‘Love and dialogue are key to addressing pressing issues’

Kolkata: Love, passion and dialogue are key to addressing pressing issues like climate change, gender equality and refugee crisis, which will ultimately lead to a more peaceful world, feel members of a global organisation seeking to inculcate common values among people. The Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG), the Indian affiliate of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), organised a “peace symposium” in the city on Friday to deliberate on the issues, and propagate the message of tolerance and coexistence.

“Through these peace symposiums, we are able to create an ideology and awareness among the people of a particular city, especially among the youth. The youth have lot of power, passion and energy, which if channelised in the right direction, can bring lot of positive results,” chairperson of BSG, Vishesh Gupta said. The organisation also holds exhibitions on various themes in schools and colleges, he said at the symposium on “Towards an Era of Human Rights: Building a People”s Movement”.

“Exhibits on environmental control and climate change create awareness in the minds of children. Motivated, they tell their parents to save energy and not use plastic,” Mr Gupta said.

He said that SGI president Dr Daisaku Ikeda issues a “peace proposal” every year since 1983, which present “concrete solutions to a variety of global problems or threats that seriously impact people”s lives, livelihoods and dignity”. In 2018, the proposal talked about women empowerment, gender equality and refugee crisis. Mr Gupta said that Ikeda is also of the view that one generation will be “wiped out” if they are not imparted the right education and provided opportunities.

“We visit troubled areas also. People directly involved in troubled areas also want peace,” he said.

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