Japan's Lesson on Economy and Environment

Economy and Environment Relationship

Last March 6, 2014, our Environmental Engineering class held a documentary presentation and the movie is entitled Japan’s Lessons on Economy and Environment. It depicts on the scenario that happened after infrastructures has been made in Japan which greatly affect their environment because of the different pollution and chemicals emitted by the factories.

The documentary started by showing that the Japan has a great economy and environment before the rise of the factories. It also showed that their three symbolic items are the TV, Refrigerator, and the washing machine. They also made use of the Doubling of Income Plan which is for the economic growth and consumption. Along with that, construction of Metropolitan Highways was done and the Tokyo Olympic Games in 1964 made them consider as a developed country. The second largest GNP attained in Japan was in the year 1968.

But, as their economy grew, they also experienced problems which can be very hard to control because they were facing pollution problems already. First is the Outbreak of the Itai-Itai disease. This disease is the cause of the poisonous substances from the Kamioka mine producing lead and sulphuric acid. This disease hits the women and it has been said that water became the carrier of the deadly poisons coming from the mine. Secondly, the Minamata disease spread throughout the Minamata City in 1908. This disease is a toxic disorder of the nervous system transmitted from the seafoods. The seafoods contain an organic mercury and it was only discovered in 1957. That is how long the people in Minamata suffered because of the disease. The main side effects of the disease is that the person infected will have an epilepsy, damaged sense of balance, and it could even lead to death. Because of that, fishing was banned in Minamata.

Thirdly, the outbreak of the Yokkaichi asthma happened in 1955. When a certain powerplant started its operation, the complaints of those who has asthma increases. It has been said that those affected are inhaling sulphur oxides. Because of the recent events, the government of Japan tried to make a law which would lessen the pollution in their country. They proposed the Basic Law for Environmental Pollution Control. It states that harmonization shall be pursued along with the sound improvement of the economy.

Some important years’ worth remembering was in 1967 when people went to court and it started their own people power. During 1968, the government admit that the disease spreading was also the cause of the cadmium poisoning. In Sept, 1968, Minamata disease is effluent to the factory. In 1970, the anti-pollution diet was formed. During 1971, they already had an established environment agency. In 1973, there is already a law that those who are infected by the diseases will get support even they die already. The government started investing for environment efficiency.

In the Philippines, we are also experiencing economic growth especially during the time of Ferdinand Marcos. It was also our concern that the environment is also getting a lot worse. Marcos proclaimed the Presidential Decree 1152 and this program can only assume tangible and meaningful significance only by establishing specific environment management policies and prescribing environment quality standards. The main purpose of this decree which is also known as The Philippine Environment Code states that it achieve and maintain such levels of air quality as to protect public health and to prevent injury or damage to plant, animal life, and property, and promote social economic development of the country.

The acts that the leaders made for their country is a highly recommended solution for the prevention of the worsening of the pollution in their respective countries. I salute them because they are not only thinking about the growth of the economy of their country but they are also considering the condition of the environment. For us students, we should also do a move in helping our environment even in the small ways possible because when all of us do such small ways, it can already affect greater things in the future. We should contribute in the growth of our economy and the environment.