GEA Japan Day Outline

1. Date and Time:

2. Organizer:

Global Environmental Action (GEA)

3. Support:

Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry; Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries; Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Ministry of the Environment; Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology; GEA member companies

4. Venue:

Japan Pavilion, Ubuntu Village
Johannesburg, Sandton region

5. Objectives

At this Johannesburg Summit, where the implications of global environmental summits as Rio+10 are weakening and where developmental issues of sustainable development and poverty are too much in the forefront, GEA would like to take a leading part in introducing to the international society initiatives for environmental issues in Japan. At the same time, we would like to reflect on the Japanese experience which has realized economic development while overcoming disastrous pollution. Through this reflection, we would like encourage the participants to share human and scientific experiences and technologies that have been accumulated up to now, and thus promote the renewal of understanding both overseas and in Japan so that we do not repeat the same mistakes.

Japan, the only country to have experienced tragedy from pollution among advanced countries, is the best-suited model country for developing countries of Asia that are showing signs of wanting to grow substantially in the future. Moreover, these countries must learn from Japan's experiences, not fall into growth-oriented policy, and fulfill the role of promoting solid activities towards environmental issues. GEA is involved in the poverty issue, one major topic for discussion at the Summit, by introducing the "virtual globe," NGO support project for developing countries. This is strengthening the network between NGOs regarding the communication of information and is appealing to people with NGO support projects, thus raising the future concern of the widening gap between rich and poor created by the digital divide.