On 8 September 2013, more than 57,000 peace lovers gathered at 14 locations nationwide to ‘Run For Peace’!
‘Run For Peace 2013’ is a non-competitive event organized by Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM) to create a culture of peace in the community. This event aims to encourage youth and people from all walks of life to come together for the sake of peace whilst promoting personal and community health and to lead an active and healthy lifestyle.
It is a biennial community peace event which started in 2005 in Klang with 1,000 participants; the event developed in year 2007 and 2009 with 3,000 and 6,000 participants respectively; In 2011, there were 15,000 participants who participated in Selangor, Johor and Penang on the same day. For ‘Run For peace 2013’, 57,000 peace lovers came together on 8 September at 14 locations nationwide (except Alor Setar, Kota Bharu and Kuala Terengganu on 6 September) to spread the message of peace. This event is also supported by the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
SGM has designated September as the ‘Month of Peace’, to create the awareness of peace in society and to promote good moral with a series of activities in the community. The beginning of Soka Gakkai’s peace ideal can be traced back to 8 September 1957 when Mr Josei Toda, 2nd President of Soka Gakkai made the ‘Declaration of Antinuclear Weapons’ to the world. The declaration emphasizes the dignity of life inherent in every human being and that everyone has the right to live. This call became the impetus for the Soka Gakkai International’s global peace movement. Under the leadership of Mr Toda’s successor, Mr Daisaku Ikeda, President of Soka Gakkai International (SGI), the peace movement has spread to 192 countries and territories.
‘Run For Peace 2013’ is the highlight of SGM’s ‘Month of Peace’, more than 57,000 youth and general public are invited to participate in the run at 14 locations in 13 states nationwide.
YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Kurup, the Minister in the Prime Minister Department was invited to officiate the Run for Peace event at Dataran Petaling Jaya. In his opening speech, YB conveyed Prime Minister Dato’Sri Najib Tun Razak’smessage to all participants:
“SAYA INGIN MENYAMPAIKAN PESAN DARIPADA YAB PERDANA MENTERI KHUSUSNYA KEPADA SEMUA PESERTA YANG TERLIBAT DENGAN LARIAN “RUN FOR PEACE 2013” YANG DIANJURKAN OLEH SOKA GAKKAI PADA PAGI INI AGAR SAMA-SAMA KITA DAPAT BERSATU KE ARAH MEWUJUDKAN KERHAMONIAN DAN PERPADUAN KAUM YANG MANTAP DEMI NEGARA MALAYSIA TERCINTA. BELIAU JUGA MENGUCAPKAN RIBUAN TERIMA KASIH KEPADA TUAN-TUAN DAN PUAN-PUAN YANG HADIR DALAM ACARA SERENTAK DI 14 LOKASI SEMPENA PROGRAM “RUN FOR PEACE” PADA PAGI INI.”
The ‘Run For Peace’ organiser hopes that the event will inspire people to awaken to the importance of taking action for peace and to create a culture of peace in the community. Besides the run, there will be fun and educative programmes such as peace exhibitions on antinuclear weapons entitled ‘From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit’ and the ‘Seeds of Hope’ exhibition on sustainable development, as well as cultural performances.
SGM thanked all ‘Run For Peace’ participantsand its working committee for their tireless efforts to make the peace events a success.
