Ocean Newsletter
No.551 July 20, 2023
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The Role of the Arctic Circle and the Success of the Japan Forum
Olafur Ragnar GRIMSSON (Chairman of the Arctic Circle, President of Iceland, 1996-2016)
The Arctic Circle Japan Forum, convened in Tokyo in March 2023, co- hosted by Sasakawa Peace Foundation and The Nippon Foundation, was on many levels a great success. The Arctic Circle Assemblies and Forums are open democratic platforms. With multiple Forums in the world, the Arctic Circle has become one of the most significant global platforms in the 21st century.
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The Arctic Circle and Natural Dyes
SAKAGUCHI Hide (President, Ocean Policy Research Institute, The Sasakawa Peace Foundation)
At the Arctic Circle Japan Forum flower arrangements were showcased as an example of Japanese traditional culture. The flower materials were mostly collected from the wild. After the forum, they were taken back home and reused, then reclaimed for natural dyes, and the rest were returned to the wilderness from which they were originally collected. These actions are exactly the embodiment of reincarnation and are the truest form of sustainability, which is the heart of the Arctic Circle. However, in reality, in the Arctic, the natural dyes are affected by global warming, which casts a shadow over the domain of traditional cultures.
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A New System for the Promotion of “Umigyou” in Fishing Ports ~Revision of the Act on Fishing Ports and Grounds~
UCHIDA Satoshi (Disaster Prevention Planning Officer Fishing Ports and Grounds Improvement Section Fisheries Agency)
While maintaining the purpose of fishing ports as being to facilitate fishing industry activities, the Act on Fishing Ports and Grounds has been revised, creating a system that enables “umigyou” activities to be developed that promote the value and attraction of the ocean and fishing villages, revitalizing the fishing industry and fishing village life. This article introduces the schemes that will systematically implement projects for increased consumption of marine products and familiarity among the general public, based on understanding and cooperation from the local community and the necessity to secure ports’ use by the fishing industry.