[Original by Takahiko HASHIMOTO, Sudan Project (October 10, 2017); Translated by K. Adachi/A. Senkoff] Hello to everyone who are supporting JVC. My name is Hashimoto and I’ve been working in Sudan since February 2017 for Sudan project. It is not the first time for me to appear on the JVC website. I was introduced in JVC Staff Interview last year. I hope to be able to report on daily life here in Sudan from my own perspective as much as possible. The country that is very likely to leave you with a positive impression From my experiences visiting several countries in the past, I have always had the impression that…
Film screening “Genetic Roulette: The Gamble of our Lives”
About the film The serious health problems caused by genetically modified (GM) foods are now occurring in the US population. In this film, facts are clarified by the testimonies and scientific evidence from medical scientists, researchers involved in government’s food safety supervision, parents of children suffering from autism and allergies, veterinarians dealing with livestock health disorders and so on. Produced and directed by Jeffrey M. Smith, the internationally renowned expert on GM issues, this film questions the concerned genetically modified organisms (GMO) safety issue, initiates discussions, and contributes greatly to the non-GMO movement in the US. As a major GMO importer from the US, Japan is closely connected to this…
Activity Report & Charity Bazaar @ Cambodia for Supporting the Recovery of the Victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake
JVC will participate in an event to support the recovery of the victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which will be held at Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It passed 7 years since the Great East Japan Earthquake happened on March 11th 2011. JVC will exhibit photo panels, which show the current status of the recovery of the disaster area. You are very welcome to the event. From the organizer: On 11th March, do you still remember that day ? 7 years ago, in North-East part of Japan, it was huge Earthquake and Tsunami disaster. It past 7 years already but reconstruct the town still difficult. At this moment, NGO [Japan…
Staff Interview: Tohru SHIRAKAWA (Minamisoma Project)
[Original by Yuka WATANABE, 2015 Public Relations Intern (May 9, 2016); Translated by K. Adachi/R. Florea/A. Senkoff] Hello, my name is Yuka Watanabe. I am a PR intern in 2015 for JVC. The 17th interview is with Mr. Tohru Shirakawa, who is in charge of the Minamisoma project. He used to be a journalist who dealt with areas of conflict before joining the staff of JVC. He is well experienced, having covered a story in Afghanistan when he was only 21 years old. I am interested in learning why Mr. Shirakawa, who has extraordinary career, became a staff member of an NGO and why he became in charge of the…
WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO SELECTING A VILLAGE WHERE WE ARE WORKING TOWARDS THE START OF A NEW PROJECT
[Original by Shigeru KIMURA, Laos Project (Feburuary 8, 2018); Translated by M. Takahashi/A. Senkoff] In the Laos project, a new three-year project will be launched in March to help rural people independently manage and use natural resources such as forests and rivers, which remain the bedrock of their livelihoods. Before the project will be launched, we are selecting a village which we will support. We cannot choose freely which village we will support. Instead, we have to obtain permission from each administrator with regards to each village. That is why we must carefully gather information and analyze it to select a village that has the purpose of our activities as…
Request letter to MoFA regarding the US President’s announcement on Jerusalem
[Original (December 26, 2017); Translated by J. Hills/S. Igawa] Written request to the Japanese Government – “A request for the Japanese Government to express a position of opposition in response to US President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.” US President Donald Trump’s announcement recognizing Jerusalem as the capital of Israel has not only caused outrage amongst the Palestinians living under Israeli occupation but has also caused a huge backlash throughout the international community. The Japanese government voted in support of condemning the United States’ announcement at the United Nations Security Council and General Assembly. However, by refraining from speaking out at the United Nations General…
Staff Interview: Takaki IMAI (Manager for Humanitarian Assistance and Peace-building Group*)
[Original by Kiyomi KAMIYA, 2016 Public Relations Intern (April 20, 2017); Translated by M. Kanai/R. Florea/A. Senkoff] [*Mr. Imai is appointed to the President of JVC as from July 2018.] Hello everyone! My name is Kiyomi Kamiya. I am a JVC Public Relations Intern. For the 2nd staff interview in 2016, we have Mr. Takaki Imai who is Manager for Humanitarian Assistance and Peacebuilding Group currently in charge of emergency assistance for South Sudan. Mr. Imai was stationed in Sudan for approximately 10 years until December 2016 as a local representative for JVC Sudan Project. In January 2017, his base for activities was shifted to Tokyo to supervise the entire…
Staff Interview: Maki KATO (Afghanistan Project)
[Original by Yuka WATANABE, 2015 Public Relations Intern (April 8, 2016); Translated by N. Mizutani/A. Senkoff] Hello. This is Yuka Watanabe, the 2015 Public Relations intern. Our 15th interview will be an interview to Ms. Maki Kato, who is in charge of our Afghanistan project. Ms. Kato is fond of studying foreign languages and has learned quite a few languages. At the present time, she is studying Pashto, which is the language spoken in Afghanistan. I would like to interview about her international career since high school!
Staff Interview: Kazue NAKAHARA (Accounting Division)
[Original by Haruka SHIMIZU, 2015 Public Relations Intern (July 21, 2016); Translated by M. Kanai/R. Florea/A. Senkoff] Hello everyone! My name is Haruka Shimizu, 2015 Public Relations Intern for JVC. This is already the final installment of staff interview blog, which started in October 2015! Through these interviews, I came to learn the specific reasons why those interviewed staff members have become involved in international cooperation activities as well as surprising aspects of the individuals which you may not have known otherwise. I decided to launch the blog to share with as many people as possible what we were privileged to gain through these interviews. I hope you have enjoyed…
AIDA’s statement: INGOs are deeply concerned about the US announcement about Jerusalem
[Original (December 16, 2017); Translated by K. Takemura/A. Senkoff/S. Igawa] The announcement by US President Trump that “the US recognizes Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and will move the American embassy to Jerusalem” has caused a large uproar not only in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) but also throughout the international community. Israel continues to violently suppress Palestinians who protest against the US announcement, and carries out attacks and bombings in the Gaza Strip almost everyday. In this situation, AIDA (Association of International Development Agencies), a coalition of NGOs working in the oPt, of which JVC is a member, released the following statement. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: INGOs are deeply…