|
|
|
|
Charcoal to save the world
Mr. Kaneko leans down over a small charcoal dam while explaining the cleaning effects of charcoal. 99.12.27/ Temperature: -6C/ Weather: Partly cloudy/ Wind Direction: SW
Current Location: Azuma Village
Latitude: 36 38 47 N Longitude: 139 24 36 E
Distance Traveled: 0 km (Rest day)If someone had said to me, "Charcoal can save the world," before I came to Japan, I probably would have taken him for crazy. I met a few gentlemen today who are attempting to do just that. In the mountains of Ashio village, which is said to be an origin of pollution problems in Japan, charcoal may just pave the way to a brighter future. We spent the early morning hours putting bamboo in a kiln to make charcoal, and the rest of the day seeing just how charcoal use is being put to the test of whether or not it can save the world.
Ninety-four percent of Azuma Village is forest. Resting on a hilltop just below the large, concrete Kusaki Dam, Warabe Kobo, a charcoal making center supported by the village, is a recent effort to revive the community as well as make good use of the local forest resources.
Though there are many types of charcoal, Mr. Kaneko of Warabe Kobo made preparations for me to help make bamboo charcoal. After neatly arranging bamboo shoots in the kiln (a large drum can insulated with dirt) and puttying shut cracks in the entranceway, we began to slowly stock a fire at its entranceway. Smoke meandered up through the drum can and slowly puffed-out its chimney. Hands muddied and clothes permeated with the scent of smoke, my charcoal making experience had begun.
Mr. Miyashita points at the tip of a larch tree explaining that much of the trees planted in the Ashio area are suffering from acid rain. Since the charcoal making process takes between 8 and 9 hours, Mr. Kaneko and Mr. Miyashita, a supporter of efforts to promote charcoal use, spent much of the day explaining to me several of its possibilities. "Charcoal can help clean the air. It is proven to purify water. Placed in flooring and in walls it can help to balance humidity in one's home. Also, many 'healthy' goods are being made from charcoal. can be used in one's bath, as a fertilizer and as an anti-odor agent." I learned that the enormous amount of tiny wholes in charcoal create a rich environment for micro-organisms. Making use of this feature, Warabe Kobo along with the International Charcoal Association, the town of Azuma and other cooperating parties, have started to implement a dream of saving the world with charcoal.
Hopping into Mr. Kaneko's car we sped to the first of two areas which are making use of Warebe Kobo's charcoal. A small flow of household wastewater rolled off its concrete waterway and trickled into a stream emptying out into the Watarase River. Looking closely I realized that mesh bags full of charcoal lay on the bottom of the stream. Mr. Kaneko explained, "The wastewater flows through here and the charcoal has a cleaning effect on the water." A thin layer of white foam covered the upstream portion of the wastewater. "Since charcoal is a suitable habitat for microorganisms, the number of microorganisms is increased. The microorganisms then go to work cleaning the wastewater." The small stream is the first of a larger plan to help clean Ashio's waterways.
Charcoal used in the water cleaning experiment is then transported to a designated tree planting location deep in the mountains of Ashio Mine. We traveled to see the new sight which the Forest Agency has entrusted to volunteers such as Mr. Kaneko and Mr. Miyashita. "Charcoal which is used in town to help clean water is full of microorganisms. Microorganism-full charcoal is key to helping revive the acidic soil of Ashio which has a much lower number of microorganisms than healthy soil. Charcoal's alkalinity and ability to increase microorganisms may give the forest a chance to survive Ashio's past as well as new pressures caused by acid rain," explained Mr. Miyashita.
Entering the forest of fairly healthy pine trees, we made our way to a small clearing. After having seen damage caused by Ashio smoke pollution yesterday, I was quite surprised to see the trees which stood two to four times my height. Most of the forest was planted over 30 years ago, however several of the pines seem to be struggling against what Mr. Miyashita believes to be acid rain. Bald branches atop the trees are thought to be the first indication of their imminent decay. What has taken 30 years to revive now seems to be threatened by new pollution. Amidst this forest is yet another challenge being made to recreate forests in Ashio.
Arriving at the clearing we could see an addition of approximately 40 newly planted seedlings. Tall plastic housing protect the trees from the hungry deer of Ashio and interestingly each row has different soil constitution-all soil, part soil/part charcoal, 2 parts soil/1part charcoal, 1 part soil/2 parts charcoal, etc. The seedlings are just the beginning of citizens' research to discover the merits of charcoal.
"Regardless of whether it is possible or not, in the 21st century we have to work to revive the environment which we have destroy. This forest is the citizens' forest. We should protect it," commented Mr. Miyashita. How might all of you help revive the environment?
Do any of you use charcoal in your homes? Have you seen anyone else using it?
Greg
to Top News Page of Wisdom
< >
Copyright World School Network & ECO-CLUB, 1998-2000. No reproduction or republication without written permission.
Send feedback to info@wschool.net
