NGO and Government Dialogue Meeting was held on February 19 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Seiryo Kaikan in Tokyo. There were as many as 250 participants. Mr. Masaharu Kono (G8 Sherpa; a personal representative of Prime Minister Fukuda) from Foreign Ministry and Mr. Toshiro Kojima from Environment Ministry were invited to this dialogue and had discussion with representatives of Japan NGO Forum.
■Ms. Hoshino (chair of Japan NGO Forum) "Japan ought to show the leadership with a global point of view"
This gathering started with a speech from Ms. Masako Hoshino, chair of Japan NGO Forum, stating, "This month is first aniversary for Japan NGO Forum. Starting its second-term in October 2007, there are 112 NGOs participated in Japan NGO Forum at this point. Those NGOs gathered autonomously with strong intention of doing something toward G8 summit. It is truely meaningful. As Japan NGO Forum, we would like Japanese government to show leadership in Toyako summit with due consideration for not only the benefits of its own nation but also that of around the world. "
■Mr. Kono (Foreign Ministry) "No time to spare for Toyako summit"
After Ms. Hoshino's speech, Mr. Masaharu Kono, G8 Sherpa, from Foreign Ministry had a keynote speech about preparing process of Japanese government toward G8 summit and the main themes of discussion including world economy, global warming, development and Africa, and political problems like nonproliferation. He declared that the government would set a stage for dialogue with NGOs from around the world in April. At the end of his speech, he said, "There is no time to spare for dealing with global issues. Japan cannot take responsiblity as hostpreparing process country without having global view rather than concerning its own benefits. We are going to have full discussion for three days in Toyako summit."
■Dialogue
Next, position papers of three units of Japan NGO Forum -- "Poverty and Development Unit", "Environment Unit", and "Peace and Human Right Unit"-- were briefly explained by representatives of each unit (Mr. Masaki Inaba from "Poverty and Development Unit", Mr. Takeshi Yasuma from "Environment Unit", and Mr. Akira Kawasaki from "Peace and Human Right Unit").
Facilitator:
Ms. Mika Obayashi (Environment Unit leader)
Panel: Mr. Masaharu Kono (Foreign Ministry)
Mr. Toshiro Kojima (Environment Ministry)
Ms. Yurika Ayukawa (Japan NGO Forum vice chair)
Mr. Tatsuya Hata (Poverty and Development Unit leader)
Mr. Tetauya Kumaoka (Japan NGO Forum secretary general)
Mr. Koji Akiyama (G8 summit civil forum Hokkaido)
Mr. Kojima from Environment Ministry stated that setting interim goal for environmental change is important, especially the U.S., China, and EU - the world's largest emitter of greenhouse gases - should work hard to reduced the amount of greenhouse gases.
For Japan to show the leadership with congency in Toyako summit, Japan must achieve the domestic goals of reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, Mr. Kojima said.
On the other hand, Ms. Ayukawa insisted that Japanese industrial world has been getting in a way of the government, and Japanese industiral world can be key in Japanese
political activities. She proposed the government to include NGO's opinions in policies.
According to Mr. Kono, how to support economic growth in Africa can be key to the issue of development and Africa. He suggested the importance of trading and investment as well as improving infrastructure and agricultural development. As regard to MDGs, he drew the example of British Prime Minister Mr. Brown in a meeting in Davos, indicating his recognition of limitation in the role of the government and necessity of partnership with private companies. In addition, he said taht keeping the past promises will be a great concern as well as making new commitments in Toyako summit.
Mr. Hata, on the other hand, pointed out that economic growth is surely important but it can also widen the disparity; the role of the government is essential for achieving MDGs especially by increasing the amount of fund, working for global health, achieving "Education for All", and providing developing countries with adaptation fund to climate change.
Mr. Kumaoka told his experiences in dealing with issues of conflicts in Africa and Asia , and his experiences in Okinawa summit. Mr. Akiyama explained that citizens in Hokkaido are going to do various activities towayd Toyako summit and that great concerns will be given for indigenous people in Hokkaido.
Questions and comments from participants included "more concreteness is needed in NGO's proposals", "new financial mechanism like Solidarity Tax seems to be requred to gather adaptation fund to climate change in developing countries", and "What kind of proposal would be effective for proposing issues of peace?"
Overall, this kind of open dialogue between civil society and Japanese government was found to be a precious opportunity. The dialogue was closed with a word from Mr. Masaaki Ohashi, vice chair of Japan NGO Forum, saying that "we would appreciate this sort of opportunity to be set on a regular basis".
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