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Ideas are important. The evolution of humanity is rooted in ideas. On 13 September 1999， the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace as a guide to governments， international organizations and civil society in their activities to promote and strengthen culture of peace in the new millennium. Today， the Culture of Peace is part of the international vocabulary. We are deeply grateful to former United Nations Under- Secretary-General Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury， his country Bangladesh and the other members of the United Nations for their wisdom and leadership in bringing forth an idea whose time has surely come.
Like many children， I experienced violence and witnessed injustice at a young age， but I held in my heart a child’s optimism， the dream that there must be a better way for people to live. Much of my adolescence and young adulthood was spent in the American civil rights movement of the 1960s， the anti-war movement of the 1970s， and， later， in community organizing initiatives for health services and the rights of working men and women. Although important and positive contributions were made， these movements for peace and justice were often fractured， disconnected and even competitive. An organizing principle and precise， inclusive vocabulary was needed to connect these initiatives and to empower all people， regardless of age， gender， status or cultural background to contribute.
理念非常重要。人类的进化根植于理念。1999年9月13日，联合国大会一致通过《联合国和平文化宣言和行动纲领》，指导各国政府、国际组织和公民社会的活动，使和平文化在新千年得到推广和加强。今天，和平文化是国际词汇的一部分。我们很感谢联合国前副秘书长安瓦鲁·K·乔德哈瑞，他的祖国孟加拉国和联合国其它成员。他们用智慧和领导力带来了正当其时的理念。
和许多孩子一样，我在年轻时经历和目睹过不义之举。但我怀着孩童的乐观，相信人类有更好的生存和相处之道。我未成年和年轻时大多数时光都贡献给了二十世纪六十年代的美国民权运动，和七十年代的反战运动，以及随后倡导组织社区健康服务和保障男女工作权力的工作。这些争取和平正义的运动虽然做出了重要积极的贡献，但它们彼此割裂，缺少联系甚至互相竞争。我们需要一个组织原则和准确包容的词汇来使这些倡导活动彼此相联系，使不分年龄、性别、身份、文化背景的人们都能做出贡献。
I was finally able to give philosophical substance to my youthful intuitions when I found the spiritual practice of the Soka Gakkai， a lay Buddhist association dedicated to creating a peaceful society based on the principles of the Lotus Sutra—the absolute equality and dignity of every human being， the interdependence of life and the environment and the eternity of life. I was also met my life’s mentor， Daisaku Ikeda， Buddhist philosopher， educator， peace builder and a person deeply passionate in his dedication to creating a humanistic and peaceful society.
The United Nations definition of the Culture of Peace confirms that everything needed for building a culture of peace already exists within each one of us. It is a set of “values， attitudes， modes of behavior and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals， groups and nations.” This integrated and holistic perspective allows an approach that calls for inner transformation and education through dialogue. It infuses our conversations and activities for peace and justice with a fresh optimism， joy and sense of personal responsibility， allowing every person to conclude， “I am Culture of Peace.” 我最终得以赋予我年轻的直觉以哲学主旨，是在我发现创价学会的精神实践之后。创价学会是一个基于法华经的要义而创建的佛教组织，致力于创造和平社会——保障绝对平等和每个人的尊严、生命和环境的相互依存和生命的永恒。我也遇见了我的良师益友，池田大作，他是一位佛教哲学家，一位教育家，一位和平建设者，他致力于创建人道主义和平社会。
联合国对和平文化的定义以及确认建立和平文化所需的一切早已存在每个人心中。“和平文化是一整套价值观态度传统以及行为方式和生活方式。它通过教育、对话与合作帮助在个人、集体和国家之间促成尊重生命，结束暴力，以及增进和实践非暴力。”此综合全面的观点使人们得以通过对话实现教育和内心的转变。它使我们关于和平正义的交谈和活动充满新的乐观、愉悦和个体责任感，它使每个人得出结论——“我就是和平文化”。
What I find exciting about the Culture of Peace is its universal application： A global or regional body， a country， a community， a business， a family， a school， a teacher， a student， a professional， a mother， an artist， a young child—everyone has something they can do， as a co-creator of a new culture. Another marvelous aspect of the Culture of Peace is that rather than simply responding to a specific event， the Culture of Peace calls on us to be continuously engaged as global citizens.
At the Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York， Dr. Ikeda in his lecture Thoughts on Global Citizenship， stated as follows：“I have many friends who could be considered quite ordinary citizens， but who possess an inner nobility； who have never traveled beyond their native place， yet who are genuinely concerned for the peace and prosperity of the world.” Thereafter he identified some essential elements of global citizenship：
· The wisdom to perceive the interconnectedness of all life and living.
· The courage not to fear or deny difference； but to respect and strive to understand people of different cultures， and to grow from encounters with them.
· The compassion to maintain an imaginative empathy that reaches beyond one’s immediate surroundings and extends to those suffering in distant places.”
我喜欢和平文化的地方是它无处不在：全球或地区机构、国家、社区、商业、家庭、学校、老师、学生。专家、母亲、艺术家和孩童——每个人都有力所能及之处，都是新和平文化的共同创建者。和平文化另一非凡之处是它不仅仅是简单对个别事件做出回应，更是号召我们作为世界公民持续致力于此。
池田博士在纽约哥伦比亚大学师范学院所做的《全球公民思想》的演讲中提到：“我有许多朋友，他们都是十分平凡的公民，但他们拥有内在的高尚品格，他们从未四处游历，但他们真切关心世界的和平与繁荣。”之后他定义了一些世界公民的基本要素：
·感悟所有生命内在关联的智慧；
·不惧怕和否定分歧的勇气；
·尊重及力求理解不同文化之人，在与其交往中共成长；
·超脱个人处境，对远在他乡遭受苦难之人抱有同情心。
I was overjoyed to discover， study and apply the universal values espoused by the Culture of Peace， values that lift the individual to the status of a valued and important contributor. I have been able to support the Culture of Peace through broad-based， public education and individual empowerment， with a focus on youth and women. At the advice of the architect of the Culture of Peace at the United Nations， Ambassador Chowdhury， and through the auspices of the Soka Gakkai International-USA， I have， since 2007， produced and promoted the Culture of Peace Distinguished Speaker Series in New York. This series invites leading contributors to the Culture of Peace to share their perspectives and engage in dialogues. The series encourages people to examine those values， attitudes and behaviors that reject violence and inspire creative energy towards being peaceful – both individually and collectively. An important part of the program is the Youth Dialogue. Selected students and young adults have the opportunity to engage with distinguished contributors to the Culture of Peace. Since the inception of the program， over 22，000 people have attended， many of them committed individuals participating on a regular basis. They reflect the diversity of New York City， including socially engaged Buddhists， members of the NYC academic community， interfaith community， representatives of NGOs， public officials and in general， members of civil society. The event is free and open to the public.
These encounters have led to countless dialogues and individual initiatives to promote the Culture of Peace. For example， after attending one of the Culture of Peace lectures， a lawyer initiated her personal “100 Dialogues Campaign.” She sponsored small group dialogues among her colleagues on the topics of peace and human rights. Another young woman， after participating in a number of the Culture of Peace Youth Dialogue sessions， changed her career and is now attending Howard School of Law with the determination to become a global citizen who can contribute to building the culture of peace.
我乐于发现、学习和运用支持和平文化的普世价值，它使个人提升为重要的有价值的贡献者。我通过有广泛基础的公共教育和个人激励支持和平文化，主要对象是青年和妇女。在和平文化设计师乔德哈瑞大使的建议下，在美国国际创价协会的赞助下，我从2007年起一直在纽约推广“和平文化杰出演讲人系列活动”。此活动邀请和平文化主要贡献者来分享他们的真知灼见并参与对话。此活动鼓励年轻人审视反对暴力的价值观、态度和行动，同时激励个人和集体为和平贡献力量。
“青年对话”是此活动的一个重要部分。选定的学生和年轻人有机会与和平文化杰出贡献者接触相识。从此活动全面启动以来，超过两万两千人参与，许多人长期参与。他们的表现体现了纽约的多元性：参与者包括关注社会的佛教徒、纽约学术界成员、多种信仰的团体、非政府组织代表、公务官员和公民社会成员。此活动对公众免费开放。
这样的互动活动推动许多促进和平文化的对话和倡议。比如，在参加了其中一个和平文化演讲之后，一位律师创建了其个人的“100个对话活动”。她赞助同事以和平和人权为话题的小组对话。另一个年轻女士在参加了一系列和平文化青年对话会之后，改变了她的职业，现在就读于哈佛霍华德法学院，致力于成为为创建和平文化做出贡献的世界公民。
As Dr. Ikeda writes， “Nothing contributes to a young person's growth like encounters with great human beings. Meeting my mentor （Josei Toda） when I was nineteen is the greatest happiness of my life. He always told me： 'Do everything you can to meet great people even if you can only listen to them from afar. This is the supreme form of education and a great gift to yourself.'
Great people are living models of the possibilities inherent in human life. Association with them stimulates the desire to emulate them and to build the self-confidence from their lives. A great soul is the greatest inspiration. Such encounters help us develop more than a thousand books would."
正如池田博士所说：“伟大的人可为青年成长提供莫大的帮助。在十九岁时结识我的良师益友户田城圣是我此生莫大的荣幸。他总是教导我：“尽力去接近伟大的人物，即使只能远观旁听，这将会是高级的教育形式和天赐之礼。” 伟大的人物是人类生活中传承因素的生动模范。与他们交往会激发渴望，效法他们，并从他们的生活中得到自信。伟大的灵魂是最大的灵感之源。这样的特殊体验帮助我们开发潜能，即使读一千本书也达不到这样的效果。
We have welcomed a diverse group of distinguished speakers to our Culture of Peace lecture series， encompassing the worlds of art， science， economics， education， human rights， environment， and international diplomacy.
The following quotations demonstrate how some of our speakers have addressed the Eight Action Areas of the United Nations Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace：
1. Fostering a culture of peace through education.
Dr. Betty A. Reardon， Founding Director Emerita， International Institute on Peace Education： “….humanity is now mainly organized around producing commercial products rather than producing， sharing and integrating the knowledge necessary to help people throughout the world live an essentially human existence. Such learning cannot be achieved without intentionally sustained and systematic education.”
2. Promoting sustainable economic and social development.
Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs， Director of the UN Millennium Project and Special Advisor to successive UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon： “I believe we are capable of ending poverty and changing the world. I have no doubt that by doing so， we can make the most important connection of all， across every racial divide， religious divide， linguistic divide or any other divide you can think of including class. Human-to-human contact is so powerful. It is the essence and the path to peace on the planet.
3. Promoting respect for all human rights.
Ishmael Beah， author of A Long Way Gone： Memoirs of a Boy Soldier： “What I want is for people never to think that children who are dragged into any kind of conflict cannot recover from the situation. I refuse to believe that…The only way we are going to understand each other， to value each other’s lives， each other’s cultures， is to expose ourselves to the world more. And once we do so， we understand the value of each human life.”
4. Ensuring equality between women and men.
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury： “It should never be forgotten that eradication of poverty is the first and foremost concern of women， since the majority of the poor in the world are women， and the feminization of poverty is a reality in poor and rich countries alike. An essential reality to note in this context is that without progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women， none of the Millennium Development Goals will be achieved. In reality， no effort to advance sustainable development will succeed unless half of the world’s population is meaningfully involved.” 5. Fostering democratic participation.
Michael D’Innocenzo， the Harry H. Wachtel Distinguished Teaching Professor for the Study of Nonviolent Social Change， Hofstra University： “I believe that we all have a responsibility to ignite a sense of possibility in people and in nations. I believe in the innate goodness of people and in the feasibility for lasting and significant change. I believe that people can be inspired to imagine an act for the public good， that we can help to create more advocates for res publica—for the public life rather than the selfish individual life. I believe that leaders and citizens have a responsibility to create conditions for people to tap their potential in order to make a difference when they join together to work for the common good.”
6. Advancing understanding， tolerance and solidarity.
Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad， Director of the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture： “…if we don't come to a full understanding of our history， we really aren't seeing each other， and we're not speaking to each other， and we certainly aren't practicing a principle of the culture of peace， which is to educate one another… the peace incentive is that we return to our social responsibility to look after the least of these in our communities， and not to blame those whose struggle， whose degraded humanity， is a consequence of something they were born with， whether that's articulated in the color of their skin or the way that they love other human beings， or any other of the many ways that we 'rank' society.”
7. Supporting participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge.
Mona Eltahawy， syndicated columnist and public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues： “The virtual world is beginning to create a space that the real world hasn’t allowed for a long time. I often say that blogs and the Internet give a voice to the voiceless…. I believe in journalists having unfettered access to events， because journalists should be the eyes and ears of people.”
8. Promoting international peace and security.
David Krieger， founder and President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation： “As a species， we must engage the issue of nuclear weapons as though our collective future depended upon our ability to successfully resolve the challenge presented by these weapons of mass annihilation…. We can each start by choosing peace and making a firm commitment to peace with justice. This means that we make peace a central issue and priority in our lives and demonstrate peace in all we do. We can live peace， educate for peace， speak out for peace and support and vote for candidates who call for peace. In choosing peace， we also choose hope rather than ignorance， complacency or despair. Hope gives rise to action， and action in turn gives rise to increased possibility for change and to further hope. It is a spiral in which action deepens commitment， which leads to more action.” 我们邀请了一个多元化的杰出演讲者群体为我们提供和平文化系列讲座，涵盖了艺术、科学、经济、教育、人权、环境和国际外交等领域。
从以下这些引用可以看到我们有的演讲者如何把《联合国和平文化行动纲领》中的八个行动领域融入其演讲中：
1. 通过教育促进和平文化：
国际和平教育学院的荣誉退休创始主任贝蒂·里尔登博士：“……人类现在的组织主要是围绕生产商业产品而非生产、分享和整合知识来进行的，而后者对帮助全世界的人们作为人的本质存在来生活十分必要。除非有意进行持续而系统的教育，否则这样的学习是无法实现的。”
2. 促进可持续的经济和社会发展
联合国千年计划主任、联合国秘书长科菲·安南和潘基文的特别顾问杰弗里·萨克斯博士：“我相信我们有能力消除贫困、改变世界。这样，我们可以在所有人之间建立重要的联系，跨越种族、宗教和语言的鸿沟，以及任何其他你能想到的包括阶级的鸿沟，对此我毫不怀疑。人与人的交往力量如此强大。它是我们通往世界和平的本质和途径。”
3. 促进尊重人权
《长路漫漫：非洲童兵回忆录》的作者伊斯梅尔·比亚：“我想让人们知道，不要认为被卷入任何形式的冲突中的儿童无法摆脱这种局面，对此我绝不相信……我们相互理解、相互珍惜彼此的生命和文化的唯一途径就是把自己更多地暴露在这个世界面前。只要这样做，我们就能知道每个人生命的价值。
4. 保障男女平等
安瓦鲁·K·乔德哈瑞大使：“我们不应该忘记消除贫困是妇女首要且最重要的关注，因为世界上大多数穷人都是妇女；我们也不该忘记贫穷趋妇女化在穷国和富国都是事实。在此情况下要注意的一个重要现实是：如果两性平等和妇女赋权没有取得进步，联合国所有千年发展目标都不会实现。事实上，除非占世界半数的人口真正参与其中，任何推动可持续发展的努力都不会成功。”
5. 促进民主参与
霍夫斯特拉大学非暴力社会变革研究哈利·瓦特尔杰出教授迈克尔·德英·辛佐：“我相信我们每个人都有责任在人民和国家之间点燃一种可能性。我相信人们是天生善良的，推动持续而显著的变化是可行的。我相信人们可以被启发设想对公众有利的行为，我们可以帮助更多地倡导‘公共事务’——倡导公共生活而非自私的个人生活。我相信领导者和公民都有责任创造条件，让人们挖掘自身潜力，当他们为了共同的利益携手合作时，才能有所作为。
6. 促进了解、容忍和团结
纽约公共图书馆朔姆堡黑人文化研究中心主任哈利勒·纪伯伦·默罕默德博士：“……如果我们不全面地了解我们的历史，我们真的会看不见彼此，互不沟通，也没有践行和平文化的原则，该原则要让彼此互受教育……和平激励是我们重拾社会责任、照顾社区中最需要照顾的人，不要责怪有些人与生俱来具有争斗性和退化的人性，无论其关乎肤色，他们爱其他人的方式，或者其他任何我们把社会‘分成等级’的方式。”
7.支持共同参与的传播以及信息和知识自由流通
阿拉伯和穆斯林问题专栏作家和公众演讲者蒙娜·艾塔哈维：“虚拟世界开始创造空间，这种空间长久来在现实世界中是不允许存在的。我通常说博客和互联网让沉默者可以发出声音……我相信记者可以不受阻碍获取事件信息，因为记者应该成为人们的眼睛和耳朵。”
8. 促进国际和平与安全
核时代和平基金会创始人兼会长大卫·克里格：“作为一个物种，我们必须与核武器问题抗争，我们共同的未来取决于我们是否能成功应对由核武器带来的大规模灭绝的挑战……我们可以从选择和平、做出和平与正义的坚定承诺开始。这意味着我们把和平作为生活中的中心问题和优先选择，并在我们所做的一切中展示和平。我们可以和平地生活，为和平而教育，为和平发言，支持呼吁和平的候选人并为其投票。选择和平，我们同样也选择了希望，而非无知、自满或绝望。希望产生行动，行动反过来又产生让变化和希望实现的更大可能性。行动深化承诺，呈现螺旋上升趋势，从而导致更多的行动。”
The opportunity to promote the Culture of Peace through the Distinguished Speakers Series has been of immense benefit to many. The dedicated actions， refined intellect， excellent character and above all， the inspirational motivation of these global citizens for peace and justice have inspired many individuals to discover their own mission as peacemakers and in advancing the Culture of Peace.
通过这一系列杰出演讲者推动和平文化的活动，为大多数人都带来了巨大的帮助。专注的行动、经过提炼的才智、优秀的品格，尤其是这些世界公民鼓舞和平和正义的激励，激发了许多人发现自己缔造和平、促进和平文化的使命。
Like many children， I experienced violence and witnessed injustice at a young age， but I held in my heart a child’s optimism， the dream that there must be a better way for people to live. Much of my adolescence and young adulthood was spent in the American civil rights movement of the 1960s， the anti-war movement of the 1970s， and， later， in community organizing initiatives for health services and the rights of working men and women. Although important and positive contributions were made， these movements for peace and justice were often fractured， disconnected and even competitive. An organizing principle and precise， inclusive vocabulary was needed to connect these initiatives and to empower all people， regardless of age， gender， status or cultural background to contribute.
理念非常重要。人类的进化根植于理念。1999年9月13日，联合国大会一致通过《联合国和平文化宣言和行动纲领》，指导各国政府、国际组织和公民社会的活动，使和平文化在新千年得到推广和加强。今天，和平文化是国际词汇的一部分。我们很感谢联合国前副秘书长安瓦鲁·K·乔德哈瑞，他的祖国孟加拉国和联合国其它成员。他们用智慧和领导力带来了正当其时的理念。
和许多孩子一样，我在年轻时经历和目睹过不义之举。但我怀着孩童的乐观，相信人类有更好的生存和相处之道。我未成年和年轻时大多数时光都贡献给了二十世纪六十年代的美国民权运动，和七十年代的反战运动，以及随后倡导组织社区健康服务和保障男女工作权力的工作。这些争取和平正义的运动虽然做出了重要积极的贡献，但它们彼此割裂，缺少联系甚至互相竞争。我们需要一个组织原则和准确包容的词汇来使这些倡导活动彼此相联系，使不分年龄、性别、身份、文化背景的人们都能做出贡献。
I was finally able to give philosophical substance to my youthful intuitions when I found the spiritual practice of the Soka Gakkai， a lay Buddhist association dedicated to creating a peaceful society based on the principles of the Lotus Sutra—the absolute equality and dignity of every human being， the interdependence of life and the environment and the eternity of life. I was also met my life’s mentor， Daisaku Ikeda， Buddhist philosopher， educator， peace builder and a person deeply passionate in his dedication to creating a humanistic and peaceful society.
The United Nations definition of the Culture of Peace confirms that everything needed for building a culture of peace already exists within each one of us. It is a set of “values， attitudes， modes of behavior and ways of life that reject violence and prevent conflicts by tackling their root causes to solve problems through dialogue and negotiation among individuals， groups and nations.” This integrated and holistic perspective allows an approach that calls for inner transformation and education through dialogue. It infuses our conversations and activities for peace and justice with a fresh optimism， joy and sense of personal responsibility， allowing every person to conclude， “I am Culture of Peace.” 我最终得以赋予我年轻的直觉以哲学主旨，是在我发现创价学会的精神实践之后。创价学会是一个基于法华经的要义而创建的佛教组织，致力于创造和平社会——保障绝对平等和每个人的尊严、生命和环境的相互依存和生命的永恒。我也遇见了我的良师益友，池田大作，他是一位佛教哲学家，一位教育家，一位和平建设者，他致力于创建人道主义和平社会。
联合国对和平文化的定义以及确认建立和平文化所需的一切早已存在每个人心中。“和平文化是一整套价值观态度传统以及行为方式和生活方式。它通过教育、对话与合作帮助在个人、集体和国家之间促成尊重生命，结束暴力，以及增进和实践非暴力。”此综合全面的观点使人们得以通过对话实现教育和内心的转变。它使我们关于和平正义的交谈和活动充满新的乐观、愉悦和个体责任感，它使每个人得出结论——“我就是和平文化”。
What I find exciting about the Culture of Peace is its universal application： A global or regional body， a country， a community， a business， a family， a school， a teacher， a student， a professional， a mother， an artist， a young child—everyone has something they can do， as a co-creator of a new culture. Another marvelous aspect of the Culture of Peace is that rather than simply responding to a specific event， the Culture of Peace calls on us to be continuously engaged as global citizens.
At the Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York， Dr. Ikeda in his lecture Thoughts on Global Citizenship， stated as follows：“I have many friends who could be considered quite ordinary citizens， but who possess an inner nobility； who have never traveled beyond their native place， yet who are genuinely concerned for the peace and prosperity of the world.” Thereafter he identified some essential elements of global citizenship：
· The wisdom to perceive the interconnectedness of all life and living.
· The courage not to fear or deny difference； but to respect and strive to understand people of different cultures， and to grow from encounters with them.
· The compassion to maintain an imaginative empathy that reaches beyond one’s immediate surroundings and extends to those suffering in distant places.”
我喜欢和平文化的地方是它无处不在：全球或地区机构、国家、社区、商业、家庭、学校、老师、学生。专家、母亲、艺术家和孩童——每个人都有力所能及之处，都是新和平文化的共同创建者。和平文化另一非凡之处是它不仅仅是简单对个别事件做出回应，更是号召我们作为世界公民持续致力于此。
池田博士在纽约哥伦比亚大学师范学院所做的《全球公民思想》的演讲中提到：“我有许多朋友，他们都是十分平凡的公民，但他们拥有内在的高尚品格，他们从未四处游历，但他们真切关心世界的和平与繁荣。”之后他定义了一些世界公民的基本要素：
·感悟所有生命内在关联的智慧；
·不惧怕和否定分歧的勇气；
·尊重及力求理解不同文化之人，在与其交往中共成长；
·超脱个人处境，对远在他乡遭受苦难之人抱有同情心。
I was overjoyed to discover， study and apply the universal values espoused by the Culture of Peace， values that lift the individual to the status of a valued and important contributor. I have been able to support the Culture of Peace through broad-based， public education and individual empowerment， with a focus on youth and women. At the advice of the architect of the Culture of Peace at the United Nations， Ambassador Chowdhury， and through the auspices of the Soka Gakkai International-USA， I have， since 2007， produced and promoted the Culture of Peace Distinguished Speaker Series in New York. This series invites leading contributors to the Culture of Peace to share their perspectives and engage in dialogues. The series encourages people to examine those values， attitudes and behaviors that reject violence and inspire creative energy towards being peaceful – both individually and collectively. An important part of the program is the Youth Dialogue. Selected students and young adults have the opportunity to engage with distinguished contributors to the Culture of Peace. Since the inception of the program， over 22，000 people have attended， many of them committed individuals participating on a regular basis. They reflect the diversity of New York City， including socially engaged Buddhists， members of the NYC academic community， interfaith community， representatives of NGOs， public officials and in general， members of civil society. The event is free and open to the public.
These encounters have led to countless dialogues and individual initiatives to promote the Culture of Peace. For example， after attending one of the Culture of Peace lectures， a lawyer initiated her personal “100 Dialogues Campaign.” She sponsored small group dialogues among her colleagues on the topics of peace and human rights. Another young woman， after participating in a number of the Culture of Peace Youth Dialogue sessions， changed her career and is now attending Howard School of Law with the determination to become a global citizen who can contribute to building the culture of peace.
我乐于发现、学习和运用支持和平文化的普世价值，它使个人提升为重要的有价值的贡献者。我通过有广泛基础的公共教育和个人激励支持和平文化，主要对象是青年和妇女。在和平文化设计师乔德哈瑞大使的建议下，在美国国际创价协会的赞助下，我从2007年起一直在纽约推广“和平文化杰出演讲人系列活动”。此活动邀请和平文化主要贡献者来分享他们的真知灼见并参与对话。此活动鼓励年轻人审视反对暴力的价值观、态度和行动，同时激励个人和集体为和平贡献力量。
“青年对话”是此活动的一个重要部分。选定的学生和年轻人有机会与和平文化杰出贡献者接触相识。从此活动全面启动以来，超过两万两千人参与，许多人长期参与。他们的表现体现了纽约的多元性：参与者包括关注社会的佛教徒、纽约学术界成员、多种信仰的团体、非政府组织代表、公务官员和公民社会成员。此活动对公众免费开放。
这样的互动活动推动许多促进和平文化的对话和倡议。比如，在参加了其中一个和平文化演讲之后，一位律师创建了其个人的“100个对话活动”。她赞助同事以和平和人权为话题的小组对话。另一个年轻女士在参加了一系列和平文化青年对话会之后，改变了她的职业，现在就读于哈佛霍华德法学院，致力于成为为创建和平文化做出贡献的世界公民。
As Dr. Ikeda writes， “Nothing contributes to a young person's growth like encounters with great human beings. Meeting my mentor （Josei Toda） when I was nineteen is the greatest happiness of my life. He always told me： 'Do everything you can to meet great people even if you can only listen to them from afar. This is the supreme form of education and a great gift to yourself.'
Great people are living models of the possibilities inherent in human life. Association with them stimulates the desire to emulate them and to build the self-confidence from their lives. A great soul is the greatest inspiration. Such encounters help us develop more than a thousand books would."
正如池田博士所说：“伟大的人可为青年成长提供莫大的帮助。在十九岁时结识我的良师益友户田城圣是我此生莫大的荣幸。他总是教导我：“尽力去接近伟大的人物，即使只能远观旁听，这将会是高级的教育形式和天赐之礼。” 伟大的人物是人类生活中传承因素的生动模范。与他们交往会激发渴望，效法他们，并从他们的生活中得到自信。伟大的灵魂是最大的灵感之源。这样的特殊体验帮助我们开发潜能，即使读一千本书也达不到这样的效果。
We have welcomed a diverse group of distinguished speakers to our Culture of Peace lecture series， encompassing the worlds of art， science， economics， education， human rights， environment， and international diplomacy.
The following quotations demonstrate how some of our speakers have addressed the Eight Action Areas of the United Nations Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace：
1. Fostering a culture of peace through education.
Dr. Betty A. Reardon， Founding Director Emerita， International Institute on Peace Education： “….humanity is now mainly organized around producing commercial products rather than producing， sharing and integrating the knowledge necessary to help people throughout the world live an essentially human existence. Such learning cannot be achieved without intentionally sustained and systematic education.”
2. Promoting sustainable economic and social development.
Dr. Jeffrey D. Sachs， Director of the UN Millennium Project and Special Advisor to successive UN Secretaries-General Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon： “I believe we are capable of ending poverty and changing the world. I have no doubt that by doing so， we can make the most important connection of all， across every racial divide， religious divide， linguistic divide or any other divide you can think of including class. Human-to-human contact is so powerful. It is the essence and the path to peace on the planet.
3. Promoting respect for all human rights.
Ishmael Beah， author of A Long Way Gone： Memoirs of a Boy Soldier： “What I want is for people never to think that children who are dragged into any kind of conflict cannot recover from the situation. I refuse to believe that…The only way we are going to understand each other， to value each other’s lives， each other’s cultures， is to expose ourselves to the world more. And once we do so， we understand the value of each human life.”
4. Ensuring equality between women and men.
Ambassador Anwarul K. Chowdhury： “It should never be forgotten that eradication of poverty is the first and foremost concern of women， since the majority of the poor in the world are women， and the feminization of poverty is a reality in poor and rich countries alike. An essential reality to note in this context is that without progress towards gender equality and the empowerment of women， none of the Millennium Development Goals will be achieved. In reality， no effort to advance sustainable development will succeed unless half of the world’s population is meaningfully involved.” 5. Fostering democratic participation.
Michael D’Innocenzo， the Harry H. Wachtel Distinguished Teaching Professor for the Study of Nonviolent Social Change， Hofstra University： “I believe that we all have a responsibility to ignite a sense of possibility in people and in nations. I believe in the innate goodness of people and in the feasibility for lasting and significant change. I believe that people can be inspired to imagine an act for the public good， that we can help to create more advocates for res publica—for the public life rather than the selfish individual life. I believe that leaders and citizens have a responsibility to create conditions for people to tap their potential in order to make a difference when they join together to work for the common good.”
6. Advancing understanding， tolerance and solidarity.
Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad， Director of the New York Public Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture： “…if we don't come to a full understanding of our history， we really aren't seeing each other， and we're not speaking to each other， and we certainly aren't practicing a principle of the culture of peace， which is to educate one another… the peace incentive is that we return to our social responsibility to look after the least of these in our communities， and not to blame those whose struggle， whose degraded humanity， is a consequence of something they were born with， whether that's articulated in the color of their skin or the way that they love other human beings， or any other of the many ways that we 'rank' society.”
7. Supporting participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge.
Mona Eltahawy， syndicated columnist and public speaker on Arab and Muslim issues： “The virtual world is beginning to create a space that the real world hasn’t allowed for a long time. I often say that blogs and the Internet give a voice to the voiceless…. I believe in journalists having unfettered access to events， because journalists should be the eyes and ears of people.”
8. Promoting international peace and security.
David Krieger， founder and President of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation： “As a species， we must engage the issue of nuclear weapons as though our collective future depended upon our ability to successfully resolve the challenge presented by these weapons of mass annihilation…. We can each start by choosing peace and making a firm commitment to peace with justice. This means that we make peace a central issue and priority in our lives and demonstrate peace in all we do. We can live peace， educate for peace， speak out for peace and support and vote for candidates who call for peace. In choosing peace， we also choose hope rather than ignorance， complacency or despair. Hope gives rise to action， and action in turn gives rise to increased possibility for change and to further hope. It is a spiral in which action deepens commitment， which leads to more action.” 我们邀请了一个多元化的杰出演讲者群体为我们提供和平文化系列讲座，涵盖了艺术、科学、经济、教育、人权、环境和国际外交等领域。
从以下这些引用可以看到我们有的演讲者如何把《联合国和平文化行动纲领》中的八个行动领域融入其演讲中：
1. 通过教育促进和平文化：
国际和平教育学院的荣誉退休创始主任贝蒂·里尔登博士：“……人类现在的组织主要是围绕生产商业产品而非生产、分享和整合知识来进行的，而后者对帮助全世界的人们作为人的本质存在来生活十分必要。除非有意进行持续而系统的教育，否则这样的学习是无法实现的。”
2. 促进可持续的经济和社会发展
联合国千年计划主任、联合国秘书长科菲·安南和潘基文的特别顾问杰弗里·萨克斯博士：“我相信我们有能力消除贫困、改变世界。这样，我们可以在所有人之间建立重要的联系，跨越种族、宗教和语言的鸿沟，以及任何其他你能想到的包括阶级的鸿沟，对此我毫不怀疑。人与人的交往力量如此强大。它是我们通往世界和平的本质和途径。”
3. 促进尊重人权
《长路漫漫：非洲童兵回忆录》的作者伊斯梅尔·比亚：“我想让人们知道，不要认为被卷入任何形式的冲突中的儿童无法摆脱这种局面，对此我绝不相信……我们相互理解、相互珍惜彼此的生命和文化的唯一途径就是把自己更多地暴露在这个世界面前。只要这样做，我们就能知道每个人生命的价值。
4. 保障男女平等
安瓦鲁·K·乔德哈瑞大使：“我们不应该忘记消除贫困是妇女首要且最重要的关注，因为世界上大多数穷人都是妇女；我们也不该忘记贫穷趋妇女化在穷国和富国都是事实。在此情况下要注意的一个重要现实是：如果两性平等和妇女赋权没有取得进步，联合国所有千年发展目标都不会实现。事实上，除非占世界半数的人口真正参与其中，任何推动可持续发展的努力都不会成功。”
5. 促进民主参与
霍夫斯特拉大学非暴力社会变革研究哈利·瓦特尔杰出教授迈克尔·德英·辛佐：“我相信我们每个人都有责任在人民和国家之间点燃一种可能性。我相信人们是天生善良的，推动持续而显著的变化是可行的。我相信人们可以被启发设想对公众有利的行为，我们可以帮助更多地倡导‘公共事务’——倡导公共生活而非自私的个人生活。我相信领导者和公民都有责任创造条件，让人们挖掘自身潜力，当他们为了共同的利益携手合作时，才能有所作为。
6. 促进了解、容忍和团结
纽约公共图书馆朔姆堡黑人文化研究中心主任哈利勒·纪伯伦·默罕默德博士：“……如果我们不全面地了解我们的历史，我们真的会看不见彼此，互不沟通，也没有践行和平文化的原则，该原则要让彼此互受教育……和平激励是我们重拾社会责任、照顾社区中最需要照顾的人，不要责怪有些人与生俱来具有争斗性和退化的人性，无论其关乎肤色，他们爱其他人的方式，或者其他任何我们把社会‘分成等级’的方式。”
7.支持共同参与的传播以及信息和知识自由流通
阿拉伯和穆斯林问题专栏作家和公众演讲者蒙娜·艾塔哈维：“虚拟世界开始创造空间，这种空间长久来在现实世界中是不允许存在的。我通常说博客和互联网让沉默者可以发出声音……我相信记者可以不受阻碍获取事件信息，因为记者应该成为人们的眼睛和耳朵。”
8. 促进国际和平与安全
核时代和平基金会创始人兼会长大卫·克里格：“作为一个物种，我们必须与核武器问题抗争，我们共同的未来取决于我们是否能成功应对由核武器带来的大规模灭绝的挑战……我们可以从选择和平、做出和平与正义的坚定承诺开始。这意味着我们把和平作为生活中的中心问题和优先选择，并在我们所做的一切中展示和平。我们可以和平地生活，为和平而教育，为和平发言，支持呼吁和平的候选人并为其投票。选择和平，我们同样也选择了希望，而非无知、自满或绝望。希望产生行动，行动反过来又产生让变化和希望实现的更大可能性。行动深化承诺，呈现螺旋上升趋势，从而导致更多的行动。”
The opportunity to promote the Culture of Peace through the Distinguished Speakers Series has been of immense benefit to many. The dedicated actions， refined intellect， excellent character and above all， the inspirational motivation of these global citizens for peace and justice have inspired many individuals to discover their own mission as peacemakers and in advancing the Culture of Peace.
通过这一系列杰出演讲者推动和平文化的活动，为大多数人都带来了巨大的帮助。专注的行动、经过提炼的才智、优秀的品格，尤其是这些世界公民鼓舞和平和正义的激励，激发了许多人发现自己缔造和平、促进和平文化的使命。