Educate and inspire a new generation of activists who can move the nation forward.
“Humans are social creatures and our environment comprises the natural systems in which we live, human relationships that develop through industry in each local area, and our culture — which is most important, because without a clear sense of identity regarding our habitat and community, we cannot maintain values t
hat are key to societal sustainability.
“Over the last half century, the Japanese have lost their identity and culture in chaos” . Most would argue that Japan is still far from “chaos,” especially in comparison with other societies around the globe that are crumbling under war, debt, drought and disease. Still, I understand that local traditions offer sustainable alternatives to modern society, with its ethos of consumption, disposal and degradation. Because it is an attempt to reconcile the seemingly irreconcilable: environmental protection and economic growth, technology and nature, the different conditions of developing and developed nations and of women and men, and the different beliefs and philosophies of peoples across the globe.
“Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
Big ideas, mammoth challenges. Still, however it is defined, it is always about balancing human societies and the natural environment. has primarily dealt with environmental issues from an economic viewpoint, manipulating the market to deal with problems. Europe has included the dimension of culture in dealing with environmental issues, focusing on lifestyle approaches. Japan got stuck somewhere in between.
“Japan did not adopt economic rationality like the U.S., nor did it adopt cultural aspects like Europe. Japan worked on environmental issues in half measures. Eventually we reached the point of thinking that even if environmentalism, green technology and environmental law prosper, the environment, practically, has been destroyed. We had shallow knowledge and unclear understanding of the environment”. Educate and inspire a new generation of activists who can move the nation forward. Japan has started to recognize its faults and correct them. However, we have technology and determination, then Japan has a fighting chance.
