Seeds of hope exhibition in Wellington: Visions of sustainability, steps towards change

Background:

The exhibition “Seeds of Hope” is a joint initiative of Soka Gakkai International (SGI) and the Earth Charter International. The SGI is a Buddhist based NGO of the United Nations. Around the world, SGI works closely with likeminded NGOs and networks towards peace, culture and education.

The “Seeds of Hope” exhibition has been shown in 27 countries in 13 languages and seen by 1,500,000 people around the world. The exhibition is available for display to the public from late 2011 at The Banquet Hall, Parliament Buildings in Wellington. SGINZ seeks partner organisations that may like to host the exhibition for a time.

Purpose:

The “Seeds of Hope” exhibition stresses our interconnectedness with the rest of the community of life and the need to broaden our sphere of compassion and concern. It encourages viewers to overcome feelings of powerlessness and highlights the fact that a single individual can initiate positive change.

It also introduces the positive vision for sustainable living expressed in the Earth Charter, and gives examples of eight individuals and groups who have successfully taken action for change, from Africa to the Artic and Eastern Europe.

The message “It starts with one” is key – the slogan that the Earth Charter International chose for its “Earth Charter Plus 10” campaign in 2010.

The exhibition:

“Seeds of Hope” succeeds the “Seeds of Change” exhibition that was created for the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa (2002).

The “Seeds of Hope” exhibition contains 24 panels, including one left blank with a simple tree design so viewers can attach their own statement of what they will do toward sustainability. The exhibition uses the “Learn, Reflect, Empower” education formula which is a tool for the UN Decade of Education for Sustainable Development.

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