November/December '99 Edition

New Start for New Millennium ,Grand Opening Ceremony for FSUN Building

Newly Assigned Chairman D. Kummerfeld

Presided by Seiko Watanabe, Director of the Board, the ceremony began with greeting by Hideo Nagasawa, the acting Chairman of the Board, who at first welcomed participants from Japan and told "This hall was designed and built by Kaufmann, Swedish architect.

Atmosphere of this hall gives us some feeling of peacefulness and refreshment as if we are walking in a forest."

He first presented the personnel reshuffle that had been determined during the Board meeting on the morning of October 26th. (Photo: Board Meeting)

The Chairman, Toshio Hagiwara told "some 11 years ago FSUN started here in NY and is still chasing "Ideal." We would like to keep going for world peace for new millennium by overcoming difficulties we have faced.

In cerebration of the opening was shown a Chinese poem by branch manager in Philippine and Oriental calligraphy "IPPO or the first step" written by calligrapher living in Chiba, Japan.

Kimihide Mushanokoji, Proffesser from Japan had a speech titled "Role for the UN and Civil Society in the 21st century" and talk, with some spice of humor, about the role of the civil society which should keep our security and human right and support the United Nations.

After inspired by supreme speech in the supreme environment, we finished the lunch and were handed the Charter of FSUN. In the afternoon, we toured around the UN head quarter.

In the evening dressed-up members got together for the party and then Ichiro Watanabe, the Senior Advisor of the Board, had a speech "I, myself as a citizen of the earth, had 11 year experience for the activities and now was pleased to have a new Chairman.

Japanese Traditional Opening Ceremony

Newly assigned Chairman told that he was very happy to take a new step now for happiness of the people in the world based on the United Nations Charter.

Newly assigned Chairman Kummerfeld had a flamboyant career; as a chairman for American Magazine Society for 12 years and the Secretary of Treasury for NY City and has many acquaintances in Japan.

The speech in Japanese by the member of ECOSOC followed them and in that speech he talked about the projects that the UN wants FSUN to carry out.

Chorus by All Participants Hand in Hand, Shoulder to Shoulder Ambassador Ikuo Sato first appreciated FSUN's long history of the activities and appealed "We had to recognize ourselves citizens of the earth."

During the party while enjoying the dishes a chorus by 30 UN staff was on the stage, wearing a variety of national costumes for each country.

The chorus group also sang the Japanese song "Akatonbo or red dragonfly" in Japanese and finished as the song "One World."

　People, hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder, made a circle and sang together in chorus. It was a beautiful finale with people regardless their ethnic groups and borders singing one chorus with one accord.

Haiku or Japanese poem, "Peace is the circle of borderless chorus" made by participant from Hokkaido of Japan showed the atmosphere. (Photo, right; Professor Mushanokoji)

"FSUN's Brilliant Achievements" by Mr. D.Kummerfeld

I am greatly honored to be elected Chairman of FSUN. For several years I have observed and admired the excellent work of this foundation through personal contact with my good friend, Ichiro Watanabe, Senior Advisor and a founder of FSUN.

We are indeed fortunate to have a man with his energy, wisdom and selfless dedication advising and caring for FSUN as we move into the next century.

I Iook forward to working with him and receiving his guidance and support for many years to come.

As we celebrate the eleventh anniversary of the founding of FSUN, all of you who have supported and participated in its activities deserve our deepest gratitude.

Because of your support, FSUN has accomplished a great deal in furthering our common objectives set forth in the FSUN Charter. You should be proud of the humanitarian activities undertaken in Cambodia to relieve the suffering of the people and to help them rebuild the infrastructure destroyed by war.

You should also be proud of the many efforts you have undertaken to bring together world leaders in the three World Parliamentarian Conferences and in the meetings of the Wisdom Group to discuss the big problems confronting the peoples of the world, such as peace keeping and security, economic development and self-sufficiency and the threat to the global environment.

Solidarity between People

These are only a few of the many worthy activities undertaken by FSUN in the past eleven years.

As I join FSUN as Chairman of the Board, Iet me assure you that I share the lofty and eloquent statement of our goals set forth in the FSUN charter.

I deeply believe that the peoples of the world, working together with mutual respect for each other, can make a real difFerence in furthering peaceful co-existence, relieving human suffering, advancing respect for basic human and cultural rights and helping the less fortunate achieve economic self-sufficiency.

l also believe that the United Nations needs active, dedicated, non-governmenta l organizations like FSUN supporting and complimenting its efforts.

NGO's are the "grass roots" support that is essential to keep the UN programs focussed on people and their needs rather than on power and international politics.

As Mr.Watanabe noted in his essay "On Establishing the FSUN Charter," NGO's, like FSUN, are now regarded as "The Conscience of the UN" addressing issues from the standpoint of all humanity, rather than from each government.

FSUN is well positioned to be an even more effective NGO in the coming years. The opportunities to support the United Nations and our common objectives for humanity are enormous.

First, there is the opportunity to bring people together outside the governmental frameworks where issues and problems can be addressed without political constraints on a people-to-people basis.

Humanitarian Projects

l believe the UN and its member governments increasingly recognize the unique value of privately-administered humanitarian efforts of NGO's and are prepared to support and encourage such efforts, provided the NGO's demonstrate their capacity to carry out programs efrectively and efficiently. Third, I believe there are many opportunities to help the UN directly by funding urgently needed projects that the UN itself cannot fund due to budgetary and/or political constraints.

To meet this objective and take advantage of these opportunities, we must have a close day-to-day working relationship with the Secretary General's office and with the major UN agencies in New York, Geneva and elsewhere in the world.

The New York office of FSUN is well located to enhance their close working relationship with the UN, its agencies and representatives of member governments. We now need to build a staff which can make it happen.

As I assume the Chairmanship of FSUN, my objectives are to build on the excellent work FSUN has already undertaken in bringing people together to address our common objectives and in demonstrating the value of people-to-people humanitarian projects.

We need to develop a closer working relationship with the UN and its agencies. To do this we will need your continuing support in Japan.

But we will also need to get much more support and involvement from Americans who share our goals and objectives. As you know, FSUN was established eleven years ago as joint US-Japanese initiative.

But unfortunately, the American involvement and support has, up to now, been minimal. I will do my best to change this by recruiting individuals from the U.S. and from other parts of the world as well, to join FSUN and help us achieve our mission on a truly multi-national basis.

In that regard I expect to be assisted by my wife. Elizabeth Kummerfeld, who has been a strong supporter and Board member of FSUN for several years.

I am hopeful that we will be able to attract signiflcant new funding sources which will enable us to build a high level, professional staff and to fund many new worthwhile projects.

One of the persons who has been a great friend of FSUN here in New York, and whom I hope will take a key role in the Foundation in the near future, is Walter Shearer.

Mr. Shearer has been a career employee of the UN for more than 20 years. He has a deep knowledge of UN programs and a strong commitment to the objectives we all share. He also has lived in Japan and is able to communicate in Japanese.

He has graciously agreed to speak to you in Japanese, although he is very modest about his linguistic capability.

Personal history of Mr.D. Kammerfeld

Also president for "Kammerfeld Association" that is the consulting and investment company established in 1985.

Between 1978 and 1985, the president for News America Publication. During this period this company grew big diversified communication company with annual income $100 billion from the one with that $1.75 billion.

Also representative director for "News Co., Ltd." that is international media conglomerate.

Between 1971 and 1975, vice president for "The First Boston Co., Ltd." that is investment bank in NY.

During management crisis in NY City between 1976 and 1978, Chief Director for NY Budget Department of NY City, the Deputy Mayor for the City and representative director for emergency financial control board for NY State.

Between 1985 and 1990, a member for the tax control board.

Between 1990 and 1993, the chairman for management counselor board for Mayor of NY City which is the private support group for restructuring New York City.

B.Phil. and Master of political science of Stanford Univ. and Master of Political Science of Harvard Univ. Living with wife Elizabeth in New York.

World Bank and NGO

Ms. Kawai from FSUN participated in the meeting and discussed mainly about human right.

The World Bank initially had a management style to accelerate macroeconomic growth but the report of the Bank talked much about "Poverty and Human Right", which suggested that it would take more cooperative step toward NGO.

Visit Headquarter of UN and Meet World Women

Seminar for Women will be Held at FSUN Building

HKW is the group that has aggressively discussed the relationship between women and media.

This seminar will include a lecture and each workshop taken place at 809 building of FSUN.

The period; from June 3 to 9, 2000, the number of participants; 700, expense; \300,000 including transportation and accommodations and $250 for register fee.

Person 25 year of age and under will have priority for register and also will be offered the reduced tour fee to \250,000. Also those who passed the essay test and interview will be offered free participation.

Anyone who is interested in this plan, contact HKW, tel; 03-3311-0982.

Symposium on International Cooperation

Symposium titled "Future activities and tasks for NGO in 21st century" hosted by Symposium on International Cooperation was held November 4, 1999 at National Olympic Memorial Center in Tokyo.

The keynote speaker was Vice President of the bank in Bangladesh. He talked abut his experience that after the 20 year old bank gave financial support toward mainly women, the living standard has been gradually improved in Bangladesh where illiteracy rate was 70% and average annual income $250. After that Yasuhiko Yoshida, Professor of Saitama Univ. presided the panel discussion.

President for the United Nations University Visited FSUN

The president knows very well of FSUN through internet homepage. He told that the training tour to UN head quarter and simulated General Assembly for students were especially significant for young people who will take over the NGO activities in 21st century.

They also discussed what should be done for ordinary people to become familiar with the United Nations University. The acting Chairman Nagasawa suggested that the facilities such as auditorium could be offered in low rent to NGO.

He also showed the outline of FSUN's activities after 2000 in which the president was interested.

They promised that they would keep in touch each other for future programs such as a training program for the young in developing countries.

Good Job, Middle School Students!

As informed previously, 11 middle school students voluntarily raised funds for Turkey Earthquake in the midst of summer vacation.

Flying flag of FSUN, they collected \30,6947 in the street. They brought FSUN's office this money that was sent to the Red Cross of Japan.

A letter of appreciation signed by Hideo Nagasawa, the acting Chairman, was handed to principal of the middle school by Ms. Seiko Watanabe.

The people related to education especially admired that the student initiated the raising fund.

Editor's comments

The speech by D. Kammerfeld was so impressed. His inauguration of this organization can be new start of second stage of our activities.(K)