Education for Sustainable Development
October 2004
Banner photo: © SEKAI BUNKA PHOTO
"Building a Culture of Peace" Exhibition
Montreux Jazz Festival creator Claude Nobs (right) with Herbie Hancock (left), Wayne Shorter (second from left) and Carlos Santana (second from right)
"Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World," an exhibition conceptualized by SGI-USA portraying the potential of ordinary individuals to contribute to peace, was shown at Stravinski Hall in Montreux, Switzerland. Held in July, the exhibit coincided with the annual Montreux Jazz Festival which brings together the world's foremost jazz musicians. This was made possible through the strong endorsement of world-renowned guitarist Carlos Santana, a festival participant.
The exhibit showcases the ideas of hundreds of people and organizations dedicated to finding a path to lasting peace, and it supports the International Decade for a Culture of Peace and Non-Violence for the Children of the World (2001-2010).
SGI's booth at the site of the "Building a Culture of Peace" exhibition in Barcelona
"Building a Culture of Peace for the Children of the World" was also shown in Barcelona, Spain, in July in conjunction with The Parliament of the World's Religions. Representatives of SGI-USA and SGI-Spain were then invited to the Council for a Parliament of the World's Religions (CPWR) general meeting which was attended by 400 scholars and representatives of major world religions. SGI representatives participated in discussions on refugee issues and how to overcome violence resulting from religious conflicts.
On July 13, representatives of SGI-Spain were also actively involved in a symposium at the parliament entitled "The Voices of Different Religious Traditions for Peace." During the previous six months, representatives of 10 different religious organizations had held numerous preparatory meetings designed to deepen their understanding of the peace ideals of other religions and cultures. As a result, during their talks, the presenters not only relayed their own religious viewpoints on peace but also referred to the peace ideals of other faiths. Participants also exchanged ideas on "The Role of Religions in Nonviolence and Tolerance" and "The Need for Promoting Peace Education."
