Summer Workshop
Independent Community Development and Environmental Education
During the bubble economy in Japan, massive resorts were built all over Japan. Almost all of them have gone bankrupt. Now, all over the country, people are trying to bring about "small-scale" development. Green tourism activities here in Shiozawa are an example of this. Nature schools are organized to systematically take customers out for experiences in nature.
Projects in which community members try to pass on natural environment, culture, health, education, welfare etc., to the next generation, have started nationwide.
In the town of Asahi in Yamagata, and Towa in Iwate, community members are enjoying their community resources and starting activities that share them with tourists. The city of Minamata has been trying to mend broken community ties for over 10 years. Now the entire community, from children to adults, has embarked on local studies. Children took pictures of good and bad things in their community and created a map with adults. The city has utilized this work in its city planning for the future. Currently, green tourism is one of Minamata's main industries. Schools as well as city hall have obtained ISO14001 status in order to be better to the environment. Minamata has become a distinguished community worldwide.
There are towns like this popping up all over the country. I believe this can also be done here in Shiozawa. In order to make this happen, we need to see with our own eyes our communities' good points and points to be improved. I have many "special places" I visit when I return here. It might be difficult for people in the community to see such "treasures" because you are in daily contact with them. If this is the case, it is a good idea to visit such places with locals who have lived outside the community and then returned. I think it is necessary for everyone, from children to adults, to discover and confirm the value of treasures in its community.
How to Actualize Sustainable Communities
Lastly, I'd like to point out 5 concrete aspects that are indispensable to creating sustainable communities: vision making, knowing the truth, learning, networking, and love. This is written in an American book, "Beyond the limits" In order to avoid collapse we must first have a vision to create new relationships among individuals, society and nature. I presume everyone in the town of Shiozawa has their own different vision. By sharing each other's visions and interacting together, we can create an overall vision for Shiozawa. To create this vision, we need to know what is happening to our nature, our community and the world. We need to learn about this. This is something we can't achieve on our own. We need to cooperate and create networks. Lastly, the authors suggest that we need to love the places and people in our communities.
Create new connections within communities so we are more attached to them. Adults cannot open the doors to this future alone. They need the energy of local children. Children have hope for the future. For adults, the existence of children itself is hope. Adults are energized by children; energized adults energize children even more. I think that the ability for children to get out into their communities and society will become the biggest motivation in creating sustainable societies.
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