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Attention News Editors:

Exhibit on Nuclear Abolition and Human Security Opens at Geneva UN Headquarters

    GENEVA, May 1 /CNW/ - "From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace:
Transforming the Human Spirit," an exhibition examining the nuclear weapons
issue through the lens of human security, opened yesterday at the UN Office at
Geneva. Held in conjunction with the second session of the Preparatory
Committee of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), the
opening was attended by numerous diplomats and nuclear disarmament activists.
    Despite the end of the Cold War almost 20 years ago, the spread of
nuclear weapons technology has actually increased the threat that they may be
used. The exhibition's 36 panels highlight the dire realities of nuclear
weapons, the pitfalls of a militarized way of thinking and the human needs
that could be met by reducing spending on weapons. The exhibition was created
by Soka Gakkai International (SGI), a Buddhist organization with a 50-year
track record of efforts for nuclear disarmament.
    Speaking at the opening, chairperson of the second session Ambassador
Volodymyr Yel'chenko of Ukraine commented, "This exhibition is good proof of
what NGOs can do to promote the NPT principles." Other speakers were Sergio de
Queiroz Duarte, UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, and Susi
Snyder, president of the Geneva NGO Committee on Disarmament.
    In a message, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda stressed the importance of
dialogue at all levels, which inspires and strengthens human qualities such as
empathy, solidarity and responsibility that are essential to developing and
sustaining a lasting culture of peace.
    The exhibition has been shown in New York, Malaysia, Canada and at New
Zealand's parliament building, and it is slated to be seen in 30 countries in
8 languages. The current showing, the first in Europe, continues until May 9.
    Soka Gakkai Vice President Hirotsugu Terasaki comments, "Nuclear
disarmament is the ultimate human security challenge. It is vital to inspire
people, especially youth, to engage in the work of ridding the world of these
abhorrent weapons. We hope to help generate a groundswell toward nuclear
abolition."

    SGI is a Buddhist association with 12 million members in over 190
countries and territories around the world. Its efforts to promote peace,
culture and education are part of the longstanding tradition of Buddhist
humanism.



For further information: Joan Anderson, Office of Public Information,
Soka Gakkai International, Tel: +81-3-5360-9482, Fax: +81-3-5360-9885,
www.sgi.org

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