Peace Proposal.com - IAEA Director General meets with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

5 Dec. 2006

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei
meets with SGI President Daisaku Ikeda

IAEA Director General
Mohamed ElBaradei

On November 30, Nobel Peace Laureate Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), met with Soka Gakkai International (SGI) President Daisaku Ikeda in Tokyo, Japan. During their meeting, Dr. ElBaradei and Mr. Ikeda discussed steps toward securing a nuclear-weapon-free global society. As the head of the IAEA, Dr. ElBaradei has wholeheartedly dedicated himself to advancing nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation, and the use of atomic energy exclusively for peaceful purposes. In 2005, he was recognized for his exceptional leadership and shared the Nobel Peace Prize for that year with the IAEA for efforts to prevent nuclear weapons proliferation.

Giving Dr. ElBaradei a hearty welcome, Mr. Ikeda lauded the IAEA director general for initiating dialogues toward the realization of disarmament and non-proliferation of nuclear weapons. Underscoring the nuclear threat that casts a shadow on all life as one of humanity's gravest worries, Mr. Ikeda expressed admiration for Dr. ElBaradei's tenacious efforts to break through thorny and intractable nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation issues, calling him a courageous champion of peace.

Dr. ElBaradei responded that he is an ordinary man, guided through life by his conscience and common sense. He expressed his belief that world peace will only be possible when all people are accorded the same respect; achieving an egalitarian global society is the only path to humanity's survival.

During the meeting, Director General ElBaradei received an honorary doctorate from Soka University. He expressed hopes to visit the campus and meet with the students one day. Referring to Soka University founder Ikeda's affirmation that religion exists to support human beings, and not the other way around, Dr. ElBaradei said he wholeheartedly concurs. He, too, believes religion exists to support and guide people toward positive values.

Dr. ElBaradei stressed that each one of us must become aware of our interconnectedness--we are all a part of humanity. Each individual has his or her personal belief system and way of expressing oneself. United in their solidarity, humans can harness and manifest their power and strength. However, before that happens, we must create an environment in which all people are treated with respect and empowered. When we then act together with this deep awareness, we will realize a life of positive value.

Dr. ElBaradei pointed out that there are 85 million people in the world who are starving and 25% of the world's population lives on less than 200 yen per day. If we are to create genuine peace and security, we are responsible for helping to achieve a global society in which all people can live as true human beings, and for creating an environment of respect, freedom and harmony. With this common ground of human values and understanding, then conflicts and wars will no longer be necessary.

Questions of national boundaries, race, culture, and skin color are superficial issues and have no bearing on transcendent human values. What is important is for each one of us to act with the awareness that we are all part of the same human race. Then we are on the way to achieving peace, harmony and human liberty.

Also present at the meeting were Tomihiro Taniguchi, IAEA deputy director general and head, Department of the Nuclear Safety and Security; Geoffrey Shaw, special policy advisor to the director general; Laban La Mar Coblentz, head, Division of Public Information; Yasuyoshi Komizo, director, International Nuclear Energy Cooperation Division, Disarmament, Non-Proliferation and Science Department of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada; Soka University President Masami Wakae; and Soka Women's College President Katsuhiko Fukushima.

Soka Gakkai International (SGI) is a Buddhist association with more than 12 million members in 190 countries and territories worldwide. For SGI members, Buddhism is a practical philosophy of individual empowerment and inner transformation that enables people to develop themselves and take responsibility for their lives. As lay believers and "engaged Buddhists," SGI members strive in their everyday lives to develop the ability to live with confidence, to create value in any circumstances and to contribute to the well-being of friends, family and community. The promotion of peace, culture and education is central to SGI's activities.