News Headlines

On November 28, the Soka Gakkai donated five million yen (US$ 35,993) to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) toward humanitarian assistance in Africa. UNHCR Japan Representative Karen Farkas visited the Soka Gakkai Headquarters in Tokyo to meet with Soka Gakkai President Minoru Harada and expressed her gratitude for the donation. Ms. Farkas remarked on the severe humanitarian crises in Somalia and Ethiopia and stated the donation would be used to support children in harsh conditions and improve food security.   

The SGI (Soka Gakkai International) co-organized two official side events during the 27th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP27) held in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, from November 6 to 20. On November 15, SGI-UK and the Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa co-organized an interfaith event, “Global Interfaith Youth Action on Climate Change: Gather, Discuss, Empower and Act.” On the same day, the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO), the Korea Forest Service and the SGI co-organized a side event titled “The Potential of REDD+ as a Cooperative Approach and the Need for Capacity Building.” REDD+ is a framework that guides activities in the forest sector aiming to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. A reforestation project in Togo that is jointly supported by the ITTO and the Soka Gakkai was highlighted during the event. 

On October 20, SGI-Argentina representatives participated in a forum for interfaith and social dialogue, which was held to coincide with the C40 World Mayors Summit in Buenos Aires. The participants engaged in small group discussions on climate change.