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More books donated to public library
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Posted on Nov 23 2004
Over 100 different books authored by Soka Gakkai International president Dr. Daisaku Ikeda were donated to the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library Monday afternoon.
The books, ranging from children’s books to scholarly tomes on peace issues, medical ethics, and the philosophy of Buddhism, among others, would help promote world peace, according to SGI vice president Richard Sasaki and member Leann Zwebber, a teacher at Marianas High School.
“Through these educational books, we’re able to promote peace,” he said. “Look at the fighting [going on] in Iraq. “Through education, the next generation may get to understand good judgment.”
Soka Gakkai International heads a nonsectarian educational system featuring kindergarten to post-secondary levels. It has established schools in Japan, as well as kindergartens in Malaysia, Singapore, Brazil, and a university in California.
“We promote peace, culture, and education. With kindergartens all around, these little kids are so pure that they’re going to understand how much human life is important. We care for human lives,” Sasaki said.
Ikeda, for his part, is a prolific writer who won a United Nations Peace medal. He has also worked on the re-establishment of friendship between China and Japan, according to Zweber.
Library director Kevin Latham expressed his appreciation for the donation.
“We’re very happy to receive books on different types of subjects, and different languages. We’re trying to beef up our books in foreign language, and from this collection, we’re very happy,” he said.
The organization has contributed books to countries around the Pacific region, including Fiji, Tuvalu, Tonga, Samoa, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Palau, and Kiribati, among others.
A donation to the Northern Marianas College-Tinian campus was also made yesterday morning.
The organization also donated to the Joeten-Kiyu library in 2000.
“Soka Gakkai really tries to promote education and support the Pacific islands in particular,” Zweber said.
