JFS Newsletter No.128 (April 2013)

Copyright Dago Tshering

A certain village in Phobjikha Valley, Bhutan, has been covered in the Japanese media fairly often; the story is that the villagers choose to live without electricity because not installing an electricity grid with overhead wires helps conserve Black-necked Cranes that migrate to the valley. A book about Bhutan records an interview: To the question, "Would you really prefer to have electricity, or is conserving more cranes important to you?" Villagers answered, "It's good to have electricity, but we can do without it. But cranes are different from electricity. We feel happy when they visit this valley. We've seen them every year since childhood."

JFS Newsletter No.128 (April 2013)

Copyright PAX Coworking

We are now living in an era when we can work anywhere, just by using our personal computers. Freed from "the office," people's working styles are varied -- they sometimes work at home, sometimes at a cafe or elsewhere. Individual working styles vary, but some people who continue to free-lance for a long time gradually come to desire more association with other people. This is how "coworking" was born. This term refers to a working style in which people with different jobs share a workplace and communicate with one another.

The JFS newsletter, issued monthly, summarizes the latest environmental trends and topics in Japan.

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Back issues of JFS newsletter articles are categorized as follows:

- New Ideas for the Earth
- Climate Change Measures in Japan
- Energy Issues in Japan
- 3Rs Trends in Japan
- Local Efforts toward Sustainability
- Initiatives by Japanese Industries
- Various Actors / Various Efforts
- Trends / Movements toward Sustainability in Japan
- Movements in Asia

- Series: Philosophers/Leaders
- Series: Environmental Education
- Series: Zero Emissions
- Series: Initiatives and Achievements of Local Governments in Japan
- Series: Unique NGOs in Japan
- Series: Corporations at Work
- JFS activities

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JFS Newsletter No.127 (March 2013)

Copyright Secretariat of AQUA SOCIAL FES!!

In connection with the release of the "AQUA," a compact hybrid vehicle from Toyota Motor Corp., a project for waterfront preservation activities throughout Japan called "AQUA SOCIAL FES!!" (that's "fes" for "festival") is gaining the spotlight. At first glance, it seems there is little connection between the release of a new car model and many people gathering on the waterfront as environmental volunteers. How are they connected?

AQUA SOCIAL FES!! (in Japanese)

JFS Newsletter No.127 (March 2013)

Various reports on environmental protection were presented at a meeting entitled "2012 Session of Earth Keepers (How to build a happier future)" on December 22, 2012, organized by Okayama Prefecture and the Okayama Prefectural Public Interest Incorporated Foundation for Environmental Conservation.

We would like to introduce one of these reports to our global readers, about a wonderful project undertaken by students belonging to the Geography and History Club of Sanyo Joshi (girls) Junior and Senior High School. These students are tackling the problem of sea floor waste by cleaning up the sea floor and raising awareness about the problem.

JFS Newsletter No.127 (March 2013)

Ahead of other countries in the world, Japan's population has begun to decline. It peaked at 127.84 million people in 2004, when the share of elderly people (aged 65 or over) in the total population was 19.6%. If this trend continues, the population is expected to drop to 115.22 million, with the elderly share of population at 31.8% in 2030, and 95.15 million with a 39.5% (share) in 2050. Japan is facing a rapid population decline and aging of society.

JFS Newsletter No.126 (February 2013)

http://eco-pro.com/eco2012/english/index.html

"The Greener, The Smarter - The Future We Will Choose." The greener the life style and the more environment-friendly technologies we promote, the smarter and more friendly our society will become, which will lead more people to live in a greener, smarter way. This theme for the Eco-Products 2012 Exhibition represents our mission to realize a cycling society and to pass a sustainable society to our future generations.

JFS Newsletter No.126 (February 2013)

Image by jasohill. Some Rights Reserved.

The percentage of renewable energy in Japan's total energy supply is only about 4 percent, so it is important to identify the areas that have a high share of renewable energy supply through a regional survey by prefecture and municipality, with the aim of increasing the areas that have sustainable energy supply through the use of renewables.