| Maehara meets with Nobel laureate Maathai, discusses environmental protection policy |
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On February 17, DPJ President Seiji Maehara met with Kenyan Deputy Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources Wangiri Maathai at party headquarters, and exchanged opinions on environmental protection at a global level.
At the start of the meeting, Maehara expressed his appreciation for Maathai's efforts to encourage the spread of the Japanese expression "mottai nai" [such a waste] around the world and touched on the subject of the Kyoto Protocol, which came into force on February 16 of last year. He commented that Maathai's visit on this occasion was a "timely visit".
Following this, Maehara introduced the DPJ's environmental protection policies, including the enactment of bills that contain an emphasis on the environment. He expressed the opinion that the fact that powers such as China and India are continuing to consume energy and food without adopting the "mottai nai" spirit is becoming a huge global issue, and cited China's rapid economic growth as an example.
Maathai explained that she had first come into contact with the expression "mottai nai" on a visit to Japan one year ago, and commented, "The reason I wanted to spread this expression around the world is that it embraces a wonderful concept." She expressed the opinion that this expression, as well as emphasing that it is necessary to divide up limited resources fairly in order to avoid international conflicts, can be applied not only to advanced industrialized nations, but also to the consumption of primary resources by impoverished nations.
Finally, Maehara criticised the weakness shown by the Japanese government in failing to urge their ally, the United States, to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, and added, "I believe it is our duty as the main opposition party to provide the Japanese people with an alternative. We will do our best to bring about a change of government by the time that you next visit Japan."
(06/02/17) |
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