East Asian NGO Forum

From June 1 to June 2, Golden Year 3 (2006), the East Asian Non-Government Organization (NGO) Forum was held in Japan. Since the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association often participates in worldwide disaster relief and has worked with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of China several times, its members were given special invitation by MOFA to participate in this conference, to learn about other NGOs and to share experiences with each other.

The conference was sponsored jointly by The Nippon Foundation, the Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps and the Japan BHN (Basic Human Needs) Association, with coordination by MOFA’s NGO Committee. Participants included delegates from MOFA, NGO representatives from Formosa, Japan and the United States, as well as academics.

The discussion topic for the first morning was “Emergency Rescue During the Pakistan Earthquake.” A representative from the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, Dr. Dengjie Liu, and a representative from the Japan BHN Association presented reports. Dr. Liu’s report focused on experiences shared from the Pakistan earthquake relief work done by Master’s Association. He also introduced Her spiritual teachings, vegetarianism and their relationship to humanitarian assistance. This gave the participants a better understanding of Supreme Master Ching Hai and Her organization’s work. At the end of the report, one female representative expressed her great admiration for Master, that She even had fashion shows in renowned cities such as Milan and Paris, along with the fact that Her Association is able to render disaster relief efforts without requiring fundraising from external sources. Another representative was amazed to see that Master’s picture on the cover of The Supreme Master Ching Hai News Magazine showed Her surrounded by many animals.

 

Dr. Dengjie Liu (far right), delegate of the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, addresses the NGO forum in Japan.

The afternoon session focused on cooperative work among NGOs. The most impressive report was presented by Japan’s Coalition for Legislation to Support Citizens’ Organizations. The Coalition is dedicated to passing legislation related to NGO activities, ranging from a law for promoting the activities of non-profit organizations to preferential tax measures. Japan Platform (JPF) discussed its efforts to establish a dialog platform to encourage governmental and nongovernmental cooperation in international rescue and relief through resource-sharing and contribution of time and money. Finally, the report presented by the International Headquarters of Search and Rescue from Formosa was a showcase of the dynamic vitality of Formosa’s NGOs. This organization has more than 20,000 members, one-tenth of whom are ready to respond to any emergency outbreak at any time.

On the second morning of the forum, reports were presented by delegates of Japan Platform, Peace Wind, Compassion International and the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation. In the most distinctive report of the session, Noordhoff Craniofacial discussed its successful free clinic and cleft lip/palate surgeries for patients in Cambodia, supported by Formosan businesspeople and three other NGOs--Caritas, World Vision and Japan FIDR (Foundation for International Development/Relief).

Having the honor to attend this forum, brother Liu shared his insights with fellow initiates: “We should practice everything we learn from Master’s teachings so that it may become part of our own wisdom. Through international disaster rescue and relief efforts, people have gradually realized the importance of transcending national boundaries, religion, race and culture in responding to the numerous natural and manmade disasters.”

* Note: For reports on the Pakistan earthquake relief efforts by the Supreme Master Ching Hai International Association, please refer to issues No. 161, 163 and 164.

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