SGI President Ikeda Receives the Inaugural Wee Kim Wee Gold Award
SGI President Ikeda became the first recipient of the Wee Kim Wee Gold Award at the second Wee Kim Wee-Soka International Seminar on Global Peace and Understanding held over two days on February 23 and 24 in the Administration Building of the Singapore Management University (SMU). This award was in recognition of his contribution to global peace and endeavours in treasuring humanity and diversity.
On behalf of President Ikeda, SSA Chairman Michael Yap received the award with deep appreciation from the hands of Dr Kirpal Singh, Director of Wee Kim Wee Centre, witnessed by SSA General Director Tay Eng Kiat.
SSA Chairman Michael Yap shared a quote from President Ikeda, “The real struggle of the twenty-first century will not be between civilisations, nor between religions. It will be between violence and nonviolence. It will be between barbarity and civilisation in the truest sense of the word.” He shared that the peace philosophy of President Ikeda is one firmly rooted in the belief of non-violence and President Ikeda’s major contribution to the philosophy of non-violence lies in his ability to locate the underlying source of violence, while at the same time offering practical solutions for their interdiction. “The Wee Kim Wee-Soka International Seminar on Global Peace and Understanding series is an example of such efforts,” said Mr Yap.
The seminar was attended by some 200 invited guests, members of the public as well as SMU faculty staff and SSA representatives across two days. A varied group of scholars, leaders, educators and innovators came together to discuss about peace with a common interest of making a difference to the world of confusion and suffering, while standing on different perspectives. The keynote speaker of the seminar was Professor Johan Saravanmuttu, an Adjunct Senior Fellow from S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, while other speakers include Ms Sarita Felder, Executive Leadership and Senior Team Development Coach of Sarita Felder and Associates; Dr Z. Alexandra, Management Advisor, Author and Affiliate Professor at Guanghua School of Management in China; Mr Sanva Saephan, from KP Company Limited, who had experienced life growing up in a refugee camp in thailand, and many others.
(See ST555 for the full report)
