On April 5, an employee of Sharp's Environmental Protection Group participated in a citizen/government issues forum titled 'A Talk with Ministers Amari and Kamoshita: Building a Country of Hope and Peace of Mind,' sponsored by the Cabinet Office of the Government of Japan. The event was held in Toyako, Hokkaido, the host city for the 2008 G8 Summit (Toyako Summit) in July.

The forum raised the issue of global warming, the main theme of the upcoming Toyako Summit, giving citizens the chance to engage in constructive discussion with the panelists: Yasuo Fukuda, Prime Minister; Akira Amari, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ichiro Kamoshita, Minister of the Environment; and Harumi Takahashi, Governor of Hokkaido.

In response to a question from a Sharp employee on what type of message children should get from the environmentally-themed Toyako Summit, Minister Kamoshita mentioned the importance of eco-centered education at elementary schools, saying we must encourage children to take an interest in the environment. He also said he would like children to compile their messages on the environment in preparation for the opening of the Toyako Summit on July 7.

Sharp is taking part in the Hokkaido Toyako Summit Citizens Support Project, under which it intends to conduct environmental education classes at elementary schools near Toyako. This will allow Sharp to use the Toyako Summit to promote itself in Japan and around the world as an environmentally advanced company.

Toyako, the site of the G8 Summit