Soka Gakkai International Supports Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Oslo Promoting Dialogue with Hibakusha

Soka Gakkai International's Role at the Nobel Peace Prize Forum

On December 11, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum will take place in the Aula at the University of Oslo, following the December 10 ceremony that honored Nihon Hidankyo with the Nobel Peace Prize. This year's forum is organized by the Norwegian Nobel Institute and co-sponsored by the University of Oslo, the city of Oslo, Soka Gakkai International (SGI), and the International Forum for Understanding.

Titled "Nukes: How to Counter the Threat", this public forum will be held from 10 AM to 12 PM CET and will feature distinguished speakers, including two Hibakusha—Masao Tomonaga, the emeritus director of the Japanese Red Cross Hospital in Nagasaki, and Keiko Ogura, founder of the Hiroshima Peace Interpreters. There will also be three Nobel Peace Prize laureates contributing their insights.

Minoru Harada, the president of Soka Gakkai, emphasized the importance of this occasion, stating, "The awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to Nihon Hidankyo inspires us all to enhance our efforts to abolish nuclear weapons. We hope this forum will foster a deep dialogue that reaches the hearts and consciences of citizens around the world, especially the youth." His words resonate deeply, highlighting the need for advocacy for a nuclear-free future.

The forum will welcome 500 attendees and will be live-streamed on SGI's Facebook page. Notable speakers participating will include Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the IAEA, Melissa Parke, Executive Director of ICAN, and Karen Astrid Hallberg, elected Secretary-General of the Pugwash Conferences for Science and World Affairs, among other prominent peace activists and scholars.

An afternoon roundtable will focus on "Avoiding Nuclear War: The Case for No First Use", co-organized by SGI, the University of Oslo, and Peacebook, aimed at fostering trust and reducing risks associated with nuclear arms. This workshop will include some of the same participants discussing strategies for a safe and peaceful future under the Chatham House Rule, which allows for free dialogue among participants without attribution.

Furthermore, SGI will facilitate a youth dialogue session between Hibakusha and young people at the University of Oslo. This discussion will involve Dr. Tomonaga and Ms. Ogura, alongside local high school and university students, as well as young SGI members living in Oslo.

Soka Gakkai has been dedicated to preserving testimonies from survivors of the atomic bomb since the early 1970s, creating a multitude of resources. These include video testimonies of Hibakusha women available in Japanese with subtitles in English, Chinese, Spanish, and French. A downloadable book titled "Hiroshima and Nagasaki: That We Never Forget" which contains 50 accounts from survivors, is another significant contribution.

For over 60 years, this Buddhist organization has campaigned for the abolition of nuclear weapons as part of its broader peace culture initiatives. Daisaku Ikeda, the former president of SGI, has published detailed peace proposals as well as statements calling for a "No First Use" policy in 2022 and 2023. SGI is a global organization connecting Soka Gakkai groups worldwide and is recognized as a non-governmental organization accredited to the United Nations' ECOSOC.

The engagement of SGI in the Nobel Peace Prize Forum serves as a significant platform for promoting nuclear disarmament, youth involvement, and international dialogue about essential global issues, aiming to secure a more peaceful future for generations to come.