JAPANESE FORUM OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS

The Japanese Forum of Environmental Journalists (JFEJ) was founded on July 3, 1991. Its purpose is to offer facilities for journalists interested in environmental　issues to conduct research and exchange information, and also to provide a point of contact between journalists and environmentalists, both Japanese and foreign. In taking this initiative, the JFEJ is responding to the gravity of the present environmental situation, and to the growing awareness of such issues in Japan which is reflected in recent activities by government departments, industries, academics, consumer organizations, and environmental groups including NGOs. There had been no means for the systematic collation and dissemination of information concerning these activities. JFEJ aims to fill this gap.

One of the main activities of the JFEJ is to hold a seminar once a month with a guest speaker to approach environmental issues from various aspects; among the speakers were government officials, environmental activists, journalists, university lecturers and business leaders.
We have invited Asian journalists into Japan, and have had the cultual exchanges each other. Every year since 96~2000, and in 2002, and this year, all in 7 times. We have invited 38 journalists from 18 countries. This year, we invited 7 journalists in 5 countries working around the Mekong river.

There are at present almost 70 members. In April 1994, the JFEJ joind the Asia-Pacific Forum of Environmental Journalists, and became its fourteenth member.