[Sdpg] The 2005 World Exposition “Nature's Wisdom” , Aichi, Japan 25 March - 25 September, 2005

[Santa Barbara Permaculture Network]

Just Saw a two page AD in Time Magazine Dec 20 US  with an amazing 
announcement from Japan's Prime Minister .

"Economic Prosperity and a healthy environment are essential to the 
virtuous circle that sustains human life. Japan has a deep history of using 
technology that exist in harmony with the environment, Today, we are the 
world leader in solar power and are aiming to become the world's first 
fully recycled based society, Expo 2005 in Aichi, the first world expo of 
the 21 th Century , will spotlight environmental issues and showcase the 
commitment of people around the world of balancing environment issues and 
showcase the commitment of people around the world to balancing 
environmental and economic need. We hope that you will join us in taking a 
new step toward creating a sustainable environment for the future."


http://www-1.expo2005.or.jp/en/
CHECK at the bottom of email the writeup on Placing Importance on Citizen 
Participation

The 2005 World Exposition, Aichi, Japan
Location

Nagoya Eastern Hills(Nagakute Town, Toyota City and Seto City)
Duration

25 March - 25 September, 2005 (total of 185 days)
Expected number of visitors

approx.15 million

Message from Japan : “Nature's Wisdom”
Why “Nature's Wisdom”?

Thanks to rapid technological development, the 20th Century was 
characterized by mass-production and mass-consumption, which in turn led to 
material improvements in our daily lives. At the same time, these trends 
resulted in various global issues such as desertification, global warming, 
and a shortage of natural resources. As these issues cannot be resolved by 
any one nation, the international community needs to unite in confronting 
them: we must come together and share our experience and wisdom, in order 
to create a new direction for humanity which is both sustainable and 
harmonious with nature.

EXPO 2005 Message

The 20th century saw the formation of a new global society. The remarkable 
progress made in science and technology, the development of high-speed 
methods of transportation, and the evolution of information and 
communications technologies have all accelerated the global interchange of 
people, goods, and information to an unbelievable extent. The world has 
been truly transformed.

Human beings' seemingly insatiable desire for expansion, the source of this 
transformation, continues unabated. This has placed a tremendous burden on 
the natural environment, exceeding its capacity for self-recovery. The 
result is that we must now deal with a number of potential world crises.

The time has come for the people who make up the global society of the 21st 
century to work together in the pursuit of a sustainable and harmonious 
coexistence for all life on Earth. Paramount to this is a global perspective.

EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan, is the perspective we need.

The inspiration for EXPO 2005 is the marvelous mechanism of nature and the 
power of life. Learning from the world's vast collection of wisdom and 
methods of interaction with nature found around the globe, we hope to bring 
the world together for the creation of a global society allowing the 
multitude of cultures and civilizations to coexist together.

EXPO 2005 will be a focal point, acting as the loom for a wonderful 
creation. The theme of the EXPO-Nature's Wisdom-will be the vertical thread 
in this loom and rich and varied exchange-a Grand Intercultural Symphony- 
the horizontal. When woven together, they will produce a soft, rich and 
beautiful fabric. Perhaps the fabric for a wonderful new global society.

The participants of EXPO 2005, the nations, regions, private enterprises, 
independent citizens, NPOs/NGOs, and volunteers that form the backbone of 
global society, will be the weavers on this loom, sure to produce a 
wondrous fabric for the world.

Closer contact will naturally give rise to friction-the very reason we wish 
to carefully nurture reason, love, and the adoration of the objects of 
beauty that humankind possesses. These are sentiments the world over.

But what will be the catalyst for genuine exchange? We believe the answer 
to be people meeting people, followed by discourse that goes beyond words 
to achieve mutual understanding and respect.

EXPO 2005 Aichi, Japan, is the place for this intercultural exchange.

In 2005, the world will gather together in Aichi Prefecture. There, we can 
weave together a fabric for a new global society; we can stand together, 
exchange smiles and share the wisdom of the world-felt and enjoyed with all 
our senses and experienced with our whole being.

Let us do this for all life and the future of our planet!


What will you see at EXPO 2005?
Experience Nature's Wisdom

EXPO 2005 represents a determined effort by Japan to develop new modalities 
of life for the 21st century. It is an ambitious attempt to rediscover 
“Nature's Wisdom” - science and technology inherent in our surroundings 
that together foster a sound balance between human life and the 
environment. It is also an amazing showcase of cutting-edge technologies, 
which give us solutions to myriad global issues and enable the sustainable 
development of the world economy.

Visitors will experience “ Nature's Wisdom” in the following three contexts:
I. Rediscovering Nature

Learning more about how the earth works is something we should do first. 
You will feel the dynamism of our planet at the 360-degree spherical Earth 
Vision. You will see an extinct mammoth just excavated from the frozen soil 
of Russia, which is a stark reminder of the true meaning of global warming. 
The Expo site itself is located in unspoiled natural surroundings, where 
you will feel the mystic forces of breathing trees and flowers.
II. An Eco-Friendly Life with Nature's Wisdom

The history of humankind has been one of learning from nature's wisdom, and 
there are many examples of ancient wisdom which show how humankind and 
nature can coexist in harmony. Fused nicely with modern technologies, such 
traditional wisdom will grab the spotlight again: The outer shell of the 
Japan Pavilion is made of bamboo, which has long been used as a natural 
sunshade in Japanese communities.

The roof of the pavilion will be sprinkled with recycled water, which is 
another traditional method to significantly lower the temperature inside. 
Of course, you will also see state-of-the-art eco-technologies everywhere 
around the Expo site: Fuel cell hybrid buses, which will carry visitors to 
and from the site, produce no carbon dioxide or harmful pollutants.

The tableware used at food courts will consist of earth-friendly utensils 
made mainly of biomass, derived from plants and other recyclable organic 
matters. All of the electricity supplied to the Japan Pavilions will be 
generated through an on-site new energy system, in which even the garbage 
from visitors is converted into fuel.
III. Visit the Future with Nature's Wisdom

By fully exploiting the infinite potential of science and technology, we 
can travel forward in time to see earth-friendly communities of the future. 
You will see a variety of robots moving all around the site; some of them 
will taking to you like a friend, some of them will be cleaning up the 
site, and some of them will be playing trumpets. A convoy of three 
intelligent buses will move automatically-- without any human driver on 
board - and a smart futuristic vehicle for individual personal use will 
also be introduced to the public. The Expo' s “ubiquitous” information 
technology environment, filled with advanced mobile communication 
technologies, will assist visitors in traveling efficiency within the site.

EXPO 2005 intends to create new prototypes for the future of our children 
and grandchildren, since it is they who will soon be at the forefront of 
integrating nature, technology, and culture. It is an ideal opportunity to 
enable them to experience all the wonder of Nature's Wisdom. Education and 
entertainment, in particular, are important for young children. To satisfy 
their curiosity to the greatest extent possible, EXPO 2005 will offer 
exciting and amusing programs in collaboration with world-famous animation 
film producers.
A Grand Intercultural Symphony

Nature is a global kaleidoscope. People interact with nature in countless 
ways, and these interactions generate immense global diversity in 
lifestyles, cultural traditions, and traditional and modern arts. EXPO 2005 
is a place where people of various countries meet together, communicate 
among each other, exchange and fuse the diverse “wisdom” they have, and 
create a brand-new tune of global harmony. In this sense, EXPO 2005 is a 
“grand intercultural symphony”.

Historically, Japan has absorbed a huge volume of wisdom from the world 
into its domestic culture-from traditional Oriental philosophy to modern 
Western civilization, and from the cultural heritage derived from ancient 
Asia to contemporary “hip-hop” fashion. These various cultural assets do 
not just coexist in harmony; they continuously blend and fuse together to 
give birth to a totally new product. This is the major driving force of 
Japan's industrial development, and Japan is proud to play host to this 
grand intercultural symphony at EXPO 2005 with this background in mind.

In cooperation with more than 120 countries from five continents, a wide 
range of cultural legacy and artistic beauty of the world will be displayed 
throughout the Expo site, and numerous world-class performers will appear 
on stage every day. The “Love the Earth” international music project is 
just one example.

EXPO 2005 focuses not only on entertainment, but also on promoting dialogue 
among world intellectuals. This going to be an exposition that addresses 
issues and asks questions, focusing on environmental, energy, population, 
urban development, and other areas of global concern. Through various 
seminars and symposia, EXPO 2005 envisages creation of a global wisdom 
network and a long-term intellectual heritage.
The Global Loop in the Forests

The venue for experiencing Nature's Wisdom and for joining in the Grand 
Intercultural Symphony is constructed in a way carefully designed to 
minimize the environmental load. Existing forests and ponds in the Expo 
site are utilized in their natural state to the greatest extent possible, 
so that water and greenery combine in harmony. The Global Loop, a 
2.6-kilometer-long elevated corridor connecting all the exhibits of 
official participants, offers a smooth and barrier-free access to each 
country's pavilion; at the same time, it has eliminated the necessity of 
cutting down trees or filling in ponds. Pavilions around the Global Loop 
are built in full respect for the “3 Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle), and 
the Expo site will return to its original conditions after the Expo is 
over. An extensive environmental assessment has been carried out, with 
results being regularly reviewed. These eco-friendly efforts are just some 
of the great challenges that Japan has tackled in connection with this Expo.

Aichi is an ideal place to host this Expo, which showcases the infinite 
potential for sustainable development with Nature's Wisdom. Aichi, in the 
heartland of Japan, is a rich agricultural area with fertile farmland. For 
example, Aichi is the No.1 producer of flowers-such as roses and 
chrysanthemums-in Japan. At the same time, Aichi is a focus of Japan's 
industrial development, from crafting traditional porcelain housewares to 
manufacturing high-tech automobiles. The headquarters of Toyota Motor Co., 
Ltd. is located in Aichi, so it is no wonder that Aichi is now the engine 
for the whole Japanese economy.

  Why “Nature's Wisdom”?
Overcoming a dual challenge: Japan's experience

Looking back at the history of Japan, one can see that Japan has faced a 
dual challenge-in focusing on economic development while at the same time 
preserving its precious natural environment. In spite of the fact that 
Japan lacks vast open spaces and abundant mineral resources, it has 
achieved industrial development and prosperity without destroying its 
natural environment. This has been possible not only through the diligence 
of the Japanese people themselves, but also through the application of 
traditional wisdom, as well as by the research and development of 
technology. Our ancestors aimed to benefit from nature without harming it, 
and they developed ways of maintaining a mutually dependent and beneficial 
relationship with nature. In the course of this process, it was essential 
to acquire deep insight and knowledge of nature's characteristics, and to 
invent modalities for utilizing nature's bounty in a sustainable manner, 
while making a positive contribution to nature itself. This kind of 
exercise has long been a part of the Japanese culture and way of life. I 
addition, through exchange with other countries and regions, Japan has 
developed a vast storehouse of knowledge on nature and its utilization, in 
areas ranging from food and clothing to housing. These efforts were made 
not just to introduce foreign knowledge as it is, but to adapt the 
knowledge so it blended with the Japanese culture and natural environment; 
this consequently led to the development of a new lifestyle while 
maintaining the Japanese cultural identity.
Technology: the key to finding answers

In order to create a new interface between nature and life in the 21st 
century, the global community needs to invent a new way of life—one which 
is compatible with the remaining natural environment at the global level. 
This is why Japan has decided to host Expo 2005 with the main theme of 
“Nature's Wisdom”. Japan intends to make this exposition a laboratory for 
addressing global issues and to experiment with reestablishing the 
relationship between human beings and nature. Technology will play a 
crucial role in these efforts. Technology is a means of enhancing 
industrial development, and therefore is often considered as inherently 
eco-destructive. However, the history of Japan is evidence that this is not 
the truth. On the contrary, technology is the key to finding answers to 
global issues and identifying a new dimension in the development of humanity.

On one hand, technology is an indispensable medium for bringing the 
richness of nature into our lives. As just one example, consider new energy 
sources, such as solar and wind power, which can hardly be utilized in 
modern society without the aid of technology. The more technology advances, 
the more costs decrease. Theses benefits can be widely distributed.

Seen from another aspect, technology has enormous potential to minimize the 
possible negative effects on the environment brought about by improvements 
in living standards and global population growth. Furthermore there is also 
huge potential for it to contribute to the preservation of nature, by 
applying it to efforts to maintain biodiversity, and repair damage to the 
environment.
Culture: defining the future of technology

In this regard, establishment of more harmonious interaction between nature 
and human life may be feasible through technological progress. However, 
technology alone cannot solve the global issues we are facing. It is the 
will of the peoples of the world, and their ways of life, that determine 
the kinds of technology to be invested in and utilized, and in which ways. 
It should be kept in mind that our way of life is closely related to our 
customs, traditions, and culture. Introducing new technology often has a 
broad impact on our cultural life in various ways. In some cases it helps 
us create a new style of culture and enriches our cultural diversity. Other 
times, it may lead to the deterioration of old traditions and cultural values.

Therefore, not only do nature and technology need to go hand in hand, but 
technology and cultural life also need to coexist in a harmonious and 
creative way. It is obvious that the preservation of nature cannot be 
pursued country by country, as nature knows no borders.

It can only be promoted and achieved collectively, through efforts on a 
global scale. In fact, this is also true for culture, as no one culture has 
been or will be completely independent of other cultures: to a greater or 
lesser degree, every culture has been influenced by other cultures in its 
formation and development. This exchange and interaction between different 
cultures greatly contributes to the enrichment of cultures on a global level.
A new balance between nature, technology and culture

We expect this exposition will give impetus to the establishment of 
programs for the development of nature, technology, and culture as well as 
new and well-balanced relationships among them, with the goal of bettering 
our lives and our planet. This will be achieved through collecting and 
presenting both traditional and new aspects of “Nature's Wisdom” from each 
nation and its people.


Placing Importance on Citizen Participation

As we have entered the twenty-first century, the importance of citizens, 
nonprofit organizations, and nongovernmental organizations as major 
elements of society will continue to grow. In order to make the EXPO 2005 
theme of “Nature's Wisdom” a reality, it is extremely important to share 
with the world the nature of the partnerships involving citizen participation.

The role of citizens is not merely a passive one of plugging the gaps left 
by the market and government; citizens have within them the latent 
potential to respond flexibly to the global issues and needs of society in 
the twenty-first century in ways that differ from the conceptions of 
existing frameworks.

In addition, faithfully pursing their own mission wins sympathy from even 
greater numbers of citizens, offering the chance to organically link 
various types of volunteer activities. The arrival of the Internet 
society—the symbol of the age of information technology—has also further 
strengthened bonds among citizens, and the scope of activity has grown from 
within citizens' own country to the point where it is now very easy to 
expand those activities overseas.

EXPO 2005 calls for the participation of citizens who bring with them a 
variety of perspectives. The participation of citizens beyond their own 
station will be effective in changing points of view, realizing mutual 
understanding of differing standpoints, and finding problem areas and 
devising solutions. EXPO 2005 aims to create opportunities to develop this 
type of citizen participation.




The Official Web Site of EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN is supported by IBM Japan, Ltd.

© Japan Association for the



The Official Web Site of EXPO 2005 AICHI JAPAN is supported by IBM Japan, Ltd.

© Japan Association for the 2005 World Expositio

Santa Barbara Permaculture Network
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www.sbpermaculture.org

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