The United Nations and The ISF
The ISF was formed to introduce the qualities of Shinto (Japan’s indigenous religion); to disseminate Japanese culture; to organize symposiums on Shinto; to promote the establishment of Shinto chairs at universities and other institutions; to establish an international Shinto library; to promote the publication of books on Shinto and produce a comprehensive Shinto dictionary in the English language; to offer venues for the discussion of Shinto research; to encourage the study of Shinto; to produce literature and organize event which will enhance better understanding of Shinto; and to do any other act or thing incidental to or connected with the foregoing purposes or in advancement thereof, and to solicit contributions, receive and maintain fund of real or personal property, or both and subject to the restrictions and limitations hereinafter act forth, to use and apply the whole or any part of the income therefrom and the principal thereof exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes either directly or by contributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or corresponding provisions of any subsequent law (the “Code”).
Conferences and Briefings
The 62nd Annual DPI/NGO Conference “Disarm Now!” in Mexico City
09/09/2009
On September 9th-11th, 2009, some 1,300 representatives of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) associated with the United Nations from more than 50 countries around the world gathered in Mexico City to attend the sixty-second annual DPI/NGO Conference organized by the UN Department of Public Information (DPI) and Mexican Government. This conference took the theme “Disarm Now!: for peace and development” featured a roster of distinguished presenters to discuss the varied issues relating how to abolish nuclear weapons as global view and disarmament in civil society. There were representative of NGOs, staff of the United Nations, public officers of Mexican government and public officers from each country’s government.
The Secretary-General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-Moon attended the opening ceremony and addressed his commitment to disarmament as quoted his deep personal regret that his homeland Republic of Korea still suffers from the threat of nuclear weapons even though neighboring Japan experienced atomic bombs.
The conference was concluded by declaration in final day, stating “conference participants guided for nuclear disarmament and alarmed that 1,000 people were killed every day by small arms and 3,000 more were seriously injured, called for strict Government regulation over the sale, trade, possession and use of small arms, as well as strong support for an effective arms trade treaty for all types of conventional weapons.” The International Shinto Foundation was represented by Officer Masafumi Nakanishi during the whole days. He seriously felt the need of peace all over the world in conjunction with the conferee’s vow so as to pray for peace of the world as a man of religion.
Conferences and Briefings
The 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference
09//2007The 60th Annual DPI/NGO Conference, entitled “Climate Change”: How It Impacts Us All” organized by the United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) in collaboration with the NGO/DPI Executive Committee was held from 5 to 7 September 2007 at the United Nations Headquarters. This Annual conference is occurred for the purpose of promoting information to the people from all over the world, thereby contributing to efforts for tackling important issues facing the world.
Mr.Kiyotaka Akasaka, UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, chaired the opening ceremony of the conference, and emphasized that 2007 marked the 60th Annual Conference since the next year of the founding of the UN, thus the UN and NGO relationship committed to strengthening every year.
International Shinto Foundation (ISF) was accredited as an NGO associated with DPI in 1997. Since then ISF has been sending its representatives to the DPI/NGO Conferences, making financial contributions, and involved in the fields of international cooperation, development, disarmament, human rights, peace-making and civil activities.
DPI is banding together with NGO strongly to have NGO access to the issues undertaken by UN thereby it could send the information on aim that UN shoot for.
Rev. Nobuyo Otagaki, ISF representative, tried to attend as many midday workshops as possible that dealt with more specific aspects of environmental degradation, especially, how the world religions can commit and share this important issue
Especially, a workshop represented by the religious leaders as a panelists, of Christianity and Islam, Hinduism was impressive one. First of all, they all agreed in the same opinion that every religion is respecting to connect with nature and human being, and putting an importance on the decreasing of poverty and having the link and networks with all of the people through the world. Based on this opinion, each of the religious leaders discussed about how they contribute to the environmental issue, for instance, having a chance to discuss about this or making a voluntary contribution to the organization of the conservation of nature to protect the marine animals, and everyday worship for the world peace.
During the question-and-answer session, many participants asked actively. One question by the Islamic person was impressive as he said “you religious leaders ideas seemed like too optimistic, because I am working for an oil company. If I respect too much for the nature I would lose my job. How do you describe this situation on this civilized time?” This would be a urgent question for most of the people concerning with religion like me in a middle of development and preservation of the tradition.
The workshop concluded: ”It might be impossible to halt the development of convenient world in the modern time, but there is a truth in our mind to find the right way and the role of religion is sending the way of having the right evolution of human spirituality.“
Once, it used to be considered that a religion respect only the faith of their own and others were thought to be heretical. But, nowadays each religion became to focus on the validity to enter into partnership with the other religion to create world peace. By participating the three-day event I found that NGOs are approaching the environmental issue in various aspects, and the religion could tackle with the issue in two aspects which are preserving the nature and protecting the people from the fear of the nature.
When these works on the environmental
issue, the religion would be more meaningful. I hope ISF would approach
activity for world peace as well.
(Report by Rev. Nobuyo Otagaki, Officer of ISF New York Center)