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Lingela: Ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much for

being with us this evening. My name is Vuyani Lingela,

the counselor for science and technology at the South

African Embassy. First, I would like to say, it is indeed a

great pleasure to welcome you this evening here at the

University of Tokyo, on this occasion to launch the Africa-

Japan Essay and Speech Competition (A-JESC). My role

tonight is very quick and short, mainly to introduce our

guest speakers who are here tonight.

I will introduce the first speaker, Dr. Yukata Kirino. Dr.

Kirino is the executive vice president of the University of

Tokyo. We also want to express our sincere gratitude to

the University of Tokyo for making this hall available for this

occasion. On that note, I will ask Dr. Kirino to come and

address us. Thank you very much.

Kirino Yukata: Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I

am Kirino of the University of Tokyo. Today is the opening

ceremony of the launch of the A-JESC. This kind of

attempt to promote exchange between Africa and Japan is

very much welcomed.

At the University of Tokyo, we have been engaged in

international exchange, especially since last year, when

we launched a headquarters for international exchange.

the University of Tokyo is tying up with various universities

worldwide, and that totals ��0. Many overseas students

and researchers are participating and working at the

University of Tokyo. We are also participating and involved

in various alliances worldwide and we are exchanging

information with various institutions, especially with

those countries who are close to us geographically and

with whom we share many issues—in other words,

Asian countries. We are enhancing and deepening our

relationships with these countries.

However, unfortunately, our ties are not yet that strong

with African nations. The African nations are abundant in

natural resources and there is plenty of opportunity and

possibilities for the future. However, unfortunately, we

must say that we do not know much about Africa yet. This

essay and speech contest should give us a very precious

opportunity for us to learn about Africa, which is still very far

away from us. On the other hand, this would also provide

an opportunity for people in Africa to learn about Japan,

and especially for university students, college students,

high school students—the young generation of both

countries—to learn about each other. Being geographically

far apart, this would contribute extremely to the deepening

of the relationship between Africa and Japan.

Today we have many people from Africa and Japan who

will share their views with regard to the A-JESC. I hope that

today’s ceremony will open the door to enhancing further

relationships between Africa and Japan. With this, I would

like to close my remarks. Thank you very much.

Lingela: Thank you very much, Dr. Kirino, for the welcoming

address.

Our second speaker this evening is His Excellency Mr.

Oscar Motswagae, Ambassador of Botswana to Japan,

who will present introductory remarks. Ambassador

Motswagae is also the chairperson of the Southern

African Development Community (SADC) Committee

of Ambassadors in Japan. He has experience in the

diplomatic service, both inside Botswana and outside

Botswana, particularly with the United Nations (UN). The

Ambassador will introduce the purpose of our gathering

this evening. Thank you very much, Ambassador

Motswagae.

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Oscar Motswagae: Thank you very much and good

evening, Your Excellencies, distinguished guests,

ladies and gentlemen. It is a great pleasure for me to

be here this evening, for this important SADC initiative:

the launching of the A-JESC, making science and

technology a foundation for partnership between Africa

and Japan. On behalf of my SADC colleagues, I want

to thank the University of Tokyo for hosting us here this

evening. Thank you very much, Dr. Kirino. The support,

friendship, and solidarity of this institution cannot be

acknowledged enough. Once again, thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, there are divergent views on

the best path toward sustainable development, but I

think everybody agrees that science and technology

is the foundation on which the successful economies

around the world are built. New technologies have

brought about profound changes that we see in our

everyday lives. Imagine the ease with which we can

talk to people all over the world, the ease and speed

at which data can be transmitted around the world,

the ease of travel, the ease with which we can see

and hear news and cultural events around the world,

and, most extraordinarily, the Internet, which gives

us the ability to access the stores of knowledge and

information in virtually all the world’s computers. With

science and technology having such a profound impact

on our lives, how can we create an environment that

is conducive to the transfer of technology from the

rich countries of the world to the poorer ones? This

question has been and continues to be the subject of

intense debate at many international fora.

We in the SADC region believe very strongly that

such a conducive environment should start at school

level, because new technologies are knowledge- and

skills-intensive. We believe that it is through exposure

and access to new technologies that our youth can

unleash their potential to deal with the challenges

facing humanity today. It is for this reason that we have

decided to organize this essay and speech competition.

The gap between the countries of Africa and Japan,

in dealing with computers and new technologies, is

obvious to everyone. Nowhere in the world is science

and technology as manifest in the lives of citizens as it is

in this country. Our hope is that this competition will open

new opportunities for Africa and Japan to collaborate

in the area of education and science for development.

Thus, the theme: making science and technology a

foundation for partnership between Africa and Japan. We

are convinced that this initiative will help inspire more

African and Japanese students, in the fields of science,

research, engineering, and so forth, to build partnerships,

linkages, and networks to ease the transfer of the much-

needed technology between Africa and Japan.

Our embassies can help connect Japanese students

with the r ight people and organizations in our

countries. The competition is open to African and

Japanese students, at both high school and tertiary

educational institutions, who have an interest in

international relations and science and technology.

I should therefore like to take this opportunity, on

behalf of my SADC colleagues, to invite students

from Japanese high schools and tertiary institutions to

participate in this competition and submit their essays

to the Embassy of South Africa by �� April �00�. Those

interested should contact Mr. Vuyani Lingela of the

South African Embassy for the competition guidelines.

There will be a total of nine winners, three from Japan

and six from Africa. The three Japanese winners will

each receive a fully paid eight-day travel package to

Africa. It is my sincere hope that as many students as

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possible will take part in this competition and contribute

meaningful ideas for making science and technology a

foundation for partnership between Africa and Japan.

I thank you very much for your attention.

Lingela: Thank you, Ambassador for the very stimulating

words. This time I will call the General Manager for

Science Communication of the Department of Science

and Technology in South Africa. His name is Mr. Nhlanhla

Nyide. Mr. Nyide has worked in the Department of Science

and Technology supporting with communication in the

department and he is here in Japan this time also to

promote communication and science and technology.

Please ladies and gentlemen let’s welcome Mr. Nhlanhla

Nyide.

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Nhlanhla Nyide: Your Excellencies, Your Ambassadors,

Ladies and gentlemen, distinguished and honourable

guests. Japan and South Africa are two countries that

experienced fresh beginnings in the �0th Century. Both

these fresh starts came as an end result of conflict,

so our two nations have much in common, not least a

common desire to avoid conflict. There is a great deal

we can teach one another, as we both strive to make

this world a better place to live in, principally through the

sensitive application of sciences and new and emerging

technologies.

Some people have difficulty in equating South Africa,

or any part of Africa for that matter, with science and

technology. The fact is that South Africa is deeply

enmeshed in the promotion of a very wide range

of scientific and technological endeavors and is an

enthusiastic promoter of scientific causes throughout the

African continent.

For those of you who are not familiar with South Africa’

s scientific progress, I will mention a few key projects. In

general terms, South Africa tries to play to its strengths.

As a custodian of over ��% of the world’s platinum

deposits, South Africa has recently decided to strongly

identify itself with hydrogen fuel cell research, in the hope

that development will lead to a real alternative to the

internal combustion engine, ending society’s dependence

on oil and halting global warming. A worldwide system

of hydrogen refueling stations and hydrogen pipelines is

envisaged. Platinum is the key catalytic material used in

hydrogen fuel cells, and although it is not the only catalyst

in use, it is the catalyst of choice for the most promising

of the emerging developments, the proton exchange

membrane fuel cell. Japan, as is often the case, is one of

the nation’s leading this research.

Again in the field of responsible energy generation, our

country is well advanced in the development of the South

African pebble bed modular reactor. This initiative has

been in progress since �99� and aims to produce and

market small-scale, high-temperature reactors, both

locally and internationally. The demonstration plant is

scheduled to be completed by �0��. Although it is not the

only high-temperature reactor currently being developed

in the world, the South African project is internationally

regarded as the leader in the power generation field. Very

high efficiency and attractive economics are possible,

without compromising the high levels of passive safety

expected of advanced nuclear designs.

These two initiatives together will go a long way to

redeeming the pledges made in the Kyoto Protocol.

In November �00�, our state president Thabo Mbeki

opened the South African Large Telescope (SALT) at

Sutherland, a remote site in the Great Karoo in the Cape

Province. Sutherland is an ideal position from which

to conduct astronomical research and now plays host

to this remarkable new instrument, which represents a

joint venture between seven countries, �� organizations,

and �� universities. Both private and public funding

was pooled to create the largest diameter telescope in

the southern hemisphere. SALT is a truly multinational

endeavor and sets an early example for scientific and

educational cooperation between nations in the ��st

century. Its ��-meter mirror array is the largest effective

mirror of any telescope in the world, and it is more

efficient studying stars in the ultraviolet than any other

large telescope.

Not the least of our strengths in this area is clear skies,

unpolluted by smoke, smog, or the ambient light of cities.

We are also among the last contestants to host the

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new square kilometer array (SKA) telescope. This has

involved us building a �% SKA demonstrator called the

Karoo Array Telescope, which has enabled South African

industry and academia to participate in the technology

development process. We are optimistic that our bid

represents the most sensible proposition on the table.

Of course our country continues to lead the world in

the field of anthropology and paleoanthropology. The

work at Sterkfontein, to the east of Johannesburg,

under the leadership of the extraordinary Prof. Phillip

Tobias, continues to rivet the attention of those who

are concerned with the evolution of our South African

forefathers, who many observers now believe were

amongst the first hominids to inhabit this wonderful

planet of ours. Sterkfontein has been the site of a major

excavation since �9��, and in that �0-year period, over

�00 hominid fossils have been recovered, making the

site the world’s richest single deposit for ancient hominid

remains.

In the field of medical biotechnology, a team at the

University of Pretoria’s Department of Veterinary

Tropical Diseases at Onderstepoort has sequenced

and annotated the complete genome of the bacterium

that causes the deadly Heartwater Disease, which has

destroyed cattle, sheep, and goat herds throughout sub-

Saharan Africa for centuries. We hope that within five

years, this breakthrough will result in an effective vaccine

that will bring an end to this dreadful scourge. This is the

first entire sequencing of any organism that has been

done in Africa.

These are some—though by no means all—of the

projects that are illuminating my country’s scientific

progress. Also worth mentioning is the ongoing African

Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme, in the course of

which the coelacanth—a fish that remained undetected

and unchanged for some �0 million years—was

discovered in the ocean off the coast of East London. It is

the subject of intense study.

I must not neglect to mention our promotion of indigenous

knowledge systems. We recognize that large parts of

indigenous knowledge constitute a science, one that has

always been and continues to be the primary factor in

the survival and welfare of the majority of South Africans.

Our present policy seeks to recognize this, to affirm it and

develop it, and to promote and protect the custodians and

practitioners of this knowledge.

Most important of all is that we, who are privileged to

lead this scientific fraternity of Africa, are duty-bound to

use our discoveries and our refinements for the benefit

of all those who share the vast continent of Africa with

us, and to share it through the good offices of the New

Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). As

the most financially privileged member of the African

community, it is our solemn responsibility to shine the

bright light of hope on the often dark pathway of African

progress.

Consequently, we are impatient to increase our skills

levels and multiply the numbers of our scientists, and so

accelerate our journey. That is why we are so pleased

and delighted by the A-JESC. Africa is a continent

in search of inspiration, and there are few people as

inspiring as the people of Japan. You have had more than

your fair share of hardship and you too have experienced

helping hands extended to you from across vast oceans.

You have wonderfully and skillfully combined modernity

with tradition, and in many ways you have set the

standard for life in the present age. How wonderful then

to be involved with you in a program that will result in

some of our best young people intermingling with one

another’s culture and scientific aims. It makes me want to

be a student again. On the other hand, I have the good

fortune of being able to address you without having to

win a competition for the pleasure of doing so. We are all

hoping that this will be the beginning of something that

will flower and flourish.

Again, in this respect, I must pay homage to the efforts

put into these developments by Mr. Vuyani Lingela, who

as many of you know is the counselor for science and

technology at the South African Embassy in Japan. He

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has worked tirelessly to achieve this outcome and we are

all particularly pleased to be identified with such a noble

enterprise.

To the young people of Japan, South Africa, and Zambia,

who may be considering entering this competition, I

say: do not hesitate to do it. We need your minds, your

foresight, and your fresh thinking to be brought to bear

on each other’s scientific and technological problems. To

those who have been involved in bringing this excellent

project to fruition, I say: thank you, but do not limit your

aims to just one season of this contest. Let it continue.

Let it grow. As an old Japanese proverb has it: beginning

is easy, continuing is hard. I thank you.

Lingela: Thank you very much, Mr. Nyide.

Ladies and gentlemen, I wish it to be known that we have

a special guest also from South Africa who is here with

us this evening, the minister of education in the province

of Pumalanga, His Excellency Minister Masango. Let us

welcome him also.

Now, to have an opportunity to hear from one of the

honorable members of the community of science in

Japan—I am talking about Prof. Akito Arima. Talking

about Prof. Arima, just to start with, he has numerous

awards from all over the world, including an honorary

degree from the University of Stellenbosch in South

Africa. But that is not all. Prof. Arima was the president of

this university. Prof. Arima was the minister of the Ministry

of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology

(MEXT) in Japan. Prof. Arima was the minister of state

of science and technology. He is currently the chairman

of the Japan Science Foundation. We are really indeed

honored to have Prof. Arima to address us this evening.

Thank you very much, sir.

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Akito Arima: South African Embassy Ambassador,

ladies and gentlemen, my name is Arima Akito. It is

a great honor for me to be given this opportunity to

speak in front of such a group. As introduced, this

is the university where I first learned physics as a

student and later on became assistant professor and

then professor. The building has changed. It has been

renewed. The building was terrible. There are some

remains on the other side of this building. You might

have an opportunity to look at it. It is a great honor to

see you in this hall today.

In order to establish a foundation for exchange

between Japan and Africa in the field of science and

technology, it is quite timely to plan this A-JESC. I

myself have been engaged in nuclear physics for a

long time, and researchers in South Africa excel in

the world in this particular field. Many researchers are

quite active in pursuing research in nuclear physics.

Many are publishing research papers and take an

active part in international meetings. Therefore, as I

just described, researchers from South Africa are not

only taking part in overseas meetings and research

but also are inviting overseas researchers to their

countries.

I myself have been given the honor of receiving

an honorary doctorate of science for the study of

nuclear physics from the University of Stellenbosch in

�999. This was possible because I had an excellent

friend involved in this research at the University of

Stellenbosch. In �999, since it was immediately after

I served as the minister of MEXT in Japan, I was

unfortunately not able to participate in the ceremony.

However, I was able to take part in the graduation

ceremony in �00�, and I was given the honorary

doctorate of science. I would like to extend my

deepest thanks to South Africa.

When I visited South Africa, I was highly impressed

by the high culture, by the strong mining industry,

agriculture, and winery. I was also very impressed by

the fact that people were living quite vividly and were

full of life. It made me feel that we should proceed

with something that I had been thinking about for a

long time, and I would like to share that thought with

you today.

It is true that the distance between Africa and Japan

is very, very far. I felt that myself. However, between

researchers, there is virtually no difference in thinking.

As I said, in the field of science and technology, we

have virtually the same mindset and we are applying

it in new technologies. Japan and South Africa and

its neighboring countries should cooperate with

each other more actively in the field of science and

technology. When I was the president of University

of Tokyo, I insisted that we should invite more young

people from Africa and that more Japanese young

people should go and learn in Africa. I made some

efforts, but as Dr. Kirino mentioned, they were not

very fruitful. Still, many students from Africa came to

our university, University of Tokyo, and I felt it quite

compelling to see such students studying hard.

In recent years, global problems include dealing with

energy problems, food shortages, and, especially,

the massive exhaust of CO� causing global warming.

This has become a serious chal lenge. Among

ourselves, researchers and scientists,CO� exhaust

from human beings—is it really the true cause of

global warming? Some people are still quite skeptical

about it. However, the supercomputer called the Earth

Simulator does calculations and shows that CO�　

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exhaust from human beings is actually the cause of

global warming.

Even if this calculation is wrong, trying to come up

with a solution when we find the true cause will be

too late. When we are facing a critical situation and

decide to stop emitting CO�, that will be too late.

When it is still suspicious—and at least we already

have concrete proof and evidence that CO� is the

cause—we must make efforts to deal with this. In

order to address such issues, we cannot solve such

problems with one country alone. All countries around

the world must cooperate in order to implement

solutions.

In order to seek the sustainable development of this

Earth, I believe it is indispensable for Japan and the

African nations to cooperate. This is my belief. There

are certain aspects where Japan excels, such as in

the area of industrialization. At the same time, we

have had very sad experiences, such as the nerve

damage caused by Minamata Disease, which was

caused by mercury in industrial waste. Soil pollution,

air pollution—these are also other examples of sad

experiences of Japan, and these are things that other

countries should not experience again. This kind of

success and failure that Japan has experienced in the

course of industrialization is something that I would

like people from the African nations to understand and

learn from.

On the other hand, there are other things that the

African nations excel at. Agriculture is an example

and the way in which industrialization is pursued is

another example. I believe Japan must learn more

proactively, in that regard. By understanding science

and technology, Japan and the African nations should

be able to rely on each other, overcoming differences

in race and fo rge t t ing cu l tu ra l and re l ig ious

differences. I think this is the first step in establishing

peace worldwide and I think this would definitely

contribute to establishing such a world. This is what I

have been thinking for a long time.

The real aspect, the truth, inside science and

technology is quite common for all human beings.

What is useful for the well-being of humans is quite

universal. Let us establish a true peace in this world

by using the advantages of science and technology.

To that end, young people are necessary; and this

A-JESC, inviting high school students as well as

college and university students, gives a wonderful

opportunity for the young generation. I would like

to raise my voice and show strong approval for this

contest. With this, I would like to close my remarks.

Thank you all very much.

Lingela: Thank you very much to Prof. Arima for the

very encouraging words.

We are again privileged to have one of the speakers

who can address us this evening. The speaker is Dr.

Kiyoshi Kurokawa. Dr. Kurokawa is the president of

the Science Council of Japan. I must confess that

when I first heard Dr. Kurokawa speak, the energy

coming from him was indeed translated to me and

many other people. I am truly convinced that you will

also feel the energy of Dr. Kurokawa. Just a brief

word: Dr. Kurokawa is a medical doctor. He practiced,

researched, and worked in the United States for

many, many years, including at the University of

California. He is currently the professor at the Institute

of Medical Sciences at Tokai University. Ladies and

gentlemen, I would like you to experience the energy

from Dr. Kurokawa. Thank you.

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Kiyoshi Kurokawa: Your Excellency, distinguished

scholars, and guests, it is my privilege to be invited

here on this occasion of the announcement of the

launch of a new program, which sends a message

to the future youth between Japan and the southern

part of sub-Saharan Africa.

This hall is named after Prof. Koshiba, who was awarded

a Nobel Prize for his discovery of neutrinos. Neutrinos go

through Earth. If you see from the neutrino’s perspective,

we do not see any national borders, we do not see any

ethnic differences. And why can we not live in peace? That

would be the message.

The human race accumulated various indigenous

knowledge, transmitted their knowledge to their

neighbor and the next generation, and came a long

way to reach civilization, some few thousand years

ago. Then, many scientific discoveries were made

through the pursuit of finding the truth and principle

of nature. But in the last hundred years, we have

seen major, major change in the history of Homo

sapiens. A hundred years ago, the life expectancy

in leading countries, like the Europe and United

States and also parts of Japan, was �0 to ��. But

in the last hundred years, we gained another �0

years, which is extraordinary; but nobody could

imagine such an accomplishment. A hundred years

ago, Albert Einstein published five papers, which

changed our way of thinking of the universe and

human existence. A hundred years ago, through this

accumulation of indigenous knowledge, the human

population on Planet Earth reached �.� billion. A

hundred years later, the world population has now

surpassed � billion; and it is expected to reach 9

billion by �0�0.

Is our race on Planet Earth sustainable? This is

an obvious question. We knew that through the

declaration of limits of growth in early �9�0s, which

led to the UN report by Brundtland on sustainable

development Our Common Future—that was �9��.

Although we realized these issues, we could not

make any meaningful decisions globally because

that may have been the nature of the human race.

But the impact of the increasing human population,

industr ia l izat ion, and the pursui t of economic

growth suddenly has its own limits. In response to

this Brundtland report, the National Academy of

Science in the United States delivered its report

with the title Our Common Journey in �99�. Then,

the Royal Society of the United Kingdom delivered a

European perspective, in response to that; and the

Science Council of Japan, representing the science

community of Japan, publ ished the Japanese

perspective. These are the views of the science

community at large. We are building a network to

create a better future. Earlier last year, we then

published another one: Japan Vision �0�0.

What are the responsibi l i t ies of Japan, a s a n

e c o n o m i c a l l y a f f l u e n t c o m m u n i t y, w i t h t h e

fo reseeab le cha l l enges we face? F i r s t , t he

increasing human populat ion, which requires

energy, food and water, living space, daily activity—

are we developing a sustainable society? That is

the question. Second, due to this human population,

is the environment, climate change, diminishing

biodiversity—and how are we going to live? What

is the food? Water? Energy? Third is the widening

north-south disparity. If we know that, as responsible

citizens, we have to at least think and take one

step forward. This requires political will. In fact, the

science community has been working over the last

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few years as the aggregate to deliver and engage

the decision-making processes, addressing global

issues.

Ten years after the first World Summit on Sustainable

Development in Rio de Janeiro, there was the

world summit in Johannesburg in �00�, and in fact

Prime Minister Koizumi pledged that the Japanese

government would commit substantial funds for

education for people in the developing world. In fact,

the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO) launched a Decade of

Education for Sustainable Development last year, with

a special emphasis on education for girls. The World

Trade Organization (WHO) has launched a mission

for the Social Determinants of Health, recognizing that

this is not a medical issue; this is a social issue. In fact,

consistent with the Millennium Development Goals,

led by Jeffrey Sachs, eradicating poverty, the goal

will be set at �0��. These are the concerted efforts of

responsible global citizens.

The Science Council of Japan was instrumental

to the launch of the Science Counci l of Asia,

which focuses on sustainable development for a

prosperous, harmonious, and greener Asia and

on delivering policy recommendations under this

theme. Also, the Science Council of Asia was one

of the signatories for the Ubuntu Declaration, during

the Johannesburg Summit, which emphasized that

we scientists are not merely scientists but also

educators. Therefore, in the UN document, there is

a major stakeholder in the scientific community and

educators. In addition, we launched a joint study

panel with the Royal Society last year, addressing

nanotechnology and its potential and potential risks,

particularly for the environment and health, and also

with the National Academy of Science in the United

States on science and technology on national

securities, and we focused on censors and censor

systems.

But I think the legacy of our generation—many of

you who lived many years in the last century and

who may not live that long in this new century. But

what will be our legacy, knowing what is happening

right now and what is going to happen in the coming

few decades? For example, the first patient with

AIDS was seen in �9�� in Los Angeles. I was

working in one of the UCLA hospitals, so I saw

some of the first few patients and I know that. But

also everybody knows, since this is a knowledge-

based society, that already �0 million people have

died of AIDS and now you know �0 million people

are suffering from AIDS and HIV, �0% live in sub-

Saharan Africa, and ��% of those in sub-Saharan

Africa between ages �� and �� who are positive for

HIV/AIDS are women. That is a tragedy. You know

that.

What would be your responsibility? To interact with

your policymakers and make something happen. If

we know the impact of climate change and African

issues, engage wi th po l icymakers and wor ld

leaders, because this is a political decision. The

science community has a neutral position, and as an

aggregate of the science community, we sometimes

have to make pol i t ica l commitments. In fact ,

that happened last year. Exactly a year ago, last

January, Tony Blair made a historical speech in the

Davos meeting about our generation’s legacy to the

future. What will it be? Because as Dr. Arima stated

already, we know what may be happening on climate

change and greenhouse gases. But are we going to

make something happen? Take action? Otherwise,

�0 years later, our grandchildren and their children

could say that our generation knew what was going

to happen, but did not take any action. Is that how

our generation will be remembered forever? Do

you want to be representing this generation, to be

remembered as an irresponsible generation, leaving

climate change and the environment in such a

misery for the future generations? Can we do that?

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Second is also Tony Blair’s, is also Africa’s issues.

Some �0 years ago, the gross domestic product

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and economic power in the Asia Pacific and Africa

were almost comparable. But �0 years later, what

is the difference? Why is it? Again, unless we take

some action now, �0 years later our generation will

be remembered as the generation leaving Africa as

it was—which is crazy. Therefore, at last year’s G�

summit in Gleneagle, Tony Blair made these two

issues—climate change and Africa—his cause.

In fact, because of this, we G� academies worked

together and delivered a joint statement on climate

change ( in your handout) and another one on

Africa. We helped develop the African Academies

Network, which has become a core signatory on

this African issue. Through this document from the

science community, the G� political leaders worked

together and got the communiqué in early July.

Obviously climate change has a signatory of head

of also academy of Brazil and China and India,

because they are also very significant partners

for these issues. With these statements and the

G� communiqué, now we worked through the

Millennium Development Goals at the Millennium

Summit of last September at the UN in New York

Ci ty. Also, they recognized, in th is document

of science, technology, and innovation, the G�

academy’s leadership, which is a very important

step. Although it may look small, we are serious

about our commitment.

This year, I think it will be the first time Russia

hosts the G� summit, so we are working with the

Russian academy on what kind of statement and

engagement we can develop in the coming few

months.

All right, so the future lies with our children and

grandchildren and their fr iends. Therefore, the

InterAcademy Council (IAC), which became a major

signatory of this UN document—in this small, back

page, there are two reports by the IAC. I think their

website is listed. The first paper was delivered to

Kofi Annan in New York, at the UN headquarters,

in February �00�, under the title of “Inventing a

Better Future: A Strategy for Building Worldwide

Capacit ies in Science and Technology.” There

are specific policy recommendations at different

levels of economic power for each country, and we

request that each leader makes certain decisions

after reading this. Also, we had four independent

workshops in different parts of Africa. The second

report from the IAC is “Real iz ing the Promise

and Potential of African Agriculture: Science and

Technology Strategies for Improving Agricultural

Productivity and Food Security in Africa.” This was

commissioned by Kofi Annan.

So, we have been working together, engaging and

delivering decision-makers’ policy choices, based

on the best science available at the moment. With

this background, I am particularly moved by this

initiative of the speech contest, which is another

form and framework for future generat ions to

engage and get to know each other and exchange

some thoughts and ideas. Although it may look very

small, it is a very important step forward. Japan

has to make more commitments to our neighbors

and also many other parts of the world, because

Japan has been the number two economic power

and because we really have to invest in our future

generations. Forming partnerships, wherever they

may be, will enhance the credibility of Japan as a

nation and help Japan become a part of the helping

hands for future global citizens.

To conclude my brief presentation, this is another

welcoming science for globalization and narrowing

the north-south dispari ty, knowing �0% of the

world population is still living in poverty, on $� or

less per day. I have been working with various

leaders in African countries and, in fact, under

the International Council for Science (ICSU). The

ICSU vice president is now one of my good friends,

Dr. Mokhele of the African science academy. He

is an outstanding biological scientist and we are

working with various academies and trying to build

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academic institutions in various parts of Africa and

Asia. In fact, the ICSU is now opening a regional

office in South Africa and an Asia-Pacific office in

Kuala Lumpur. We will try to reach out and address

the relevant issues, work together to develop the

capacity for future generations, so that our legacy

will become at least more reasonable, and take

action. When the future generation looks back �0

years from now, they will see we did something

meaningful, so they could share the resources we

have provided on this Planet Earth.

More than �0 years ago, Mahatma Gandhi stated:

Earth can meet our needs but not our greed. That is

our responsibility and the message to convey to future

generations. This is one very significant yet small step

forward, to make a better world. Thank you very much.

Lingela: Thank you very much, Dr. Kurokawa.

We are indeed privileged to welcome Dr. John Mugabe,

who is an advisor of science and technology to NEPAD.

Dr. Mugabe has done a lot of work in Africa and outside of

Africa on agricultural and environmental issues concerning

countries outside of Africa and within Africa. Dr. Mugabe

will introduce to us this evening and highlight: Africa’s

Science and Technology Consolidated Plan of Action. I

would now like to welcome Dr. Mugabe. Thank you.

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John Mugabe: Thank you. Your Excellencies, ladies

and gentlemen, let me begin by thanking the Embassy

of South Africa for inviting me to this event. Let me

also thank the Embassy for giving me this privilege to

introduce Africa’s Science and Technology Consolidated

Plan of Action to you. This plan is a product of a process

that has taken African countries at least two years.

That particular process was initiated by His Excellency

Dr. Ben Ngubane, who was South Africa’s minister for

science and technology. It is the first time that Africa,

as a continent, has designed and in fact moved into

implementing its own science and technology strategy

and science and technology plan. In the past, Africa

often relied on plans designed by other regions, by

donors. Many of those plans have not enlarged Africa’s

scientific and technological base.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

I am not going to go into the details of this plan. The

document is at least �0 pages and is available for those

who want to look at it. But I just want to emphasize the

process that Africa used to generate the plan and some

of the objectives for the plan, and then end by giving

you a sense of how Africa is starting to implement this

particular plan.

In terms of background, we all know that Africa’s

economic change and transformation are not going to

be achieved if Africa has no science and technology.

African leaders and African societies are increasingly

recognizing that without science and technology, they

are not going to see economic change and economies

are not going to grow. This recognition is not just at the

political level but at lower levels of governance as well.

We are in fact seeing communities start to emphasize

the role that science and technology play in economic

development.

Africa is actively engaged in inciting its renewal, and this

process, at the political level, is through the African Union

(AU) and NEPAD. It is also important to emphasize that

Africa is searching for its economic renewal, at a time

when there are new technological opportunities, and

that Africa today has new opportunities compared to �0

years ago. Today, there are a range of new technologies

that Africa can easily access and use—information and

communication technologies, biotechnology, indigenous

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knowledge and related technologies—so there are in

fact technological opportunities for Africa to use to solve

Africa’s problems.

But there are also still barriers. Africa still has barriers

to scientific and technological development. If Africa

does not remove those barriers, it is not going to tie up

the new opportunities, both technological and political.

Those barriers include the absence of specific science,

technology, and innovation policies. In many countries,

again, there is a lack of demonstrative commitment to

investing in science and technology. Many countries

at the national level have not set specific science and

technology priorities. The plan that I will be introducing to

you aims, to a large extent, at addressing some of these

barriers.

African leaders have written in the NEPAD framework

two specific science and technology goals, and those

are that Africa must be a continent that harnesses and

applies science and technology for its development.

Africa cannot rely on the rest of the world to mobilize

science and to apply that science to solving Africa’

s problem. Africa must take the initiative. Africa must

go out and acquire science and related innovations.

The second goal within the NEPAD framework is that

Africa must also be a continent that contributes to global

science and innovations. Africa cannot be politically

assertive and Africa cannot integrate itself in the global

knowledge economy if Africa is only a consumer of

science and innovations from other parts of the world.

To achieve these two goals, in February �00� in

Johannesburg, under the leadership of His Excellency

Dr. Ngubane, a process was initiated. Let me just give

you a sense of the nature of this process. It was agreed

upon that this process must be participatory and bottom-

up and that for Africa’s science and technology plan of

action to make a difference, it must be a plan made not

just by a few scientists but by consultants, by donors—

it must be one that is designed by as many Africans as

possible, mobilizing the diversity of Africa. Thus, the

process was put in place. It has been a participatory

process, bottom-up, involving consultations at national

levels, regional workshops, and continental conferences.

This process has also been knowledge-based. In the

past, attempts at developing science and technology

plans were ad hoc and relied on consultants; there were

no efforts made to understand Africa’s capacities, Africa’

s own opportunities.

The process that we have been involved in has

been knowledge based. We sent out questionnaires

to all African countries and many institutions. We

commissioned at least �0 background studies on a

range of issues—indigenous knowledge, intellectual

protection, biodiversity needs, conservation needs. We

had national submissions. The process has had and

�9

continues to have a high level of political engagement.

In November �00�, the African Ministerial Council on

Science and Technology (AMCOST) was established,

bringing together African ministers responsible for

science and technology. This higher-level group has in

fact overseen the development of the plan. There is a

steering committee of permanent secretaries or director

generals, who frequently now look at the implementation

of the plan of action.

The process has not been a closed process. It has been

an open process, drawing on international partners.

For example, in January �00� we had the UK-Canada-

Africa partnership workshop, essentially to draw on the

international community in preparing the plan of action.

This process has also created new partnerships, like the

France-NEPAD partnership on water sciences. It has

been a learning process. What the leaders agreed was

that they do not want just to set priorities that are custom

installed. It has been a learning process. Priorities have

been adjusted.

The process has been guided by a number of principles.

I just want to outline five of them. One important principle

is African ownership. As I stated before, in the past the

agenda has not been set by Africa; the plans have not

been signed by Africa. This time around, the leaders

stressed that this must be an African-owned process.

It is a process that has been guided by the principle of

collective action, focusing on common challenges. This

is not going to work if just a few African countries get

involved for their own individual, national benefits; Africa

must come together with a collective focus on shared

challenges. Thus, it has been one that is owned, the

process and the products.

Another important principle is adding value to existing

initiatives and efforts. It was clear from the beginning that

this should not just be, again, another African initiative

that is going to duplicate what has been done by original

and continental institutions. Emphasis has been on the

process and a plan that adds new value to what Africa

has already been building, and on prior progress, to

ensure that there is maximum learning, that we do not

start from scratch. Africa has foundations for scientific

and technological developments, so the emphasis has

been on building on those foundations. There are a

number of other principles that have guided the process.

Let me quickly introduce to you what I would consider

the pillars of the plan of action. The first is knowledge

production and use. It is very clear that if Africa does not

invest in the production of scientific knowledge, Africa

is not going to be able to address its problems. Some

of the problems are very peculiar to Africa and Africa in

fact requires new knowledge to address those problems.

A second pillar is skills. For Africa to see advances

in scientific and technological areas, Africa needs to

�0

create skills in a range of areas. Africa also needs to

mobilize its past skills. Africa needs to efficiently use its

skills; so, again, emphasis on skills as a pillar. The third

pillar is policy conditions. From the beginning, African

countries recognized that if they do not improve various

science, technology, and innovation policies, they are

not going to see differences, in terms of scientific and

technological development. Many African countries lack

science and technology policies. Of the few countries

that have science and technology policies, most of

those policies are outdated; so, emphasis on improving

policy conditions. The fourth pillar is strong institutions.

Without strong science institutions, Africa is not going to

see any scientific and technological development; Africa

is not going to be able to use emerging technological

opportunities to solve its problems. The emphasis is on

improving institutions. The fifth pillar is regional diversity.

Africa has diversity of different kinds and Africa needs

to use that diversity to harness and apply science and

technology.

The objectives of the plan that African countries have

collectively designed are out there. The first and

probably the most important is infrastructure for research

and development. When designing the consultative plan,

we found out that many of our countries had actually

ignored the infrastructure for science and technology. If

you go to universities, the laboratories are in a very bad

state. You go to science councils and the equipment is

outdated. Through this plan of action, African countries

want to focus on improving infrastructure for research

and development.

I have referred to skills creation. The other objective

in the plan of action is that Africa this time must turn

knowledge into products. Research has been conducted

in African institutions by African scientists, but that

research stays on the shelf in the form of publications.

In this plan, African countries are putting emphasis on

innovation, so innovation is one of the core objectives of

the consolidated plan. I referred to improving policies—

science, technology, and innovation policies. Another key

objective is creating demand for science and technology.

To a large extent, African institutions have been

engaged in what one would call a science push, trying

to essentially get science out there without pronounced

demand. The emphasis this time is to ensure this

pronounced demand for science and technology.

In the plan, there are five clusters for f lagship

programs. These programs were adopted by ministers

responsible for science and technology at their first

meeting. I am not going to go into the details. Each

cluster has very specific projects. Just to give you a

sense, the first cluster—biodiversity, biotechnology,

and indigenous knowledge—has two ongoing projects

being implemented by African countries collectively.

The first project is called Biosciences Initiative, which

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is networking life science laboratories on the continent.

There are four hubs that have been identified on the

continent. Scientists are working in those hubs in the

laboratories, addressing very specific African problems.

For example, the southern African hub is focusing on use

of indigenous knowledge to address HIV/AIDS—they are

what are called opportunistic infections, which can easily

be addressed using existing knowledge. In East and

Central Africa there is work going on on bioinformatics;

without a knowledge base on bioinformatics, Africa is not

going to be able to use its biological resources.

Under the biodiversity program, there is an initiative to

generate taxonomists. We found out, during the process,

that Africa has less than �00 active taxonomists. Without

taxonomists, you will not be able to know which plant

species you have, the uses of those species, which

ecologists… The aim that African countries have set is to

have in the next five years at least 100 more taxonomists

at the PhD level. Those taxonomists will be given money

to engage in taxonomy work. There are a number of

other programs, but I am not going to go into the project

details today.

In addition to the flagship programs, the ministers also

agreed on six policy-related programs. Those are now

planned out there. Let me just make some statements

on the first, which is the Africa Science, Technology, and

Innovation Indicators Initiative. This is an initiative that is

going to enable African countries to map out science and

innovation activities in Africa. Very few African countries

actually know what science is being conducted by their

own institutions, what innovations are being generated

either by their public institutions or private companies.

African countries do not know each other in terms of

science and technology, and these initiatives are aimed

at coming up with what we are calling African Innovation

Outlook. There is a group that is already working on

the indicators. They have had several meetings. These

initiatives are in partnership with a number of other

countries, particularly Canada.

There are other activities related to policy. For example,

the biodiversity strategy. African heads of state and

government, African presidents, asked NEPAD and the

AU commission to create a higher level of funding of

biotechnology. There is a panel that is already advising

countries on how to handle issues associated with

genetic modification and genetically modified products.

That panel is engaged at a very high level, at the

ministerial and presidential level, addressing some of the

controversial issues associated with trade in genetically

modified crops or food generally.

Technology parks—as I stated from the beginning, this

time, Africa should not just produce science; it must turn

that science into products. We are starting a process for

establishing technology parks. Last week, we finalized

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an agreement with the Government of Finland to assist

Africa to have at least five technology parks in each of

the regions of Africa, where African scientists are going

to start turning science into specific products. There

is a high-level mechanism to ensure the goals are

realized and the programs are efficiently and effectively

implemented.

I referred to AMCOST before. This is the first time that

African countries have had such a body focusing on

science and technology. The first two years of this body’

s existence, South Africa was the chair. Senegal has

been chairing since September of last year. AMCOST

interacts directly with the heads of state and government.

The next AU Summit in January �00� is going to be

dedicated to science and technology. We are told that

this is probably the first time that, at the AU level, heads

of state and government are going to be addressing the

issues of science and technology. There are a number of

other bodies responsible for implementation. In the plan

of action, the responsibilities of each are spelled out.

We rely on existing institutions. For each of the program

areas, we have what we are calling hubs and nodes—

these are networks of institutions that have been carefully

identified to focus on implementing specific projects.

We ensure that each network has at least universities

and industries involved. Without universities, capacity

building is not going to take place. Without industries, it

will be very difficult to turn science into products. There

is also emphasis on existing centers. This time, Africa is

discouraging the international community from investing

in brick-and-mortars. In the past, a lot of emphasis went

into structures, but there were no concrete outputs

from these structures. The emphasis this time is to use

existing institutions and to strengthen those institutions.

The plan has a very specific budget set and agreed

upon. Over the next five years, Africa countries will

take a modest budget, one that without international

contributions, African countries can contribute to and

cover: a maximum of US$200 million over the next five

years to implement the projects that are in the plan of

action. The sources are determined. First of all, African

countries will put in their own resources—and there is a

process to mobilize Africa’s own resources to implement

the plan. In the long term, beyond �0�0, the aim is to

have an endowment of at least US$�0 billion. To sustain

the momentum, to continue to improve infrastructure,

to generate innovations, Africa will need to build an

endowment of at least US$�0 billion. African countries

have agreed on a mechanism for mobilizing and

developing that US$�0 billion.

This is around what is being called the African

Science and Innovation Facility, which is going to be

an institutional mechanism for mobilizing financial

resources; ensuring that the resources are efficiently

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utilized and also mobilizing technical resources, directing

those to the networks of centers of excellence; and

monitoring the implementation of the plan of action.

In short, there is a plan that African countries have

collectively designed. They are involved now in the

implementation. They are mobilizing their own domestic

resources and starting to work with international

partners. Toward the end of this year, they are going to

be launching Africa’s Science and Innovation Facility,

which is going to be an institutional mechanism for

implementation of the plan of action. Thank you.

Lingela: Thank you very much, Dr. Mugabe.

We have another distinguished speaker this evening,

Dr. Hiroyuki Abe. Dr. Abe is a member of the Council for

Science and Technology Policy (CSTP) in the Cabinet

Office of Japan. About Dr. Abe, just something very

unique: he has a very strong academic background.

This includes his role as the president of the Tohoku

University here in Japan. Dr. Abe is instrumental in

many activities that concern science and technology in

Japan. I will now ask Dr. Abe to address us. Thank you

very much.

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Hiroyuki Abe: Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you very much for inviting me here today, to the

opening ceremony for the A-JESC.

In recent years, there has been vigorous debate in G�

summits and various other forums over international

cooperation ac tivities aimed at promoting development

in the African region. In my capacity as a science

and technology advisor to our government, I attend

Carnegie Group meetings with science and technology

advisors to other G� and European Union governments.

At these meetings too, the issue of science and

technology cooperation with Africa is debated, as

all member countries have a keen interest in the

African region. Japan has also provided cooperation

through the Tokyo International Conference on African

Development (TICAD). In the midst of this background,

therefore, the concept of the A-JESC is highly well

timed. It is my hope that it will serve as a catalyst for

further deepening science and technology exchange

between African countries and Japan.

I will talk about the expectations for the contest.

The progress of science and technology forms the

foundation for not only the development of industry

but also for the creation of a prosperous society. Many

countries are therefore pouring their energies into

the promotion of science and technology, and Japan

is no exception. Although the understanding and the

support of citizens are vital for science and technology

policies to be implemented effectively, there has been

a remarkable move away from science among people,

particularly among the young. Thus, there is now

much debate on how best to raise the understanding

and interest of the public, so as to involve them in the

implementation of science and technology policies.

From this perspective, I believe it is highly significant

that one of the stated objectives of the contest is

“to promote public understanding of science and

technology for sustainable development.”

Among scientists, there are some who conduct research

purely to satisfy their own private concerns or interests.

Now and in the future, however, I believe there will be

an increasing demand for scientists to return the fruits

of their work to the general public and society. Another

of the stated objectives of this contest is “to promote

science and technology cooperation between Africa

and Japan, to improve the quality of life for all.” This is

also a significant point from the perspective of returning

the fruits of science and technology research to society.

In considering cooperation between Japan and Africa

in the future, exchange between young people, the

leaders of the next generation, is imperative. Mutual

exchange leads to mutual trust, and this bears fruit in

the form of interest cooperation. From this perspective,

another of this contest’s objectives is “to inspire a

new generation of African and Japanese students

to contribute in promoting partnership between

Africa and Japan for mutual benefit,” which shows

tremendous foresight. International cooperation

in the field of science and technology is growing

increasingly important for resolving global issues, such

as population, environmental, food supply, and energy

problems. In addition to implementing policy dialogue

with other countries at the governmental level, our

country proactively promotes cross-border exchange

between scientists and joint research and development.

To ensure cooperation in the resolution of problems

that are not only shared by Japan and Africa but are

common to all humankind, it is vitally important that the

young people be encouraged to pursue international

exchange from an early age. From this perspective

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also, the A-JESC is highly significant. Participation in

the project is expected to raise the interest in science

and technology of young people in African countries

and Japan and lend support to the promotion of Africa-

Japan cooperation.

Next, I will talk about the Third Science and Technology

Basic Plan in Japan. In our country, science and

technology policies are formulated based on the

science and technology basic plan for five years. The

groundwork is currently being laid for the Third Science

and Technology Basic Plan, which will begin from the

next fiscal year, from this April. Under the First and

Second Science and Technology Basic Plans, Japan’

s standing in terms of both quality and quantity of

research papers, for example, has risen, thanks to

cumulative investment up until now. Consequently,

Japan has had a l a rge number o f resea rch

achievements that lead the world in their respective

fields.

As a result of this progress, Japan has increased

investment in government research and development,

compared with other policy budgets, over these past

�0 years, despite prolonged economic stagnation—

a move for which I believe our government deserves

to be commended. There are now a growing number

of examples of the fruits of this investment being

industrialized. Despite this, however, there are those

who say that in general, it is difficult to see how the

fruits of this investment in science and technology

are being returned to the general public and society.

Moreover, we cannot overlook the fact that international

competition in science and technology has being

growing more intense than anticipated during the

Second Science and Technology Basic Plan. We have

entered the age of the worldwide mega-competition for

knowledge. Here, what we must consider is sustainable

development and harmonized development on a global

level.

Amidst all this, the question of how to create knowledge

holds the key to our society and humankind, as a

whole, opening the way to the future. I believe it is

science and technology no less that is the bedrock for

such knowledge.

Based on the thinking I have just outlined, a proposal

for the Third Science and Technology Basic Plan

was presented to the government by the CSTP on

�� December of last year. I would now like to briefly

introduce the content of this proposal.

First, I would like to explain the fundamental concept of

the basic policies. The basic stances are to “promote

science and technology to be supported by the public

and to benefit society” and “emphasize the fostering

of human resources and the competitive research

environment.” The keywords of the second basic

stance are “shift of emphasis from ‘hard’ to ‘soft,’ such

as human resources” and “greater significance of

individuals at institutions.”

The third basic plan sets more concrete and easily

understood policy objectives that clearly outline the

aims of science and technology. This is so as to enable

the realization of three principles—creating human

wisdom, maximizing human potential, and protecting

the nation’s health and security—based on such factors

as future outlooks, and internal and external exchanges

regarding science and technology, the economy, and

society. Under concrete goals such as these policy

objectives, consideration is also being given to the

enhancement of public understanding of science and

technology as well as the promotion of international

activities.

Next I will talk about the enhancement of public

understanding of science and technology. It is no

exaggeration to say that science and technology

activities and systems are not independent from society

or the general public but can only be developed with the

widespread support of society and the general public.

Promotion of science and technology to be supported

by the public and to benefit society is a stance that

upholds the Third Science and Technology Basic Plan.

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It is important that various agents, including the CSTP,

related government ministries, local public authorities,

research institutions, and individual researchers, work

on various levels to gain the understanding of the

general public regarding the promotion of science and

technology.

Next is the strategic promotion of international activities.

The third basic plan emphasizes strategic international

measures to resolve internationally common problems

and respond to the expectations of other countries.

Such measures include the systematic implementation

of international efforts. In concrete terms, this means

aiming for three things:

・ Utilizing Japan’s science and technology strengths

to resolve internationally common problems and

respond to international requests and expectations,

thus further raising Japan’s credibility.

・ Contr ibuting to the formation of international

standards and rules regarding science and

technology through our init iat ives.

・ Both training Japanese researchers to a world- class

level and accepting top-class researchers from

overseas to increase research diversity and raise

research levels, thus strengthening Japan’s science

and technology capacity for the future of Japan and

humankind.

　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　 　Conclusion: In this way, Japan’s science and technology

policies in the future will focus on such issues as

increasing the understanding of the general public,

returning the fruits of research to society, and promoting

international activities. From this perspective also, the

A-JESC is expected to bear an abundance of fruit.

Finally I would like to make an additional remark. For

the future of humankind and the Earth, it should be

noted on science and technology that decision-making

by leaders, including intellectuals, is getting much

more important. By taking into account the present and

progress of science and technology, decision-making in

the direction of science and technology, and policies for

the promotion of science and technology—in particular,

science and technology—and therefore our future

depends largely on the leaders of the next generation.

Thank you very much for your attention.

Lingela: Thank you very much to Prof. Abe for a very

uplifting presentation. We have few minutes available

to us, before we can ask His Excellency to close the

occasion. But in the meantime, I would like any question

that might relate to this occasion. Our honorable

Ambassador, Dr. Nugabe, is available to respond to any

question. If there is any question, the Ambassador is

available.

We would like to ask the Honorable Ambassador Godfrey

Simasiku, who is a very active member of this A-JESC.

Because of the Ambassador, Zambia is a key partner

also participating in this speech competition. On that note,

I would like to ask the Ambassador to say a few words,

Thank you, Ambassador.

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Godfrey Simasiku: Excellencies, distinguished ladies

and gentlemen, my address actually would have been

off the cuff, delivered without reading anything. But

then, I ran into trouble with the translators, who said, “It

is traditional, Ambassador. We need something written,

for us to follow what you have to say.” But I do not want

to spoil the party.

We have listened to very distinguished, eminent,

practical scholars. I want to mention that I wil l

not do just ice to skip their contr ibut ion in my

prepared text. I am also remembering how during

one closing ceremony, we had a big conference

in Namibia, in Windhoek, for ministers of finance

and health and local government and housing.

The prime minister then—Geingob—of Namibia

opened the conference and he told his president,

who actually opened the conference. Then he was

asked to address the conference. Later on in the

program, he was asked to close the conference.

Everybody was waiting; they sat there. He took the

podium, and he said, “There is a time to make a

speech and there is a time to close, and I therefore

close this conference”—and that is what happened,

in one minute.

I would like to take this opportunity, on behalf of my

colleagues, to pay special tribute to the speakers

that have been here, with very, very glowing tribute

indeed in their professions, very knowledgeable

people, deep knowledge, a lot of experience. Also,

we have heard Africa speak this evening. You have

heard from SADC. Those voices represent Africa,

finally.

Now, I would l ike to just take a quick look on

some very important points that have been raised

this evening. We have heard from Prof. Kirino—

very, very distinguished, indeed, in his career.

As he spoke, I could not help but remember his

contemporaries, like Dr. Sakaro. A number of points

that came from your address, including also for Dr.

Kurokawa and also finally from Dr. Abe. We have

basic problems in Africa. These problems can only

be solved by appropriate science and technology.

For example, yesterday, we attended at the Japan

External Trade Organizat ion (JETRO) science

and technology application, if you may wish. The

Japanese government is facilitating some problems

for least developed countries. I saw something

there that is, in my country, a very big problem: the

water hyacinth, the Kariba weed, which is choking

our rivers and threatening our power generation.

But there they were using that same material to

produce beautiful handcrafts—basketry, of sorts—

which all you need is cheap technology to harvest

that notorious weed, to turn it into something useful

in society.

In our countr ies, there has been talk of i l l ic i t

brews, for many, many years. These brews, they

are not different from the gin that people drink

around the world or, indeed, some of the drinks

that we do experience here and there. Except,

t hey have no t been taken th rough p rope r l y

constituted laboratories. With appropriate science

and technology, these part icular i tems can be

contributing to our economies.

I do remember a conference in Senegal. The theme

was the competitiveness of African economies.

Ministers of finance met at that conference. What

is there that is a setback, a major constraint, today

is the lack of science and technology. I think this

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is an important point that we have reached today.

Dr. Kurokawa was saying, it may look small but—

I want to the words of Neil Armstrong, more than

�0 decades ago. When he, as the first man to step

on the moon, was coming out of his capsule, we

did not know whether the moon would support his

weight. But he had that task. As his boot touched

the moon’s earth, he said, it is a small step by

man, but a giant step for mankind. Indeed this can

be a very small step, but we think this is the big

step that will help to redeem our countries, our

regions, our continent.

I want to mention what you also did mention here,

Dr. Kurokawa. In the next �0 years, what will our

chi ldren and our grandchi ldren say about this

generation, about us? Martin Luther King said, I do

not know what the future holds, but I do know who

holds the future. Really, we are intrinsically caught

in this. We have to act; and I think this is the first

step that we are taking.

I also want to mention the very journey that we

are starting on here today. I want to pay special

tribute to the South African government, through

His Excellency Ambassador Mugabe, whom we

have been told really is the architect, when he

was minister of science and technology. Maybe

we could also request, through our AU structure.

I do not know, in those structures, how much

science and technology is featuring now. But from

experience, I think it is important, if we have to

meet all that has been put here for the ministries of

science and technology, their hierarchy in cabinet,

their budgetary allocations, to be raised as much

and as far as possible. Short of that, in �0 years’

time, when we take stock, there will not be much

that would have been made. For the young people

who are going to respond to these competitions,

who have ideas they want to express, without

budgetary support in our countries, theirs will only

remain mere pipe dreams.

Honorable colleagues, Your Excellencies, I want

to say once more, as we go home tonight, let

us remember to bring along those who have not

been privileged to be with us here. What we were

listening to tonight could have filled one of those

audiences, one of those lecture theatres holding

�,000 people, �,000 people. But I think it is not the

numbers; it is the spirit. I am sure we will pick up

from what you have given us tonight. The challenge

is so great, so intense, the colleagues in SADC,

who are in the SADC Committee, will do everything

possible to ensure that our governments also do

play a role for the subsequent competitions that will

be there, so that the numbers can also increase.

You have given us a big challenge, Honorable

Mugabe, and we wi l l r ise up to this occasion.

For next year’s national budget, we are going to

push and knock, because it is not for us that we

are going to do this; it is for our people. We have

heard when Dr. Mugabe was speaking… We have

seen loss of produce in our countries, agricultural

produce. People work so hard, they do not use

technology; they use their hands to produce the

food. At the end of the day, �0% of it is lost to

pests, etc. Cheap technology can change their

living standards, can change their style. Through

technology, we can improve on our production of

goods, make our goods competitive, increase the

volumes, and be meaningful in trade.

That brings us to Japan, promoting today one

village, one product. Dr. Mugabe, you did mention

d ivers i ty. I would l ike a lso to add a very b ig

contribution that Mr. Nyide has put toward policy

direct ion. You have done your part. Now, one

village, one product. It will not have to be the best

of all. We have a small economy. We do not have

many resources. But I think the whole concept is

to help what you have, do it well, efficiently, send

it out; then we will be contributing toward solving

poverty levels of Africa by �0% by the year �0��,

by reducing poverty levels, through what our

people can produce; and science and technology

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really is an answer to all this that we think can help

us.

In concluding my remarks, I must mention that I

would have read a speech, but I find that would

be justice to us all. I think we want to rise to the

occasion, as we heard it, as we saw it happen.

What should we do? Otherwise, we wi l l drain

ourselves and then time waits for no one. I want

to thank University of Tokyo once more for all that

they have done, in giving us this venue and making

the arrangements that have made it possible for us

to be here tonight.

I a lso want to thank, on behal f of my SADC

colleagues, the South African Embassy—the staff

has been just wonderful. Mr. Lingela has worked

to open our minds. When we are meeting with the

Ambassador, he knows it all. He has done it. So,

when we came up, you did guide us, and we are

grateful to the Embassy for this support that you

have given us. We will definitely play our part, like

I just said. We want to thank all those that have

been involved, in one way or another, in making

it really possible for us to launch ourselves here

tonight. Those who have traveled al l the way,

you can see the seriousness that SADC does

really attach to this, to have heard our colleagues

here—Mr. Nyide and Dr. Mugabe coming to join

us. Even if they are here for �� hours, �� hours,

it does inspire us. I want to say, on behalf of my

colleagues, we thank you so much.

We are real ly also grateful that the honorable

minister of education from Pumalanga has been

able to join us. We are really grateful, Honorable

Minister, for your presence here tonight. I am

sure, as you plan for your nation in that sector

of education, especially science and technology,

I think you will be able to inspire them from also

what you are feel ing here. This f i ts very wel l ,

to summar ize i t a l l , in what Pres ident Mbeki

mentioned, when he talked about a renaissance.

Lingela: The Ambassador said it all. I cannot say

more, only that this is the closing. Thank you very

much for your attendance.

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