May 2010

Rissho Kosei-kai Disarmament Activists Gather in Yokohama

Some 140 representatives of Rissho Kosei-kai Dharma Centers in Japan and overseas promoting the Arms Down! Campaign for Shared Security gathered May 22-23 in Yokohama Fumon Hall.

On May 22 they were greeted by Mr. Keiichiro Fujita, director of the organization's executive committee for the campaign, and he introduced two leaders from the International Buddhist Congregation of Rissho Kosei-kai and three members responsible for promoting the disarmament campaign at overseas Dharma Centers and branches around the world.

After hearing a presentation on the petition drive conducted by Hiroshima Dharma Center in Hiroshima Prefecture, the participants divided into 12 groups and discussed concrete efforts by their own Dharma Centers.

On May 23 the participants viewed the documentary film "Gate," which shows Japanese Buddhist monks in 2005 carrying a flame kept burning in Hiroshima for 60 years after the atomic bombing to Trinity Site in New Mexico, where the first atomic bomb was tested, and extinguishing the flame there.

Mr. Yoshinori Shinohara, secretary-general of the Youth Committee of the Japanese Committee of the World Conference of Religions for Peace, outlined activities for the Arms Down! Campaign conducted during the 2010 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, held in May at UN Headquarters in New York. He also described efforts for the campaign by world youth.

Rev. Kinjiro Niwano, advisor to Rissho Kosei-kai, then briefed the gathering on the history of Rissho Kosei-kai youth members' peace activities and offered encouragement to those present.

After the gathering, the participants gathered in front of Sakuragicho Station near Yokohama and urged passers-by to sign a campaign petition.

Launched last November by the Global Youth Network of Religions for Peace, the campaign calls on every nation to divert at least 10 percent of its military expenditures to meet the UN Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

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