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Winter is just around the corner, and people are busy getting ready for it. Pansies, which used to bloom only in spring, are now seen in gardens here and there. To compliment the season, “Meguro UNESCO Peace Concert 2006 - Kumiko Inoue’s World of Harp” was held on November 12 with the support of many people.
“Meguro UNESCO Peace Concert” was organized as “a message of peace and culture to the next generation” after the United Nations proclaimed the year 2000 as the “International Year for the Culture of Peace”. A total of thirty seven annual concerts have been held so far under the auspices of our association, and this year’s concert was the seventh as a “peace concert”. The children of the Municipal Higashiyama Elementary School Orchestra in Meguro, violinist Nobuhiko Asaeda and pianist Sou Tanaka took part in our first peace concert.
“UNESCO’s Manifesto 2000 Pledge toward a Culture of Peace”, launched publicly in the International Year for the Culture of Peace, was drafted by six persons including Nobel Prize laureates. As it explains the spirit of UNESCO in plain words, let me quote the pledge as a fresh reminder.
“I pledge - in my daily life, in my family, my work, my community, my country and my region - to: 1. respect all life; 2. reject violence; 3. share with others; 4. listen to understand; 5. preserve the planet; 6. rediscover solidarity.”
At the “peace concert” every year, approximately two hundred elementary school children and middle school students are seated as an invited audience. The hall then becomes the space shared both by the children, who will lead the next generation, and the people, who will hand over the baton to the next generation. It is a few precious hours that we spend together enjoying music.
In the year 2000 we felt hopeful about the new century, determined not to repeat the folly of war we had witnessed in the 20th century. In spite of our wish, however, the world is now in a chaotic situation and “the path to peace” looks all the more rugged, our goal ever-receding into the distance. But if we don’t follow that path, we will not reach peaceful co-existence. With the very spirit of UNESCO in mind, we should keep walking along that path, in order to convey “a heart for peace” to our neighbors and to the future generations.
This year’s peace concert was graced with the presence of the Empress at the invitation of Ms. Kumiko Inoue, an internationally renowned harpist. The hall was filled with the delicate and deep tones of the grand harps, and the audience ranging from children to seniors had a spiritually rich time. I cannot express enough my gratitude to everyone concerned.

Reiko Kato, President, Meguro UNESCO Association

Lecturer: H. E. Mr. Oscar Motswagae, Ambassador of Republic of Botswana to Japan
Date & Time: September 6th (Wed) (9:45-), Place: Moriya Kyoiku Kaikan

The ambassador started his speech by saying, “I would like you to know about my beautiful country, Botswana”. He talked affectionately about the country, which became independent from Britain in 1966. 40 years have passed since then, and the country has achieved high economic growth and in terms of politics, has established democracy. He cited, among other things, the abundance of diamonds found in the late 1970s, the political leadership at the time of the independence, the cultivation of human resources and public infrastructure building, as reasons for the development of Botswana. He also said that a widening income gap and HIV infection are challenges for the future. What is shocking to me is that 25.3% of people aged 15 to 49 are infected with HIV according to statistics. After the speech, a video was shown to introduce the beautiful nature and culture of Botswana.

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＜Outline of Botswana＞
* Geography: Located in the south of Africa, 1.5 times larger than Japan, or the same size as France.
* Economy: World’s biggest diamond producing country (transaction value), the average GDP annual growth rate from 1966 to 1999 was as high as 9.2%
* Sightseeing: Chobe National Park with the world’s largest number of elephants, the Kalahari Desert, mural paintings, which is a UNESCO World Heritage, etc.
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I had the impression that Botswana is a juvenescent country. It is an attractive country where modern urban areas, and rustic and wild African nature exist together. I would like to visit the country from the bottom of my heart. Lastly, the ambassador said that he was very happy to have the opportunity, unlike other embassies of African countries, to have contact with Japanese people. He also hoped that an opportunity to give such a presentation could be enjoyed to other African ambassadors. He personally handed out his name cards, which made me have a sense of affinity toward him

- reported by Moriaki Saito, PR Committee

Setsuko Kurotani, Spanish Language Class

At six thirty every Tuesday evening, Mr. Agustin Perez de la Lastra, the instructor of the Spanish Class, comes into the classroom of Midorigaoka Cultural Hall saying “Hola!” lively. He asks, “Did you study Spanish at home?” We answer, “Poco” which means “a little”. Then he says, “OK, let’s start today’s lesson, now!” He teaches us Spanish conversation and grammar, in both Japanese and Spanish. In the classroom, he often uses cards and printed materials which help us understand the language. During the class, he always kindly answers the questions saying, “That is a very good question!” He gives us homework almost every time. You would often find a word “Perfecto” or “Bien” written on it when he returns the checked paper the following week.
Mr. Agustin, who comes from Spain, tells us what Christmas and some famous festivals in Spain are like, sometimes showing us videos of them, so we are able to feel the Spanish culture very close to us.
We have 11 members in the class now whose ages vary from their thirties to seventies. For many of the members, one of the purposes to learn Spanish is they are wanting to travel Spain and Latin America. Earnestness to study is what we have in common among the members. None of us ever forget preparing or reviewing for the class, as well as doing our homework. Some of us might come late to the classroom because of his or her work, but we have had no absentees ever! In the classroom, everyone is very cheerful asking and answering to Mr. Agustin’s questions, speaking Spanish conversations in pairs, or writing comments after the class which makes one hour and a half pass so swiftly.
I would like to extend my warmest gratitude to the happiness to be able to learn Spanish at the Meguro UNESCO Association with such a wonderful instructor and classmates.

Lecturer: Mr. Takeshi Tamura, associate professor at Tokyo Gakugei University and psychiatrist
Date & Time: Oct. 17th (Tue) (9:30-11:00), Place: Moriya Kyoiku Kaikan

Mr. Tamura, the lecturer, came on stage smiling, casually wearing a T-shirt and a rucksack. He went to the Unites States to study when he was a high school student. After coming back to Japan, he attended “Japanese Youth Goodwill Cruise Program”, “Meguro UNESCO International Friendship Youth Retreat” and other international exchange activities in his youth. He is now working as a psychiatrist for children (early adolescents). He is a good father of 3 children. His wife is also working, so he also does household chores.
Firstly, he introduced himself, and then divided the people into 3 groups for discussion and presentation for each theme. His speech was full of humor and brought everybody closer to the heart of the matter.
Family communication has two aspects: parent-child relationships and husband-wife relationships. When we talk about children’s issues, we inevitably have to think about husband-wife relationships. In many cases, better husband-wife relations can lead to the resolution of a problem. Then, what should you do?
He asked, “Do you often feel you have to bite your tongue? How many years have you kept something to yourself? 10 years? That’s too long.” Everybody laughed then. “You can have a row to convey your feeling. If you quarrel with another person, you can hear what they have in mind. After some time, you can have another fight. Repeat the cycle.” He started with familiar topics and ended with a professional advice, saying, “If you feel at the end of your rope, please see a psychiatrist.”
In the hall, there were many young mothers who attend the “English Conversation Course for Mothers”. I hope the lecture will motivate them to participate in UNESCO peace activities.

- reported by Masumi Saito, PR Committee

The 20th Summer Youth Program* took place from August 20 to 22, at YMCA Tozanso International Conference Center in Gotemba, with 37 participants from 9 nations.
A program of 3 days and 2 nights were filled with various events such as a talk on UNESCO by Mr. Shigeo Tajima, an advisor to Meguro UNESCO Association, a group discussion “Learning about other countries”, a campfire, fireworks, a night hike to Mt. Fuji, walking upstream to the Samusawa Headwaters, etc. You would know after reading comments from the participants how they enjoyed the program. The high evaluated results are due to the efforts of Mr. Takashi Saito, Chair of Summer Youth Program Committee, and Mr. Mitsutoshi Masuda, leader of Meguro UNESCO youth members. But you cannot forget the efforts made by former members of the youth retreats. Some of them made a day trip to join us in spite of their busy schedule, others sent e-mails to their friends and foreign students. We have to hand down this year’s experiences to the coming year’s camp aiming for further success.
*Youth Retreat had changed its name to “Summer Youth Program” last year.

- reported by Fumiko Harada, Vice President

Date: Oct.12 (Fri), 12:00pm-, Venue: St. Paul’s Church Kimiko Shibutani, Chair of Bazaar Executive

The annual UNESCO Bazaar was held on a clear autumn day.
The staff were more motivated than previous years, because it was the first time we could use the church garden, and also there was some Indian curry donated by Roppongi Samrat.
The staff had begun the preparation before summer by designing and printing fliers, and asking for donation of goods. A second flier asking for goods, plus an invitation to the bazaar, went out at the beginning of September. Thankfully, goods started to be delivered to UNESCO office by mid-September. People with handfuls of paper bags came to the office, and others had boxes couriered. There was no space to walk around in the office! We spent every Tuesday and Thursday sorting and pricing. All the goods were carried to the venue by car or by hand one day before the bazaar.
On the day, staff came to the church at 9:30am and started preparing in the kitchen, meal ticket counter, garden and 2F hall. Billboards and flags were displayed in the garden facing Komazawa Street. After a straw mat was placed in the garden and clothes, bags and shoes were displayed, the bazaar opened. Everyone enjoyed shopping as if they were enjoying a picnic on a clear sunny day.
In the 2F hall, most people first visited the food corner and then looked around tableware and sundries. This year, various accessories were displayed and people from overseas seemed to enjoy buying them. Both sellers and buyers chatted away happily.
On the other hand, the kitchen was like a battle field. The curries from Samrat were certainly very spicy and hot, but delicious! All 60 plates sold out, as did the dessert. The kitchen closed at 3:00pm.
The annual bazaar ended successfully. I would like to express my appreciation to everyone for your cooperation. The profit from the bazaar was approximately 270,000yen, which will be contributed to UNESCO Terakoya Movement and other UNESCO activities. There will be also a mini-bazaar during the UNESCO Art Exhibition, and the profit from there is to be added to the contribution as well. (I also would like to express my appreciation to Mr. Satish Sood, who donated delicious curry and Lassi (Indian yogurt drink.)