Environmental Relations, a Japanese non-profit organization, set up a the 'Familiar-e' project and opened a project website on November 22, 2004. The project aims to raise environmental awareness among ordinary people and encourage them to take action to conserve the environment.

Professional soccer players, fashion models and an actress who are all popular with young people are supporting this project by sending voice messages about environmental issues out on the website. One of the Japanese soccer players, Shunsuke Nakamura of Reggina Calcio SpA in Italy's Serie A league, says he's become more conscious of the issues after witnessing how active Europeans are in environmental movements. Another soccer player, Daisuke Oku of Yokohama F. Marinos in Japan's J-League, has appealed for waste reduction in reference to a project aiming to replace paper beverage cups with reusable cups at Yokohama International Stadium.

The project also includes eco-tours and environmental talk shows. To raise awareness about recycling, the project also holds Internet charity auctions where celebrity supporters offer their personal belongings for sale. Celebrity supporters play an active role as amateur environmentalists, while having fun at the same time, with the aim of familiarizing ordinary people with green movements and encouraging them to join in the action.



Posted: 2005/03/22 02:59:50 PM
Japanese version

TAG Material reduction , NGO/Citizen , Other