On October 11th (Sun), as a special event of the 50th Soka University Festival and the 36th White Swan Festival, an online lecture was conducted by Executive Director Beatrice Fihn of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), a non-government organization who received a Nobel Peace Award in 2017.

ICAN was established in 2007 as the mother body of IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War), and aims to establish the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons by conducting campaigns on a global scale which includes initiating negotiations with various governments. In the lecture, Executive Director Fihn lectured under the theme, “Efforts to abolish nuclear weapons and future outlooks” and “The expectations of the youth generation.”

At the start of the event, Ms. Sakura Tagawa, Chairperson of the Soka University Festival Committee, called out to everyone saying, “This year marks the 75th anniversary since atomic bombs were dropped, and now is the time for Japan to create a whirlwind of peace.” She shared her hopes that this event will motivate everyone to think what can be done to pursue peace.

Next, Executive Director Fihn took the podium and shared the current status of the 9 countries that possess nuclear arms and actions taken by ICAN towards nuclear abolition including civil education, policy proposals, and prevention of loans to the weapon industry. She then shared, “The world cannot change with one person alone. Instead, collective action by the citizens creates change. One community can change the world. We as ICAN are seeking and taking action to transform the situation creatively by gathering and organizing partners from around the world.”

She called out that in order to establish the irrationality of nuclear weapons, what is required is the power of young people around the world, as well as social media, pictures, art, films, and stages based on cultural creativity.

The lecture was followed by Soka University students asking questions such as, “How can the young generation, who has not experienced nuclear weapons understand about them and create a culture of peace?” “How do you consider views that Japan has no choice but to depend on nuclear weapons of the U.S. for security?” and “How can countries with nuclear weapons ratify the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW)?” Active exchanges of opinions were ensued.

In conclusion, President Yoshihisa Baba shared, “I am convinced that Today’s lecture by Executive Director Fihn has given us great insight and inspiration to not only the students who will shoulder the next generation, but to each of us in taking actions for peace.”