Runners turn streets in Klang neighbourhood orange

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ATOTAL of 8,000 people took part in the Run For Peace 2011 that took place at the Taman Klang Jaya community field (opposite SGM Selangor Cultural Centre) in Klang early this month.

The biennial event, organised by the Selangor branch of Soka Gakkai Malaysia (SGM), was flagged off by Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim.

On that special morning, a sea of peace lovers clad in bright orange T-shirts showed their commitment towards creating a peaceful society and building a culture of peace by completing the 8km Peace Run.

Full speed ahead: The orange-clad participants of Run for Peace going the distance.

Certificates were presented as proof of their commitment and support for peace.

Besides the Peace Run, there was a mini-Peace Festival with performances by SGM martial arts and gymnastics groups, a live band as well as an exhibition entitled “Transforming The Human Spirit” produced by Soka Gakkai International with the support of Unesco.

The Run For Peace was initiated by the youth division of SGM Selangor in 2005 with the intention of promoting a healthy lifestyle and peace awareness in the community.

The objective of the event was to create awareness on the importance of peace, to spread the message of peace in the community and to create a culture of peace for the happiness of the future generation.

In 2005, there were 1,500 participants and this figure doubled in 2007.

Some 6,000 people participated in 2009 and this year more than 8,000 people registered for the event.

“The creation of a culture of peace that respects the sanctity of life will help to end conflicts and violence that very often arise as a result of lack of respect for humanity,” said SGM Selangor chairman Johnny Ng Teck Sim in his welcoming speech at the event.

He quoted SGI president Daisaku Ikeda as saying: “Peace is not something to be left to others in distant places.

“It is something we create day to day in our efforts to cultivate care and consideration for others, forging bonds of friendship and trust in our respective communities through our own actions and example,” he said.