A Public Nuisance

Japan-U.S. Teacher Exchange Program for Education for Sustainable Development

Fulbright Japan

Cathrine Prenot Fox

"Environmental Movement" in Japan translates a little differently in Kanji. 公害, or as far as I can pronounce it, "kougai," translates directly as 'public nuisance.' This translation at first seems to belie its true meaning, but upon further inspection it more than adequately explains a twenty year period in the Japanese environmental movement. Unlike the United States, four major pollution events transformed environmental policy, and led to laws to preserve the environment and protect citizens from pollution. Read about it in the latest Adventures in Sustainability, A Public Nuisance, or 公害.

Cathrine Prenot Fox, 2013.  Adventures in Sustainability.

I visited Minamata, a lovely city on the Shiranui Sea, as part of our host city explorations.  The town is encompassed by a vast flood plains and lush mountains, and although the pollution events of the 1950s define many aspects of the town, the people are focused on the future.  The entire bay has been filled in to avoid further mercury poisoning, and it is now a lovely eco-park, environmental research center, and museum to honor those with Minamata Disease.  

Minamata Bay, pre-landfill.

Minamata Bay, post landfill.

Minamata Memorial.  Kelly Shields.

ESD is “a vision of education that seeks to balance human and economic well-being with cultural traditions and respect for the earth’s natural resources,” according to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  You'll read about Minamata City's efforts to balance these aspects of ESD in a subsequent cartoon, but in the meantime, I hope that you've enjoyed how even a 'nuisance' can lead to movement. 

Until our next adventure, 
Cat