Participants view the “Peace Challenge” panel exhibition organized by UNIPEACE at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul, Korea | Photo credit: Hwakwang Shinmun
In September and November 2024, volunteer groups from Korea SGI (KSGI) engaged in cleanup activities in various locations.
On 7 September, volunteers in Cheongju City, North Chungcheong Province, organized a “One Organization, One River Protection” campaign. This national campaign encourages public institutions, companies, schools and environmental groups to take responsibility for cleaning up a river in their locality and aims to build awareness of the importance of rivers. The volunteers collected litter along the banks of the Musim River, helping to maintain a clean and healthy waterway.
Volunteers collect litter along the banks of the Musim River in Cheongju City | Photo credit: Hwakwang Shinmun
On 29 September, KSGI volunteers from Ansan City, located southwest of Seoul, participated in a “plogging” cleanup along the Ansan River. Originating from the Swedish phrase “plocka upp,” meaning “pick up” and “jogging,” “plogging” refers to the act of gathering trash while on a walk or jog. On the same day, the Tongil-ro volunteer group held an “Our Town Cleanup Day,” working around the Geumchon Station area of Paju City.
Later, on 24 November, volunteers from Seoul’s Seongdong District collected litter from around the city in support of the SDGs.
KSGI has a long history of involvement in environmental cleanup activities throughout the country, dating back to the early 1990s.
Engaging with the “Peace Challenge” panel exhibition organized by UNIPEACE at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul | Photo credit: Hwakwang Shinmun
“Peace Challenge” Exhibition in Seoul
On 9 October 2024, a panel exhibition was held at Cheonggye Plaza in Seoul by UNIPEACE, a nationwide university peace group formed by KSGI student members in 2012. The exhibition was part of UNIPEACE’s “Peace Challenge” initiative that has been promoting the importance of individual action in advancing the SDGs since 2023, inspired by the philosophy of the late SGI President Daisaku Ikeda.
Focusing on SDG 13, which encourages action to combat climate change and its impacts, this year’s exhibition promoted the view that such action begins in the hearts of individuals who cherish others. Panels highlighted UNIPEACE’s efforts and practical initiatives to help realize the SDGs. There was also a waste collection and separation corner, which demonstrated a simple yet effective way to take action for the climate, with local citizens actively participating.
One exhibition viewer reflected that they needed to reduce plastic bottle usage despite already using their own tumbler. Another participant shared that a key lesson had been that reducing emails kept in one’s inbox can help lower carbon emissions.
KSGI continues to promote the belief that a cleaner, more sustainable world can be created through small, individual actions.
