'Japan Offspring Fund' Working for Future Generations

The Japan Offspring Fund (JOF), an environmental non-governmental organization, has been building its activities further since changing its Japanese name in January 2004 to mark the 20th anniversary of its founding. JOF was established in 1984 as a citizens group to test the genotoxicity of food additives, pesticides and other substances on a private-sector basis, aiming to protect our offspring from health hazards caused by synthetic chemicals.

JOF has performed various activities to ensure human health, including investigation and identification of postharvest pesticides. It has also pointed out various dangers that lurk in daily life, such as the "sick house syndrome," genetically modified foods, dioxins, and endocrine disruptors.

JOF's book "Taberu na, Kiken!" (meaning "don't eat it, danger!") published in 2002 became a bestseller, and two more books came out in 2003, "Tabetai, Anzen!" (meaning "want to eat safe food!") and "Tabemono kara hirogaru taiseikin" (meaning "drug-resistant strains spread through food"). In February 2004, JOF received a human rights award from the Tokyo Bar Association, the first time this award has been given for work in the environmental field.

Mr. Junichi Kowaka, the secretary general of JOF, thinks that JOF's primary role as a citizens group is to identify potential problems from a new perspective and demand improvements by stirring up public awareness. "We will continue to deal with challenges from various perspectives with flexible mind-set." he says.

Expenses for JOF's activities are covered by membership fees, subscription fees for a monthly newsletter, donations, and sales of publications. The subscription fees are 10,000 yen (about U.S.$96) for individuals and 30,000 yen (about U.S.$288) for groups. The membership, 70 in the first year, has increased to 4,400 in 2004.

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Posted: 2004/08/17 09:35:33 AM
Japanese version