TICAD Civil Society Forum Home Page

1. Messages -Citizens of Africa, Asia and Japan, let's join hands together!-

Mr. Minoru Obayashi, the Representative of TCSF
The Africa Alert is the "voice" of the Forum sent out to those interested in Africa. I believe that this will play a role in improving the policy of the government of Japan, particularly on the Aid for Africa.

Mr. Masao Yoshida, the Representative of Alert Working Group
AWG aims at drawing attention to the issues concerning Japan as well as other countries' Aid to Africa, placing importance on the local point of view through creating a collaborative line between NGOs and CSOs in Africa.
We would like to observe what is happening in Africa, and hope to direct Japanese Aid toward better targets.

2. What is Africa Alert?

Problems that lead the lives of African people to danger have been increasing instead of improving, since the beginning of the 21st century. This reflects an　　　　　insufficient international response to the problems in Africa, and in particular, due to the "long distance", the effectiveness of the Japan response is very often unsatisfactory.
The Africa Alert will send out warnings to both citizens and policy makers of Japan to improve the impact of their assistance based on our own research information provided by our world-wide network of CSOs.

3. AFRICA ALERT

Attention of NGOs, now the situations are worsening in Western Sudan-
According to UNOCHA, the crisis in Darfur, Western Sudan has caused 200,000 refugees fleeing abroad and 1,450,000 are still in the country. A UN Investigation group is asking for "immediate actions" against this "Crime against humanity and war crimes" by the Government of Sudan.

International organizations are now engaged in emergency humanitarian aid
to the victims of this crisis. Accordingly the Japan has already donated
\11,500,000. Our Alert carries the message by Action for Green Sahel and
Doctors without Borders (http://www.msf.or.jp).

"The areas where they accept refugees are very poor and even local people barely make their own livings. These people accommodate refugees whose number has now exceeded the local population, and their environment is
being destroyed rapidly due to deforestation."
We need assistance that addresses the future lives of both local people and the refugees. The funds are lacking and we need your support to enable us to utilize our experience and skills that we have acquired over the past years."
(http://www.jca.apc.org/~sahel)

With the situation taking a turn for the worse, once again, the questions of International as well as the Japan responses arise, and more attention should
be placed on the role played by NGOs. This requires establishing of
fund-raising activities for the NGOs to participate.

4. AFRICA CSO ALERT

"Corruption around the Natural Gas Pipe" by ANEEJ, Nigeria

"The on-going construction project of Liquefied Natural Gas in Bonny Island, Nigeria, implemented by TSKJ, a consortium of Japanese, American, Italian, British and French companies was involved in US$180 million in bribe to
secure the contract. This is in violation of the Anti-Corruption Convention of OECD. We are now carrying out a campaign to stop Halliburton/TSKJ from
obtaining other contracts in Nigeria.
In September, the Nigerian Parliament raised a demand to stop the contract to Halliburton/TSKJ. We are also requesting the governments of Japan and Italy to investigate the companies in their respective countries. We
would be grateful if you support our campaign, and express your collective
political responsibility.
Thank you very much."

5. JAPAN AID ALERT -CSO Alerts the government-

Regarding the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of the UN, the
Millennium Project Team has published a report and recommended the
dissolution of "MDGs Financing Gap" caused by expansion of Aid by various
Donors.
While it is expected that Africa is to be the central topic at the G-8 Summit in Britain this July, MDGs Mid-term review will be held in September at the UN.
What is the response of the government of Japan, and what are the roles of CSOs in Japan?
One of the CSO's crucial roles should be to persistently alert the government about the need for radical reform of their approach on Aid and suggest various measures for shaping up the policies.
Now, more than ever, it is essential to utilize in the policy proposal, the opinions and experiences of CSOs who have valued field activities

Additionally, the CSOs of the world have already initiated the G-CAP (Global
Call to Action Against Poverty). http://www.millennium campaign.org
In Japan, NGOs such as Japan International Volunteer Center (JVC), Africa Japan Forum (AJF), Oxfam Japan, and CSO network have started the "NGO group for preparation of the G-CAP Campaign in Japan".
The 1st issue of Africa Alert carries a message from AJF who is a group member as well as a cooperative member of TCSF.

6. THE VOICE OF AFRICANS IN JAPAN - This needs to be strengthened.

Interview with a Sudanese man who has been living in Japan for 6 years. We asked him what he expects from Japan and his opinion on Japanese society.

"It is very difficult to draw people's interests in Africa. What is really happening in Africa such as genocides and starvation, they are very warring problems. However, the people of Japan may think that they have nothing to do with the problems that are happening somewhere far from their own country. Japanese people do generalize 'Africans'. People from East and West　Africa are not the same. Also they think that we are always cheerful, therefore, always I should act 'cheerfully' or be nice for no obvious reason. Even though in reality, there are many problems and people are dying."