International Affairs-Unecosoc

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Section Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA) United Nations

High-Level Segment Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) United Nations

Asian NGOs' Proposals on the "Role of the United Nations System in Supporting the Efforts of African Countries to Achieve Sustainable Development"

Report by
Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) - International

18 April , 2001
Tokyo, Japan

Contents Paragraphs Pages

I. Background Information
II. Proposals by Respective NGOs
III. Concluding Remarks
Name & Title of NGO Officers in Charge of
Contributing to This Proposal 　

I. Background Information

In December 2000, the Headquarters of the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) - International, received a fax letter from Dr. Hanifa Mezoui, Chief of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO) Section, Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations (UN). The letter invited OISCA to study the opinions of Asian NGOs on the theme of the "Role of the United Nations System in Supporting the Efforts of African Countries to Achieve Sustainable Development," report the results to the NGO Section in the form of a written document, and to present the report at the High-Level Segment meeting of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) held in July 2001 at Geneva.
OISCA accepted this proposal, as we saw multiple potential merits in it. We realized that our playing an active role in this project could possibly 1) contribute to the betterment of African lives, 2) help institutionalize the system of NGO participation in the High-Level Segment of ECOSOC, and 3) enhance the presence and recognition of Asian views at the highest echelons of the global community.
During February, OISCA reached a large number of Asian NGOs, mostly by fax, informing them about this project and particularly encouraging those NGOs with substantial experience in Africa to participate. Regarding the Asian NGOs based outside of Japan, OISCA obtained from the NGO Section a list of over one hundred NGOs that have the General or Special consultative status with ECOSOC, and that collectively represent thirteen countries between Pakistan and the Fiji Islands. We believe that some eighty NGOs based outside of Japan received, either through fax or e-mail, our invitation to send us a proposal written in English.
Regarding the NGOs based in Japan, we faxed a few dozen organizations active in the developing world, inviting them to a meeting to exchange views over the theme. On 26 February, representatives of nine NGOs, all having African experience, gathered and discussed the subject. Dr. Masao Yoshida, who is the Vice-President of Japan Association for African Studies as well as the Chairperson of a prominent networking NGO, Africa-Japan Forum, presided at the meeting as Chair. The participants were generally delighted to see this concrete manifestation of the UN's recognition of Asian NGOs. With a sole exception, all organizations participating in that meeting eventually presented their proposals to OISCA in Japanese.
As for the Asian NGOs based outside of Japan, over a dozen NGOs responded to our message. The responses were typically light and friendly, although a number of them admitted that they did not qualify to act as a contributor as they have not been involved in Africa. Eventually OISCA received proposals from six organizations, among which two are based in India, and the rest are in South Korea, Thailand, Malaysia, and Pakistan.
In Section II below, we pay attention to the proposal(s) made by each of the participant NGOs in this project. In turn, Section III will provide concluding remarks, followed by the names and titles of NGO officers in charge of contributions to this proposal.

II. Proposals by Respective NGOs
In the following, we shall discuss the proposal(s) made by the fourteen Asian NGOs, most of them with substantial African experience, on the theme of the "Role of the United Nations System in Supporting the Efforts of African Countries to Achieve Sustainable Development." We begin with the NGOs based outside of Japan, and then turn attention to the NGOs based in Japan.
The World Muslim Congress (WMC), based in Pakistan, recognizes that today's humanity as a whole - including both the developing world and the industrialized countries - are facing grave problems. To improve the situation, the UN should confront "the scourges of drug abuse and alcoholism, which are the basic causes of domestic violence, fatal health problems, destruction of the institution of family, and economic stress, as well as premarital and extramarital affaires, which further cause health hazards such as HIV/AIDS, the problem of unwanted pregnancies and the rising incidence of divorce." Additionally, the battle against "the threat to environmental deterioration, which was addressed by the Kyoto Agreement, needs further support and boost by the UN through information programs organized especially by the NGOs." (This statement is also endorsed by the World Council of Muslim Communities.)
The Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture (SERFAC) based in India presented the most substantial proposal, including fifty-seven specific recommendations. The recommendations reflect the general observation that, although "Family is the center of every community and society," it has not gained "sufficient attention and focus in the development vision, planning and execution," thus causing the failure of development activities in Africa and elsewhere. The UN should employ "Family" as a central unit, and promote healthy families by a multi-dimensional approach that involves counseling and therapy services for couples, sex and conflict-management education at schools, the establishment of women's and children's rights against various abuses, etc.
The Institute of International Social Development (IISD) based in India believes that African sustainable development could be attained only through a multi-level approach that elevates lives both physically and spiritually. Improvement in the physical dimension requires: economic policies, including the enhancement of skilled labor and prevention of exploitation by middlemen; and health administration, including the prevention of birth defects, provision of children's immunization programs, promotion of organic food products, etc. Improvement in the spiritual dimension can be attained by the infusion of proper values through education, which promotes "less selfish, less power hungry and less heartless" personalities, and by providing "the opportunity to do soul-searching," which helps to keep people away from "frustration, anger, fear," etc.
The World Fellowship of Buddhists (WFB) is based in Thailand and submitted a proposal prepared by its representative in Tanzania. They feel it is crucial to support Africans handicapped economically or physically. To alleviate impoverishment, such measures as providing tube wells and appropriate vocational training are instrumental. Concerning the physically handicapped, "provision of support instruments such as tricycles, reading glasses, artificial legs, hearing aids and supporting them in being self employed could be of great benefit to the community." The proposal also calls for urgent attention to HIV/AIDS issues, including preventive education for the general public, counseling services to the infected, and assistance to children of infected parents and orphans.
The proposal of the World Assembly of Youth (WAY), based in Malaysia, consists of short-term and long-term recommendations. Immediate objectives should include: food and water security; "action on environmental issues"; "combating the HIV/AIDS epidemic"; "strengthening the capacity of donor countries to respond effectively to the emergency requests of African countries"; etc. Long-term goals should include: political development leading to the establishment of public authorities who protect the interests of the poor; equitable distribution of land that gives small farmers the opportunity to elevate their conditions; and promotion of appropriate industrialization, employment opportunity through human resource development, trade policies sensitive to the local needs, and diversification of socio-economic activities in the rural world.
The Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) presents a proposal focused on two points. 1) Regarding the HIV/AIDS issue, the UN should press countries that have developed anti-AIDS medicines to give them to African countries without charge. 2) Regarding the environmental issue, the UN has been excessively research and academically oriented. Instead, the UN should throw support to the environmental NGOs with grassroots connections, and thus raise the peoples' awareness and power to protect and promote their own environment.
The Africa-Japan Forum (AJF) concentrates on the issue of the external debt cancellation for African states. Currently, 41 nations in the world are classified as Heavily Indebted Poor Countries, and 33 of them are found in Africa where governments are allocating a large portion of their national budgets to foreign debt repayments, at the expense of financing welfare and development programs that are essential to alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable development. It is crucial that the UN continues to encourage the movement to cancel that burden placed upon the poorer countries. The UN can also promote a system which secures the allocation of financial resources made available by the cancellation of debt to the sectors most in need in African societies, through the participation of the debtor and creditor states, international organizations, and local NGOs.
The Association for Aid and Relief (AAR), Japan, realizes that although the problems confronting African societies are profound and devastating, the Japanese public remains largely uninformed about them and consequently holds only weak concerns. In contrast, the UN is a major target of Japan's media attention, and many citizens pay attention to its developments. It follows that, if the UN underlines the urgent need to face and tackle problems in Africa, then it is likely that a greater segment of Japanese public will develop an interest in African issues. Additionally, through constructive participation in the form of consultation with and persuasion of African governments, the UN can work with NGOs to ensure that designated beneficiaries receive the assistance they need.
The Community Action Development Organisation (CanDo) proposes that the UN makes a greater commitment to coordinate its activities with African governmental institutions and NGOs. It witnessed in Kenya, for instance, a situation where the World Food Programme was operating an emergency food distribution project and not allowing government officials to participate in that process, thus provoking the sense of alienation and resentment among the latter. Yet, the goal of "sustainable development" in any African country by necessity requires the capacity-building of the African state. Therefore, the UN should seek to elevate the ability of state officials by actively incorporating them into the implementation of its projects.
The proposal to the UN from the Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP) involves three specific recommendations. 1) Create a "Japan NGO Special Fund" in the UN funding system for NGOs that would designate a proportion of funds, which equals the proportion of Japan's contribution to the UN in comparison with the total contribution to the UN, to be given exclusively to Japanese NGOs. Also, Japanese NGOs would have the status of executing agency rather than of sub-contractor in implementing projects using those funds. 2) Establish a system in which a NGO of any nationality, if it holds General or Special consultative status with UN ECOSOC and receives a financial or material contribution from a corporation, can receive a certain fixed percentage of matching funds from the UN. 3) Give highest priority to those projects that directly benefit African societies at the grassroots level.
The OISCA School for Global Cooperation proposes that the UN plays a "bridging" role between African countries and Japanese NGOs. It seems that many Africans have the impression that Japan only has business corporations and that NGOs from industrialized nations tend to be disruptive to and destructive of the indigenous traditions and customs. However, in reality Japan has NGOs that respect local heritages and seek to improve situations by working through the established framework of local culture and community. The UN's introduction of such Japanese NGOs may lead to the substantial betterment of African societies.
The Peace Boat United People's Alliance Aid (Peace Boat UPA-AID) recommends that the UN does not confine its assistance for African countries to such conventional spheres as promotion of economic development, supplying food and medicine, etc. Although these types of support are certainly crucial, activities like international exchange programs, construction of sports fields, movie theaters, and libraries, etc., should not be forgotten. These types of things are essential to allow ordinary Africans to attain broader world-views and give them at least moments of fun and relief in their typically difficult life in poverty.
The proposal by the Sasakawa Africa Association (SAA) - which promotes smallholders' self-reliance by improving their ability to produce more and market the surplus - critiques the food relief administration by the World Food Programme (WFP). Supposedly the WFP prefers to obtain relief foods domestically, yet it often imports from overseas due to such factors as the urgency to procure foods, difficulties to obtain domestically produced foods or to transport them, and higher costs associated with domestic food procurement. Consequently, the local price levels become suppressed, thus undermining the goal of promoting the self-reliance of rural communities. In view of Africa's long-term interests, therefore, it is essential that the WFP construct a system of local procurement of relief foods through discussions with African governments.
Finally, the Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement (OISCA) - International, an environmental-agricultural NGO, urges the UN to promote harmony at two levels: 1) the human orientation toward nature, and 2) inter-human relations. First, it is urgent to confine deforestation and desertification that are increasingly threatening food and water security. Corrective measures needed not only include those targeting the environment per se, but also education that redirects the human orientation toward nature; and not just education for Africans, but for all humanity, whose activities impact Mother Earth as a whole. Second, the UN must make its best efforts to avert armed conflict, which was prevalent in Africa during the past decade. As is known, any large-scale physical strife causes many human casualties, wipes away developmental progress, and most effectively destroys the essential environmental bases.

III. Concluding Remarks
The above reveals that the participating Asian NGOs' concrete proposals to the UN are truly diverse. The noted focal unit or actor ranged from the African individual, family, government, international NGO, industrialized world, and global community to the UN itself. Similarly, the suggested problems to be tackled were also diverse, including: material scarcity and debt; illness and disability; indifference, prejudice and conflict; environmental deterioration; and the institutional and administrative features of the UN.
In spite of such heterogeneity in concrete recommendations, however, the NGOs participating in this Proposal are unanimous in hoping to see improvements in African conditions, enhanced opportunities for NGO participation in UN affairs, and an increased recognition of Asian perspectives by the rest of the world. And to the extent that this project allowed us to contribute to such goals, we are grateful to the NGO Section of DESA for having invited us to take part in it. Thank you.

Name &Title of NGO Officers in Charge of
Contributions to This Proposal
(In alphabetical order of NGOs represented.)

Africa-Japan Forum (Japan):
Dr. Masao Yoshida, Chairperson; Ms. Noriko Watase, Vice Chairperson; Mr. Shinsuke Kawauchi, Board Member.
Association for Aid and Relief (Japan):
Ms. Yuko Goto, Coordinator.
Community Action Development Organisation (Japan):
Mr. Nobuhiro Kunieda, Executive Director.
Institute of International Social Development (India):
Mr. Shomik Chaudhuri, UN Representative.
Japanese Organization for International Cooperation in Family Planning (Japan):
Mr. Hideki Takahashi, Director, Resource Development & Domestic Campaign Division.
Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (South Korea):
Ms. Kim Choony, Chief of International Affairs.
OISCA School for Global Cooperation (Japan):
Mr. Nobuo Takabe, Educator.
Organization for Industrial, Spiritual and Cultural Advancement - International (Japan):
Mr. Michiyasu Arayashiki, Executive Officer in charge of Overseas Affairs; Mr. Fumio Kitsuki, Deputy Secretary General in charge of Overseas Affairs; Dr. Yukio Kamino, Chief of International Coordination.
Peace Boat United People's Alliance Aid (Japan):
Mr. Yoshinori Shimizu, Member of Executive Committee, Peace Boat;
Mr. Tsuneyo Tanaka, Coordinator, Peace Boat UPA-AID.　
Sasakawa Africa Association (Japan):
Mr. Masataka Minagawa, General Manager.
Service and Research Foundation of Asia on Family and Culture (India):
Dr. Sr. Catherine Bernard, Director.
World Assembly of Youth (Malaysia):
Mr. Donald Charumbira, Secretary General.
World Fellowship of Buddhists (Thailand):
Dr. Nantasarn Seesalab, Hon. Secretary-General; Hon. Rev. Ilukpitiye Pannasekara Thero, Chief Sanghanayaka for the African Continent.
World Muslim Congress (Pakistan):
H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Omar Nasseef, President; Mr. Raja Zafarul Haq, Secretary-General; Dr. Malik Sardar Khan, Executive Councillor and Permanent U.N. Representative. (World Council of Muslim Communities: H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Omar Nasseef, President; Dr. Malik Sardar Khan, Secretary-General.)

KOREAN FEDERATION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT

Classification Status Requested : Special

2. Headquarters Address

110-042 Nooha-Dong 251
Chongro-Ku Seoul, Korea
TEL (82 2) 735-7000
FAX (82 2) 730-1240
E-mail: kfem@kfem.or.kr

3. Date Founded

2 April, 1993

Korean Federation for Environmental Movement (KFEM) was constituted on 2 April, 1993 to continue the work of several previously existing civil environmental movements, including the Korean Anti-Pollution Movement Association (KAPMA, founded 1988).

4. International or National

KFEM is a national organization

5. Aims

To protect the environmental rights denoted in the constitution, to change an environmentally hazardous industrial system to a safe system, to reduce pollution and to advocate development of sustainable technology, to publicize information regarding environmental issues, to provide environmental education to all citizens, to restore and preserve the quality of the air and water, to contribute to the development of regional autonomy, in order to ensure that government policies reflect the concerns of local citizens, and to ensure the widespread participation and organization of citizens in the environmental movement.

To achieve our goals, we use the following means:

a. Regional and local activities with our 30 nationwide chapters,

b. Education and public relations to enhance the public's awareness of local and global environmental issues,

c. Conduct scientific research and prepare in-depth reports on findings to intelligently advise decision-makers about environmental problems and their solutions,

d. Provide active support to citizens in locally damaged areas,

e. Undertake legal action to address environmental problems,

f. Cooperation and collaboration with social and environmental groups on the local, regional, and international levels.

6. Structure

a. Decision-making

The General Assembly is the supreme decision-making body of KFEM. It consists of the Co-representatives, the Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General, the Director of each local branch office, the Directors of the main office, representatives of main organizations and institutions, representatives of the Central Executive Commitee, and representatives recommended by local branches, in a ratio of 1 representative per 100 members. The General Assembly elects the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson of the Assembly and the Policy and Planning Director, adopts and amends the Platform, Statutes, and major policies of KFEM, appoints members of the Permanent Executive Committee, appoints the Co-Representatives, approves the establishment of affiliated institutions and branch offices, and approves action plans and statements of accounts. The General Assembly meets once a year and at the request of the Central Executive Committee or of at least 20 representatives.

The Central Executive Committee (CEC) consists of the members of the Board of KFEM and 10 members designated by the General Assembly. It meets four times a year and is responsible for approving appointments of central office staff above the Director level, for election of members to the Permanent Executive Committee, for approving the establishment of special committees, for enactment of and revision to the Rules and Regulations, and for setting the agenda of the General Assembly.

The Permanent Executive Committee (PEC) meets monthly to execute the policies of the Central Executive Committee. Membership consists of the Chairperson of the CEC, the Secretary-General, the President and Vice-Presidents of the General Assembly, and representatives recommended from each region of the country.

The Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General, is the primary administrative body of KFEM. Appointment of Directors to the Secretariat is approved by the Central Executive Committee.

b. Relationship with government

KFEM has no relationship with any government which bears on its management, on the determination of its policies or actions, or on the orientation of its activities.

7. Geographical membership

Republic of Korea

37,000 individual members nationwide in 30 local and regional chapters.
Sixteen thousand members in the Seoul Metropolitan area.

8. Profile of membership

Membership is open to any individual and organization wishing to participate in the work of KFEM and support its aims, regardless of age, gender, or background.

Membership reflects a wide cross-section of society and includes professionals in
science, ecology, education, business, health, and journalism as well as students,
environmental activists, and working people.

9. Officers

Note: All officers named are nationals of the Republic of Korea.
Names are provided in the form: Family name, Given name(s).
Co-representatives: Lee, Sae-Joong. Shin; Kyung-Lim. Kim; Jin-Hyun.
President of General Assembly: Jung, Hak
Vice-Presidents of General Assembly: Yoon, Jun-Ha; Yang, Woon-Jin
Permanent Executive Committee members: Jung, Hak; Yoon, Jun-Ha; Yang, Woon-Jin; Lee, Gil-Young; Kim, Yang-Ok; Lee, See-Jae; Kim, Myoung-Han; Song, Sang-Yong; Kang, Myung-Koo; Moon, Sun-Kyong; Yu, In-Chon; Lee, Hang-Gyu; Lee, Suk-Tae; Choi, Yul.
(Membership on the Permanent Executive Committee rotates among representatives of local KFEM chapters, each of whom has been chosen by the local General Assembly, and thus the Committee fully represents each region of the country.)
Secretary-General: Choi, Yul
Deputy Secretary-General: Lee, Chi-Bum
The constitution and regulations of KFEM do not allow government officials to hold executive staff positions.
Advisors: Kang, Won-Yong; Kwon, Sook-Pyo; Kim, Sou-Hwan; Kim, Joon-Ho; Kim, Young-Kwan; Rho, Yung-Hee; Park, Ro-Kyeng; Suh, Young-Hoon; Suh, Han-Tae; Song, Wol-Ju; Ha, Sun-Jung; Hong, Young-Kee.

10. Budget

Budget for Financial year 1997
The financial year runs from January to December.
(Exchange rate as of date of application: USD 1 = W900).
Income: $ 2,576,524
Membership dues: $ 400,599
Governments and governments-related institutes: 98,634
(through the research contracts, detailed in #11 below)
Intergovernmental organizations : 0
Other NGOs: 0
Research contracts: 592,521
(excluding governments and governments-related institutes)
Other sources: 1,484,770
(fundraising programs such as benefit concerts, sales of clothing and organic agricultural products, managing a tea house, and income from rental of KFEM's education center)
Expenditures: $ 2,576,524
Administration: $ 1,215,888
Projects: 223,054
Other Activities: 762,674
To Capital fund : 374,908
Budget figures are the combined figures for Seoul KFEM, CICE (Citizens' Information Center for the Environment), CIES (Citizens' Institute for Environmental Studies) and KFEM's Publication Center.

11. Governments and governments-related institutes as source of funds0

In the past five years KFEM, in particular its research division, the Citizens' Institute for Environmental Studies, has received grants from government bodies which have been directed toward the completion of specific research projects:

1994 : Ansan City Environmental Community Construction Project. Citizens' Institute for Environmental Studies of KFEM performed research for the project under a grant from the Ministry of Information. Project date: 1/1994 through 12/1994. Project amount: USD 105,000 (W84,000,000; USD 1 = W800).

1994 : Public Database. Citizens' Information Center for the Environment (CICE) of KFEM conducted a project to build a public database to provide environmental information to citizens under a grant from Korea Telecommunication (Korea Telecommunication is a state-run company). Project date : 6/1994-12/1994. Project Amount : USD 197,500 (W158,000,000; USD 1 = W800).

1995 : Uijongbu City Environmental Community Construction Project. Citizens' Institute for Environmental Studies of KFEM performed research for the project under a grant from the Ministry of Information. Project date: 1/1995 through 12/1995. Project amount: USD 60,000 (W48,000,000; USD 1 = W800).

1996 : Citizen Participation in Building Green Communities. Study prepared by the Citizens' Institute for Environmental Studies of KFEM under a grant from the Ministry of Information. Project date: 4/1996 through 10/1996. Project amount: USD 56,250 (W45,000,000; USD 1 = W800).

1996 : Study of Environmental Conflicts and Their Resolutions. Report prepared by the Citizens' Institute for Environmental Studies of KFEM under a grant from the Seoul Citizen Commitee for Green Seoul (SCCGS is funded by the City of Seoul). Project date: 8/1996 through 12/1996. Project amount: USD 12,500 (W10,00,000; USD 1 = W800).

1996 : Developing Citizens' Organizations through Citizen Participation / A District by District Framework. Study conducted by CIES of KFEM under a grant from SCCGS. Project date: 8/1996 through 12/1996. Project amount: USD 7,500 (W6,000,000; USD1 = W800).

1996 : A Study of Cooperation between Local Municipal Government and Citizens' Organizations. Report prepared by CIES of KFEM under a grant from the Korean NGO Promotion Foundation (KNPF is sponsored by the Ministry of Environment). Project date: 4/1996 through 7/1996. Project amount: USD 9,250 (W7,400,000; USD 1 = W800).

1996 : The Guide to Environmental Organizations Worldwide. Prepared by the Citizens' Information Center for the Environment (CICE) of KFEM under a grant from SCCGS. Project date: 9/1996 through 12/1996. Project amount: USD 12,500 (W10,00,000; USD 1 = W800).

1996 : The Citizen's Guide to Organizing to Monitor the Environment. Prepared by KFEM under a grant from SCCGS. Project date: 9/96 through 12/96. Project amount: USD 15,250; (W12,200,000; USD 1 = W800).

1996 : KFEM conducted research under a grant from the SCCGS leading to the preparation of a series of maps detailing air and water quality, natural places, and waste disposal sites in and around Seoul. Project date: 9/1996 through 12/1996. Project amount: USD 37,500 (W22,000,000; USD 1 = W800).

1996 : Puchon City Efficient Municipal Waste-Management Study. Study prepared by CIES of KFEM under a grant from Puchon Municipal Authority. Project date: 7/96 through 12/96. Project amount : USD 62,500 (W50,000,000; USD 1 = W800)

1996 : Research on Pollution-related Agricultural Damage Around Sihwa Lake. Research prepared by CIES of KFEM under a grant from Korea Water Resources Corporation (a state-run company). Project date: 10/96 through 1/98. Project amount: USD 357,500 (W286,000,000; USD 1 = W800)

1996 : Building Green Communities Through Citizens' Watchdog Organizations. Campaign prepared by CIES of KFEM with a grant from the Ministry of Information. Project date: 4/96 through 10/96. Project amount: USD 56,250 (W45,000,000; USD 1 = W800)

1996 : Developing a Model of Citizens Participation Organizations by Neighborhood. Prepared by CIES of KFEM with a grant from the Seoul Citizen Commitee for Green Seoul (SCCGS is funded by the City of Seoul). Project date: 8/96 through 12/96. Project amount: USD 75,000 (W60,000,000; USD 1 = W800)

1997 : Who's Who in Environmental Conservation in Korea. Biographical profiles of prominent environmental activists and officials funded by the Korea NGO Promotion Foundation (a program of the Environment Ministry). Project date: 5/97 through 8/97. Project amount: USD 7,522; (W6,770,000; USD 1 = W900).

1997 : Who's who database. Funded by the Korea NGO Promotion Foundation (a program of the Environment Ministry). Project date: 9/97 through 12/97. Project amount: USD 3,333; (W3,000,000; USD 1 = W900).

1997 : Strategy Analysis for Local Agenda 21 Process. Study prepared by CIES of KFEM under a grant from the Korea NGO Promotion Foundation (a program of the Environment Ministry). Project date: 8/97 through 7/98. Project amount: USD 6,667; (W6,000,000 USD 1 = W900).

1997 : Economic Analysis of Methods of Waste Disposal. Study prepared by CIES of KFEM under a grant from the Seoul Citizen Commitee for Green Seoul (SCCGS is funded by the City of Seoul). Project date: 4/97 through 11/97. Project amount: USD 16,667; (W15,000,000; USD 1 = W900).

1997 : Campaign to Reduce Household Waste by Half. Campaign prepared by CIES of KFEM with a grant from the Ministry of Information. Project date: 4/97 through 10/97. Project amount: USD 47,778; (W43,000,000 USD 1 = W900).

1997 : Environmental Investigation of the Upper Han River. Prepared by KFEM under a grant from the Seoul Citizen Commitee for Green Seoul (SCCGS is funded by the City of Seoul). Project date: 4/97 through 11/97. Project amount: USD 16,667; (W15,000,000 USD 1 = W900).

12. Areas of substantive UN concern

a. Past and present

KFEM is primarily an environmental organization and the organization's activities have largely focused on issues of environmental concern such as pollution, conservation of natural resources, promotion of sustainable development, appropriate technology transfer, and responsible global citizenship. KFEM has engaged in numerous public education campaigns and, citizen-participation/research projects (such as the 'Green Life' environmental protection campaign) aimed at promoting ecological awareness, citizen empowerment, and international cooperation. Moreover, as part of the broader social reform movement, KFEM has been actively involved in the processes of re-shaping of the legislative and regulatory frameworks in the ROK to ensure citizen participation in national and local decision-making, particularly as the process relates to environmental issues. KFEM supported the efforts for local autonomy and has supported citizens by providing no-cost legal services to challenge the actions of industry and the government, such as the successful challenge of a planned spent-fuel storage site for nuclear waste. In recent years, KFEM has hosted, co-hosted, or participated in a number of regional conferences for the promotion of environmental protection, and KFEM has influenced the adoption of important environmental legislation in the ROK, such as the National Park Law. KFEM has also established important pollution-monitoring and data-collection capacities and has been influential in promoting an increasing environmental-awareness among citizens, manifested by increased attention to recycling, waste reduction, and pollution abatement on the part of the government, and increasing pressure on business enterprises to pursue responsible, sustainable policies.

KFEM representatives have participated in a number of Asia-regional and global NGO forums, including a number held under the auspices of various UN-affiliated groups, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP), the UN Conference on the Environment and Development (UNCED), and the UN Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) in pursuit of its stated goal of promoting international cooperation in addressing the problems of environmental degradation. KFEM representatives have attended and/or participated in the following international conferences in recent years: (partial listing)

1997

UN 5th Session of CSD. KFEM staff member attended the session as the representative of the Pan Korea Environmental Commitee, sponsored by CCEJ(Citizen's Coalition for Economic Justice) and prepared a report regarding the outcomes of the Session for distribution to citizens' organizations, government ministries, and academics.
Rio+5 Forum (Rio De Janeiro, Brazil).
Conference on Ecological Security in NE Asia (Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea).
Conference on Ecological Energy Policy and Sustainable Society (sponsored by the Citizens Institute for Environmental Studies of KFEM).
No Nukes Asia Forum (Manila, Philippines).
Second International NGO Conference on Ozone Protection (Taipei, Taiwan province of China).
Second International Meeting of NGO's Against Nuclear Technologies (Hanover, Germany).
International Network of Engineers and Scientists Against
Proliferation (INESAP) Conference (Shanghai, China).
NPT PrepComm Conference and Workshop (UN, New York, USA).
NGO Workshop Against Nuclear Technologies in East Asia (Tokyo, Japan).

1996
Asian-South Pacific Bureau of Adult Education (ASPBAE)
Environmental Education Program Workshop (Suva, Fiji Islands).
RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance (Brisbane, Australia).
UN Conference on Human Settlements (Istanbul, Turkey).
No Nukes Asia Forum (Taipei, Taiwan province of China).
INESAP Annual Conference (Stockholm, Sweden).
Japanese Environmental Conference (Kumamoto, Japan).

1995
World Summit for Social Development & NGO Forum (Copenhagen, Denmark).
ASPBAE Annual Conference (Delhi, India).
NPT Conference (UN, New York, USA).
NGO Forum on Women (Beijing, China).
Greenpeace-KFEM East Asia NGOs Skill Share Workshop (Hongcheon, Republic of Korea).
PrepComm IV (New York, USA).

1994
Berlin Climate Summit (Berlin, Germany).
Third Asia-Pacific NGO Environmental Conference (Kyoto, Japan).
Temperate Forest Conference (Montana, USA).

1993
Balancing the Future (Amsterdam, Netherlands).

1992
United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). (Current KFEM staff members attended the Rio conference as representatives of KAPMA, KFEM's predecessor organization).

KFEM is actively involved in education and training programs for all ages. Childhood education on environmental issues helps build a basis for a person's life time view of the environment. KFEM has established an environmental education center at Hongchun in Kangwon province, which is famous for its natural beauty. The center provides a unique location for children's education. KFEM also works with local schools to support the work of classroom teachers and environmental clubs to facilitate environmental learning by young people. KFEM also conducts workshops for adults and older citizens on environmental and consumer issues.

Women's issues have also played a major role in KFEM's programs. A focal point for our work with Korean women has been a series of workshops held to discuss and exchange information on recycling, efficient energy use, efficient water use, and food waste. KFEM actively allies itself with the Korean Women's Association United and other related organizations on issues relating to women's rights. Women are actively involved in the administration and at all staff levels of KFEM. Representatives from KFEM served on commitees planning for and participating in the 2nd East Asian Women's Forum held in Seoul in August, 1996. KFEM provided data for the workshop on Environment and Development. KFEM was represented also at the 1st East Asian Women's Forum in Enoshima, Japan and plans to participate in the 3rd Forum to be held in Ulaanbaatar in 1998. KFEM supports the objective of the East Asian Women's Forum 'to empower women and strengthen the women's movement in order to create an alternative society based on gender justice, ecological sustainability, and grassroots global democracy.'

KFEM has also been actively involved in consumer and workplace health and safety issues. These activities include analysis of chemical and asbestos exposure of employees in the workplace. When companies are found to be over exposng their workers to chemicals or other dangerous products, KFEM has actively campaigned to rectify the situation. In areas of high contamination and pollution, KFEM has conducted education programs for expectant and young mothers to ensure mimimal esposure to these dangerous substances. KFEM investigates local health problems resulting from pollution or toxic emissions from industry or other sources, and makes recommendations to the local community, government, and industry on actions that need to be taken to correct the health problem.

KFEM also sponsors cultural events with an environmental theme. These include concerts, art exhibits, and eco-tours.

b. Planned

In 1995, KFEM's Secretary-General was awarded the Goldman Prize in recognition of outstanding contributions to environmentalism. The prize money was donated as seed money for the development of the Citizen's Environmental Education Center in Seoul. The Center will open in 1999. This center will focus on environmental education. It will also have a research and analysis program. This will include cooperative research by KFEM staff, students, and academic staff from universities in Korea and overseas. The results of this research will be used to make recommendations to government and the private sector on environmental policy and eco-friendly management practices.

KFEM will expand its exchange programs with NGOs from other nations, particularly east and south east asian countries. This will involve dispatching teams to conduct on-site inspection programs looking into local environmental problems and studying local eco systems. It is hoped that the contacts between environmentalists from different asian nations will foster stronger international bonds leading to more effective cooperative action on asian and global environmental issues.

KFEM will act as an information clearing house by collecting, studying, and disseminating information on global trends to the Korean society and to NGOs throughout the region. Also, as an influential Korean NGO, KFEM will act as a role model to other east and south east asian countries' NGOs by sharing our experience through training programs, workshops and seminars, and exchange programs.

In addition to the NGO's mentioned in part 'a' above, KFEM has engaged in exchanges with and has working relationships with the following International NGO's, and plans to expand contacts with them and other NGO's through UN-sponsored forums and conferences:

·Greenpeace International
·Society for International Development
·The World Conservation Union
·Taiwanese Environmental Protection Union (TEPU)
·Towards Ecological Recovery and Regional Alliance (TERRA)
·Singapore Environment Council
·Citizens' Nuclear Information Center, Japan
·People's Forum 2001, Japan
·Virgin Forest Foundation
·Rainforest Action Network (RAN)
·Green Forum-Philippines
·The Sierra Club
·Natural Resources Denfense Council
·Women's Environment and Development Organization
·Biodiversity Action Network (BIONET)
·World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF)
·National Wildlife Federation
·Third World Network
·Friends of the Earth International (FoEI)
·International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI)
·Earth Pledge Foundation
·Earth Council
·International Institute for Energy Conservation
·Worldwatch Institute
·Bund f r Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland (BUND)
·Action for Solidarity, Equality, Environment and Development (ASEED)
·The Norwegian Campaign for Environment and Development
·The Environmental Defense Fund
·National Committee for the Defence of the Environment
·Federation of Organization and Environmentalist Commitee
·International Organization of Consumers Union
·The Danish Center for Renewable Energy
·Climate Action Network (CAN)

KFEM plans to contribute to the work of the UN Environment Program's various projects through the sharing of expertise and research in the areas of trans-boundary pollution abatement, alternative energies, and climate change, and to continue to disseminate information about UNEP and its programs through its publications and in its public forums.

KFEM expects to continue to participate in and contribute to the activities of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development and the UN Conference on the Environment and Development and to share its growing expertise in the area of sustainable development and citizen participation in planning and policy development.

13. Publications
(Samples have been forwarded to the Secretariat)

KFEM Monthly Magazine (Korean language)
Published monthly, distributed nationwide to all members, to Korean Embassies worldwide, to foreign embassies in Korea, to various government officials and to citizens' organizations in Korea. Circulation 37,000.

KFEM News (English)
Published quarterly, distributed to environmental organizations in Korea and worldwide, to representatives of several UN organs and affiliates, to Universities in Korea and worldwide. Circulation about 600.

KFEM Annual Report
Distributed to local KFEM groups, to civic groups in Korea, to any interested persons who request a copy. Circulation 1,100.

HamKeSaNunKil (The Natural Way of Living)
Published monthly. Newsletter for KFEM members in Seoul. Circulation 13,500.

Green Grass
Monthly children's magazine. Circulation 3800 copies. Distributed to school-age (under 13) members of KFEM.

Environmental News
Compilation of environmental news stories from Korean and foreign press sources. Published monthly by the Citizens Information Center for the Environment of KFEM. Circulation 100 copies. Distributed to KFEM local offices, citizens' organizations, schools and Universities, government environment agencies on a subscription basis.

Report on the Fifth Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD)
A translation of the Outreach 1997 publications prepared by the CSD/NGO steering committee for the session in New York in April of 1997. Compiled by KFEM delegate, translated by KFEM, distributed to citizen's organizations, University

professors, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Environment, government environmental agencies and local KFEM groups. Circulation about 70 copies.

KFEM's Proposal for the Eco-City in Habitat II, Istanbul
Published 1996 for presentation at the UN Conference on Human Settlements. Distributed to participants, to citizens' organizations, Universities, Ministry of the Environment, business groups in Korea.

The Guide to Environmental Organizations Worldwide
A listing of Worldwide environmental NGO's, UN-affiliated environmental programs, and activist networks. Published by Citizens Information Center for Environment (CICE) of KFEM in 1997. One thousand copies printed. Distributed to citizens's groups in Korea, environmental NGO's worldwide, available on request to any interested party.

Environment Dictionary
A dictionary of environmental terms, concepts, laws, issues, organizations, and events in Korea and worldwide. Published by KFEM in 1997. Circulation 10,000 copies.

Who's Who in Environmental Conservation in Korea
Biographies of 910 influential figures in Korean environmentalism. Fifteen hundred copies printed. Distributed to citizen's organizations, interested individuals, environmental agencies, government ministries, business organizations, schools and Universities, and National Assembly. Published by CICE of KFEM in 1997.

Reducing Household Wastes by Half
Published 1997 by KFEM. Distributed to citizen's organizations, governments, government environmental agencies and business sectors. Circulation 1000 copies.

Eco-Friendly Energy Policy and Sustainable Society
Published 1997 by Citizens Institute for Environmental Studies (CIES) of KFEM. Distributed to citizen's organizations, governments, government environmental agencies. Circulation 200 copies.

The Citizen's Guide to Organizing to Monitor the Environment
Prepared by KFEM in collaboration with the Environment and Pollution Research Group in 1996. Distribution to citizen's organizations, environmental agencies, government ministries. Circulation 3,000 copies.

Environmental Video Directory
A listing of environment-themed videos available from KFEM. Videos listed are available for sale to schools, organizations, and to any interested citizens. Five hundred copies printed. Distributed to citizen's organizations, schools, government environmental agencies. Published 1996 by the Citizens Information Center for the Environment of KFEM.

The Study of Environmental Conflicts and Their Resolutions
Published by CIES of KFEM in 1996. Distributed to citizen's organizations, local governments, government environmental agencies. Circulation 300 copies.

Report on the RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Importance
Published by Pusan KFEM in 1996. Distributed to citizen's organizations, governments, government environmental agencies. Circulation 200 copies.

The Children of Chernobyl
Translated from Japanese by Pusan KFEM in 1995. Offered for sale throughout Korea.

Environmental Issues of Local Governments--Case Studies
Published by KFEM in 1995. Distributed to citizen's organizations, governments, government environmental agencies and local governments. Circulation 200 copies.

Marine Map Series 2
Published by Ulsan KFEM in 1995. Distributed to citizen's organizations, Ulsan local governments, government environmental agencies. Circulation 200 copies.

For Ourselves (Citizen Activism)
Published by KFEM in 1995. Distributed to citizen's organizations, governments, government environmental agencies and business sectors. Circulation 500 copies.

Building Citizens' Communities Through the Environmental Movement
Published by CIES of KFEM in 1994. Distributed to citizen's organizations, interested individuals, environmental agencies, government ministries, and Universities. Circulation: 500 copies.

HwanKyoungUi Ihae (Understanding the Environment)
A college/university textbook about ecology, the environment and environmental issues, including history, examples, case studies. Compiled by the Citizens' Institute for Environmental Studies and published by KFEM in 1993.

Saving Our Environment by Ourselves
Published by the Korean Anti-Pollution Movement Association (KAPMA: former group of KFEM) in 1992. Distributed to citizen's organizations, governments, government environmental agencies and Universities. Circulation 300 copies.

Also forwarded to the Secretariat are copies of a number of research reports and studies prepared by KFEM on an ad hoc basis, including those listed under question 10 above.