“ECONOMIC, SOCIAL & CULTURAL
IMPORTANCE OF THE WORLD’S RICE
CONSUMING POPULATION.” |
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“Rice is Life”, ISF’s Midday Workshop Report
 The
International Shinto Foundation was honored to be selected
as presenter of a Midday Workshop for the 57th Annual DPI/NGO
Conference at the United Nations, September 8-10, 2004, entitled
“Millennium Development Goals: Civil Society Takes Action.”
As 2004 was designated International Year of Rice by the
United Nations, and Japan, the world
leader in the production, consumption and use of rice, as
a cultural organization, ISF and their NGO partners presented
their perspective during the Midday Workshop, on Thursday,
September 9th, “Economic, Social & Cultural Importance
of the World’s Rice Consuming Population.”
 The
ISF sponsored program included distinguished guest speaker
Ambassador Lauro L. Baja, Jr. Permanent Representative from
the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Philippines to
the United Nations, and his speech entitled ”Rice and the
Filipinos: Reducing Poverty, Aiming for Self-Sufficiency;”
Dr. Florence A. Chenoweth, Director of the Food and Agricultural
Organization Liaison Office with the United Nations, presenting
“The Importance of Rice In Achievening the Millennium Development
Goals;” Dr. Toshinao Yoneyama, Professor Emeritus Kyoto University,
representing  ISF,
spoke about the “Cultural Values of Rice ― on the basis of
Japanese history.” Our moderator, Dr. Hanifa Mezoui, Chief,
NGO Section, Department of Economic & Social Affairs,
United Nations opened the 90 minute session with introduction
by ISF Director General, Yoshimi Umeda, followed by individual
speaker presentation, then question and answer session. Over
100 people attended the ISF sponsored workshop, one of 30
presented during the three day Conference.
 In
concluding the conference, ISF presented their Statement which
will be included in the final declaration of the 57th Annual
DPI/NGO Conference, Millennium Development Goals; Civil Society
Takes Action. To view ISF supported Statement, please see
below “ISF UN Statement.”
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STATEMENT
“The slogan of the International Year of Rice 2004
is “Rice is Life.” The first paragraph of the UN Millennium
Development Goals emphasizes the eradication of extreme
poverty and hunger, aiming to reduce by fifty percent
the number of persons living on less than one dollar
a day. And, consequently, the goal is to reduce by half
the number of people who suffer from hunger. It is significant,
therefore, that more than half of the world’s population
rely on rice as their staple food. The Japanese, for
example, enjoy the longest life span in the world .
. . their staple food is rice.
We, as representatives of civil societies, are gathered
in these NGO workshops dealing with the economic, social
and cultural issues that impact the world’s rice-consuming
population. Therefore, it is our wish to join hands
with like-minded NGOs associated with the UN Millennium
Development Goals and strengthen the alliance between
civil society and the goals and principles of ECOSOC.
It is through close partnerships with ECOSOC and its
departments, such as the NGOs sections of DESA and DPI,
that we are able to best achieve a strengthened and
enhanced role of civil society. Commitment, understanding,
and the transfer of information from the NGOs sections
to the NGOs and vice versa has helped maintain the fundamental
and central contributions that civil societies make
to the United Nations particularly in the achievement
of the Millennium Development Goals. As a result of
these alliances it is our ambition to employ our best
efforts and resources to help promote better methods
of increasing rice production in those countries that
lack modern methods for improving rice production, thereby
reducing the number of people who suffer from hunger
and thus, aiding in the achievement of the Millennium
Development Goals.
The International Shinto Foundation, the sponsor of
this workshop is dedicated to making such endeavors
more effective than in the past. We present this statement
for inclusion into the final concluding declarations
of the 57th DPI/NGO Conference.”
ON BEHALF OF OUR GUEST SPEAKERS AND PARTICIPATING
ORGANIZATIONS,
I SUBMIT THIS STATEMENT.
Signed by: Yoshimi Umeda, Director General
International Shinto Foundation, Inc.
September 9, 2004 |
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| Following the Midday Workshop presentation,
ISF hosted a Reception/Lecture at one of New York’s most popular
Japanese restaurants, EAST. Guests from the UN Community to
include a number of Ambassadors and Mission personnel attended
and enjoyed “Cultural Values of Rice” Lecture by Professor
Toshinao Yoneyama; Rice demonstration by Chef Satoshi Kitabayashi;
Tea Ceremony by Mushakouji Senke Bokusui-Kai, NY; and Japanese
Koto player Ms. Mayuko Fujita. ISF greatly appreciates the
community support for the Reception by the Permanent Mission
of Japan to the United Nations and the Consulate General of
Japan in New York. In addition, the generous contribution
of Rice Balls by Cafe Ombs/b and Rice Sweets by Minamoto Kitchoan
for the event.
ISF is an NGO accredited by DPI and in a special consultative
status with ECOSOC of the United Nations.
Prepared by Kathy Hobbs
September 21, 2004 |
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