Japan's Lesson On Economy and Environment

     As we watch the short documentary of Japan’s economy and environment, it said that Ginza, Japan was the economical construction place on year 1956. On that era, once you have refrigerator, television, and washing machine, you are big time citizen. In year 1960, the prime minister of japan, Hayato Ikeda, proclaimed the doubling of income for Japan’s economic growth. They built so many infrastructures and became the second largest GNP attained in year 1968.

     But in focusing their national income, they didn’t notice the pollution created by factories and mining projects. As their economy grew, the pollution gets heavier. It created an outbreak disease called “itai itai” that means “ouch ouch” in year 1968. This disease gives so much hurt mostly in woman. It is because of the sulfuric acid that released by factories. At the same year it the outbreak continues and created another disease. The next outbreak is called Minamata disease which came from Minamata. This disease gave the Japanese like epileptic syndrome because of organic mercury compound that came from mining projects. Another outbreak comes out in the next year, 1969. It is the Yokkaichi Asthma Outbreak. It is the disease like asthma that attacks at midnight that makes you sleepless. In it cause by the sulfur oxide and other pollution that created by factories.  

     As the Japanese reacts to the outbreaks, it created so many rallies and protests. Because of these phenomenons, Japan government amended a law for environmental pollution control in year 1971. As the Japanese alarmed to the situation, they started to build a healthy nation. One of it is the flue gas sulfurizer. It removes sulfur oxide to the fluid. Another is the selective catalytic reduction that removes nitrogen oxide to the water. In order to clean the mess and build the machines, it causes a lot of money.

     And as far as they cleaning their economy, they learn how the love it. It gives a lesson on how the conserved our planet earth. Don’t overuse it. We are the one who also suffer at the time comes. Heal the world. Heal the mankind.