http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/#utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=harvest-time-in-satoyama Web Magazine and Video Briefs dealing with Climate Change, Peak Oil and Food Security in Japan and the World Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:54:13 +0900 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/comment-page-1/#comment-5671 RawatYS Sat, 29 Aug 2009 23:21:11 +0000 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/?p=339#comment-5671 A great initiative towards Satoyama ! A great initiative towards Satoyama !

]]> http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/comment-page-1/#comment-4544 Japan to suffer huge climate costs | OurWorld 2.0 Climate Change, Peak Oil & Food Security Web Magazine and Video Briefs Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:33:30 +0000 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/?p=339#comment-4544 [...] These challenges could work to energize Japanese society to make changes in many areas, including designing compact cities, rejuvenating agricultural systems, and creating local communities that co-exist in harmony with nature (see our Satoyama video brief). [...] [...] These challenges could work to energize Japanese society to make changes in many areas, including designing compact cities, rejuvenating agricultural systems, and creating local communities that co-exist in harmony with nature (see our Satoyama video brief). [...]

]]> http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/comment-page-1/#comment-2954 Satoyama « Eco House Film - Ecological House in Sweden Thu, 07 May 2009 20:08:44 +0000 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/?p=339#comment-2954 [...] time in Satoyama from UNUChannel http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/2009/01/13/harvest-time-in-satoyama/    Bill McDonough » May 7th, 2009 | Category: blog, ecohouse, ekohus, [...] [...] time in Satoyama from UNUChannel http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/2009/01/13/harvest-time-in-satoyama/    Bill McDonough » May 7th, 2009 | Category: blog, ecohouse, ekohus, [...]

]]> http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/comment-page-1/#comment-936 Dennis Letourneau Thu, 12 Feb 2009 02:29:20 +0000 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/?p=339#comment-936 A very well thought out video. Nicely paced and informative, it makes an appealing case for the Satoyama concept as part of the solution to moving Japan (and potentially other nations) towards a sustainable future. To those of us untrained in the social or agricultural sciences the concept appeals to our common sense – a solution from earlier generations to lead us back to a more balanced life and a more balanced planet. The challenge – and this is where many ideas that would benefit mankind inevitably stumble and fall – is in the creation and implementation of effective policies that push us towards this desired behavior. Not having worked in Japan but having worked throughout North America and Southeast Asia I found to my dismay one common theme amongst these different cultures: the relentless pursuit of happiness in the short term by the masses whether or not it benefited their descendants in the long term. The majority of the population on both sides of the Pacific will pay lip service to saving the planet but will only pursue this course of action if it provides immediate financial gain, tangible improvement in quality of life (as they define it) or if the pain of not taking this new course of action exceeds the pain associated with taking it. These motivating factors will also drive many of the elected officials who you will need to pass effective legislation and that legislation itself will have to appeal to the short-term needs of the populace to woo them into doing something for the better good. To dismiss this view as mere skepticism is to fail. To embrace a pragmatic approach that appeals to the short-sightedness and greed of mankind and essentially tricks him into pursuing a sustainable lifestyle is the only way to succeed in truly changing his behavior when he perceives no imminent threat to his existing way of life – otherwise his behavior will only change when the planet literally begins to crumble around him. I’ll wager that most Japanese politicians, farmers and city dwellers do not lay awake at night wondering how to devise a sustainable future for the planet. But when you appeal to their desire to increase their personal quality of life (be it happy constituents and re-election for a politician, steady wages for a farmer or a more balanced life for the city dweller) then you have their attention. To halt and reverse the current migration from the farmlands of Japan to the cities will require legislation that provides immediate, measurable benefits that exceed the perceived benefits of staying put. Likewise, immediate and tangible benefits must reward those who choose to buy locally-grown foods over imported ones. To place one’s faith in mankind to make the wise choice for the good of his fellow man will not suffice in this scenario. Any industry that stands to lose financially from the resurrection of the Satoyama concept (land developers, food importers) will lobby against you and unless you have greater leverage over the legislators than your opponents you will lose to these interest groups (who often will not behave as ethically as you in pursuing their goals). Proponents for the restoration of Satoyama will have to go into this fight with a winning strategy to out-maneuver their opponents and with the means to appeal effectively and overwhelmingly to the basic needs of those they wish to influence into embracing the Satoyama concept. You then stand to succeed where most fail and to make a lasting change that you can be proud of. A very well thought out video. Nicely paced and informative, it makes an appealing case for the Satoyama concept as part of the solution to moving Japan (and potentially other nations) towards a sustainable future. To those of us untrained in the social or agricultural sciences the concept appeals to our common sense – a solution from earlier generations to lead us back to a more balanced life and a more balanced planet. The challenge – and this is where many ideas that would benefit mankind inevitably stumble and fall – is in the creation and implementation of effective policies that push us towards this desired behavior. Not having worked in Japan but having worked throughout North America and Southeast Asia I found to my dismay one common theme amongst these different cultures: the relentless pursuit of happiness in the short term by the masses whether or not it benefited their descendants in the long term. The majority of the population on both sides of the Pacific will pay lip service to saving the planet but will only pursue this course of action if it provides immediate financial gain, tangible improvement in quality of life (as they define it) or if the pain of not taking this new course of action exceeds the pain associated with taking it. These motivating factors will also drive many of the elected officials who you will need to pass effective legislation and that legislation itself will have to appeal to the short-term needs of the populace to woo them into doing something for the better good. To dismiss this view as mere skepticism is to fail. To embrace a pragmatic approach that appeals to the short-sightedness and greed of mankind and essentially tricks him into pursuing a sustainable lifestyle is the only way to succeed in truly changing his behavior when he perceives no imminent threat to his existing way of life – otherwise his behavior will only change when the planet literally begins to crumble around him. I’ll wager that most Japanese politicians, farmers and city dwellers do not lay awake at night wondering how to devise a sustainable future for the planet. But when you appeal to their desire to increase their personal quality of life (be it happy constituents and re-election for a politician, steady wages for a farmer or a more balanced life for the city dweller) then you have their attention. To halt and reverse the current migration from the farmlands of Japan to the cities will require legislation that provides immediate, measurable benefits that exceed the perceived benefits of staying put. Likewise, immediate and tangible benefits must reward those who choose to buy locally-grown foods over imported ones. To place one’s faith in mankind to make the wise choice for the good of his fellow man will not suffice in this scenario. Any industry that stands to lose financially from the resurrection of the Satoyama concept (land developers, food importers) will lobby against you and unless you have greater leverage over the legislators than your opponents you will lose to these interest groups (who often will not behave as ethically as you in pursuing their goals). Proponents for the restoration of Satoyama will have to go into this fight with a winning strategy to out-maneuver their opponents and with the means to appeal effectively and overwhelmingly to the basic needs of those they wish to influence into embracing the Satoyama concept. You then stand to succeed where most fail and to make a lasting change that you can be proud of.

]]> http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/comment-page-1/#comment-684 Zare Ferragi Mon, 19 Jan 2009 20:48:28 +0000 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/?p=339#comment-684 This video made me think about a phenomenon called "i turn", which refers to those people born and raised in the cities who decide to migrate to the countryside. Could this represent a change for Satoyama and an example from Japan to be exported to other countries? This video made me think about a phenomenon called “i turn”, which refers to those people born and raised in the cities who decide to migrate to the countryside. Could this represent a change for Satoyama and an example from Japan to be exported to other countries?

]]> http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/comment-page-1/#comment-635 Scott Cejka Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:45:39 +0000 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/?p=339#comment-635 Great article! After living in rural Japan for 3 years and seeing these areas every day and all the uses they generate and the feelings that surround them, I can honestly say that they still fascinate me and captivate me like nothing else. I've picnicked in them, picked fruit in them, walked through them, and just soaked in the peace in them. IT would Japan well to save these areas, and further expand them in city areas as the Japanese soul is deeply connected to the land even though most people live in the cities. Great article! After living in rural Japan for 3 years and seeing these areas every day and all the uses they generate and the feelings that surround them, I can honestly say that they still fascinate me and captivate me like nothing else. I’ve picnicked in them, picked fruit in them, walked through them, and just soaked in the peace in them. IT would Japan well to save these areas, and further expand them in city areas as the Japanese soul is deeply connected to the land even though most people live in the cities.

]]> http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/harvest-time-in-satoyama/comment-page-1/#comment-627 Takashi Tue, 13 Jan 2009 06:56:29 +0000 http://ourworld.unu.edu/en/?p=339#comment-627 I really enjoyed to read harvest in Satoyama. thanks. I really enjoyed to read harvest in Satoyama. thanks.

]]>