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Dialogue--Opening
the Way to a Global Civilization
Thoughts on
the Humanism of the Middle Way
By SGI President Daisaku Ikeda
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It was
particularly bitter that 2001, the first year of the new
century, designated by the United Nations as the Year of
Dialogue Among Civilizations, was marred by the tragic
September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.
The goal of terrorism is to thrust people into chaos and
confusion, to fan fear and mistrust, but it is vital that we
never succumb to these emotions. We must rather bring forth
the power of the human spirit in even greater measure.
Many people have been pondering the question of whether any
form of dialogue or engagement is possible with those who
remain hidden behind the veil of anonymity.
What can people of goodwill do? How are they to respond to
ruthless, cold-blooded acts of evil?
One thing is certain: reprisal invites reprisal. This is the
lesson, rooted in the depths of human nature, which has been
learned at the cost of untold suffering and bloodshed.
I repeat my absolute opposition to all forms of violence,
terror and retaliation, from the intimate violence of bullying
to the mega violence of war. All violence is an affront to
human dignity. But transforming the course of human history
will require of each individual a truly profound inner
resolution, an existential determination to seek their
fundamental, inherent humanity and to transform their entire
being--an endeavor that we in the SGI call human revolution.
In dialogue, too, the starting point must come from within,
from a dynamic view of the self. I believe that an inner,
spiritual dialogue is a necessary prerequisite for any attempt
at external dialogue. The Buddhist view of life includes ten
inner states of life, from hell at the "lowest" to
bodhisattva and Buddhahood at the highest, and describes how
our life is constantly changing to reveal these different
states. It teaches that even the state of hell potentially
possesses enlightenment, the state of supreme good.
The Middle Way of Buddhism does not force life's constantly
changing aspects into fixed and immutable categories. It urges
us to be actively engaged in all realities, bringing forth
their positive potential from within.
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[Francesco
Stalteri]
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In the light of
what I call the humanism of the Middle Way, the rallying cry
of "I am human; nothing human is foreign to me"
shines with new brilliance. Before each one of us suddenly
opens the great way of dialogue, the capacity to transcend
differences and share our innermost sentiments with any and
all people. This conviction has been the guiding principle for
my own actions.
Without dialogue, humans are fated to walk in the darkness of
their own dogmatic self-righteousness. Dialogue is the lamp by
which we dispel that darkness, lighting for each other our
steps and the path ahead.
Strengthening
International Law
It is crucial that we aim for the creation of a universal
system that will prevent, suppress and, where necessary,
punish any act of terror, without regard to the political or
ideological motives of the perpetrators. By strengthening the
structures and systems of international law, of international
law enforcement and of the international judiciary, it should
be possible to build a comprehensive and coordinated response
to terror. In this effort, the UN must play a central role. In
this regard, I would specifically like to propose the
following measures.
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Complementing
existing conventions, a comprehensive treaty for
the prevention of terrorism should be adopted.
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The
earliest possible establishment of the
International Criminal Court (ICC) is essential as
a means of supplanting the rule of force with the
rule of law.
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To
acknowledge the bitter lesson of the international
community's effective abandonment of Afghanistan,
I propose that an Afghanistan peace center be
established in Japan. This would inform the world
about efforts toward peace and reconstruction, and
would encourage more widespread appreciation of
Afghanistan's unique cultural heritage.
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Long-term
Preventive Measures
It is vital that steps be taken from a long-term perspective
to eliminate the root causes of terrorism. In this regard, I
would like to suggest measures centered on three themes: human
rights, poverty eradication and disarmament.
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Human
rights education can play a particularly crucial
role in preventing acts of violence and terror,
which have their origin in the workings of the
human heart. My proposal is for the establishment
of a Decade of Human Rights Education for Peace,
to succeed and follow up on the work of the United
Nations Decade for Human Rights Education
(1995--2004).
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I
repeat my call for implementing the equivalent of
a global Marshall Plan in which monies freed by
debt relief to the most heavily indebted poor
countries would be applied to poverty alleviation,
education, health care and medical treatment, as
well as to enhancing social infrastructure.
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Encouraging
disarmament is a crucial step in establishing
institutional measures to prevent the worsening of
conflicts. I strongly urge consideration of reform
of the consensus rules by which the Geneva-based
Conference on Disarmament operates, so that veto
by one country is no longer possible.
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The
adoption of a treaty for a comprehensive ban on
all nuclear weapons continues to be a goal of SGI
members around the world.
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Demining
is an especially urgent focus at present, and this
is one area in which Japan can make a substantial
contribution through providing technical
assistance. All countries should ratify the 1997
land mines treaty, and a full ban on the export of
land mines should be implemented immediately.
Systems of cooperative action to promote demining
and provide support to the victims of land mines
are also crucial.
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Protecting
the Global Environment
In August of 2002, the World Summit on Sustainable Development
will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa. We must make a
strong, fresh determination to arrive at bold, original and
thoroughgoing initiatives, and to make the conference the
point of departure for new action for the sake of the human
future. Here I would like to propose several ideas that I feel
could help strengthen the framework of international
cooperation to protect the environment.
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The
appointment of a UN High Commissioner for the
Environment who would coordinate the activities of
various agencies and lead efforts toward resolving
global environmental issues.
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The
phased consolidation of the secretariats
overseeing the implementation of different
environmental treaties, with monies saved pooled
into a "Global Green Fund."
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The
adoption of an international treaty to promote
renewable energy.
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I
would also like to add my renewed support for the
Earth Charter, as a comprehensive statement of the
norms and values essential to effective global
governance and a guideline for humanity in the
21st century. There is a particular need to
produce educational materials to introduce its
message to children.
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Children's
Summit
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With
regard to the upcoming UN Special Session on
Children, I strongly urge the ratification by all
countries of the two optional protocols to the
Convention on the Rights of the Child. These
protocols are designed to protect children from
those actions that most grievously abuse their
rights--the use of children as soldiers and their
sale or use in prostitution.
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In
addition, I would hope that consideration could be
given to the drafting and adoption of a world
charter on education. This would express a moral
commitment to implementing peace education and
education for global citizenship on a worldwide
scale.
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Peace in
Asia
Realizing lasting
peace in Asia is not a matter of any one country taking the
lead. Rather, it is a matter of building multilayered networks
of friendship and trust among the peoples of all countries.
Among the activities slated for this year is the
Japan-China-Republic of Korea Young Leaders Exchange Program.
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I
believe we should encourage this kind of exchange
throughout Asia in order to provide wider
opportunities for members of the rising
generation, and in particular young women, to
establish bonds of friendship that transcend
national boundaries.
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I
would like to see a joint research project that
will build the foundations for a shared
understanding of the recent history of Asia. The
cumulative impact of a dialogue-centered effort to
create a common understanding of our shared
history is indispensable to future prospects for
peace in Asia.
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Dialogue, trust
and collaboration, rooted in efforts to achieve
self-mastery--constitute the basis on which the global
society, the global civilization of the 21st century can be
built.
This year, under the theme of expanding dialogue, the members
of the SGI are determined to work to spread the solidarity of
humanism as contributing citizens of their respective
societies, in order to build a world of peace and coexistence.
The above is a summary of the key points in Daisaku Ikeda's
January 26, 2002, peace proposal. See the full text at www.sgi.org
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