World Expo Opens In Japan

More than 15 million visitors are expected to attend Japan’s 2005 World Exposition, which opened last week and runs through September 25. The theme is sustainable development; creating a new direction for humanity which is sustainable and harmonious with nature.

“This is not a theme that we have chosen lightly,” say the organizers, the Japan Association for the 2005 World Exposition. Recognizing that rapid technological development, mass production and mass consumption have brought about desertification, global warming, and a shortage of natural resources, only recently have we realized the enormity of our loss.

“Learning from the world’s vast collection of wisdom and methods of interaction with nature found around the globe, we hope to bring the world together for the creation of a global society allowing the multitude of cultures and civilizations to coexist together,” the organizers said.

Visitors will be transported either in low emissions buses or shuttles that run on magnets. There will be several environmental pavilions, one that runs on only renewable energy and where visitors will be treated to the potential of environmental technologies, and another that allows visitors to experience the changes occuring on Earth from the inside. Restaurants will serve food with bioplastics dishware and visitors will use “bio-toilets” where microorganisms turn wastewater into reuseable water.

A huge “greening wall” named “Bio-lung” demonstrates the pulmonary function of plants in an urban environment by reducing the heat island effect that raises urban temperatures.

Vegetation is planted on canvas made from kenaf or bog moss and coated with photocatalyst. It is misted with water which has a cooling effect. In April 2001, a Tokyo law went into effect requiring that buildings over a certain size have greenroofs or green walls.

121 countries have exhibits, and there will be a monthly series of events focused on environmental protection and sustainable development. Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute participated in the first even last week which looked the relationship between culture, environment and development.

The theme at the U.S. Pavilion is Benjamin Franklin’s 300th anniversary, and is the first to be entirely financed by the private sector.

The Mitsubishi Group announced it would offset the carbon footprint of its environmental education exhibit, Mitsubishi Pavilion@Earth, by making a donation to protect Madagascar’s rain forests.

?It is inevitable that big events like these produce additional greenhouse gas emissions,” said Naoyoshi Yamakawa, director general of Mitsubishi Pavilion@Earth. “Offsetting the additional greenhouse gas emissions in another part of the planet is environmentally responsible. I truly hope that carbon offsets like these become customary. The project in Madagascar contributes not only to the protection of the rain forest, but also to the sustainable development of the local community.”

World Expo: [sorry this link is no longer available]