e-ShortNews

This year is the 60th anniversary since the end of World War II. It is also the 20th anniversary of Meguro City’s Declaration of the Peace City. I am deeply impressed by the importance of peace. The preamble of the UNESCO Constitution says, “…since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed.” The objectives of UNESCO is to advance international peace and the common welfare of mankind through cooperation and exchange of the people around the world in the field of education, natural science, human and social science, culture, and communication. On July 14, the 29th Session of the World Heritage Committee was held in Durban, South Africa. In the conference, Shiretoko, Japan, was newly registered in the Natural Heritage. This is the 3rd. registration to the Natural Heritage for Japan, after 12 years since Shirakami-Sanchi, which lies in Akita and Aomori prefectures, and Yakushima, Kagoshima prefecture were registered. TVs and newspapers introduced the wild nature of Shiretoko. I strongly recognize the importance to preserve such priceless natural environment and hand it down to the next generation. In order to contribute to world peace, activities of UNESCO are being carried out in all over the world. But, terrorism, regional conflicts and starvation still cover the world. Also the devastating scale of natural disasters threaten people’s lives. Unfortunately, in these tragedies, the major victims are often the weak, including many young children. I sincerely and earnestly wish for world peace. Meguro UNESCO Association is eagerly pursuing their activities, such as UNESCO lectures for international understandings, Japanese language classes, charity concerts, collecting miswritten postcards, etc. I deeply respect their activities and through these activities, I wish them to expand various actions from the local region to the world. I would like to extend my gratitude for their dedication to international understanding and exchange. Lastly, I would like to close my address with my wishes for Meguro UNESCO Association to continue to engage in various activities to promote world peace, human rights and international understanding.

(Eiji Aoki, Mayor of Meguro City)

The UNESCO Summer Youth Program opened at theYMCA Tozanso International Conference Center inGotenba City on Aug. 21 (Sun), for three days. Since 1990and until last year, the International Friendship YouthRetreat was held in Meguro Citizens Nature Village inWada, Nagano Prefecture. There, many Japanese youthsand overseas students studying in Japan had gathered andenjoyed friendship and mutual understanding, but theVillage was closed last year.
We looked for appropriate accommodation in terms offacilities, budget, distance from Tokyo, size etc. However,we encountered difficulties in finding such a place.Besides, the youth who banded together last year were notable to join this year, due to examinations and job hunting.It took longer than we expected for the planning butfinally, thanks to the supporters, we found an appropriatevenue.
We followed the basic concept of the previous retreatcamp, but broadened the participant’s age to include 5thto7thgraders. We also added a science element, suitable for aUNESCO activity, and enjoyed the nature around Mt.Fuji.
This year’s summer program had three characteristics.First, the idea of a “UNESCO lecture” which is originallyfrom the retreat. Secondly, we added an essence of YMCAyouth program into our events. And finally, we interactedwith Gotenba International Association. I would like toexpress my appreciations to Ms. Keiko Utsumi and Ms.Kazuko Morioka, Chairperson of Gotenba InternationalAssociation, who arranged the schedule for us, Ms.Masako Watanabe, Principal of Fuji-san Gakko, andfinally Mr. Megumi Ishida, General Director of YMCATozanso International Conference Center.
We have received good evaluations for the event. Iexpect that this experience will be utilized again in thefuture.

- report by Takashi Saito,
Chair of Summer Youth Program Committee

From July 18thto 20th, an extraordinary session of theWorld Congress of UFUCA was held at the UNESCOHeadquarters to pave the way for restoration of therelationship with UNESCO, which is expected to beachieved in an executive meeting in September. This willprovide the private UNESCO movements with anopportunity to make major progress on a global basis.
At one time, two chairmen existed in the WorldFederation of UNESCO Clubs, Centers and Associations,which created an unusual situation where neither groupwas approved by UNESCO (based in Paris). Thereestablishment of the organization was expected.
Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO,commissioned Mr. Eiji Hattori, an adviser of ourorganization, to the reconstruction work. He wasappointed as head of a reconstruction ad hoc committee inDecember 2003. Since then, a series of discussions havebeen held for rehabilitation with representatives of allprivate UNESCO movements including the UNESCOAssociation, Club, and Center of each country to prepare“new deed of association” and “new executive committeesystem”. This led to the extraordinary session of the WorldCongress of UFUCA.
The conference brought together as many as 300representatives from 120 countries. Not only were thedivided and adversary relationships mended, but also ninenew interim executive committee members, mainly fromthe ad hoc committee, were nominated under Mr. Hattori,chairman. The executive committee was entrusted to holdthe World Congress of UFUCA and a full election to elect12 board members, including a chairman, two years laterin 2007. The coming two years will be an importantperiod when the private UNESCO movements should bepromoted more by enlightening people in parts of LatinAmerica, Africa and other regions where the movementshave not spread.
A new Deed of Association was created on the threeprinciples of equitability, universality and solidarity basedon the reflection of the past. One of several stipulations isthat members of the executive board should be appointedfrom the associations with more than 20 years experienceof UNESCO activities as an association, and more than100 affiliated bodies. The Deed reflected the outcome ofthe discussions that were held over nearly two years, todecide the structure and the operation, includingstrengthening its membership obligations such as the shareof financial contributions.
How could a disunion, which is unworthy of anorganization having the name of UNESCO, be shifted toan alliance? Mr. Hattori casually mentioned ‘harmony’ asthe key to resolve a difficult problem. He said sincerityworks, adding that sincerity is a value that Japanese canintroduce, which he thought was accepted by manyparticipants to bring about the great change.

The article is the summary of Mr. Hattori’s talk,
Y. Okusawa is responsible for the wording.

We have been publishing the English version of Short News for almost six years, for the benefit of our friendship members and also for our website. This great deed has been made possible by the PR Committee’s enthusiasm to spread the nongovernmental UNESCO movement beyond national boundaries, and the volunteer spirit of those willing to help promote UNESCO activities for international understanding.

In fact, publishing the English version involves a lot of hard work. When it’s just reading the articles written in Japanese, slight amount of ambiguity or lack of explanation can be overlooked so long as we skim through it. However, if we try overlooking the ambiguities when we translate an article into English, it can easily lead to mistranslation. So the translators invariably spend a lot of time trying to find the best words to articulate what is being said in the original text.

When we are getting nowhere with our translations, we ask our longtime volunteer proofreaders, Mr. Cochrane and Mr. York, for their most precious advice. As a result we sometimes share our joy by e-mail saying, “It is now much easier to understand than the original Japanese article!”

The staff consists of five translators and two people doing the layout of the pages, all who are too busy working day and night even to get together once a year.

At the editorial meeting someone said, “Why not introduce the staff of the English version with their photos?” Another said animatedly, “Let’s have a party so that we can take a photo together with all of us!” I really wish we could.

(M. Miyamoto)