On October 24, JOICFP organized a media seminar entitled, "Thinking about ODA from different angles," to sum up the outcomes from a series of discussions on the future of Japan's ODA held from January to May 2007.　

More than 30 media representatives attended the seminar, and resource persons, including Yasushi Akashi, President of JOICFP and the Council on Population Education (CPE), participated as panelists.

A view of the media seminar

Panelists shared with media people their firm awareness of the issues surrounding Japan's ODA, including the need to think about ODA not only as a foreign policy but also as a tool to shape Japan's future in the international community.

To further this, Japan's ODA has to be proactive and make the international community and Japan realize Japan's vision and global policy.

Comments were also made that Japan should focus on constructing an "all-Japan" system both at the field level where ODA projects are implemented and at the domestic level where public support for ODA is generated, based on well recognized benefits of Japan's ODA to Japanese people themselves.

The role of mass media in shaping public opinion, especially that of senior media personnel who can discuss the overall picture of ODA, was also emphasized.

Referring to TICAD IV and the next G8 Summit, both to be held in 2008 in Japan, Sumie Ishii, Executive Director, JOICFP, talked about activities of the 2008 G8 Summit NGO Forum in which JOICFP participates as an active member of the health working group, emphasizing the advocacy role of NGOs towards G8.

A proposal for Japan's ODA, "Toward Strengthening International Cooperation from a Different Approach" (click here for a copy of the text), which was made based on the early discussions, was also shared with the seminar participants.

Preceding the media seminar, the proposal was submitted to cabinet ministers, parliamentary members and the media to strengthen realization of the following recommendations:

- International cooperation to realize the theme of the "Earth and Humans Living Together in Harmony"

- Review the ODA reduction policy implemented in the past 8 years and increase ODA in FY2008 in order for Japan to take greater responsibility in world peace and stability.

- Achieve the internationally agreed target of 0.7 percent of GNP to be allocated to ODA at the earliest possible time.

- Pay greater attention to the plight of poverty and HIV/AIDS prevalence in Africa from the human security point of view, and increase ODA allocation to help facilitate the solution to these issues.

- Promote education on international understanding in schools in order to realize "international cooperation supported by the nation."