With the aim of promoting awareness about the threat of nuclear weapons to peace and human security, the Institute for Social Science Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia (IPSAS-UPM) and SGM jointly organised the exhibition "From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit" at the UPM campus in Serdang.

The exhibition was opened at the UPM Sultan Abdul Samad Library by its Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Industry and Community Relations) Prof Dr Tai Shzee Yew on July 20, 2009. Among the UPM officials present at the opening ceremony were Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International) Prof Datin Paduka Dr Aini Ideris; Director of IPSAS, Dr. Md. Salleh Hj. Hassanl; Dean of Faculty of Human Ecology, Associate Prof Dr Laily Hj Paim and Chief Librarian Amir Hussain Md Ishak. SGM was represented by General Director Choo Kong Fei, Head of Public Relations Katherine Chui and council members Leong Eng Keong and Chai Koh Pong.

The exhibition was held at the UPM library foyer from July 20 to 25. Subsequently, the exhibition was shown at the Faculty of Engineering (July 27-28 and August 5), and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (from August 12-14).

"From a Culture of Violence to a Culture of Peace: Transforming the Human Spirit" is organised by the Soka Gakkai International, and co-sponsored by Soka Gakkai Malaysia and Physicians for Peace and Social Responsibility (PPSR), an affiliate of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW). To date, the exhibition has been viewed by more than 180,000 people. At the same time, in conjunction with the exhibition, more than 120,000 people have signed the public petition to lend support to the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN). [For details, please call SGM Public Relations Department at 03-90756876]

Impressions

Dr Jeffrey Lawrence D’Silva, Secretary Organising Committee of Exhibition
It is indeed a pleasure to work together with Soka Gakkai Malaysia in organising this exhibition that promotes peace among mankind particularly to the target group comprising campus students and lecturers. We believe that the exhibition will enlighten our youth to appreciate the peace that we are experiencing now in our country. More importantly, we hope they would realise that there are still many people who are suffering due to war and it is our duty to help reduce their pain and agony in whatever way we can. We cannot be complacent and take for granted that we will not experience war in our own country. Thus, the exhibition should be an eye-opener for all of us. In the future, I hope that we could organise other events that are similar in nature so that we can spread the message of unity and peace to a wider audience.