September/October, '99 Edition

'The FSUN Charter ' Issued As a Memorial of the 809 UN Plaza Opening Ceremony

It will have the 11th anniversary in November this year. Its graceful opening ceremony was taken place at the 809 UN Plaza that the FSUN purchased.

The members had a meaningful day with having a tour inside the United Nations Headquarters in the morning, attending a memorial lecture and having a party at night. (Details will be featured on the next edition.) At the ceremony, FSUN Charters were handed to participants.

The FSUN Charter is a portable sized brochure (B6 wide and 48 pages) written both in Japanese and English, which is based upon lectures of Mr. Ichiro Watanabe, founder of the organization.

In addition to the contents of the previous version, it refers to the issues of nationalism. In the present world, there are many global issues like the whole world's economic instability, civil wars, environmental problems, and so forth.

The charter casts a question: how can NGOs tackle with those problems? It explains FSUN's future activities with simple and explicit words in the view of the 21st century. The leaflet is recommended for people who are interested in NGO activities as well as those learning global issues.

Graceful Flower Arrangement at the UN General Assembly Hall Initiated by Professor Tajima

Flower arrangement decorated by Ms. Kazuko Idegami, prominent master (Ikenobo sect), impressed participants including ambassadors from various countries.

Ms. Idegami performed her divine technique with two Koto (traditional Japanese instrument with strings) players and four assistant dressers.

The hall was surrounded by peaceful and elegant atmosphere. Subsequently, president of Association of the UN Staff, Chairperson of the UN (Foreign Minister of Namibia) and Secretary-general Kofi Annan delivered their speeches.

The idea about exhibition of flower arrangement at the UN was suggested Professor Mikio Tajima, Kansei Gakuin University (FSUN director).

Since inspired by Ms. Idegami's graceful work at the ceremony of the International Peace Research Assembly held in Australia three years ago, he had been longing to introduce Japanese flower arrangement culture at the UN.

　It took three years for the professor's dream to come true.

Establishment of Human Rights Universal Standards is Needed

The Hearing was organized to collect ideas from various fields such as civil society, academic institutions and governmental organizations for the Millennium Summit that will be taken place on 6 September 2000 in New York.

The two-day conference focused on the following four themes: (1)Peace and security, including disarmament; (2)Social and economic development, (3)Human rights and good governance; and (4) Strengthening the United Nations.

Ms. Kawai stated some points about human rights as a NGO representative. They included (1)there is an argument that the concept of human rights discussed in international society is biased toward Western nations; (2) it is necessary to set up human rights universal standards; (3) for its establishment, representatives from various groups all over the world need to convene and discuss universality and originality of human rights in respective regions.

After the discussion, she had an opportunity to exchange ideas and information with other participants, and to convey FSUN principles and activities.

FSUN Donation for Victims of the Turkey and Taiwan Earthquakes

From 1975 to 2000

The New Millennium is Opened up by Women -Ms. Toshie Kanamori

The ratification of the treaty led to Japan's establishment of new laws for women such as the Equal Opportunity Employment Law.

I attended a NGO forum at the next conference at Nairobi in 1985 as a representative of the Kanagawa prefectural Centre for Women with 20 female Kanagawans after I retired from the news paper.

I still clearly remember that I discussed and sang with over a million women from all over the world under the summer blue sky.

The 'engendering' movement for equality, development and peace has accelerated since those Conferences. At the Beijing Conference in 1995, 'gender' and 'Empowerment' are the key words.

It ratified the 12 critical resolutions including violence and girls. The stream has influenced Japan, where gender equality laws were enacted this spring.

Now that Women 2000 in New York is just around the corner. Women still confrontmany problems such as environment, wars, violence, human rights abuses, etc.

I hope a wishful light for the new Millennium by women's power based on their past achievements.