　In the May issue of the Ministry of Education & Science Bulletin entitled Special Edition for the 50th Anniversary of Japan's Entry into UNESCO, many people including Mr. Ikuo Hirayama, President of the National UNESCO Committee in Japan, and Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Secretary-General of UNESCO express their hopes.

　As you may already know about Mr. Matsuura's activities explained in the last edition of our Short News, Mr. Matsuura explained in this Bulletin that "although UNESCO is an international organization, its characteristics are that of a worldwide network of 182 official national UNESCO committees and 6,000 private UNESCO associations or clubs all over the world." He listed UNESCO's five programs of top priority: ①basic education, ②multiplicity of cultures, ③science technology and ethics, ④water and environment, ⑤correction of information disparities. I may add that the Meguro UNESCO Association is mentioned in this Edition.

　Among the other articles that caught my attention, Mr. Akira Miyoshi, in a round-table talk on how to advance UNESCO activities, said, "trying to let people understand invisible value is the way to let people understand UNESCO in the 21st century" and that "it is very difficult but it is important." Mr. Miyoshi is a composer, President of Tokyo Culture Hall, and a member of the National UNESCO Committee in Japan. Last year he composed a UNESCO song called "Wind" at the request of Suginami UNESCO Association. The basis of UNESCO activities is sympathy of minds among people. Mr. Miyoshi is right at pointing out that without the invisible thing that is mind there will be no UNESCO activities.

　At the 48th general meeting of Meguro UNESCO Association, Mr. Nobuo Miyazawa, Chairperson of Meguro City Assembly, and Mr. Yoshiteru Kato, Deputy Chief of City Education gave us words of encouragement. "Meguro City Assembly members of UNESCO may be formed," said Mr. Miyazawa and Mr. Kato said, "The City is trying to help Meguro UNESCO Association attain an independent office space."

　At the general meeting Ms. Matsuura acted as master of ceremonies and Mr. Yukio Okusawa as chairperson. The Board members were reelected and the officers were elected for the coming year.
I was elected to presidency for another term of two years. I feel honored for the heavy responsibilities. I wish to express my appreciation to the retiring Board members and humbly request the new members for kind support.

　To celebrate the 50th anniversary of Japan's entry into UNESCO many events will take place under a slogan "Activating the UNESCO Movement for the Coming 50 years" this year. The Educational Board of Tokyo Metropolis and other organizations will undertake their programs from this summer. Meguro UNESCO Association will start the "Youth Retreat" this summer, followed by cooperation with the "World Heritage Exhibition," (ref. P.43), "UNESCO Peace Concert 2001" and other programs aimed at sending information to the younger generations. Please feel free to participate in any of these programs.