"EVERYTHING YOU TREASURE – FOR A WORLD FREE FROM NUCLEAR WEAPONS" EXHIBITION AND PEACE FORUM COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT TODA'S DECLARATION CALLING FOR THE ABOLITION OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS

On October 8, 2017, in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of President Toda's Declaration Calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons, SGI Philippines opened the awareness-raising exhibition "Everything You Treasure – For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons" at the Manila International Peace Center, Escolta, Manila. A group of High School and Student Division, together with some Soka University students attended the opening ceremony.

“Everything You Treasure – For a World Free From Nuclear Weapons” Peace Exhibition is a joint initiative by Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). ICAN was the recipient of the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize.

On the same day, a Peace Forum, spearheaded by the Student Division, was held and attended by some 215 people composed mainly by the youth division. The forum opened with Young Men's Division Leader, Just Mark Figuracion, explaining the importance of deepening our vow to achieve a world without nuclear weapons. Special guest, Ms. Naoko Okimoto, who worked at the Peace and International Solidarity Promotion Division, which serves as the Mayors for Peace Secretariat, spoke about her personal experience and some stories about SGI’s global activities that she had witnessed in Hiroshima. Mayors for Peace is an international body that calls for the total abolition of nuclear weapons. Ms. Okimoto is now living in the Philippines and she vows to fulfill her mission as a real peace advocate and work for kosen-rufu together with the youth.

To inspire action and strengthen the determination to make nuclear abolition a reality, a video of an atomic bomb survivor, Michiyo Yoshimoto, from the DVD “Testimonies of Hiroshima and Nagasaki: Women Speak Out for Peace” was shown. Next, Student Division YMD Leader, Benjel Andaya, talked about the efforts of SGI for world peace and 2^nd Pres. Josei Toda’s Declaration Calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons. There was also an open forum followed by a song performance of “World Peace Begins” from the High School and Student Division. General Director Hisako Alcantara gave a closing speech, sharing guidance from Pres. Daisaku Ikeda on the mission of the Student Division.

The Peace Forum was followed by the showing of a 2017 Cinemalaya film, “Ang Guro Kong ‘Di Marunong Magbasa” (My Teacher Who Can’t Read) directed by Perry Escaño. The film explores the effects of war on a small community of farmers and children in the province. But more importantly, it features how war can have a severe effect on children and their education. The story also depicts how the cycle of anger and vengeance continue when education is ignored and neglected. Around 179 people watched the film. about the efforts of SGI for world peace and2^nd Pres. Josei Toda’s Declaration Calling for the Abolition of Nuclear Weapons. There was also an open forum followed by a song performance of “World Peace Begins” from the

High School and Student Division. General Director Hisako Alcantara gave a closing speech, sharing guidance from Pres. Daisaku Ikeda on the mission of the Student Division.

The peace exhibition was held from October 8-30, 2017 and aims to promote awareness among the Filipino youth on how they can contribute in creating a world free from nuclear weapons and treasure their lives.