Hokkaido, Toyako, Japan, G8 Summit!!

It is getting a little wet here and I do have major trouble uplodging files and pictures as well as videos! The Earth was not to happy either today, maybe an omen to think about! Thing are getting more tense and one can feel the discomfort and the worry of the people here, locals, as well as Police and Peaceful intended demonstrators!
 "Eco" is one of the keywords being used to connect the Summit to the local community. The community has built a crop storage house out of snow and has organized an event called "Gaia Night" in which people spend the night with candles in lieu of electricity. The Japanese congress recently passed a bill that recognizes that Ainu, an ethnic group that lives in Hokkaido and promotes a harmonious lifestyle in balance with nature, is an indigenous group of Japan. With the passing of the legislature, people are viewing Ainu's peaceful coexistence with nature as a role model for "Eco" life. In addition to local news, HBC provides archives that include scenes of local resort areas, images and videos of nature, lives of unusual animals as well as an explosion of the nearby volcano Mt. Usu, which erupted in 1910, 1943, 1977 and 2000. The website also utilizes a 24-hour live camera that captures activity around Lake Toyako, local weather and sightseeing information. "Having the G8 Summit allows the people of Hokkaido to be more aware of global environmental issues. It also provides people with the chance to engage in activities and gatherings," said Osamu Naganuma, president of HBC. "HBC will continue to focus on local society news and the summit influences." Hokkaido Broadcasting is offering news video and footage to foreign media upon request [Contact: toyako2008@hbc.co.jp].

06月 21日			6月28日　講演＆パネルディスカッション 「気候変動＆持続可能な開発×G8サミット×ユース」を開催します！

05月 16日			6/27(金)〜6/30(月)　世界青年サミットを開催します！

03月 10日			「持続可能な社会のための日本青年サミット」　終了しました！

11月 23日			11/25(日)　東京で生物多様性学習会を開催

11月 01日

読売新聞に記事掲載

G8サミットとは、主要国首脳会議のことで、Group of Eightつまり8つの国が参加していることを指す。 
1974年、フランスのジスカール・デスタン大統領がオイルショックへの対応や世界経済の安定化を図るためアメリカ、イギリス、西ドイツ（旧）、日本、イタリアの首脳をランブイエに招待し、毎年首脳会合を開くことで合意したのがきっかけで以後毎年開催されている。１９７５年にアメリカの招待によりカナダが参加を初めＧ７もしくは先進国首脳会議としてその名を知られるようになった。 
1994年にロシアが部分参加を初め、1998年にG8としてロシアが正式な参加を初め現在に至っている。 
G8サミットは毎年、参加国の持ちまわりで開催され、議長国がホスト役として各国を招待する。議長国の任期は一年で今年はドイツが議長国である。 
会議の構成は首脳会合(Ｇ８サミット(本来は全体を指すが一般的には首脳会合をＧ８サミットと指すことが多い))、閣僚会合等がある。 
2008年、日本はG8の議長国であり、7月7日〜9日まで北海道・洞爺湖にて開催される予定。 
G8については先進国のみで会合が行われ、この中で国際問題などの重要な議題を話し合い合意されるケースが多い為、しばしばお金持ちグループの集まりと批判される事もある。 
来年のサミットでは、特に急務になっている京都議定書後の枠組みや、貧困にあえぐアフリカ地域の首脳が揃い話し合う会合、TICAD（アフリカ開発会議：Tokyo International Conference on African Development）も5月に横浜で開催されることからとても重要な時期での会合である。

Day two! Well, I just got of the phone with my Wife and had to promise her again, to stay out of trouble and not to get arrested nor injured for she would not take care of me if I did. Especially since the last G8 that I went to in Vancouver was rather an excess of Police force and way to much pepper spray!

 I fund a coffee shop that alowed me to recharge my battery, the Lab top Batteries that is, wile I had some breakfast there!

The People here are extremlly kind and welcoming, yet worried and tense as well, every one seems to brace them self for the worst and hope for the best!

Police is every where and controls are here and there, however so far every thing is calm and polite and very generous as well, lets hope it will stay that way!

 Day One.! I am now in Hokkaido, Japan! This time though I am not here to take part in an Agricultural Meeting, nor to visit some good Organic Farmer Friends of mine, made over the Years! I am not here for holidays either nor for a Field study this time around!

No, I am actually here for the G8 Summit!! Not has an invited Guest nor as a Host, but more as an observer and to make sure our Good leaders of the G8 get the message that things are not so good, at least not with the environment, nor the youth, even Agriculture is in a crisis and a major one I may add!

So far not to much has happened other then Police every where and checking every one and just about every thing as well! Pictures are not allowed to be taken in most places I have been so far, then again I just arrived!

I just hope that I can find some power for my lab top soon, even though I broth two charged Batteries it may not be enough! 

I have my tent and my green tea and so far I am happy, to my surprise most Stations have wifi even the tower of the old castle does have wifi. 

Lets see what happens tomorrow!