Denna Merriam Earned Niwano Peace Prize
Tokyo, Jia Xiang--the Niwano Peace Foundation will confer the Niwano Peace Prize to-31 to mother Dena Merriam, founder and leader of the Global Peace Initiative of Women, in acknowledging its contribution to mankind in the search for wisdom as well as for the world a more just and sustainable
.The prize awarding ceremony will take place in Tokyo on 16 May. In addition to the certificate of appreciation, Merriam's mother will receive a medal and 20 million yen in cash.
Dena Merriam, pioneer interfaith movement since the late 1990s, when he served as Vice Chairman of the Millennium World Peace Summit of Religious and Spiritual leaders held in the United Nations in New York, established the Global Peace Initiative of Women (GPIW) in 2002 to bring together groups of women spiritual leaders who hold many beliefs. GPIW has fostered dialogue in Israel/Palestine, Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan and other countries while developing the global leadership programme for young leaders partnered with the UN
.In choosing Dena Merriam as the recipient of the award for 2014, the Peace Prize Committee says he is a global leader in bringing together sounds and energy of women who were inspired by their faith so that they actually form the core of a global movement that is unprecedented. Dena Merriam worked tirelessly to ensure that the insights of religion East and West come together in a wise balance, says the Committee.
Niwano peace prize (Niwano Peace Prize) was conceived in 1983 to honor and encourage individuals and organizations that have contributed significantly to interreligious cooperation and understanding, who therefore can achieve world peace. To avoid excessive emphasis on religion or a particular area, the nomination was chosen from about 600 people and organizations, representing 125 countries. To show respect, the award is named for the founder and President of first Buddhist Organization Rissho Kosei-kai, Nikkyo Niwano.
Niwano Peace Foundation (Niwano Peace Foundation) was founded in 1978 in order to contribute to the realization of world peace and the improvement of culture of peace. The Foundation conducted research and other activities based on religious zeal, and serve a variety of peace implementation in various fields, such as education, science, religion, and philosophy. [W5]