concrete ideas for tackling the climate crisis and achieving inclusive education and nuclear disarmament, according to a statement.

Concerning humanity's response to the pandemic, Ikeda calls for solidarity built on awareness of our interconnectedness and states: “I believe firmly that the key factor determining the direction of history will prove not to have been the virus, but we humans ourselves.”

He emphasises the need to address the inequalities the pandemic has exposed, and that gender equality and women's empowerment are key to overcoming the crisis and building a global society that sustains human dignity.

Meanwhile on environmental issues, Ikeda calls for more coordinated efforts in implementing the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Convention on Biological Diversity and Convention to Combat Desertification.

He also proposes creating a youth council to advise the UN on the comprehensive protection of the ‘global commons’, the environmental resources essential to all humanity.

Concerned about the impact of disruptions to education, Ikeda suggests the UN Transforming Education Summit planned for September focus on education in emergencies, inclusive education and learning for global citizenship.

Toward the first meeting of States Parties to the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) slated for March, Ikeda stresses the urgency of ‘detoxifying’ ourselves from nuclear-dependent security doctrines and strongly calls for Japan, other nuclear-dependent states and the nuclear-weapon states to participate as observers.

The Soka Gakkai is a global community-based Buddhist organisation that promotes peace, culture and education based on respect for the dignity of life. The Soka Gakkai International is an NGO in consultative status with UN ECOSOC.

-- BERNAMA