Yes-I DID take this picture xD
If you ever Google image search Japan, some of the first pictures you`ll see are traditional Japanese architecture surrounded by pristine landscapes untouched by time. When I would think about Japan and conservation, I almost immediately thought of energy saving products engineered by the country, as well as public attempts to improve our environment with things like the Kyoto protocol. I don't know about you, but these things gave me an impression that Japan really cares for it's environment.
Often when things about Japan regarding this issue are brought up, it's always about how ahead of us (the U.S) they are in terms of energy alternatives and resource conservation. A New York Times article(you can read it here ) even stated that :
Often when things about Japan regarding this issue are brought up, it's always about how ahead of us (the U.S) they are in terms of energy alternatives and resource conservation. A New York Times article(you can read it here ) even stated that :
Japan is the most energy-efficient developed country on earth.....it is much better prepared than the United States to prosper in an era of higher global energy prices.
Now , when I first got here I thought I'd see signs of the country's environmental awareness, and I did. But it wasn't exactly what I initially expected. In fact, a lot of it confused me; it was as if the country held a double standard on environmental conservation.
So what gives??
- Why is it easier to recycle plastic bags and Styrofoam, but not paper?
- Places like apartment buildings and neighborhoods are generally kept spotless but you can find a fair amount of garbage littered throughout out the beach and woods.
- I've been told by several that cutting down trees is bad for the environment, but the Japanese government cuts down a massive amount of trees in Malaysia
So what gives??
To fully understand what's going on here, you have to look at how Japan has viewed and currently sees its environment. These perceptions over time will ultimately shape our actions, and Japan is no different. Like most of the world, Japan sees the earth as a giant resource that can be utilized. Now, this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The earth is filled with resources for us. Animals and plants for food, water, raw materials for shelter etc. Where this becomes harmful is when we disregard the fact that these resources, are finite.
Historically speaking Japan is guilty of this thought pattern, especially during the postwar rehabilitation and rapid growth phases; a period lasting about 30 years (1945-73ish). During this time, Japan's landscape was seen as a host of resources that could be used to make products for trade, creating a strong economy and in the process- a strong nation. This mindset of "growth at all costs" led to a huge backlash in the form of a nasty pollution problem that affected air and water quality, which further resulted in a general decline in health. By the 80's people started to realize that maybe some benefits of economic growth aren't worth the environmental risks, and pressured the government to make stricter environmental policies.
Okay, so by now Japan (and most other developed countries for that matter) knows all too well of our limited resources; they've been busily developing energy saving technology, creating policies and have over two dozen national parks. They've obviously learned the error of their ways and have now fully embraced environmentalism right? Well-not necessarily. While we all in one way or another enjoy nature, we also enjoy modern comforts and conveniences like electricity, transportation, fast food, cell phones etc. To have one is to give some of the other. This creates a conflict of interests between conservation and economy. And conserving resources doesn't equal caring for the environment; it just means your trying to make what you do have- stretch. You can see an interesting trend between environmental policy and economic growth. When the Japanese economy is well off, there is a larger effort to maintain resources and preserve the environment. However when the economy is in a decline, the environment is seen more or less as expendable.
Based on all the above one can gather that environmentalism in Japan is pretty anthropocentric; started and maintained when there's a direct benefit to humans. This may be some of the reason as to why Japan's conservation efforts aren't very well rounded. This results in a stronger focus on what will immediately impact society, instead of engaging in proactive activities that preserve the environment. Given these reasons, it becomes easier to see why this imbalance in environmental and resource conservation happens. But I feel this is just the tip of the iceberg. I mean, what roles do education, consumerism, culture and overall interest in nature play here? And if Japan is anthropocentric about environmental issues, what would it take to get the country more invested and connected to their natural surroundings? As many distinctions between our (U.S) and Japan's environmental conservation efforts seem to be described, both countries appear to me very similar in terms of attaining a sustainable society; their methods of attaining this are simply different.
Historically speaking Japan is guilty of this thought pattern, especially during the postwar rehabilitation and rapid growth phases; a period lasting about 30 years (1945-73ish). During this time, Japan's landscape was seen as a host of resources that could be used to make products for trade, creating a strong economy and in the process- a strong nation. This mindset of "growth at all costs" led to a huge backlash in the form of a nasty pollution problem that affected air and water quality, which further resulted in a general decline in health. By the 80's people started to realize that maybe some benefits of economic growth aren't worth the environmental risks, and pressured the government to make stricter environmental policies.
Okay, so by now Japan (and most other developed countries for that matter) knows all too well of our limited resources; they've been busily developing energy saving technology, creating policies and have over two dozen national parks. They've obviously learned the error of their ways and have now fully embraced environmentalism right? Well-not necessarily. While we all in one way or another enjoy nature, we also enjoy modern comforts and conveniences like electricity, transportation, fast food, cell phones etc. To have one is to give some of the other. This creates a conflict of interests between conservation and economy. And conserving resources doesn't equal caring for the environment; it just means your trying to make what you do have- stretch. You can see an interesting trend between environmental policy and economic growth. When the Japanese economy is well off, there is a larger effort to maintain resources and preserve the environment. However when the economy is in a decline, the environment is seen more or less as expendable.
Based on all the above one can gather that environmentalism in Japan is pretty anthropocentric; started and maintained when there's a direct benefit to humans. This may be some of the reason as to why Japan's conservation efforts aren't very well rounded. This results in a stronger focus on what will immediately impact society, instead of engaging in proactive activities that preserve the environment. Given these reasons, it becomes easier to see why this imbalance in environmental and resource conservation happens. But I feel this is just the tip of the iceberg. I mean, what roles do education, consumerism, culture and overall interest in nature play here? And if Japan is anthropocentric about environmental issues, what would it take to get the country more invested and connected to their natural surroundings? As many distinctions between our (U.S) and Japan's environmental conservation efforts seem to be described, both countries appear to me very similar in terms of attaining a sustainable society; their methods of attaining this are simply different.
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