The G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 (7) Panel discussion in the second day’s first session, “Ideas to Action”.

  The following panel discussion, moderated by U.N. Population Fund Senior Advisor Azza Karam, was joined by Ishmael Noko, former general secretary of the Lutheran World Federation; Audrey Kitagawa, chair, Parliament of the World’s Religions; U.S. Agency for International Development General Counsel David Moore; and Joshtrom Issac Kureethadam, director of the Ecology Department, Vatican Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development. 


  Noko, after expressing gratitude for the success of the forum, said she sensed the “birth of a new community” from it. Kitagawa emphasized that the dialogue platform is “extremely important” and said she benefited from “heart-to-heart connections.” 


  Moore stressed the significance of religion’s role while Kureethadam reminded the audience to think of the poorest and weakest first. 


(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July9, 2019）

The G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 (6) Remarks in the second day’s first session, “Ideas to Action”.

 On June 9, the first session’s theme was “Ideas to action.” WFDD’S Marshall greeted the audience before remarks by Machel and Key.

 Machel focused on the importance of education for children and the necessity of providing education for refugee children. She pointed out that 91 percent of the world’s non-refugee elementary children attend school, while only a half of refugee children attend school, referring to statistics by UNICEF and the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees.

  Machel said, “Refugee children deserve mental and physical care,” adding that pregnant and child-rearing refugees also need adequate nutrition as the first 1000 days are critical for babies to have healthy bodies. She also stressed that we must demand that governments, nongovernmental organizations and society contribute to the education of refugees.

  She also stressed the importance of the transition from elementary to secondary education or refugees, referring to the UNHCR statistics that indicate only 23 percent of refugee children attend secondary schools.

  She mentioned the main mantra od SDGs, “Leave no one behind,” and urged the international community to take action.



  New Zealand’s former Prime Minister Key raised hopes that it is “human nature that we want to help,” referring to donations and volunteers after the quakes and tsunami in Japan following the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and similar aid offered to other countries after disasters.

 He also mentioned that it is human nature to forgive, referring to his reflection after trips to Hiroshima Park.

  He then stressed achievements made in terms of SGDs in recent years. He said, “Access to clean water has improved, poverty has decreased and education has dramatically improved…We have great concerns, but most importantly, we have hope.”

Former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key

WSD

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July9, 2019）

The G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 (5) Remarks and panel discussion in the second session

 The second session, “Action Agendas: Testing Ideas with Experience from Field Realities,” began with a greeting by Koichi Hagiuda, executive acting secretary-general of the Liberal Democratic Party.

  Hagiuda read a message from Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, saying, “Japanese live their lives cherishing peace. I believe in the significance of the G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 and I have high expectations for its positive influence.”

  A panel discussion followed, with former Archbishop of Canterbury George Carey as moderator. Its participants were Gerrit Gong of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Latter-day Saints; Bishop Emeritus of Oslo Gunnar Stalsett; Denise Coghlan of the Jesuit Refugee Service in Cambodia and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate; KAICIID Senior Advisor Mohammed Abu-Nimer, Ganoune Diop, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty, of the Seventh-day Adventist Church; and Adventist Development and Relief Association President Jonathan Duffy.

  Gong discussed the importance of environmental preservation by quoting the late Emperor Showa, “Why haven’t I seen butterflies lately?” He also noted local volunteers in Haiti’s efforts to plant 25000 trees. He also stressed the need to initiate more such activities.

  Coghan focused on youths, calling for the eradication of human trafficking. She said, “Slave labor and human trafficking are crimes against humanity.” Abu-Nimer stressed the need to understand and accept differences and noted that dialogue is essential.

  Diop warned that there are still many children who were displaced from their homes due to war and violence. Duffy stressed better representation for children’s rights. 

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July9, 2019）

The G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 (4) Panel discussion in the first session

Following Cameron’s speech, a panel discussion was held with Cameron, Kenny, Key and Graca Machel, an advocate for women and children. She is the widow of both South African President Nelson Mandela and Mozambican President Samora Machel as well.

  Regarding refugees, Machel argued that 85 percent of refugees in the world flee to developing countries and the scale of refugee movement is growing. She dismissed an allegation that refugees increase terrorism as this stems in part from irresponsible voices on social network sites.

  Key agreed to her, because there are many different types of terrorists, noting that the March mosque shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand, was not perpetrated by refugees. He said, “Countries should maintain proper programs to accept refugees.”

   Referring to the SDG’s, Cameron said he contributed to the creation of Goal 1, which promotes just, peaceful and inclusive societies, in the process of creating the SDGs--successors of the Millennium Development Goals—as justice is essential to taking sustainable measures to tackle poverty. 

Graca Machel

WSD

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July9, 2019）

The G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 (3) David Cameron's remarks

  Following the remarks, the first session, 'Why We Can Hope: Peace, People and Planet,' started off with remarks from Cameron. He argued that politics should address and correct economic and social segregation. He commented that threats mankind is facing, such as poverty, have basically not changed over time, and the world sholud be united to tackle such problems. He added that world unity is getting stronger as the G20 and other platforms promote international cooperation. He said, "It is important that countries cooperate with each other. Dialogue is important, but we need concrete action."
  He also stressed the importance of economic growth, saying, "Britain achieved growth during my tenure, creating employment. Eradicating poverty, securing access to clean water and doing other things for poor countires requires money, and thus leadership by wealthy countries is necessary."

Former British Prime Minister David Cameron

WSD

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July9, 2019）

The G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 (2) Dr.Handa's Opening Remarks

    The WSD Chairman Dr.Haruhisa Handa hosted this year's forum. The venue was Hotel New Otani Makuhari, in Chiba Prefecture on June 8. He stressed that religious voices should be included in the context of wolrd peace and prosperity, saying, "G20 leaders cannot ignore religious leaders as 84 percent of the world's population is religiously affiliated," referring to the demographic studies published in December 2012 by the Pew Research Center's Forum on Religion and Public Life.

  Dr.Handa's opening remarks were followed by greetings from other leaders, including WFDD Executive Director Katherine Marshall, KAICIID Secretary General Faisal bin Abdulrahman bin Muaammar and Cole Durham, founding director of the International Cener for Law and Religion Studies at Brigham Young University and chairman of the G20 Interfaith Forum.

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July9, 2019）

The G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 (1)

  On June 8 and 9, the G20 Interfaith Forum Japan 2019 was held. Representatives from various religious groups, nonprofit organiations and former political leaders discussed world peace, welfare, environment and other global issues. Durinng the forum, prominent speakers including former British Prime Minister David Cameron, former New Zealand Prime Minister John Key and former Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny.
  The forum had 4000 audiences and 34 speakers over the two days. Key organizers of the forum were Worldwide Support for Development(WSD), the G20 Interfaith Forum Association, the World Faiths Development Dialogue(WFDD), and the King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue(KAICIID), under the auspices of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
  The organizers met with policy recommendations based on their discussions for the G20 leaders, who met in Osaka on June 28 and 29 to discuss global issues.
  The 2019 forum was the sixth. This time, the forum offered an annual platform where a network of religiously linked institutions and initiatives engage on global agendas, notably the UN's Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs).
  Since 2014, the G20 Interfaith Forum has been held every year in the G20 summit host countries, issuing policy recommendations to urge G20 leaders to take action.

Audience listening to a panel discussion

WSD

(source: THE JAPAN TIMES, July9, 2019）