At the end of the museum tour, we learnt the important lesson of life, social responsibility and to cherish people, nature and the place we live.
The Minamata pledge summarised all the important lessons and values that we need to bring home and share with our friends.
The original Minamata pledge was in Japanese and translated into English.
If the photo is not clear, the typed out message is as follow:
Minamata's Pledge
Through the history of the past fifty years in Minamata, there have been many failures. Minamata has learned through these experiences how difficult it is to restore both a polluted environment and a confused social environment. Looking toward the next fifty years, we will reconsider our relationships with nature, our ways of living, our industrial activities, and our community through moyai, a local words meaning"mooring", in order to brighten our lives. We will create a city which truly cherishes people, cherishes nature, and cherishes the place in which we live.
1. Minamata values life.
2. When we notice changes in our surroundings, we will not ignore the problems, but value the voices of those involved and investigate thoroughly.
3. The purpose of industrial activity is not merely to seek profit, but to support a truly abdundant life.
4. The duty of local government is to work with citizens to create happy lives.
5. Moving beyond an age of mere material abundance, we will create spiritually abundant and satisfied lives that eschew wastefulness.
6. By learning from our mistakes, they will not have been made in vain. We will frankly recognise errors we have committed and act to correct them.
7. While reflecting on the past and envisioning the future, we will give ear to the opinions of the minority and work to build our own community through our own efforts.
8. To teach the lessons of Minamata disease is to teach the importance of life.
50th Anniversary of the Official Recognition of Minamata Disease Commemoration Project
Minamata Juku Committee
October 21, 2006
11:37 AM |
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After lunch, we drove down to Minamata Museum. At first impression, the museum looked cool and sleek. It sat on a little open-spaced hill that was carpeted with grass.
No camera or videotaping were allowed in the Minamata Museum so we could only take photos of the building. In the museum, we were shown video on the origin and background of Minamata disease. It was a tragic caused by an inconsiderate company Chisso that dumped methyl mercury into the sea even when they knew the harmful effect on human and the environment. After the video, we went for a guided walk through on the exhibitions related to Minamata disease. We also had a conference session with a historian whose parents and grandparents were all Minamata disease victims. She shared her family tragedies with us to educate us on the effect of Minamata disease and more in general harmful effect (especially on families) of pollution.
After the session and there were some free time for us to experience the open space just outside the museum. We took the chance to take photos with our friends.
Beside the Minamata Museum was an education centre that promotes recycling to primary school students. There was a wind turbine in the shape of a propeller plane and a big solar planar. Such "green message" just enhanced the greenery around us. Lovely flowers of different shapes, sizes and colours dotted the open space. We must learn the mistake and harmful effect of pollution from Minamata Museum and create a beautiful eco-friendly environment that brings forth lives.
5:43 PM |
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We took the bus and went up the mountain to our lunch area - Fukuoka Farm. We saw how the houses spread across the mountains.
Along the way up the mountain, the scenes got more impressive as the vast bay and mountains unveiled more and more of themselves.
The Fukuoka Farm was not really a farm but more of a sale outlet for their farm produce. The sale outlets were very nice houses with much Spanish flavor to it. A very different culture experience in Japan. Flowers were blooming all around too. The sea, mountain, flowers, space gave us such an open and free feeling.
Lunch was in this very nice building with Western decor. The lunch was bamboo shoot rice. It was yummy, especially with such nice sea view as backdrop!
6:19 PM |
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