“For the past few years we have expressed our concern that UNESCO’s political and ideological emphasis and its budgetary and managerial tendency have harmed the efficiency of the organization. Such tendency, we must say, is far removed from the original principles of its Charter. We also feel that the organization has been serving the political goals of member nations rather than performing its international mission.” (Main purport of the Notification of US Withdrawal from UNESCO / Dec. 12, 1984)

“(1) The decision to withdraw from UNESCO has been made by President Reagan on the recommendation of the Secretary of State. (2) The recommendation is based on the following observations: UNESCO has extraneously politicized virtually every subject it deals with, has exhibited hostility toward the basic institutions of a free society, especially a free market and a free press, and has demonstrated unrestrained budgetary expansion. (3) The Bureau of International Organization Affairs has undertaken “policy reviewing” on US - UNESCO relations, and we have come to the conclusion that continued US membership in UNESCO will not benefit the country.”

Three reasons are given here. It is generally believed that politicization concerned itself with North-South problems, and that the United States, irritated at an increasingly powerful voice of African countries backed by the (former) Soviet Union, detested the typical “UNESCO politician”, the then director-general, Amadou Mahtar M’Bow. The second was the issue of a “New World Information and Communication Order” (NWICO). Even now an overwhelming majority of news is sent out to the world with the one-sided view of the West, yet the developing countries’ wish to have a voice has assumed a visible shape since the 1974 General Conference. The proposal of NWICO, partly due to strong opposition from the United States and other western countries, did not ripen into a concrete resolution. The third reason was UNESCO’s careless management. The United States, immediately after the withdrawal, dispatched its “auditing commission” who performed a thorough audit, yet they did not find any wrongdoing.

The United States has an observer mission at UNESCO even after the withdrawal, and contributes necessary funding for UNESCO programs that the country is particularly interested in, such as World Heritage Preservation, Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission, Man and the Biosphere Program, etc. However, following the cessation of financial contributions from the US to the UNESCO Secretariat (25 percent at the time of its withdrawal), Japan’s share has been increased.

After the US withdrawal from UNESCO some people suggested that Japan should withdraw, too. At the Japanese National Commission for UNESCO, we are told, a commission member representing nongovernmental UNESCO associations heard about this suggestion, and cooperating with other commission members, succeeded in keeping the country in UNESCO -- a story that we, who are engaged in nongovernmental activities of UNESCO, should keep in mind.

We hope that the United States will rejoin UNESCO and contribute to world peace. We hope that with the US government returning to UNESCO, nongovernmental UNESCO activities in the United States, supported by the government and administrative organs, will become more and more active. We would like many people to share this wish and, joining hands, develop it into a big wish.

Date :　A. Morning Course　　April 9 to July18, every Tuesday & Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
　　　　B. Saturday Course　　April 13 to July13, every Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
　　　　C. Evening Course　　 April 9 to July16, every Tuesday, 6:　30p.m. to 8:15 p.m

Place : 　　　Moriya Kyoiku Kaikan
Level : 　　　Beginner to Advanced, Kanji classes also available
Eligibility : 　As a principle, the courses are opened for foreign residents 16 and over, who live or go to　　　　　　　　　　　 school/college or office in Meguro-ku and who are not comfortable with using Japanese.
Lecturer :　　member in charge of Japanese education of Meguro UNESCO Association
Organizer :　 Meguro UNESCO Association
Co-organizer : Meguro Board of Education