Opinion

Environmental Sense

By CHRISTINE CUNANAN-NOMURA

Japan has long been known as a First World country with one of the poorest levels of environmental awareness.

At first this seems odd; most Japanese are ardent nature lovers who can find beauty and solace in even a single flower. They also eagerly protect the natural environment and public spaces.

This affection for nature was most evident during the recent oil spill involving a Russian tanker off the Japan Sea coast. Many ordinary people volunteered in the clean-up efforts with only buckets and tin pans as equipment. However in many other ways, these same people are unknowingly destroying the same environment they strive so hard to protect.

Consumers use disposable items because they are convenient. Pocket tissues have replaced handkerchiefs and paper towels are used instead of cleaning rags.

Shoppers ask stores to package their purchases elaborately ― even if this wastes paper ― because nicely wrapped boxes create a good impression.

The Japanese custom of sending New Year cards may entail the cutting of thousands of trees each year. Today environmentally aware people are starting to view this custom as wasteful and time-consuming, done simply because people feel pressured to do so.

"We don't really write anything special since we have to send so many cards," said one young manager. "In fact many people have cards printed instead and they write the same things: `Happy New Year' or `Best wishes,' along with their name and address."

People matter-of-factly consider these integral parts of modern Japanese life. Yet producing each item entails the sacrifice of a limited resource that could have been used for more important purposes.

Unfortunately, the world's natural resources are limited and much is now being wasted on non-essential items in contemporary life.

Yet the balance of nature plays a key role, enabling us to live as we do today, and a depletion in any part may result in various unknown and maybe frightening changes.

What will we do when we start running short of natural resources for basic needs, such as fresh air and fuel? Clearly we must each do our part if we want to preserve the environment we have today.

Last Christmas, an association of hotels in Hong Kong decided to stop sending greeting cards to clients in a small effort to avoid unnecessary paper wastage. Many consumers in other countries reuse old shopping bags for purchases, while stores charge for new ones to encourage recycling.

My friends and I have stopped sending letters; instead, we communicate via e-mail. E-mail is cheaper, faster and definitely environment-friendly. I also turn old clothes into cleaning rags, reuse gift boxes and plastic containers, and water the plants with rainwater or left-over hot water or tea.

What can you do to help preserve the environment?

Shukan ST: March 21, 1997

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