| Newsletter
No.41 |
|
August
2002
|
Report of ESUJ International Council Meeting
Masamichi Hanabusa, Chairman
As the English-Speaking Union looks forward to next year's
85th Anniversary of its founding, it is like one big family.
For three days commencing July 16, ESU Representatives from
27 countries and five continents gathered at Dartmouth House
Headquarters in London's Mayfair district for the annual
International Council Meeting, together with the committee
charged with making preparations for the founding celebrations,
which includes representatives of six countries. It was
the first visit to Dartmouth House for me as the ESU representative
from Japan.
Since English has become the de facto common international
language, ESU's in non English-speaking countries have sprung
up one after another. At this year's meeting, three new
ESU's were recognized, Hong Kong, Latvia, and Thailand.
As a result, presently there are 41 countries belonging
to the International Council. Additionally, 11 countries
have established Steering Committees, including Korea, the
Philippines, and Mongolia in Asia. In view of this, work
has begun to update completely the ESU constitution to make
it appropriate for the 21st century, with Japan having been
chosen as one of the participants in the eight-country committee.
With the spread of debate as one of its pillars, ESUJ's
rapid growth is a source of great interest. With membership
in excess of 400, excluding core countries England and the
US, ESUJ is probably the biggest ESU. In contrast to countries
with long established ESU's, which are hurting from an ageing
and shrinking membership, the ESU's in non-English speaking
countries are vigorous and oriented toward new activities.
At the Council meeting, various ESU countries introduced
their activities and spoke of their experiences, deepening
mutual friendship while providing "food for thought" to
other ESU's on how to enliven their own activities.
I enthusiastically introduced ESUJ's debating activity
in the workshop, and there were various questions from those
present. Debating was singled out as a potentially important
sphere of activity for non English-speaking countries. Outside
the official meetings, I had opportunities to speak with
representatives from Mongolia and Madagascar about Japan's
experience of creating ESUJ. I came home dreaming of the
day when it will be possible to hold a regional debate competition
among Asia's non English-speaking countries.
ESUJ Lecture "Jordan, My Country"
Lecture
by H.E. Samir Naouri, Jordanian Ambassador to Japan
Date: Thursday, 12 September 2002 6:30-8:00pm
Place: The International House of Japan (Kokusai Bunka Kaikan)
2002 University Debating Competition Details Finalized
Once again this year preparations are coming along smoothly
for the annual ESUJ University Debate Competition. This
year's annual competition is our fifth. We welcome your
joining as a volunteer staff. It is a heart-warming experience
to see these enthusiastic young debaters in action.
Preliminary Debates: October 13 (Sunday), 10:00a.m.-18:30p.m.
Final Debates: October 14 (Monday - holiday) 9:30a.m.-18:00p.m.
Place: National Olympics Memorial Youth Center, Yoyogi.
Details of the debate schedule will be sent in September.
They already appear at the
ESUJ web site.
Guest Lecturer and Debaters from the UK
Mr. Marc Whitmore
Head, Center for Speech and Debate, ESU
Mr. George Payne
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
Mr. Joe Devanny
University of Cambridge
Ms. Alexis Hearnden
University of Oxford
Mr. Ian Mann
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn
Participating Universities (30 teams from 22 universities)
Akita University, International Christian University, Kanda
University of International Studies, Keio University, University
of Kitakyushu, Kobe University, Nara Women's University,
Osaka University, Osaka Prefecture University, Seikei University,
Senshu University, Shibaura Institute of Technology, Shumei
University, Soka University, University of Tokyo, Tokyo
Institute of Technology, Tokyo Metropolitan University,
Tokyo Woman's Christian University, Tsuda College, Yokohama
City University, Yokohama National University
Committee Introduction: The Debate Committee begins
preparations for the annual competition every year in March.
This year's Tournament Director is Mika Hoshino, a fourth-year
student at Tsuda College and finalist at last year's competition.
41st English Club
The 41st English
Club meeting was held at Doyu Club on July 16, Tuesday,
under the stewardship of Mr. Masumi Muramatsu as usual.
"MM," having only the day before returned from his trip
to Italy, London and Wales, told us about the International
Humor Conference at the University of Bologna, about the
Italian people's sense of humor, and about his driving tour
of Wales. He played the Welsh for Beginners audio cassette
tape, which confounded all of us.
He shared us his impressions of the ESU people he met and
the Dartmouth House with its classic grandeur. Our Club
will not meet in August as it is summer holiday season,
and will reconvene in the evening of Tuesday, 17 September,
at Room G402 of the Tokyo International Forum.
