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++++TCSF English Newsletter No. 16++++ September 5, 2008

Viva! Africa: People's Network across Continents Published by TICAD Civil
Society Forum (TCSF) http://ticad-csf.net/eng/

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After TICAD and G8 by Miki Yoshida, TCSF Fellow
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Here, we are having a silent summer as TICAD and G8 Summit have both
finished. On political level, these two meetings have left welcome promises
and also big challenges.

For example, at TICAD, doubled amount of ODA for Africa and TICAD follow-up
mechanism were promised. But on the other hand, economic growth is too much
focused compared to human security in the discussion and the participation
of civil society is not mentioned clearly in the follow-up mechanism.

For more information, please read the press release by TNnet.
http://www.ticad-csf.net/TNnet/e_press_release.html

As to Toyako G8 Summit, Africa became one of the main topics and the leaders
reconfirmed the need of aid. However, efficient solutions to the issues,
especially to food security, were not proposed.

At the same time, big changes are remarked on social level during the
period.

At first, as you noticed, distance between African and Japanese NGOs became
closer than ever and Japanese government started to recognise the importance
of our participation.

Secondly, Japanese people's attention to Africa has very much increased in
Japan. Certainly, it is because of the change of their mentality, the effort
by NGOs and media.

We have updated the page about the media coverage on our Web Site.
Please take a look at the page and read some articles in English.
http://www.ticad-csf.net/eng/w-group/C-CfA/press.htm

I would like to conclude my message by saying that we need to continue to
advocate people centred Africa policy in front of governments but also to
make our effort to maintain the increase of Japanese people's attention to
Africa. I hope that we can continue to collaborate or collaborate much
further to move closer to our ideal world!!


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Participation of African NGO to "People's Summit 2008"
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Mr Gustave Assah, chair of Civic Commission for Africa (C-CfA), has
participated "People's Summit 2008" held on July 7th, 2008 in Sapporo.
In the international round table "Global Voices to End Poverty", he
evaluated TICAD from the point of view of civil society and approved the
"Sapporo Declaration ~ Global Voices to End Poverty". This declaration
appealing that "G8 must no more repeat nonfulfillment of their commitment"
can been seen in the following page.
http://www.g8ngoforum.org/english/2008/07/sapporodeclaration-global-voi.html


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Visit of African farmer to local farmer in Hokkaido
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On July 8th, a Zambian peasant woman Ms Joyce Mwanje visited agricultural
union and a farmer with the secretary general of her supporting NGO in
Zambia, Mr Joseph Ssuuna. They received the explanation about agriculture,
its support and its problems in Japan, and also their practice in organic
farming and their unique way of production. Then they discussed with
Japanese farmers about the problems that they are facing in Zambia and their
efforts. Furthermore, they exchanged opinions on the aid that African
farmers really need with media persons that have visited for coverage. In
the end, they all tasted the products from the Japanese farmer.


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Renewal of TCSF web page
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Please take a look also at C-CfA's page and the blog of the workshops that
we had last year in Nairobi and Tokyo. We have finally uploaded the PPT
documents used for the presentation by participants.
http://www.ticad-csf.net/eng/w-group/C-CfA/index.htm
http://www.ticad-csf.net/blog/AAngo/aangoenglish/

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Please contact network@ticad-csf.net if you are interested in joining.
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To subscribe/unsubscribe from this list or change your e-mail, please
contact office@ticad-csf.net *This newsletter was edited by the TCSF network
working group
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TICAD Civil Society Forum (TCSF)
http://ticad-csf.net/eng/
news@ticad-csf.net
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