BEE Japan (Bicycle for Everyone’s Earth) is on a great trip from Hokkaido in northern-most Japan and will soon arrive to Tokyo. BEE is a group of international members that promotes environmental awareness and green living in Japan. By September 15 they will be in Kyoto for a Model of the United Nations event. Good luck guys, you are great!
(Photo from Taku Iida's website)
As much as I like cool government initiatives, I have to wonder how to tackle this news: Japan's government has named six "Eco Model Cities" as environmentally friendly model cities and will provide them with financial support. The government chose Yokohama, Kitakyushu, Toyama, Obihiro, Minamata and Shimokawa out of 82 applications for the designation. Applicants presented their ideas to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
Over at greenz.jp we just finished an event tonight with invited guests speaking about their experiences from Hokkaido and the G8 Summit. Clearly, many young participants felt left out of the picture, unless you were a member of one of the NGOs and maybe even got to actually shake hands with a G8 leader. One thought: Susan George, long-time activist and author asked here in Tokyo last week: "How many people have actually read a G8 Summit Document?"
(Farida Bena at Oxfam explaining why food prices are rising around the world)
While the dear leaders of the world's most rich and powerful countries discussed the issue of the international food crisis and climate change, Oxfam highlighted why the rapid growth in biofuels is making millions more people vulnerable to extreme poverty.
The real winners of the G8 Summit here in Japan may very well have been th...
Creative Commons. Some Rights Reserved. Photo by Masatsura
In a comic book twist to the G8 story, this year’s G8 Summit is under investigation by Detective Conan, a brilliant detective who has been transformed into an elementary school kid. Conan also happens to be the star of the Case Closed manga, which is extremely popular with kids of all ages here in Japan.
(Youtube video with Oxfam activists at the G8 Summit in Japan)
World leaders' jumbo jets landed through thick fog in Hokkaido, Japan without any major incidents. Thousands of cops are keeping our streets safe. And world leaders make announcements after announcements. Cue NGOs: I'd say they are the real stars of this summit.
Oxfam, Greenpeace, WWF, One and DATA, together with hundreds of local groups have gathered ...
What do you think - should the United States wait until China and India also decide to do something about climate change?
One million wishes - that is the goal of the Tanzaku Action! Making a wish is a part of the tradition of making a wish to the stars on Tanabata Day on July 7, a holiday.
Now you can send a message to the G8 leaders by writing your hopes on a Virtual Tanzaku.
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