Dear Mr Prime Minister,

-Policy Recommendations to the Heads of States participating in the 2008 G8 Summit-

The Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit meeting starting on 7 July 2008 will be an important opportunity for you to make a difference and take the lead in making decisions that will affect the future course of this planet . We trust that the Government of Japan has been working towards making this year’s G8 Summit a great success. As you will be the Chair of the G8 Summit meeting, Mr. Prime Minister, we, the citizens of Japan and from around the world, would like to share our humble requests with you.

At the G8 Summit meetings in the recent past, the heads of the G8 countries held dialogues with civil society as an integral part of the preparatory process. For this year’s G8 Summit, more than 100 Japanese NGOs working on diverse global issues have come together to form a Forum. The Forum would like to submit to you its recommendations on policies as well as concrete actions to be taken as solutions to the challenges that the world faces today. We strongly hope that these recommendations will be taken into account during the discussions and reflected in the final communique of the Hokkaido Toyako G8 Summit, We also expect that the promises made at Toyako will be followed by concrete actions of the G8 governments.

Our recommendations include the main points as listed below:

Environment:

The G8 countries must take action to reverse climate change, preserve biodiversity, and stop the exportation of hazardous waste to developing countries. Japan must set for itself ambitious goals for reducing the green house gas emissions, and give more consideration to conserving biodiversity. Japan must also support developing countries in dealing with these issues. The developed countries must stop their disposal of unwanted hazardous waste in the territories of the developing countries.

Poverty

Ending poverty is a common goal worldwide as it is upheld by the United Nations and its member states . Halving poverty and ensuring universal access to health services and education by the year 2015 are some of the specific objectives towards that common goal. However, the developed countries have not kept the promises they had made to accomplish these objectives. In pursuit of overcoming poverty, the G8 countries must give aid in greater quality and quantity to the people who need it the most.

Human Rights and Peace

It has been 60 years since the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted. However, widening inequality, violations of human rights, and violence and militarization continue as global trends up to this day . For building a peaceful world where the rights of every individual are respected, the G8 countries must make progress on nuclear disarmament and take substantial steps for conflict prevention and peace building.

The discussions during the G8 Summit meeting should take into account the voices of citizens from around the world so that the meeting maintains an open character to make its results fruitful. At this year’s Summit meeting, we ask the G8 heads of state to listen to the voices of the people and to take action together with the people. For that, we ask you, Mr Prime Minister, to please take careful note of your responsibility as the Chair of the G8 Summit meeting and commit to take a strong leadership in your hands.