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I had a chance to hear a speech by the Ambassador of Mozambique to Japan (see June 28th UNESCO lecture on page 2). I had long thought that Mozambique was a wonderful place because I once heard Ms. Ayako Ishigaki say that she wanted to live an easy life in a country like that. However, when I look at the Africa's current situation through the media, I cannot help but feel sad. Most of Africa has become independent from European countries, which had colonized them after World War 2. African people must be full of hope for the future now that they have broken their fetters. However, in reality, hideous tragedies are happening one after another. Ethnic conflicts have broken out all over the continent, most of which have been caused by the scramble for economic interests. The land has been laid waste by the spread of civil wars. Many people have become refugees after political systems broke down. Diseases like AIDS have spread due to poor hygiene. Why should Africa suffer so much We must think deeply. Homo sapiens are thought to have originated in Africa. Although they were not our direct ancestors, there are footprints left about 3 million years ago by anthropoids that walked on two legs at the Laetoli site in Tanzania, north of Mozambique. They seem to be footprints of a family, and that gives a heartwarming impression. Why do modern people feel discomfort with races, cultures, and languages that are different from their own When did people come to hate what is not like theirs Why do people in some parts of Africa give weapons to boys who cannot discern between good and bad, and force them to go through combat exercise in an attempt to throw the society into disorder Sad to say, we cannot but think that human dignity, sanctity of life and other educational principals that are important to foster children, are simply being ignored

Lecturer: H.E. Mr. Daniel Antonio, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Mozambique to Japan
Date and Place: June 28, 2005 at Nakameguro Square

The Independence Day of Mozambique is June 25. The ambassador started his lecture by stating his pleasure to have a chance to visit Meguro UNESCO Association just 3 days after he celebrated the 30th anniversary of the independence. This is because he sympathizes with the idea of ¡ÈCulture of Peace¡É that UNESCO has been advocating. He knows how many sacrifices were paid to get a victory only 30 years ago.
Led by Frelimo ? a liberation movement of Mozambique, in 1975, Mozambique became independent after 10 years of struggle against the Portuguese. But the country had to face another war three years after its independence that continued until 1992 when a General Peace Accord between the government of Mozambique and RENAMO, Resistencia Nacional Mocambicana, was signed in Rome, Italy. Ending the war allowed the government to bring popular participation, rule of law and a culture of peace. A transition period was started, monitored by international observers and peacekeepers including those from Japan. In Mozambique the first multiparty elections took place in 1994, after the war, then further elections in 1999 and 2004.
The Ambassador mentioned that the country was still in a level of poverty, and their priority was to mobilize enough resources internally and externally to raise the level of education, health and infrastructure. They also welcome the foreign investments which are now growing steadily. The ambassador commented modestly that these results might be made possible by the Mozambican people¡Çs sincere wishes for peace and order. These are the data of the country introduced by the ambassador.
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Population: 18,000,000 Land Area: 800,000ǻ Public Language: Portuguese (many other languages are also used)
Agriculture: With 35 million hectares of arable land, they produce peanuts, corn, beans, cassava, cereal like rice, maize, cotton, tobacco, sugarcane, copra, tea, fruits, etc.
Fishery: They have the 3rd largest coastline in the Continent. The fishing industry is also important for Mozambican economy. Main exports are shrimps, lobster, fish, like tuna fish, grouper, tilapia, etc.
Minerals: Bauxite, copper, gold, manganese, titanium, natural gas, etc.
Tourism: Growing with nice beaches along the coast and natural parks with different kinds of wild animals. (After his speech, a video was played to show well equipped hotels, all kinds of sports from horse riding to scuba diving, traditional lifestyle and nature. All of them were so attractive and seemed most suitable for honeymoons!)
Exports: Natural gas, seafood, electricity, timber, cotton, sugar, flowers, cashew nuts, oils, aluminum, gold and fruits.
Main Export Markets: South Africa, USA, Japan, Portugal, Malawi, Zimbabwe, etc.
Art and Culture: Traditional objects of art are well known masks, ornaments, sculptures and ceramics. The maconde sculpture is one of the best examples of African sculpture of today.

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At the end of the lecture, the ambassador mentioned that historians note the first contacts between Mozambicans and Japanese took place sometime in 1589 when a group of Japanese youth (Tensho Boys¡Ç Mission) stayed in Mozambique on their way back from a mission to Europe. From that time to the twentieth century nothing significant has happened between the two countries. Then, in 1992, Japan contributed peacekeepers to assist in the supervision of the transition period in Mozambique. The Mozambican people and the government highly appreciate Japan¡Çs visions for peace and development after the World War II. He closed his speech with words of appreciation for people¡Çs efforts to maintain good relationships between Japan and Mozambique including private sectors. - report by Yukio Okusawa
Photo: Answering to a participant¡Çs query, explains about the national flag. From the top, green which means agriculture,
black for African Continent, yellow for gold and other mineral resources, red (triangle) for sacrifices paid for independence,
white for peace, (about pattern) book is for education and learning, hoe is for labor, arms is for struggle for independence.

Reiko Kato, President of the Meguro UNESCO Association was elected vice president of the National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan at the NFUAJ General Assembly held in Nagoya on June 10. Let us all, as members of Meguro UNESCO, support and cooperate with her for the further development of the nongovernmental UNESCO movement!!

¡Á Every opportunity to be seized for better understanding different cultures ¡Á

The 61st National Convention of UNESCO Movements was held in commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of UNESCO on June 11 and 12 at the Nagoya City Assembly Hall in Nagoya, where hotels were alive with people from abroad visiting the World Expo 2005 Aichi. From Meguro UNESCO seven of us, including President Kato, participated in the convention.
The main theme of the symposium held on the first day was ¡ÈCultural Diversity and Outlook for Peace¡É. The panelists were Tamotsu Aoki, Professor of Hosei University, Jitsuro Terashima, Chairman of the Japan Research Institute, and Kiichi Fujiwara, Professor of Graduate School of Law and Politics, University of Tokyo. They stressed the importance of understanding different cultures, and the role of UNESCO to promote mutual understanding. One panelist, referring to the Korean TV drama ¡ÆWinter Sonata¡Ç that gained so much popularity in Japan, emphasized the necessity of seizing every opportunity to understand different cultures. It was also mentioned that in China, where the criticism of Japanese perceptions of history gave rise to anti-Japanese demonstrations across the nation, it is little known that Sun Yat-sen, Luxun, and Zhou Enlai, who had a great influence on modern China, had once studied in Japan and had been influenced by Japanese culture in no small way.
On the second day participants visited the UN Pavilion at the Expo Site and joined its special program.
After the two-day convention there were three optional excursions: ¡ÈRevisit to the Expo¡É, ¡ÈTour of the UNESCO World Heritage Shirakawa-go¡É, and ¡ÈTour of the UNESCO World Heritage Kumano Sanzan¡É
The national convention next year will be held on June 3 and 4 in Hanamaki Onsen, Iwate Pref. The theme will be ¡ÈAre you thinking of your neighbors? ? For a tomorrow of peace and coexistence¡É. I do recommend you take part, if you are interested.

(Yoichi Shimosato, PR Committee)

July 2, 2005 / Meeting Room of Gohongi Elementary School

The program started with QRIO¡Çs jazz dance choreographed by a professional dancer. ¡ÈLook at that! How cute and cool!¡É The eyes of the audience were focused on QRIO. The children, who were full of curiosity, looked very pleased too. QRIO looked for a ball and kicked it like a soccer player, and turned around in the direction sound was coming from. His gestures imitating the movements of a man were very attractive.
QRIO is a two-legged robot created by Sony Corporation. The National Federation of UNESCO Associations in Japan planned an educational activity program aiming at giving children an opportunity to know ¡Èscience is interesting¡É and ¡Èlearning science is fun¡É. QRIO was appointed to be a science messenger thanks to the cooperation of Sony. A group of young scientists from Sony, performing various experiments, told us about light, the universe, robotics, etc.
The program was entrusted to Meguro UNESCO as a trial, and fifty of us, including science loving 5th and 6th graders in Meguro and their parents, enjoyed the dream world. A similar program is to be held in Osaka, Thailand, and elsewhere.

(Masumi Saito, PR Committee)

On June 30 two girl students from Kojo Municipal Junior High School in Okayama Prefecture visited our office during their school excursion. Ms. Miyazaki, chairperson of the Youth Activity Committee and some other Meguro UNESCO members, explained to them about UNESCO activities such as the World Terakoya Movement and the World Heritage Movement. Later we asked them about the dialects and geography of Okayama Prefecture. Time passed in a free and easy atmosphere. It was the first time for the girls to come to Tokyo, and we were impressed with their enthusiasm. We would be happy if we were of any help, sharing something valuable with them. We really hope for their bright future.
Photo from left: Ms. Kutotani, Ms. Miyazaki and Mr. Saito with the young visitors Ms. Tomoko Takahashi and
Ms. Yuko Sato in the center.

(Fumiko Harada, Vice President)

(#) July 2 is the day our country joined UNESCO in 1951. UNESCO was set up in 1946, in order to contribute to peace and security by promoting collaboration among the nations through education, science and culture (UNESCO Constitution Article 1). Next year will be the 60th year from its foundation.

(#) However wars and conflicts occur in many parts of the world even today.

(#) Many countries are primarily interested in the expansion of their power and national interests, and quite egotistically insist that only they themselves are right. They never accept their negotiating partners. Will the world ever see peace?

(#) Every leader must know that "ignorance of each other's ways and lives has been a common cause of that suspicion and mistrust that has too often broken into war". Still it must be difficult for them to compromise, transcending national and racial boundaries, over some issues involving their educational and cultural identities. If that is difficult at state level, we will have no option but to promote exchange on the non-governmental level in order to understand each other and accept each other.

(#) On July 2, the anniversary of our country joining UNESCO, I skimmed through a major newspaper, but found nothing about UNESCO in its articles or the TV guide.
(#) What we need to do now is perhaps to try to tell as many people as possible what specific activities we non-governmental UNESCO associations are engaged in. ?? At the editorial meeting we reconsidered the meaning of "public relations", but thinking of the world around us where war memories are fading, I somehow felt a sense of helplessness, and I asked myself why.

(H. Yoshizawa)