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Japanese Money is Used to Bash Japan Florida, 21 December 2001: The IWMC World Conservation Trust today warned that the Keidanren business association, which is sponsored by many of Japan’s leading corporations, is making donations to international groups that consistently attack Japan and undermine its policies, reputation and prestige overseas. IWMC, a leading global conservation group, cited the annual donation of $10 million paid by Keidanren to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the international campaign group. This year WWF has supported brochures and newspaper advertisements attacking Japan’s culture and lawful research whaling. "Frankly, this is very embarrassing for some of Japan’s top businesses," said Eugene Lapointe, President of IWMC. "What is happening is that their donations, made to Keidanren in good faith, are being passed on to fundraisers in other countries and spent on emotive campaigns that exploit cultural differences, and promote misunderstandings, about Japan. This is a fundraising merry-go-round that exists by generating animosity and damaging Japan’s standing overseas." In June 2001, as Prime Minister Koizumi prepared to meet President Bush for the first time, WWF co-sponsored a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post decrying Japan’s whaling culture and urging the leaders to end what was erroneously characterized as a "whaling crisis". The following month, at the International Whaling Commission annual meeting in London, WWF co-sponsored a vitriolic publication called "ECO" that accused Japan of bribing other countries to win votes. In the same way, WWF has constantly criticized Japan’s fisheries industry, without recognizing the tremendous efforts it has made in improving stock management by, for example, drastically reducing the size of its Tuna Fishing Fleet. "When WWF created its Marine Stewardship Council, their main target was Japan. They needed to attack Japan as a component of their fundraising campaigns in North America and Europe. This is why WWF continues to criticize and attack Japan. It is not to conserve fish stocks. It is good for their coffers." Mr. Lapointe added: "In today’s global
economy, organizations have to be responsible for the consequences of their
actions. In this case, it is clear that certain Japanese corporations are
unwittingly paying, through an intermediary, for attacks on their own country
and way of life. This money could be far better used promoting cultural
tolerance and harmony."? For more information and interviews, contact Eugene
Lapointe |
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