SGI Members Around the World Usher in the New Year

On January 1 and 2, 2006, SGI members in 190 countries and regions gathered in their respective locales to celebrate the start of 2006. In a message celebrating the New Year, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda thanked the members for their efforts and encouraged them to further advance with the spirit of youth. In Colombia, members gathered in 5 cities, including the capital, Bogotá for New Year's prayer services. SGI-Russia members gathered in Moscow and studied the "New Year's Gosho" from Nichiren's writings. Over 22,000 SGI-Brazil members celebrated the New Year at 107 venues throughout Brazil. SGI-Ghana held a New Year prayer service at the SGI-Ghana Center in Accra, where 20 people newly joined the SGI.