This book is a collection of rich ideas by leading intellectuals-academics, practitioners and activists-illuminating issues centering on the culture of peace as a beacon of hope for our time. It is a dynamic, multifaceted resource that elucidates peace as basic to our individual self and highlights our unending human potential. Fourteen speakers with diverse backgrounds and from a vast range of perspectives and experience present their thoughts on how to create and foster a global culture of peace, enhancing our understanding of interrelated topics including personal empowerment, gender issues, conflict resolution, gang intervention, value-creating education and internationalism. This eclectic and thought-provoking series of presentations and interactions is intended to empower community participants with a heightened awareness of how subtle shifts in our attitudes and behaviors can help attain and sustain the culture of peace. The Soka Gakkai International-USA Culture of Peace Resource Centers in New York, Santa Monica, Chicago, Washington, D.C. and Honolulu launched the Culture of Peace Distinguished Speakers Series to engage people in a dialogue on the values, attitudes and behaviors that reject violence and inspire creative energy for peace. Lectures in this series focus on one or more of the eight action areas defined by the 1999 United Nations Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace: (1) Fostering a culture of peace through education, (2) Promoting sustainable economic and social development, (3) Promoting respect for all human rights, (4) Ensuring equality between women and men, (5) Fostering democratic participation, (6) Advancing understanding, tolerance and solidarity, (7) Supporting participatory communication and the free flow of information and knowledge and (8) Promoting international peace and security.