Japan for Sustainability (JFS) is a non-profit communication platform to disseminate environmental information from Japan to the world, with the aim of helping both move onto a sustainable path.

See what's new on our web site: http://www.japanfs.org/
E-mail: info@japanfs.org

In the January 2007 issue of the JFS Newsletter:

- Using Bicycles Efficiently to Create a Sustainable Society

- Towards a Sustainable Japan--Corporation at Work Article Series No.57 Making Women Happy (Shiseido, Co.)

- Report on JFS Seminar for Eco-Products 2006 Your 'Sustainable Future'-- from Visions of Sweden, Bhutan and Japan

[From the Editors]

We received some feedback from readers regarding the topic of the plastic bag issue, covered in our newsletter last month. http://www.japanfs.org/en/newsletter/200612-2.html

Below we introduce replies from readers in Australia and the United Kingdom, with their permission.

• We received a reply from an anonymous but very well-informed reader in Australia, where the issue of plastic bag litter has received national attention since 2002, when it was estimated that national consumption was 6.9 billion plastic bags. This January (2007), a consultative Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) was released for public consultation. Prepared for the Environment Protection and Heritage Council (EPHC), the document evaluates options for potential voluntary, co-regulatory, and regulatory action to reduce the environmental impact of plastic bags. Its purpose is to inform any future policy decisions on plastic bags. It is being used as part of the EPHC public consultation process relating to the management of plastic bag litter, and it outlines government and industry action to date and discusses the implications of possible future intervention. In 2007, EPHC Ministers will consider whether nationally-coordinated government action is required to reduce the impact of plastic bags.

  Copies of the document are available from the EPHC's website: http://www.ephc.gov.au

  In the state of New South Wales (NSW) plastic bags are considered a 'waste of concern' under the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Act' s Extended Producer Responsibility Priority Statement. This Statement is available from: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/warr/ProdStewardshipEPR.htm

  The state environment agency, the Department of Environment & Conservation (NSW) has been conducting a social survey series called Who Cares About the Environment since 1994. The 2003 and 2006 surveys have included questions about plastic bag use and avoidance. For example, in 2006, 48 per cent of respondents indicated they 'often' avoided plastic bags to carry purchases, compared to 31 percent in 2003. Copies of these reports are available from http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/community/whocares2006.htm

  A complementary series surveying ethnic communities also included these questions http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/community/ethniccom.htm

• From the UK, Mr. Kit Strange, Director of the Resource Recovery Forum and the Secretary General of the Association of Cities and Regions for Recycling & for Sustainable Resource management (ACR+) wrote a report entitled "Plastic Bags - Policies and Practices to Reduce Consumption," which gives a concise overview of the current plastic bag situation around the world.
  http://www.acrplus.org/index.asp?page=276

  We also looked at the Resource Recovery Forum website at http://www.resourcesnotwaste.org and searched "Plastic Bags" - access titles for dozens of reports from around the world were listed.

JFS welcomes comments and further information about how the topics in our newsletters are being dealt with in your country or region.

[Announcement]

- Support Us Page Now Open!
If you find our information and activities unique and valuable, we appreciate your support!

- If you live in Tokyo, don't miss this precious opportunity to participate in one of the most traditional Japanese Shrine ceremonies!

As we wrote in 2004 Oct. JFS newsletter, http://www.japanfs.org/en/newsletter/200410-1.html Jingu Shrine, located in Ise City, Mie Prefecture has been re-constructed at adjacent alternate sites every twenty years without a break for the last 1,300 years; the last time was in 1993 and next will be in 2013.

This ceremonial system is called the "Shikinen Sengu (or simply "Sengu") and includes various ceremonies related to rebuilding the shrines and transferring the deities from the old to the new buildings. The Sengu system plays an important role in preserving and handing down traditional crafts to the next generation, and conveying the roots of Japanese culture.

The Sengu is such a large event that preparations take over eight years and toward the next Sengu, preparation already started. One of such traditional ceremonies, the Okihiki, Cart-Pulling Procession Event, will come to Tokyo, Roppongi, for the first time.

Date: Feb. 4, 2007 (Sun)

Place: Roppingi Hills
http://www.roppongihills.com/en/access/

Roppingi Hills Arena and Roppongi Keyakizaka Dori
http://www.roppongihills.com/en/facilities/

[JFS Web Site Additions of the Month]

- Support Us Page Now Open!
If you find our information and activities unique and valuable, we appreciate your support! (2007/1/11)

- We present this month a new cartoon, "Utopia (desirable society)" on the High Moon Gallery. (2007/1/11)

- Daiwa - JFS Sustainability College Page Now Open!
You will find a transcript of the 1st lecture "Discussions (or Various Views) on Sustainability". (2007/1/15)

- We updated JFS Newsletter No.52, featuring:

Giving Disposable Chopsticks a Life Cycle

Working to Reduce Plastic Bag Use

Toward a Sustainable Japan--Corporations at Work Article Series No.56
Proactive Investing to Promote Sustainability (Sustainable Investor Co., Ltd.)

- Reports of JFS ENGLISH GUIDED TOURS at Eco-Products Exhibition 2006
You will find exciting reports including movies! (2007/1/19)

- We added new papers on Supporters' Papers page.
"A Sustained Society: Japan of Edo Period" and "self-organising learning".(2007/1/31)

- Updated Contents in Supporters' Page

• Sumitomo Forestry Co., Ltd.[Construction]
• Engineering & Risk Services Corporation[service]

WATER ON OUR PLANET
-Let's Unite Our Efforts to Protect Our Precious Seas (2007/1/25)


WE LOVE FOOD
-Where Does Our Food Come From? (2007/1/25)


LET'S NOT BE WASTEFUL
-Creating a Recycling-Oriented Society (2007/1/25)

We hope you enjoyed this issue of the JFS Newsletter.

We will be delivering more information every month from Japan on activities and developments in the field of the environment. Please visit our website for the latest news!
http://www.japanfs.org/index.html
And please send your comments or requests to us at info@japanfs.org.

We will be back next month with more news.

Junko Edahiro
Hiroyuki Tada

The Japan for Sustainability newsletter is a free monthly newsletter to keep you up-to-date on the latest developments in Japan. Japan for Sustainability bears no liability for the newsletter's contents or use of the information provided.

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We welcome your comments. Please send them to: info@japanfs.org
Copyright (c) 2007, Japan for Sustainability. All Rights Reserved.

We invite you to forward our articles or use information on the JFS website and in your newsletters, as long as you also provide the proper credit to "Japan for Sustainability, http://www.japanfs.org/index.html."

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