Essay When dreams come true By John Gathright	フレームで見る  英文をプリントする  脚注をプリントする
夢がかなうとき 3月25日、愛知万博「愛・地球博」が開幕しました。筆者がプロデュースする「グローイングビレッジ成長する村)・パビリオン」は連日大盛況。先日はなんと、ノーベル平和賞受賞者のケニア副環境相ワンガリ・マータイさんが現場を訪れました。筆者一家は普段、みそだる製ツリーハウスに暮らしていますが、パビリオンにはそれよりさらに大きなみそだるハウスが設置され、人気を呼んでいます。

The Miso Barrel Tree House has given birth. There is now a Miso Barrel Tree House Jr. at the World Expo 2005 Aichi Japan. Chronologically it is junior but in size it has actually far outgrown its parent, and is open for millions of people to see and enjoy.

The theme of this World Expo is nature's wisdom, and I believe that nature's wisdom lies in growth. Growth is the most essential thing in nature. Without it there would be no life on Earth. Growth is also very important for society and our personal lives. If you think about it, the most important things in our lives need to grow. Friendship, peace, love, relationships, understanding, knowledge, the list is endless. These things do not happen overnight. They take time, effort and nurture.

I am a producer of the Growing Village Pavilion and the pavilion has a simple subtheme: that trees are our friends, our teachers and our doctors. At the pavilion, we have tree-climbing for people of all abilities, ages and needs. We have trees that have been lovingly shaped into exciting and fun shapes, called Circus Trees. We are also growing furniture, and we even have live miso growing in a tiny forest of fungi.

To be part of this project is a dream come true, and like any dream come true, there is a fantastic story to go with it. It has been challenging and there were many hurdles to cross. Success does not come without sweat and elbow grease. There have been times when I thought we wouldn't make it, that we would fail, but it was during these times that I drew strength from a hero of mine.

This is Wangari Maathai, the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Her Green Belt Movement mobilized poor women to plant over 30 million trees and the project has been copied by countries all over the world. Wangari Maathai faced great odds and endured persecution to reforest and bring hope to impoverished people, particularly women, and to the Earth. She never gave up and continued at great personal sacrifice to empower people.

She has been a personal hero of mine. I confessed to friends and family I really wanted to meet this wonderful lady one day. Last week, I did. Not only did I meet her but we hugged and she said to me, "I love your pavilion. It is beautiful." It was an amazing moment.

I am excited about the World Expo. Nature's wisdom cannot be realized by one people or one nation alone. It requires the efforts of all people and all nations working together for the common goal of a greener, healthier Earth. Meeting Wangari Maathai brought Africa closer to my heart. It has increased my desire to better the Earth a hundred fold.

I invite everyone to visit the Growing Village and also all of the other pavilions, and listen and participate in activities to better our planet. Wangari Maathai said, "By helping nature, we are helping ourselves." Let's help each other and the planet too.

Shukan ST: April 8, 2005

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