Environmental Study Tours Visit 'Genki' Prize Groups

To make the wish to "hand over an Earth in full of happiness to younger generations" come true, energetic citizens, businesses and governmental bodies are actively collaborating nationwide in Japan to create sustainable communities.

On example is the GENKI Network for Sustainability, a nonprofit organization that has supports such activities ("genki" is a Japanese adjective meaning high-spirited or energetic). In March 2003 the network started to organize study tours to visit groups that have been awarded the "Genki Grand Prize" and their neighboring areas.

On one such eco-tour in September 2003, participants visited the 2001 prize winner, Kankyo-Net 21 (Environment Net 21), of Isesaki City, Gunma Prefecture, and enjoyed helping farm work and visiting an organic recycling-based pig farm.

This study tour series provides opportunities for participants to get acquainted with people in local communities. The tours are aimed at helping participants acquire the skills to be facilitators for environmental projects, through the indispensable hands-on experience that cannot be gained just by taking seminars and symposiums.



Posted: 2004/05/10 01:23:07 PM
Japanese version