Happy Earth Day!
by James in Environment, General, Japan, Travel on April 20th, 2008
Happy Earth Day! I was going to write a large post on the environment for this post but going out into Shibuya/Yoyogi today completely drained me.
Today though in Yoyogi Park there was a huge Earth Day celebration. This year the theme was “Shift Green”. Unfortunately I arrived too late to see any of the speeches and what not so I just made a single lap through the events. There is more info at this website.
What’s amazing to me is that Japanese hippies look (and smell) just like american hippies. I was expecting maybe a bit more of a Japanese twist, but they seemed to be pretty much the same. I wonder if it is just standard affair for hippies to dress the same or if they (the Japanese hippies) get inspiration for their american counter-parts or what the deal is.
I did rather like the song this guy was sing so I made a video for y’all to watch below.
Remember: protect the environment - without it we can’t survive.
Also Birthday wishes to my dad. Happy Birthday!
22nd April 2008, Earth First wrote:
A few interesting things. This man is trying to share a message important to him but singing in english. Even if the spectators could give a toss they still can’t understand the message. What is the point? Like most hippie ideals there is none. The world has warmed and cooled itself throughout its existence and will continue to do so. If you believe there is a real problem at hand I suggest stop easting meat if you haven’t already and buy some carbon credits because you being in Japan is not essential and international flights wreak havoc on the environment according to environmentalist whackos.
22nd April 2008, James wrote:
Earth First,
Thanks for the comment. I normally don’t respond to trollish sounding posts, however I am going to respectfully disagree with you on some points. I should have panned a bit more over the crowd, but there were a number of foreigners listening so they could at least understand part of this song. He did sing a number more songs, all in Japanese. So if they didn’t get his message in part of this song I’m sure they got it in another one.
I haven’t stopped eating meat yet, but my intake of meat is a lot lower than it has been in the past. Certainly lower in Japan than it was in the states. Not only because it does take 10 pounds of grain to create 1 pound of meat, but factory farming is a bit unsettling for me. Both in terms of environmental damage, treatment of animals, and the dangers faced by the workers.
It’s not just international flights that wreak havoc on the environment, but all flights. The logic behind your last statement is a bit of a slippery slope and destroys any credibility you could have hopped to gain from your comment. If extended further does not not travel at all? If one travels how do they travel? Since your comment came from Japan - might I ask how you got here?
I think that’s about as bothered as I can be to reply to a troll.
23rd April 2008, Earth First wrote:
I came here by airplane. I don’t believe global warming is an issue worth being alarmed about and the warming and cooling of the planet is perfectly normal. A few years ago the headlines on Time magazine screamed GLOBAL COOLING now it’s warming we should be worried about. It’s fear mongering.
I mentioned about eating meat because from personal experience the majority of people that I have met that speak the loudest about Global Warming are often serious offenders themselves. I didn’t hope to gain any “credibility” with my statements because from where I stand I am not convinced that global climate change is man made. Those that truly believe it should adjust the way they conduct their lives accordingly or risk being called hypocrites.
23rd April 2008, Nathan wrote:
James -
Well said.
I really like the size of the video, perhaps something I will consider in the future.
As for Earth First - give me a break, this is the last place I would expect to find a troll.
23rd April 2008, James wrote:
Earth First: If it is not man made - we still have environmental problems above and beyond global warming. The weather patterns are changing and the soil is eroding in much of the world *regardless* of the cause of the warming of the earth. Both of these wreck havoc on crops and society.
Combine the above with the fact that the world has consumed more for the past three years than it has produced and we have huge problems. You can only do that for so long (especially with a continually growing global population) before we don’t have extra food staples laying around. I imagine in the first world we won’t see too many changes even if there is a huge drop in agriculture productivity beyond some food rationing and higher prices for the food that is available.
My point is this: We need a healthy environment - all life depends on it. It should be in everybody’s own interest to protect the environment regardless of political affiliation or personal beliefs if at bare minimum to continue their own existence. Unfortunately with a population that has doubled about 3 times in the past 100 years the strain and responsibility is that much greater.
1st May 2008, yumi-bird wrote:
We can’t alway trust scientific data.But,protect earth before it’ll be too late!!