Activities Planned for 2000-2001
‘
Project on the environmental and social effects of the liberalization of trade
and investmenttm
Japanese economic growth was made possible by a heavy dependence on foreign resources,
including energy resources, minerals, industrial materials, and food, and in this
process, Japan has contributed to bringing about deforestation everywhere and the
undermining of sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, the Japanese economy
has been directly or indirectly involved in many problems taking place around the
world, including pollution caused by large-scale mineral extraction, industrial pollution,
the destruction of local markets by speculative investments, and so forth. Meanwhile,
within Japan, various problems are cropping up from the vast accumulation of industrial
and commercial wastes (80 percent of the total), farming and fishing communities
are eroding, and there are no plans in sight for reforming the industrial structure,
which has so far been propped up by deficit-financing bonds. The precarious employment
situation is throwing a dark shadow on the entire Japanese society, and although
there is rising concern regarding global environmental issues, this has led to very
few concrete solutions.
At the WTO Seattle Conference, the ministerial declaration was prevented from being
adopted by the governments of developing nations and concerned citizens/NGOs. The
former because they objected to the lack of transparency in the decision-making process,
and because they saw the unfair global trade system itself as the culprit that only
brings about a further widening of the economic gap among countries. The citizens
and NGOs, on the other hand, were concerned about the dire environmental and social
effects that result from the rules of trade and investment being practiced today.
This protest stemmed from the realization that the weaker nations and peoples have
not truly benefitted from the global flow of money and commodities of the last 20
or 30 years in intergovernmental aid, trade, and investments, and that its consequences
are increasingly being felt by the working peoples in the industrialized nations
as well as the global environment itself. The citizens and NGOs who attended the
Seattle Conference emphasized the need to examine the entire spectrum of issues --
especially the north-south issue and environment -- which come about as the result
of international politics and economics, and thus come to a comprehensive solution.
In other words, they agreed to respect those viewpoints declared at the 1992 Earth
Summit.
Being among the top countries in the world in terms of the amount of official development
assistance (ODA), trade volume, and investments, Japan has a great impact on other
countries. Meanwhile, Japan's self-sufficiency in food and natural resources is among
the worst in the world. To respond to the disaffection among nations and peoples
of the world, Japan must work to resolve these contradictions, take an active interest
in international issues, and make it its foremost priority to nurture the growth
of a civil society that can network with overseas non-governmental organizations
(NGOs) on advocacy work.
As a major event for this year, Peoples' Forum 2001 plans to host a series of public
symposia to which we will invite NGO leaders from Japan and abroad to critically
examine the current global economic order, as exemplified by WTO, in terms of its
environmental and social effects. The symposia will take place over a one-week period,
during which the venue will be shifted among seven cities around Japan. ("Talk
About WTO" Week: July 2-9, 2000; Locations and dates: Tokyo on July 2 (Sun);
Saku on July 3 (Mon); Fukuoka on July 5 (Wed); Kyoto on July 6 (Thu) and 7 (Fri);
Kumamoto on July 6 (Thu); Osaka on July 8 (Sat); and Nagoya on July 9 (Sun))
The analyses and case studies of symposium speakers will be edited into a Japanese-language
proceedings to be published by a commercial publisher. Using this as a springboard,
we plan to hold a public seminar once every two months on the theme "Self-Sufficiency
and Coexistence in Tomorrow's Japan." Here, NGOs working on environmental and
social effects of the present trade and investment rules; leaders of non-profit organizations
(NPOs) that have proposed and/or carried out sustainable forms of agriculture and
forestry or environmentally-sound practices in industry, distribution, or consumption;
businessmen; and academics will be invited so that they can engage in an intensive
discussion on relevant issues, share their social, economic, and environmental visions
and propose concrete ideas of practice. In parallel to the seminars, Peoples' Forum
2001 will make policy proposals to encourage organizational reforms of WTO, to make
inputs toward upcoming WTO negotiations, and to make the Japanese government's trade
policy more responsive and responsible, in an effort to realize an equitable and
sustainable economy and environment.
‘ Project: Publication
of a booklet targetting consumers on the environmental and social impacts/repercussions
of consumer goods
Consumers cannot always be expected to be aware of the negative health effects of
a product or the environmental and social consequences of its production, use, or
disposal. Although many consumer items carry labels displaying their ingredients
or materials, from which it is possible to assess its potential health damage, and
there exist several publications that carry lists of safe products and those harmful
to health, it is impractical to check each item every time one goes shopping. The
goal of this project is to publish and distribute a booklet that will explain in
easy language, using typical examples, some of the background issues that are not
so evident from the acts of purchasing, using and disposing a product. The booklet
will not cite specific product names, but instead will be aimed at encouraging a
better understanding of the issues people should be aware of whenever purchasing
a product, helping consumers form their own values, and informing them of different
selection criteria that can be used when shopping. The booklet will be targetted
at consumers such as students and housewives as well as manufacturers and distributors
who have in interest in the prevailing market trends among consumers.
@ The consumer goods dealt in the booklet, which will cover the entire spectrum
of living, (i.e., food, clothing, and shelter), will be divided into the following
categories:
Fiber products (synthetics, cotton, dyes)/ Shoes and bags (athletic shoes, leather
shoes, etc.)/ Vegetables and fruits (imported, domestically produced, organically-
grown, etc.)/Meats and fishes/ Beverages (coffee, tea, soft drinks, etc.)/ Processed
foods (soy products and their flavorings, instant foods, snacks, etc.)/ Plastic-made
products/ Soap and detergents/ Home products and furniture/ Metal products (electric
appliances, cooking utensils, etc.)/ Gardening products/ and other categories.
@ For each category, the booklet will present examples and examine the negative
and positive effects in three areas:
- effect on the consumer's health
- effect on the consumer's immediate environment
- effect on the producer's environment
@ The booklet will also explain such concepts as follows that apply to consumer
items as a whole:
- economies of scale and monopolies
- patents
- "food mileage": products, even when they are produced in an ecologically
sound manner, will be energy consuming when transported over long distances.
- product labelling
@ Some relatively recent developments such as the home-delivery services of produce
that are organically grown, organic, low pesticide/herbicide use, or agricultural
chemical-free; and concepts such as "fair trade" will also be discussed
mostly in terms of how they differ from previous practices.
‘ Translation and publication
of booklet on globalization and the water issue
It is said that close to a billion people around the world today have no access to
a clean supply of water, and the situation is bound to get worse in the coming century
as increasing urbanization takes place in the developing countries. A major factor
contributing to the chronic water shortage is the fact that the governments of many
developing countries are giving priority when distributing water to industrialized
agricultural schemes and high-tech industries owned by foreign capital, both of which
consume excessive amounts of water. In this connection, there is a movement among
transnational corporations to privatize water and make it into a commodity, backed
by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). If water is made into
a exchange commodity in the free market economy, the poorer segments of the population
will find it even more difficult to secure water, while ecological destruction (vanishing
wetlands, lowering of water tables in rivers and lakes) will occur as vast amounts
of water are diverted away. Even though there is no sense of an impending crisis
regarding this situation among Japanese citizens, who consider Japan as a land abundant
in water, Japan clearly has a great impact on the world, when we think of the overseas
operations of Japanese firms or the presence in developing countries of industrialized
farms engaged in producing grains for export to Japan.
The book Blue Gold, written by Maude Barlow (Chairperson of the Council on the Globalization
of Water, International Forum on Globalization (IFG), and Chairperson of the Council
of Canadians) published in June 1999 by IFG, discusses the water issue within the
context of globalization. By publishing a Japanese edition, we hope to provide the
necessary information and conceptual framework for Japanese citizens to take proper,
responsible action.
‘ Project on Global Warming
The Kyoto Protocol adopted in 1997 fails to address the real issue of how industrialized
countries should reduce their greenhouse gas emission levels, and instead discusses
mechanisms for the international trading of emissions (i.e., ways to reduce emission
in other countries and not their own), or on ways of assessing the carbon sink by
forests and other factors. Meanwhile, there is no telling when the Protocol will
finally be put into effect. Our research group will conduct a policy study, including
ways of strengthening the Protocol itself and ensuring the implementation of domestic
measures within Japan. To this end, it will engage in the following activities:
1) Actions targetted at the Conference of Parties
This is an important year, as the 6th Conference of Parties (COP6) is planned to
take place in November at The Hague, the Netherlands, and preliminary to it, there
will be two meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies and various unofficial meetings and
workshops. Our research group plans to send delegates to these meetings to gather
information and conduct lobbying activities.
2) Actions targetted at Japanese government policies to prevent global warming
In order to encourage an active compliance on Japan's part with the Convention, we
will carry out lobbying activities, in Japan and abroad, aimed at the Japanese government,
conduct policy research, and implement various measures in cooperation with other
groups.
To encourage such an active Japanese stance toward the Convention, it is essential
to strengthen domestic measures and achieve real reductions in CO2 emission. To this
end, we plan to make policy proposals, lobby the government, study policies, and
work with other groups on various measures. We will also conduct a study on forests
as a CO2 sink, and translate and publish foreign papers on the subject.
‘ Workshop for consensus
building among Asian NGOs
It is clear that global warming must be arrested to protect the earth's environment
and ensure the survival of the human species. The international negotiations taking
place currently, however, tend to disregard such issues as social equity (among nations
as well as between current and future generations) and other environmental issues,
which is why it is so essential to make alternative proposals that integrate a wide
spectrum of environmental and social issues. To realize this, we see the necessity
of strengthening ties among researchers and NGOs of East Asia and building up their
capacities, which is what this project aims for.
More specifically, we plan to host a three-day workshop on the mechanism currently
under negotiation for the Kyoto Protocol of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Day one will focus on gaining an understanding of the international discussions and
negotiations surrounding the issue of global warming; day two on sharing the views
of Asian NGOs, in particular, on the current situation and the systems in place for
implementing the solutions; and day three on reaching a common ground among Asian
NGOs and drawing up a specific program for future collaboration on this issue.
Summary of Peoples' Forum 2001
Purpose
The task of Peoples' Forum 2001 is to serve as a clearinghouse and to provide a framework
of activities for its members. Its activities include research, education, publication,
and policy dialogues with different sectors, aimed at bringing about changes in current
economic and political systems so they become more ecologically and socially sustainable
and just.
History
Peoples' Forum 2001 was established in November 1993 to serve as a national window
for environmental NGOs to follow up on the Agenda and commitments agreed upon at
the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED, Earth Summit),
which was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in June, 1992.
The Earth Summit saw the adoption of the Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Convention on Biological Diversity, Forest Principles, Rio Declaration, and the Agenda
21 Action Plan. Peoples' Forum 2001 monitors follow-up activities on these international
agreements and conventions, and makes this information available to the Japanese
public. Through these activities, the Forum in addition works to ensure that the
Earth Summit agreements are complied with both in Japan and at the international
level.
Finances
The activities of Peoples' Forum 2001 are supported financially by membership dues,
project incomes, and donations and grants from various foundations.
Organization
The Forum uses "2001" in its name as a symbol of our hope that the earth's
environment will be preserved and sustained into the 21st century. People from diverse
backgrounds participate in the activities of Peoples' Forum 2001, including researchers,
white-collar workers, students, journalists, members of the Diet, and other citizens'
groups and NGOs.
The organization is made up from the general membership, Advisory Board, Activist
Group, Steering Committee, and the secretariat. Basic policies and guidelines are
approved by a General Assembly composed of the Advisory Board, Steering Committee,
and Activist Group.
Summary of Activities of Peoples' Forum 2001
‘ Information
dissemination
Publication of newsletter 2001 Fora
The Japanese newsletter carries news, articles, in-depth analyses, etc. of a high
caliber written by a wide range of contributors including researchers, journalists,
and Japanese and foreign activists. In addition to special features which vary from
issue to issue (past themes included natural resources, science and technology, civil
society), the newsletter carries news, updates and reviews on international conferences
and domestic policies. (Published eight times a year, A4 size, about 28 pages an
issue)
Publication of booklets
We publish a Japanese booklet series, including those written by our staff/researchers
on specific topics such as "environment and trade," "global warming,"
and translations of reports written by NGOs and researchers abroad. We also publish
a series of reports (in Japanese and English) which analyze Japanese policies, and
papers on topics like global warming or the environmental policies/records of corporations.
Lecture series
The Forum organizes lecture series on issues related to environment and development.
A series of seven lectures make up a course, with two courses held each spring, summer,
and fall term.
Website
We maintain a website which carries information on planned events and publications
as well as the latest information on issues concerning environment and development.
Through our website, a person can also order publications or sign on to the lecture
series on-line.
(URL=http://www.jca.apc.org/pf2001jp/)
‘ Research and public
debates
Symposia, seminars, reports
To educate the Japanese public on such issues as the environment or the north-south
problem so that they can take informed actions, Peoples' Forum 2001 organizes symposia,
seminars, and study groups on such themes as global warming, the liberalization of
trade and investments, domestic policy on environment and development, or corporate
records on the environment. In addition, the Forum frequently holds public talks
to report on international conferences which the Forum attended as observers or participants.
‘ Policy proposals
In an effort to achieve environmental conservation and promote social justice, Peoples'
Forum 2001 strives to affect policy-making in Japan. To this end, we carry out policy
dialogues with policy-makers, make public recommendations and declarations, and conduct
citizens' campaigns. The Forum places a high priority on networking with other organizations,
both within Japan and abroad, so as to maximize the impact of our activities.
-- At the international level, the Forum's works to influence international organizations
such as the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation
and Development (OECD), or the negotiations for the Framework Convention on Climate
Change and other international agreements.
-- Within Japan, we make proposals on domestic policies on agriculture/food, for
preventing global warming, waste disposal, and tax and finance mechanisms that have
bearings on issues of environment and development.
-- At the level of local governments, the Forum makes alternative proposals for the
environment and development policy of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, make statements
at municipal councils, and try to impact policies on environment and development
of other local governments as well.
Past Activities of Peoples' Forum 2001
‘ Project on Environment and Trade
This project originated with the conducting of a seminar series on "Environment
and Trade in the Asia-Pacific Region" along with the hosting of an International
People's Forum on this theme, both of which were targetted at the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) Summit held in Osaka in November 1995. The project focuses on
what effect trade and investment liberalization, promoted by such bodies as WTO,
the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), and APEC, has had
on the north-south gap, the inequities existing within each country, or on the global
and regional environments. In this process, we have hosted seminars inviting experts
on international law, economics, environmental policy, etc., in which we made a critical
comparison between those approaches adopted by international bodies and governments
(bilateral,multilateral and domestically), on the one hand, and the stance taken
by citizens and NGOs, on the other. In fiscal 1998, we conducted a campaign to oppose
the Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI),which was then under negotiation
at OECD, and together with other NGOs around the world and in Japan, succeeded in
freezing up the negotiations. In 1999, the project focussed on opinion building aimed
at the upcoming WTO negotiations.
1999
NGO strategy session to oppose liberalization of forestry products
On the occasion of a visit to Japan by David Gordon, director of Asia Pacific Environment
and Resources Center (PERC), which is a San Francisco-based NGO campaigning against
trade/tariff liberalization on forestry products, we rallied Japanese NGOs to a meeting
where we discussed strategies for conducting a citizens' campaign on this issue.
Debate with Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Ministry on Japanese government
proposal for upcoming WTO negotiations
In June, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries announced the outlines
of the Japanese proposals for upcoming WTO negotiations. Subsequently, its International
Economic Affairs Division proposed a briefing session, and we called upon other groups
and academics to attend and engage in a serious discussion.
Hosted an NGO press meeting on upcoming WTO negotiations
On November 4, which was agreed upon around the world as WTO Action Day, we hosted
a press briefing session together with other Japanese NGOs on the subject of WTO
negotiations. Paige Fisher of PERC was also invited to this session, where we explained
the positions of American and Japanese NGOs, focal issues in upcoming WTO negotiations
from the NGO standpoint, and related NGO actions abroad and in Japan.
Attended Seattle WTO Ministerial Conference
Held a public talk to report on the Seattle WTO Ministerial Conference
Participated in International People's Network strategy building session on WTO
We attended a strategy building session held by a network of world activists campaigning
against MAI. The session concluded by adopting the proclamation "WTO: Shrink
or Sink! -- The Turn Around Agenda."
WTO mailing list in Japanese
We began keeping a mailing list of concerned parties, to which we provide information
on international and domestic policies on economic globalization and their environmental
and social impacts, and to provide a platform to discuss alternatives.
Publication of booklet, Will WTO change the world? Understanding globalization
from contradictions close to us.
We compiled a booklet that explained in easy terms the environmental and social effects
in developing and industrialized countries that are brought about by trade/investment
liberalization. The booklet is divided into several chapters, covering such topics
as forests and forestry, labor, food safety, service sector trade, environment, agriculture,
patenting on life, and civil society, each of which was written by a different writer
to make for a writing staff of 22 Japanese NGOs and researchers.
1998
Policy analysis report "Japan's agricultural and food policies"
This was the first in a series of policy analysis reports that examines Japanese
policies from the viewpoint of the decision-making process and the effects on environment
and sustainable development. The report looked at the current state of Japanese agriculture
and food supply, Japanese agricultural policies since World War II, then proposed
an international framework for supporting small-scale farms and achieving food self-sufficiency.
We also published an English-language version.
Participated in a workshop on Agriculture, Trade and WTO
In advance of the WTO Ministerial Meeting, this workshop was hosted by farmers' groups
and NGOs and took place on the outskirts of Geneva, attended by some 80 people from
about 50 groups.
Attended the second Geneva WTO Ministerial Meeting.
Held a public seminar to report on the WTO Ministerial Meeting and exchange views
on the Agriculture Agreement Review
Attended a conference hosted by the Committee on Food Security and Fair Trade
in Southeast Asia
Campaign against OECD/MAI
The Multilateral Agreement on Investments (MAI) has been on the negotiation table
at OECD since September 1995, and is aimed at bringing about the liberalization of
international investments. Its goals are to force national and local governments
to treat foreign investors at least on an equal basis with domestic firms, and in
the event MAI is adopted, foreign companies will be allowed to file charges against
governments asking for compensatory damage. To block MAI, an opposition campaign
took place world-wide, involving the world's environmental NGOs, labor unions, consumer
groups, development NGOs in industrialized countries, and third world peasant movements,
who saw MAI as an attempt to give free rein to the across-the-border activities of
transnational corporations, and at the same time, remove existing safety nets for
the weaker segments and developing countries, and deprive national and local governments
of their authorities to enforce social and environmental regulations and conduct
their own economic policies. Thanks to vigorous campaigning by the world's citizens'
groups and NGOs, which counted more than a thousand, the MAI negotiations that had
continued at OECD for over three years were officially dropped in December 1998.
Even though the MAI negotiations were frustrated due to an intense opposition campaign,
there is a very high likelihood that a similar investment agreement will be revived
in the upcoming WTO negotiations, so there is a need for all concerned to remain
vigilant.
No to MAI! Japan campaign
This joint campaign was initiated in February 1998 by Peoples' Forum 2001, Pacific
Asia Resource Center (PARC), APEC Monitoring NGO Network, A-SEED Japan, and other
groups. During fiscal 1998, the campaign undertook the following activities.
* Postcard campaign: Postcards carrying a statement demanding that MAI negotiations
be halted were addressed and sent to the Japanese Prime Minister, heads of local
governments, and the Director General of OECD. Postcard senders received a reply
letter from OECD, so we wrote another sample letter in response.
* National caravan (April 11-19, 1998): Street actions and rallies were held in eight
cities around Japan: Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya, Nagano, Matsumoto, Kofu, Yokohama, and
Tokyo.
* Petition against Ministry of Foreign Affairs (April 20, 1998): Met with the officer
in the Second International Organizations Division charged with MAI, and demanded
that the MAI issue be deliberated at the local-government level, a policy assessment
be conducted, and information made available to public access.
* Questionnaire to political parties on the issue of investment liberalization (June
1998): In advance of the House of Representatives elections taking place in July,
a questionnaire was sent to all eight parties: Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito,
Japan Democratic Party, Socialist Democratic Party, New Socialist Party, Sakigake,
Liberal Party, and the Communist Party of Japan. All except Komeito responded.
* Symposium "Global economy: Is it the path to ruin?" (November 3, 1998):
Invited guests were Lori Wallach (member of the American NGOs, Public Citizen and
Global Trade Watch), Yoko Kitazawa (expert on international affairs), Nobuo Kojima
(attorney), and Tadanori Nemoto (Financial Research Division., Sanwa Institute).
The symposim was attended by about 130 people.
* Signature campaign against MAI: We collected 17,000 signatures calling for a halt
to the MAI negotiations and submitted them to the Japanese Prime Minister. At the
same time, we also submitted petitions to officers of the First and Second International
Organizations Divisions (respectively charged with WTO and MAI), Ministry of Foreign
Affairs.
1997
Workshops on Environment and Trade
A series of three workshops was offered to provide citizens with the latest information
on environment and trade and to provide an opportunity for in-depth discussion. Attendance
was about 100, including NGO personnel and concerned citizens.
Symposium on "Food, agriculture, and the rebuilding of our lives: Who's afraid
of WTO?"
To mark the start up of a new agriculture project, we hosted this symposium so that
concerned citizens, farmers, grass-roots activists, and academics could engage in
a free exchange of ideas and, having come to an understanding of the connection between
local and global issues, explore what actions each party could pursue.
Seminar on forest policy
When the Forestry Agency set up the Round-Table Meetings on the International Promotion
of Forest Maintenance to discuss issues dealt with at the United Nations Intergovernmental
Panel on Forests, we organized this seminar so that those attending the Meetings
could share information on what took place there, and in turn we could, based on
our discussions, come up with proposals to the Meetings.
Attended the Vancouver People's Summit, which was held parallel to the APEC Summit,and
hosted a workshop on related issues.
Attended the symposium, "Trade, Environment, and Sustainable Development,"
hosted by WTO and the Committee for Trade and Environment (CTE).
Attended Round-Table Discussions with relevant government bodies on OECD/MAI.
Attended hearings for OECD High-Level Advisory Committee on the Environment.
Attended Asian Development Bank (ADB) General Assembly in Fukuoka
Booklet publication
This booklet series was initiated this year to introduce to Japanese citizens analyses
made from the vantage points of foreign NGOs in developing and industrialized countries,
as they are rarely covered by Japanese media. Two booklets were issued each in August
and February (total of four), and were distributed to citizens' groups, journalists,
and academics. The titles, authors, and translation editors are as follows:
1) APEC and the Environment, Walden Bello (Focus on the Global South) 2) Globalization:
Accelerating environmental destruction, widening gap, Martin khor (Third World Network);
3) The Ownership of Life, Martin Teitel (C.S. Fund) and Hope Shand (Rural Advancement
Fundation International), Kiyoshi Toda, trans. ed.; 4) Agricultural trade and food
security: The mechanism of food self-sufficiency, Kevin Watkins (Oxfam UK/Ireland),
Koyu Furusawa, trans. ed.
Campaign on OECD/MAI
Attended NGO conference on MAI
On October 27, a conference on MAI was held at the OECD headquarters in Paris. On
the previous day, 26th, NGOs attending this conference drew up a Joint NGO Declaration
on MAI, based on a draft written by a core group of European and U.S. NGOs.
1996
Seminar on Environment and Trade
Topic: Examining Japanese trade policies from an environmental perspective
After reviewing the global flow of commodities and money in trade, investments, official
aid, etc., the relevant international agreements, and their negative impacts, a few
case studies were cited. The discussion then turned to controversies and views surrounding
international treaties/agreements. The present situation was examined in light of
ongoing debates on the issue, and finally, the seminar participants proposed visions
on social rules (institutions and policies) and social systems, along with alternatives.
Workshops on Environment and Trade
A series of five workshops were held. The goal of the workshops was to educate participants
on issues of environment and trade using examples close to home, and to impart to
them a sense that, by changing one's lifestyle or consumption patterns, one can not
only make positive contributions to the environment but that this can also be an
active statement made against society at large. The program was planned together
by four facilitators, who were mostly students, and an environmental educator.
International symposium on environment and trade: "Economic globalization
and our food"
Invited guests: Walden Bello, author of APEC and the Environment; Yash Tandon, Development
Institute, Zimbabwe; Dao Te Tuang, Vietnam Agricultural Institute; others
Attended Manila People's Forum on APEC (MPFA)
Attended first WTO Ministerial Meeting in Singapore
Round-table meetings
Meeting with Mark Ritchie: Together with other groups, we organized a round-table
discussion with Mark Richie of the Agriculture and Trade Research Institute (U.S.),
who was visiting Japan to campaign against genetically engineered foodcrops.
Meeting with John Fagen: With other groups, we organized another meeting with
John Fagen, a molecular biologist working at the Maharishi Economic Institute (U.S.),
who was in Japan to campaign against genetically engineered foodcrops.
1995
Seminar series on "Environment and Trade in the Asia Pacific Region"
A series of eight seminars were held to deepen understanding of how liberalization
of trade and investments being pushed forth by bodies like WTO and APEC affects people's
lives and the environment in the Asia Pacific region.
Tokyo People's Forum "Reexamining APEC with Peoples of the Asia Pacific Region"
We had the attendance of 13 guests from eight countries to this two-day conference,
held on November 11-12. After key issues were raised by the guests, who are international
activists on issues of environment and trade, farmers and citizens from various countries
reported on their specific actions aimed at achieving true solutions. On day-two,
participants divided into four workshops, and then reconvening, concluded the conference
by adopting the People's Appeal, an action agenda by and for the people.
Publication of reports
The contents of seminars #1-6 on Environment and Trade in the Asia Pacific Region
were compiled in the report, Environment and Trade in the Asia Pacific Region, vol.1.
The contents of seminars #7-8 and proceedings from the Tokyo People's Forum are included
in vol. 2.
‘ Global
warming and atmospheric pollution
1999
Attended the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)/ 5th Conference
of Parties (COP5)
During the Conference period, we carried out lobbying against government officials,
experts, and the media. We held talks with other researchers and the IPCC president
and interviewed government officials on the issues of joint implementation and carbon
sinks. We also attended a strategy-building session hosted by Atmospheric Action
Network of East Asia (AANEA), which is composed of NGOs from Japan, Korea, Taiwan,
etc., aimed at increasing the impact of Asian environmental NGOs.
Participation in Atmospheric Action Network of East Asia (AANEA)
AANEA is a non-governmental environmental network established in August 1995, working
in the areas of air pollution, acid rain, and climate change. Currently, it has a
membership of 17 NGOs from the seven countries/regions of Korea, China, Taiwan, Japan,
Hong Kong, Mongolia, and Far Eastern Russia. Pak of Peoples' Forum 2001 has been
on the steering committee since January 1997.
During the 1999 Seoul World NGO Conference held during October 10-16, AANEA held
its fifth annual meeting. We reported on issues of air pollution, acid rain and global
warming, made preparations for a joint study to be conducted with air quality experts,
and tied up with environmental NGOs. We also compiled and presented a report on Japan's
air pollutants and green-house gas emissions entitled Country Report of Japan: Emissions
of Air Pollutants and Green House Gases in Japan.
1998
Attended the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (FCCC)/ 4th Conference
of Parties (COP4)
FCCC secretariat attended an NGO hearing.
Attended Japan/United States/Germany Energy Expert Network Meeting
Attended AANEA 4th annual meeting
The meeting consisted of reports on emissions levels of greenhouse gases and air
pollutants in east Asia, a public symposium where the environmental policies of member
countries since COP3 were examined, and a survey report that looked at citizens'
awareness on air pollution issues among east Asian countries. At the public symposium,
we reported on Japanese policies since COP3. We also contributed to the discussion
on AANEA's future development. The meeting concluded by unanimously agreeing to adopt
an AANEA declaration.
Attended a workshop hosted by AANEA
Twenty-four researchers gathered from Japan, China, and Korea to attend this workshop,
which was held to exchange information and educate citizens on issues of air pollution
and acid rain. Our delegate, Pak presented a report on "Across-the-border air
pollution in east Asia and possible modes of international cooperation."
1997
Attended AANEA 3rd annual meeting in Hong Kong
As this year's major activities, the participants resolved to 1) undertake NOx measurements
in the entire east Asia region using common guidelines, 2) use the results to draw
up an NOx distribution map in order to grasp the extent of air pollution in the region,
and concerning global warming, 3) establish greenhouse gas emission levels in each
country, and 4) consider measures to deal with this issue from the perspective of
east Asia as a whole.
1996
Attended AANEA 2nd annual meeting
The meeting took place in Osaka, Japan, in March 1996. Attending were NGOs from the
1st AANEA annual meeting, Climate Action Network, the representative of ClimaForum
(a German NGO union established to carry out advocacy toward COP1), an NGO from the
Federation of Small Island Nations, etc. The meeting consisted of country reports;
reports and discussions on cross-border air pollution and global warming; a symposium
on "climate change and the role of NGOs;" and a field investigation on
air pollution in Nishi Yodogawa ward of Osaka.
1995
Meeting with government representatives during COP1 to exchange views
Symposium to report on COP1, and publication of report
This symposium took place in April and was attended by Japanese government representatives
and NGOs. The proceedings and subsequent FCCC negotiations were compiled into a report,
which was published in March.
‘ Environmental
education
1999
Seminar series "Nature, society, and our hearts," and related publications
Despite the high interest in environmental or economic issues among today's people,
in most cases, it does not lead to actions aimed at bringing about fundamental societal
changes. This seminar series was designed to create citizens who on their own initiatives
can take responsible action, and was targetted mainly at people in their twenties
and thirties. During the seminar, guests and participants were encouraged to share
their individual histories using their own words, and in this process come to a clear
understanding of their own values and motives. Each seminar focused on a specific
theme having to do with the relationship that exists between environment, society
and spirit, based on a recognition that the underlying cause of environmental destruction,
as well as the psychological/spiritual dilemma experienced by so many people, lies
in the modern alienation from nature.
We invited NGO activists and researchers from Japan and abroad to the seminars, where
they shared and discussed with participants their experiences of becoming involved
in environmental and/or social issues.
1994-1998
National environmental education project
This project began in 1994 in an effort to promote regionally-based environmental
education and to realize a resource-recycling, coevolutionary society. Program planning
and implementation are carried out on a yearly basis by an executive committee composed
of citizens' groups and representatives of the Environment Agency. In addition to
being on the executive committee, Peoples' Forum 2001 has acted as the secretariat
for this national project since 1995. From 1994 to 1996, the project's efforts were
mainly directed at organizing a "Symposium on Environmental Education"
in Tokyo each year. Since fiscal 1997, however, the emphasis has shifted toward supporting
environmental education schemes based on local initiatives, and the main program
is a "national exchange camp," where individuals practicing environmental
education in local areas join with others in workshops. In 1998, the project moved
toward further decentralization, as regional offices were set up in six locations
around Japan, with regional get-togethers/meetings held to increase communication.
Study Groups hosted by Peoples' Forum 2001
‘ Study Group on Global
Warming
Formed in May 1994, this group has a diverse membership consisting of researchers,
students, white-collar workers, housewives, etc., who range in age from their 20s
to 60s. In addition to analyzing current affairs and conducting policy research,
the group collaborates with other NGOs in making policy proposals and/or attending
UN conferences, and seeks various approaches in an effort to make Japanese and international
policies on global warming truly effective.
‘ Study Group on Energy
This group saw its beginnings in February 1994 with the symposium that inaugurated
Peoples' Forum 2001, entitled "Future of the Environment: from conflict to dialogue."
Some of those who attended the workshop on sustainable energy (including the workshop
leader and others) during the symposium and a Forum staff member charged with energy
issues afterwards formed a monthly study group to work on global environmental issues
from an energy perspective. The group studies issues on Japanese energy policy and
strives to formulate alternative proposals.
‘ Study
Group on Finance and Environment
This group was formed in June 1992, when several people, including those working
in finance, academics, development NGO staff personnel, students, etc. responded
to a call by Masaru Tanaka, who had recently co-edited a book entitled What's Wrong
with Postal Savings. The book critically examined Japan's treasury investment and
loan program, which funds the institutional structure responsible for global and
domestic environmental destruction, and in particular, Japan's postal savings system
which is one of its major revenue sources. Japanese official development assistance
(ODA) as well as structural adjustment programs by IMF and the World Bank have direct
bearings on environmental issues. Such Japanese and international development capital
and corporate investment activities both receive moneys from the postal savings accounts
of Japanese citizens. The study group examines this capital flow and its mechanism,
and proposes alternative savings and investment schemes for the common citizen in
our common goal to realize a civil society that is protective of the environment.
Ever since its forming, the group has taken an environmental approach to examine
various problems that stem from the flow of capital in ODA and investments. In addition
to monthly meetings, in which members report on selected themes, to provide an alternative
to conventional financial institutions, we established in 1994 the Future Bank Union,
which investments and loans are under management by participating citizens.
Progress report on the Future Bank Union
Every act of environmental destruction is backed by a money flow, and a real solution
to this problem cannot take place without an alternative. Of necessity, money will
flow to schemes that generate even more money, and no solution can be arrived at
without changing this system. Based on this understanding, the Study Group on Finance
and Environment placed the Future Bank Union under independent operation two years
ago, hoping to provide a financial institution based on alternative values. With
the goal of realizing a civil society that can prove an alternative to the present
social system, the Union extends loans to schemes based on such themes as environment,
civil society, and social welfare. Total investments have reached 30 million yen,
while cumulative loans amount to 50 million yen, with no irrecoverable loans so far.
Peoples' Forum 2001
Current Officers
Co-Chairpersons
PARK, Hye-Sook Professor of Humanity and Social Science Mie University
TANAKA, Masaru Group-KIKI
Director
Tomoko Sakuma is Director of Peoples's Forum 2001. For the past six years,@she has
been active in citizen's education and organizing campaigns, and research and analysis
on Japan's environmental and economic policy decision making. She also serves as
a national focal point in international networks on the Multilateral Agreement on
Investment (MAI) and World Trade Organization@(WTO). Ms Sakuma studied psychology
at Gakushuin University, and worked as research and translation staff at the International
Diplomacy Institute before joining People's Forum 2001. Currently a member of the
research group on the 'Conflict and Development' of FASID, an independent research
institute working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, and also
a research group on 'Human Security' at the National Institute for Research Advancement
(NIRA) . She was on a USIS's Visitor's Program in 1997.
Advisory Board Members
ABE, Osamu Associate Professor Saitama University
AICHI, Kazuo Member of the House of Representatives
AMANO, Reiko Chairperson of Society Against the Nagara River Estuary Dam Construction
AWAJI, Takehisa Professor of Law Rikkyo University
DOMOTO, Akiko Member of the House of Counselors Japanese Diet
FUKUOKA, Katsuya Chairman of the Board of the Foundation for Earth Environment
HARA, Hirok Professor, Faculty of Liberal Arts the University of the Air
HIRONAKA, Wakako Member,House of Counselors / Vice President, Democratic Party of
Japan / Former Director-General of the Environment Agency
HIRONO, Ryokichi Professor Emeritus, Seikei University Visiting Professor,
Graduate Institute for Policy Studies
HOMMA, Shin Dean & Professor Faculty of Global and Inter-Cultural Studies,
Ferris University
ISHI, Hiroyuki Professor, University of Tokyo Graduate School of Frontier Science
ISHIKAWA, Tadaomi Director, The Japanese Association of MACHINAMI
Conservation and Restoration / The Association of National Trusts in Japan
IWASAKI, Shunsuke
KIHARA, Keikichi Vice Chairman of the Association of National Trusts in Japan
KOIKE, Shintaro General Secretary, Japan Network for Earth Environment And Prevention
of Pollution
KOSUGI, Takashi Member of the House of Representatives
MIYAMOTO, Kenichi Member of Japan Science Council Emeritus Professor of Osaka City
University Dr. Economics
MORISHITA, Akio Chain of the Board of Directors Institute for Global Environmental
Strategies
MUSHAKOJI, Kinhide Professor Faculty of Global and Inter-cultural Studies Ferris
University
OBARA, Hideo Emeritus Professor of Kagawa Nutrition University
/ President of JWCS (Japan' Wildlife conservation Society )
OGIWARA, Hiroko Director, News Department Nippon Television Network Corporation
OHNO, Kazuoki Director, Asian Farmers Exchange Center
SABURI, Haruo Professor of International Law Nagoya University
TAKAMI, Yuichi Chairperson, Japan Ecology Foundation
TANAKA, Eiji Chair of Regional Exchange Center
TERANISHI, Shunichi Professor, Hitotsubashi University, Graduate School Of Economics
/ Secretary-General of Japan Environmental Council
TERUOKA, Shuzo Chair of the Institute of Agriculture & Agricultural Co-operative
TOKUE, Michiaki President, Agriculture & Foods Audit System Co., Ltd
TOMINO, Kiichiro Professor of Law Ryukoku University
TOYODA, Makoto Attorney at Law
YAMAMURA, Tsunetoshi Attorney at Law / Representative Director Citizens
Alliance for Saving the Atmosphere and the Earth
YONEMOTO, Shohei Director, Knowledge, based civilization Research,
Mitsubishi Kasei Institute of Life Sciences
YUKAWA, Reiko Music Critic
Dr. Walden Bello Co-Director, Focus on the Global South
Barbara Bramble National Wildlife Federation
Martin Khor Kok Peng Director, Third World Network
Dr. Ashok Khosla Development Alternatives
Maximo Kalaw Green Forum Philippines
---Steering Committee Members
KISHIMOTO, Satoko Board Member, A SEED JAPAN
MITSUI, Osamu Energy Working Group People's Forum 2001
PARK, Hye-Sook Professor of Humanity and Social Science Mie University
SAITO, Makoto Attorney at Law
SAKUMA, Tomoko Director, People's Forum 2001, Japan
SHIMIZU, Toshihiro International Art Society
TANAKA, Masaru Group-KIKI
TANAKA, Testuji Group-KIKI
TSUZUKU, Ken President, Worker's Co-op Ecotech
WATANABE, Masaki Sustainable Society Research Group
---Actovist Group Members
ASAKURA, Terumasa GARABO Traditional Japanese Spinning
ASUKA-ZHANG, Shouchuan The Center for Northeast Asian Studies Tohoku University
FURUSAWA, Koyu Director of JACSES(Japanese Center for a Sustainable Environment)
/ Professor of Kokugakuin University
HANI, Kanta Power
HATA, Naoyuki Global Warming Research Group, Peoples Forum 2001
IIDA, Tetsunari Senior Researcher, The Japan Research Institute, Limited
KUMAOKA, Michiya President, Japan International Volunteer Center
NAKAMURA, Masako Journalist
OKA, Yasutoshi Globalcitizen Japan
USHIJIMA, Satomi Attorney at Law
UTAGAWA, Manabu Global Warming Research Group, Peoples Forum 2001
YABANA, Kohei Attorney at Law
YABE, Hiroshi The Society for Studies on Entropy
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