Having gathered at the People's Plan 21st Cetury; Kanagawa International Symposium for Living Together with the Asian Peoples -- Todya's ODA, on August 19, 1989 in Yokohama, we decided to lauch a movement of "People to People Aid." The reason why we call it a movement is the following; this is not a campaign to unilaterally send money to "help poor people of the Third World" while we enjoy such an affluent life-style in Japan. We must recognize how our lives are related to the poverty, disease, hunger and discrimination against women, which are prevalent in the Third World. We must acknowledge how much our lavish extravagance has caused the destruction of the environment and has threatened the very existence of national minorities in the Third World. We must understand how much wealth of the Third World we have plundered so far. We have to see the structure through which this has been done.

Today, in many places of Asia, the Pacific and the Third World, people have been carrying out a variety of self-help movements at the grassroots level. Their concept of Development is very different from the Development which the World Bank and the Japanese government have been waving around as if it is a magic wand. Their Development is one which serves people in a true sense.

The "People to People Aid" movement seeks to establish solidarity with these movements in Asia, the Pacific and the Third World. We have to stress that this is a solidarity movement. It is up to the people of the Third World to decide on the kind of Development and type of social transformation that they want. We are not in a position to interfere. On the contrary, we have much to learn from them. As a result, we will be obliged to rethink our way of living and particularly to alter our ideology of putting economic growth above everything else.

Therefore, this movement of "People to People Aid" is a joint undertaking of mutual aid between the people of the Third World and ourselves.

We are proud of the fact that we have begun this movement in Kanagawa where "People to People Diplomacy" is being promoted by the prefectual government. We appeal to as many people as possible to join us, and we also urge the prefectual govenment as well as other cities and towns in Kanagawa to support this movement. Finally, we wish to spread this "Kanagawa model" of our aid movement to the rest of Japan.

We would like to establish the folloing as points of mutual understanding and agreement to direct and spread our movement.

1. The support and funds of "People to People AId" will come from people who agree with and approve of this Charter.
2. We will establish solidarity with the self-help movements of the people of Asia, the Pacific and the Third World. In practice, we will cooperate with the network of these movements.
3. We recognize that people of Asia, the Pacific and the Third World will choose their own kind of Development and type of social transformation.
4. We respect the traditional values and culture of Asia, the Pacific and the Third World and pledge to preserve their environment.
5. We look for an appropriate and effective amount of aid. We will keep the spirit of "small is beautiful" in our mind.
6. We will learn much from this movement and rethink our present life-style. Ultimately, we will try to change the relationship between Japan and the Third World.
7. We will not rush the process or expect to get quick results. We will not mix our Japanese style of competitiveness and way of thinking into this movement.
8. We work as volunteers. A Steering Committee will be organized to carry out this movement.