Arab News, Dubai
We need to learn more from recent Japanese history and from the culture and values that make it peaceful and strong at the same time, Fadi Daou, president and CEO of Adyan Foundation, has told Arab News Japan.
Adyan Foundation, a Lebanese organization promoting interreligious studies and spiritual solidarity, was the recipient of the 35th Niwano Peace Prize last year.
Father Daou said that Adyan is continuing its mission in promoting coexistence in Lebanon and abroad.
“The mission is still the same, yet the challenges are continuously growing and the needs too,” he said.
The organization has also been recognized with an honorable mention at the Global Pluralism Award (Canada).
On the scourge of sectarianism, Daou said that Lebanon is living through postwar trauma.
“People are still affected by the war and related atrocities, and they transmit this to the younger generations,” he said.
“The problem of sectarianism is that it comes from fear, and our societies in the region are still having many reasons for fear. One of them is ignorance. Fear comes also from wounded memories left without healing,” he said.
According to Daou, without healing memories and proper reconciliation, sectarianism, and in some cases extremism, will continue to spread.
He said that receiving the Niwano Prize was a humbling experience. “What is very precious for us too is the relation that was created through the award between us and the Rissho Kosei-kai community, which represents in a beautiful way the finest values of Buddhism,” he said.
Daou said that the Middle East region, despite its conflicts and vulnerabilities, has very resilient people and always looks for more openness and universal values.
“From Syria, to Iraq, or Egypt and Palestine, there are so many initiatives that need to become more visible and to be recognized,” he said.
Father Daou said that Japan should be seen as a model of peace.
“Usually people are tempted to consider peace as a kind of weakness, and to glorify wars and fighters. Yet Japan gives the example of what I call 'strong peace,' in the meaning that we can make the choice of living in and spreading peace, while at the same time we build our societies and develop them,” he said.
“Peace is not the absence of war. It is the choice of building positive relations with others, which leads to a win-win situation.”