Teshima – site of Japan’s worst case of illegal dumping of industrial waste – was saved by locals who fought relentlessly to have their beloved home restored
as for its central role in Japan’s worst case of illegal dumping of industrial waste.
When residents complained, Maekawa accused them of being “selfish”. Undeterred, they marched on parliament and held thousands of meetings and events. Campaigners group sat outside the prefectural government offices every day for half a year handing out flyers demanding action against Teshima Tourism and its unrepentant president, Sosuke Matsuura.
“They ruined the environment and risked people’s health just to make money,” says Ishii, who has turned Matsuura’s old office into a museum dedicated to one of Japan’s most successful environmental movements.Exhibits include a wall of shredded waste, photographs of demonstrations and a banner that reads: “Give us our island back!” The names of the heads of the 549 households that took part in the campaign cover a wall, with black rosettes pinned next to the 80% who have died.
Kiyoteru Tsutsui, a professor of sociology at Stanford University, says the Teshima campaign inspired similar movements in other parts of Japan at a time when the country was only just beginning to appreciate the dangers of industrial waste.Photograph: Justin McCurry/The Guardian
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Albanese makes first phone call to Solomon Islands PM amid China security dealAnthony Albanese has spoken to Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare for the first time since the election, with the new Labor Government continuing its diplomatic blitz of the region amid tensions with China.
Read more »
Noise, chaos, subway rats, the smell of hot garbage: happily, New York hasn’t changedStepping off the train at Penn Station was a shock. It was also sort of comforting.
Read more »
Jess Fox hails 'emotional' World Cup canoeing triumph after illnessThe Australian Olympic champion said she was vomiting and 'feeling ill' before emerging with a third consecutive gold medal at the K1 event in Slovenia.
Read more »
Greens must remember why they hold balance of powerWhether “flag-gate” was a deliberate stunt, or not, it was all a bit undergraduate: deliberately divisive and the sort of dogma you’d expect to hear at a student council meeting | EDITORIAL
Read more »
Pope hails families, blasts ‘culture of waste’ after RoePope Francis celebrated families on Saturday and urged them to shun “selfish” decisions that are indifferent to life as he closed out a big Vatican rally a day after the US Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion.
Read more »
The plan for a mountain biking haven dividing a small community on Melbourne's fringeThe Victorian government is about to decide on whether a controversial and massive new mountain bike network will be built around Warburton, in the Yarra Ranges.
Read more »