DESD Kickoff Meeting: Let's Start Learning for the Future

ESD-J organized the DESD national kick-off meeting on 6 March 2005 in Tokyo. Director of UNESCO's Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, Mr. Sheldon Shaeffer, delivered a keynote address on the role of UNESCO during the DESD and expectations of stakeholders in Japan, considering Japan's key involvement in raising the profile of ESD at the international level and establishing the Decade. A translator of German Literature, Ms. Kayoko Ikeda, outlined her experiences in the NGO activities with the context of ESD. The Chair of ESD-J, Prof. Osamu Abe, proposed guiding principles for the launch of the DESD in Japan. Other participants from the Japanese Government, the Diet, local government, media and the private sector contributed to discussion on the DESD in Japan.

The round-table talks, where ESD stakeholders share their experiences and commitment for ESD.

Mr. Sheldon Shaeffer, Director of UNESCO's Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education, delivers a keynote address.

Ms. Kayoko Ikeda, a translator of German Literature, also delivers a keynote address.

Prof. Osamu Abe, Chair, ESD-J, makes proposals for the promotion of DESD in Japan.

Kick-Off Ceremony, where 198 participants write what they would like to achieve or do for DESD on the small Origami airplanes, and fly them symbolizing the Japanese "Take-Off for the DESD".