ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EDEN SEMINARS - EDEN Seminar 1 (Tokyo) - Report
Seminar Chair and EDEN Co-Founder, Dr. Nassrine Azimi, Senior Advisor (UNITAR)
Opening Speech: H.E. Ambassador Lady Tania Laumanulupe ‘o Talafolika FUSITU’A Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Embassy of the Kingdom of Tonga in Tokyo
Presenter 1: President of Shizenkan University, EDEN Co-Founder, Professor Monte Cassim,
Presenter 2: Founder of the Dignified Pacific Initiative, EDEN Co-Founder, Dr. Kaitu’u ‘i Pangai Funaki
Q&A Session
Group picture with journalist Ms. Kakuchi and the Ambassador of Fiji to Japan, H.E. Isikeli Mataitoga
For the 1st EDEN (Emerging and Developing Economies Network) SEMINARS at Shizenkan University on May 8th 2019.
Apologies for taking this long to report about the 1st Eden Seminar held on May 8th 2019. Please find here letter from the Chairperson, letter from the Hon. Prime Minister of Sri Lanka and also the opening speech delivered by Her Excellency Lady Tania Fusitu’a, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga to Japan. The seminar was also attended by the Ambassador of Fiji to Japan, H.E. Isikeli Mataitoga and also the Ambassador of Palau, H.E. Francis M. Matsutaro.
Message from the Chair
The first of the EDEN (Emerging and Developing Economies Network) Seminars was held in Tokyo’s Shizenkan University on May 8th, 2019. It exceeded our expectations in two significant ways. First, in how very distinct sets of topics—Inclusive Innovation, Reciprocity, Generosity—seamlessly came together to make a whole. Second, in the vibrancy of the Q&A discussions with the audience, and the ease with which they connected the dots to the larger challenges and opportunities that can weigh in on our collective human destiny—from climate change, nuclear war, poverty and underdevelopment, to inclusive innovation, sustainability, cultural renaissance and universal justice.
I attribute this success in large part to our two speakers. I have known Professor Monte Cassim—the mastermind behind the EDEN Seminars—for many years. It seems that after long intellectual explorations, he is now bringing together within the EDEN embrace the many strands of topics and questions that his restless mind has encountered throughout a lifetime dedicated to research, teaching and more humanistic approaches to transnational policies. He asks if ‘a university-driven initiative, to reconsider current paradigms of development and to propose solutions to our present challenges with an eye towards the future’ could change the way development is conducted? Monte believes it can, and therefore so should we.
The second speaker, Dr. Kaitu’u Funaki, brought to the discussion a Zen-like (or Pacific Island-like) depth and breath—by asking us to view differently the dynamics and foundational weaknesses of international development aid, and to focus instead on questions of dignity, tradition, reciprocity, respect and sustainability. Without these qualities, he warned us, the best can well be lost, as much for the recipient as for the donor countries. He convincingly argued that a mutually respectful co-existence, based on Pacific Island principles of reciprocity and generosity, are keys we collectively seem to have failed to grasp, or to use.
Many thoughtful questions were raised by the attendees, and I simply regret the usual constraints of time and space for us to do justice to all the probing comments, encouragingly quite a few also from younger members in the audience. I was heartened, however, to learn that quite a few attendees continued their heated discussions well into the night—nothing more thrilling than debating good ideas that could be made to work for a higher purpose when the world around is sleeping!
The moving message from the prime minister of Sri Lanka, and the eloquent opening remarks by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Tonga to Japan raised the bar and set the tone for our discussions—we are grateful to both, for lending us their vision and support in this enterprise. The EDEN Seminars also brought closer the universities of Ritsumeikan Trust (Ritsumeikan University and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University) with Shizenkan University, and we are grateful to these institutions for their support.
I wish to express my appreciation to the core team—Kaituu Funaki, Cody Marschalk, Aya Takeuchi, Tamotsu Mizobe, Kenji Ito and of course our inspiring team leader, Monte Cassim. Sometimes certain undertakings seem touched by a form of grace—people, ideas, timing and energies all come together seamlessly, so that the entire enterprise flows naturally to destination. Such has been my uplifting experience in the past months leading to the launch of the EDEN Seminars. May that this be but a prelude, to inspiring future work for the cause of Life, as Monte says—and that we join hearts, minds and aspirations often, to collectively make a positive difference in our world.
Nassrine Azimi
Chair, 1st EDEN Seminar Hiroshima, May 19, 2019
Message from the Hon Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
I am happy to hear of the launch of the EDEN Seminars, a university-driven initiative focusing on Japan’s relationship with the emerging economies. I am also honoured that the First EDEN Seminar is dedicated to development challenges faced in Sri Lanka. My government is committed to the precepts of Inclusion, more so in the light of the harrowing terrorist bombings in multiple locations across the country. As we grieve with the families of the victims of these atrocious acts of violence, I am grateful for the international goodwill generated in their aftermath. This, more than anything, signifies the importance of collective will to return life to normalcy. The EDEN Seminars epitomize this goodwill.
Sri Lanka’s close relationship with Japan was strengthened in the early postwar years when Sri Lanka argued against a proposal to divide the defeated nation into four entities, each governed by representatives of the victor nation. Sri Lanka’s representative at the San Francisco Peace Conference of 1954, J R Jayewardene (then Finance Minister, later to become President of the country) made the case for Japan’s inclusion into the world body of nations, arguing that a “strong Japan will usher in a strong Asia”, prophetic words uttered six and a half decades ago. His quote of Lord Buddha, that “hatred begets hatred, only love and compassion prevail” resonates to this day and guides my government in these troubled times. It is worthy of note that reciprocity and generosity are central themes at this first EDEN Seminar.
Since October 2015 Sri Lanka and Japan have been working together in five domains under the Joint Comprehensive Partnership (JCP) between the two nations. The cooperation covers: (1) Quality Infrastructure, Power and Energy, (2) Technology, Trade and Investment, (3) Urban and Regional Development, (4) Human Development and (5) Safety and Security. I am gratified to hear that some of the achievements under this modality, notably the projects incubated under the Japan-Sri Lanka Innovation Platform (J-SLIP) and the Greater Kandy Urban Plan (GKUP) recently completed by JICA, will be taken up for discussion. I am also happy that a Japanese legal corporate entity, the Sri Lanka-Japan Collaborative Platform is being established to support the work of the JCP Offices in Colombo and Tokyo and has played a central role in organizing this First EDEN Seminar.
I understand that this Seminar will be discussing Japan’s partnership in addressing development challenges faced in Sri Lanka and in Pacific Island Countries. Island nations such as ours face common challenges which have their roots in environmental fragility. Sri Lanka was one of the earliest nations to ratify the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) but much work remains to be done. I do hope the EDEN Seminars, with their focus on Inclusion, Reciprocity, Generosity and Sustainability, will show us the way forward in realizing the SDGs. Permit me to wish the organizers and the supporting universities, in particular Shizenkan University and the Ritsumeikan Trust, every success for this initiative. I am confident the discussions will be fruitful and the outcomes of great relevance to us all.
Ranil Wickremesinghe, M.P.
Prime Minister
Minister of National Policies & Economic Affairs, Resettlement & Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development and Youth Affairs
Government of the Democratic Republic of Sri Lanka
Opening Address from the Ambassador of Tonga.
Professor Azimi, Chair of the 1st EDEN SEMINAR, Professor Monte Cassim, Dr. Kaitu’u Funaki, Excellencies, Professors, distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman. I am honored to open this gathering of the 1st EDEN SEMINARS, ‘Challenging the Current Geopolitical Paradigm’ titled Inclusive Innovation, Reciprocity and Generosity as hosted here at Shizenkan University.
May I take this opportunity to thank the organizers for the kind invitation to be present at this first Emerging and Developing Economies Network Seminars. At this juncture, I wish to offer our sincere condolences to the government and the people of Sri Lanka for the horrific incidence of violence, of attack on people in prayer, people in work, our prayers are with you.
Chair, today we are gathered to deepen and cultivate our knowledge on key issues of international relations or global citizenship. In this seminar, we look forward to hearing from Prof. Cassim on the work of Japan-Sri Lanka Joint Comprehensive Partnership and Dr. Kaitu’u Funaki of Tonga on the Dignified Pacific Initiative (DPI). As a diplomat, we are tasked with developing, nurturing, cultivating the relations between our countries and Japan, and in my case, Tonga and Japan. The important topics of today, Inclusiveness and Reciprocity are natural players in the field of diplomacy. The diversification of this world weaves throughout the foundation of global citizenship across ages, across gender, across cultures, across nations, the world is diverse yet today we are closely linked more than ever. Today we operate in a world that links and links where networks play at large role. Physical network and virtual network with the daily onslaught of social media, there is a larger hunger for the constant knitting of lives and connection, this drives us. The networking is not only vertical, not only horizon, or lateral, it forms layers, it cross cuts, it intertwines. This is the environment in which we operate today as educators, scientists, as men and as women and as diplomats. Diversification of this world in this digital era of fast and e-communication is a powerful force. As the virtual network use and popularity increases exponentially, ease of travel and information readily available by the internet on 24-hour channels – borders are fused and growing up today, interactions is closer, faster and we are exposed to made aware of the challenges of this planet.
The association to one’s nationality is now looser, is enlarged. We feel we do not belong only to the country to which we hold its passport but come to realize the breadth and width of the world. We knowingly or unknowingly move globally and the role of global citizenship becomes significant. Global trade ties us, education ties us, health ties us, sport ties us, and ultimately at moving large, climate change ties us. The Pacific Ocean reaches from Tonga to Japan, our home the Pacific Ocean is facing challenges of rising temperature, increase of plastic dumping, ocean acidification that damages our coral reefs that feed the ecological system and impact the food cycle and food security of Tonga. Diversification woven in todays’ era of communication is the fabric of global citizenship.
This is the challenge - we must learn to think of our differences, to be aware, to interact, to adapt, be flexible, ask questions, challenge the norms, bearing issues of one’s city, one’s prefecture, one’s country and ultimately the world we’re all known to. With those thoughts in mind, it is my pleasure to open the 1st EDEN SEMINARS 2019.
Malo ’aupito. (Thank you very much)
‘Oku ou ‘ofa atu kiate kimoutolu (My love is with you all)
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