HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	243
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009		H.D. 1
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

ACCEPTING THE GIFT OF THE NON-VIOLENCE SCULPTURE FROM SOKA GAKKAI INTERNATIONAL – USA.

     WHEREAS, peace is not the mere absence of violence, but rather an active process whereby each individual must take full responsibility for building safe and healthy communities that support and nurture the uplifting of human dignity; and

     WHEREAS, the sculpture Non-Violence was created in 1980 by Swedish artist Carl Fredrik Reutersward who, after learning that his friend John Lennon had been murdered, became so upset over this senseless death and other outbursts of unnecessary violence, went to his studio and immediately began working on an artistic representation of his desire for peace; and

     WHEREAS, the artist produced, in bronze, a large replica of a .45-calibre revolver, the barrel of which is tied into a knot so that although the gun is cocked, it is clear that it will not shoot; and

     WHEREAS, replicas of the Non-Violence sculpture have been installed on the grounds of historically and politically significant public spaces, including the United Nations Plaza in New York, the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne, Switzerland, and at the Waterfront in Cape Town, South Africa; and

     WHEREAS, the Non-Violence sculpture is recognized by more than 500 million people around the world, not only as a cherished work of art, but as a symbol of peace that has enriched the consciousness of humanity; and

     WHEREAS, the traditional Hawaiian values of ho'oponopono and aloha are eternal treasures deserve to be honored and celebrated; and

     WHEREAS, the Non-Violence sculpture is a symbol that dramatically encapsulates, in a few simple curves, the spirit of aloha and ho'oponopono and is therefore a highly appropriate installation for the Hawaii State Capitol; and

     WHEREAS, the Non-Violence sculpture is a symbol of our hope and expectation that Hawaii will continue to give rise to a steady stream of global leaders who will spread the peaceful values of aloha and ho'oponopono throughout the world; and

     WHEREAS, every year, millions of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) members in over 190 countries and territories, including the over-10,000 members in Hawaii, reaffirm their commitment to peace through a variety of grassroots initiatives, celebrations, conferences, concerts, and other events; and

     WHEREAS, SGI-USA launched the youth-initiated Victory Over Violence (VOV) program in 1999 in response to growing concerns over youth-related violence, including the Columbine shootings in Littleton, Colorado, and during the first 10 years of the initiative, over 1,000,000 people throughout the United States took the VOV Pledge for Non-Violence to build a culture of peace by valuing their own lives, respecting the lives of others, actively pursing dialogue, and inspiring hope in others; and

     WHEREAS, the Non-Violence sculpture is being gifted to the State of Hawaii by the VOV initiative of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda and SGI-USA as an expression of respect for the peaceful traditions of aloha and ho'oponopono; and

     WHEREAS, this gift is in support of the United Nations Culture of Peace initiative with the support of Anwarul K. Chowdhury, former United Nations Under-Secretary-General, Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr., Dean of Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College, Diane Landsberg, Executive Director of the Non-Violence Project-USA, Betty Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Herbie Hancock, Jazz legend and International Committee of Artists for Peace Co-President, Hattie Phillips, Director of Hawaiian Studies at the Punahou School, Dr. Glenn Paige, Peace Day Hawaii 2008 Award Recipient, Professor Jeannie Lum, Editor of the "International Journal for Peace Education," the Martin Luther King Jr. Hawaii coalition, the Hawaii Peace Center, United Nations Association – Hawaii Division, Young Professionals for International Cooperation – Hawaii, and many others; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, the Senate concurring, that the State of Hawaii accepts the gift of the Non-Violence sculpture from SGI-USA and agrees to house the sculpture at the State Capitol for at least six months and review permanent housing thereafter; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this concurrent resolution be transmitted to the President of SGI, President of SGI-USA, and Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization.

Report Title: 

Non-Violence Sculpture