#sustainabilitystructures

[katrinatravelsthroughasia]

Concept Module: SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURES in Japan

I believe many people around the world see Japan as a fairly sustainable place. Some think this way because they have rigorous recycling systems and two way flush handles on all toilets. Others would say they are very eco-friendly just because the country in general is fairly “minimalist”, comparable to the Swedes (read: Ikea). Other more might argue that because the country is so physically small, and so lacking in fertile arable land, they can’t afford to not be sustainable with resources.

The sustainability structures that I’ve captured during our time in Tokyo surely match up with these ideas. But then we encounter wooden chopsticks-- how can wooden chopsticks be sustainable, especially in Japan? And if I found three out of ten structures to be not very sustainable, does that mean China is greener than Japan? Although I don’t believe that Japan is less sustainable than China, these results may tell us something interesting about the triangular relationship between China, Japan, and the “West”.

I shall continue to find examples of sustainability everywhere I go without even really looking for them, and perhaps I’ll even start taking a long term log of all the things I find in this great big world.

[katrinatravelsthroughasia]

Concept Module: SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURES in China

Eight out of the ten structures from China (specifically Shanghai) are positive sustainability structures. At face value, that number would represent a very eco-friendly city. This is contrary to our image of a dirty, seemingly infinitely non-visible China, the image of which is created in Beijing. Whenever the topic of bad air quality comes up, China immediately comes to mind for many people, and it has been that way for a long time. Does this switch in sustainability structures mean that China is aware of its environmental problems? Or are we just not seeing the dirtiest parts while we are in the city itself?

While in Beijing, our tour guide informed us that the factories used to be much closer to the heart of the capital; they were all moved further away, but unfortunately still very upwind from the city. It is also possible that the presence of these built structures a sign of something else coming into play when it comes to decision making.

It makes me wonder if religion factors into the idea of protecting nature. It must be questioned whether or not the extremely long history of Buddhism has anything to do with care for the earth. Can there be made a connection between the ancient call for us all to become shepherds for the earth and modern, scientific data that causes extreme hopelessness in some? I wish to look into these complex questions more during my future studies in Asia.

[katrinatravelsthroughasia]

SS: China-- Negative


Sunday, January 15, 2017 7:58 PM  

Shanghai, In The Room cafe near ECNU  

The first plastic bag would’ve been fine... but the second one went too far. The workers at this cafe very kindly--and very wastefully--double bagged all of our baked goods already nicely wrapped... without even trying to ask “for here or to go”.

[katrinatravelsthroughasia]

Concept Module: SUSTAINABILITY STRUCTURES

For this assignment I chose to focus on structures that promote sustainability because it’s something that I’m naturally drawn to. Even without this assignment, I believe that I still would’ve taken pictures of the things that I did out of my own curiosity.

My initial interest in the environment was largely cultivated by St. Olaf’s own Environmental Conversations program. Since then, it’s not been very hard for me to find sustainability features or items everywhere I go. Thus, I decided to purposefully look for them in Asia. 

Asian Conversations has allowed me to expand the physical area in which I have real, invested environmental concern all the way to China and Japan.

(Thank you!!)

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