On May 12th, I attended the 43rd Niwano Peace Prize Presentation Ceremony held at the International House of Japan. This year’s recipient is Mr. Benki Piyãko, a spiritual leader of the Asháninka indigenous people from the Brazilian Amazon. He is also widely recognized as an environmental activist, human rights defender, and social entrepreneur.
The Niwano Peace Foundation stated the following as the reason for his selection:
“The people of this region have endured immeasurable hardships caused by the destruction of the forests and the damage inflicted by invaders. For the past 15 years, Mr. Piyãko has led numerous initiatives for environmental protection and reforestation to defend the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous inhabitants. His unwavering dedication will surely be carried forward long into the future in our collective fight against climate change. As a guardian of the environment, his efforts to nurture the bond between humanity and nature resonate far beyond his local community, influencing people across the globe.”
Mr. Piyãko took the stage adorned in traditional attire, his face painted with red pigments and his head graced with a magnificent crown of bird feathers. Wearing a long ethnic robe that reached his feet, he first looked up toward the firmament to offer a prayer.
He began his address with these words: “Thank you for standing with me at the doorway to life.”
Although Mr. Piyãko does not read or write, his words seemed to possess a mystical power that guided us toward a spiritual communion.
“Those who love life, love the land.” “The spirits have no words, but they have bonds.” “We must protect our wisdom and pass it on to the next generation.” Each of his words had a crystalline resonance that seemed to permeate the entire hall.
As I serve as a director of the Niwano Peace Foundation, I was entrusted with the role of Master of Ceremonies for this ceremony. Thanks to this opportunity, I was blessed with the distinct honor of speaking directly with Mr. Piyãko and even taking a photograph with him.
