This joint event through cooperation between Chuo University, a participating member of United Nations Academic Impact (a global initiative for aligning institutions of higher education with the United Nations), and the United Nations Information Centre.

A screening was held for the film “Celebrity’s Battle—Voice of Bono (U2).” This documentary film focuses on Bono from the Irish rock band U2. The film portrays how Bono began large-scale fund-raising activities to provide aid to Africa. Through these activities, Bono realizes that poverty is caused by unfair trade and demands for payment of extremely large financial obligations. He then engages in lobbying while enlisting the cooperation of politicians and entrepreneurs.

Kaoru Nemoto, Director of the United Nations Information Centre, served as moderator for the panel discussions. Panelists gave their opinions on anti-poverty campaigns conducted by celebrities.

“Capital investment alone is not enough to support the poor,” pointed out Yasusuke Tsukagoshi, Special Japanese Representative of the World Bank. “It is also necessary to ensure high-quality employment in developing nations.”

“Currently, Japan’s ODA (Official Development Assistance) ranks fifth in the world,” introduced Masami Tamura, Manager of the Global Issues Cooperation Division at the International Cooperation Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Our nation’s disaster-related support, an area of expertise for Japan, is spreading throughout the world.”

“In a modern society with increasing disparity, a tax system known as “Global Tax” (International Solidarity Levy) is being started in order to generate large amounts of capital,” explained Professor Takehiko Uemura (Association of International Arts and Science, Yokohama City University) when addressing the need for public policy.

Representing Chuo students on the panel were Eiko Kitami and Hayato Honda (both from the Faculty of Law). The two students introduced volunteer activities in which they had participated.

This event reaffirmed that proxy wars and unfair trade by Western countries in Africa are issues contributing to poverty. These problems are not caused by just developing nations, such as Africa. The discussion concluded with the opinion that each person’s support for eliminating poverty will create public opinion and force the national government to act.