Japan does now jail polluters.

by Uwe Paschen | June 8, 2009 at 12:06 am

962 views | 104 Recommendations | 22 comments

By, Uwe Paschen.

Japan is serious, when it comes to the environment. New legislation right in time for Earth day was passed and has been made law. Those laws are effective has of now with harsh Fines and even prison terms for polluters.

A few month ago Japan announced that it will make the environment a priority in spite of a global financial crisis caused by the collapse of the US investment bank Lehman Brothers last September 2008.

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/japan-make-climate-change-priority-over-economy

This was a most welcome announcement for Environmental groups as well as the Opposition parties in Japan, the UN and the IPCC, whose latest report gave us alarming prognosis for the Earth Environmental future and especially its ability to sustain Human life.

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/reality-worse-then-prognosis-latest-ipcc-report

Prior to the Japanese announcement and the IPCC report we had James Lovelock's last Book published on the state of the Earth health and the consequences of our Industrial pollution on the Earth as well as on Human Politics, infrastructures, Economics and our future over all.

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/revenge-gaia-humanity-under-attack

Japan did have many laws in place before the latest amendments and the additional laws put in place recently. However, some of those laws where not respected nor followed. In part due to a lack of enforcement. Mainly though, because the penalties where not harsh enough, making it cheaper to pollute and pay the fine if cough then not to pollute and follow the laws in place.

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/japans-environmental-dilemma

This has changed now with penalties of up to $100,000.00 for burning Plastic as well as up to 10 years Jail for any offender of those laws. Making the Japanese Environmental laws, by now the most severs in the World.

New taxes have been introduced as well as tax raises for existing environmental taxes on polluting products and habits such as the Automobile.

Reaching now over $1,500.00 for the annual car tax for Gasoline powered engines.

Making driving a car in Japan a luxury and a sin.

However, Eco-cars such as Hydrogen powered Cars will pay only $200.00 annual tax.

By next year the car tax, will be raised again forcing the consumers and the industry to change their habits and this at a fast pace.

At our Community centre, we received all the updates and new laws yesterday, to be circulated to all and to insure that all are made aware of the severity of the new penalties for polluting or breaking the environmental laws now in place.

Most here in Narita welcomed the changes and amendments with delight and I have to admit that I may even be enthusiastic about them personally.

Further announcements by the government included the goal to double the production of electricity with solar energy annually, replacing fossil fuels completely by 2015. With the goal to make Japans carbon foot print, completely neutral.

This would also permit to use renewable energies to stimulate a new economy and help overcome the present global crisis.

http://my.nowpublic.com/world/solar-power-restart-economy-and-create-jobs-world-wide

This with tax breaks for those that invest in Solar and other forms of renewable energies such as Thermal and wind power. Further by rasing the prise of power over all, encouraging conservation and by offering the same price for power sold by individual households Solar production then the one claimed by the power companies from individual households wish until now was not the case since we paid more for Power from the Power company then we received for Power sold to the grid.

This has positive implications for agriculture and farmers since they where some of the first to invest in Solar Power and with their building could produces a substantial amount of additional power if they where to add more solar panels, this would help then generate a much needed side income in view of the state that agriculture is in today.

Further changing the price structures by putting the highest price on pick hours will be accentuated in the upcoming month.

There are also plans in place now to change the policies for the building codes making it mandatory to build with power conservation and the environment in mind rather then optional.

Now, I just hope that Japan will maintain the momentum and resist all international pressures as well as become a model to follow by all other nations on this planet of ours.

So far it is a positive move and one that is much welcome by most here in Chiba Kent.

Now, we do still have a large number of other issues that need to be addressed and worked on, as well as changes to be implemented. Such as Whaling, still practiced today. However, we just took a big step into the right direction, this should not be overshadowed by what is still unsolved.

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/japanese-whale-hunt-will-remain

We also need to address the over fishing on an international level and this will be a very difficult issue for Japan in particular since it does consume over 140kg of fish per Capita per annum.

Nevertheless, Japan knows it will have to do more in that regard and yet, it is one of those few nations that does the most in view of conservation of the Oceans Fish supply, mainly because it does depend on it more then any other industrial country.

http://my.nowpublic.com/environment/eating-fish-kills-saving-our-oceans

The main question in spite of all this good news and all the new laws that are now implemented is still out in the open. “Will it be enough and will it be in time to avoid an IPCC or Gaia like prognosis?”

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Rhonda J Mangus

at 05:27 on June 8th, 2009

Thanks for this, Paschen. Good question, "“Will it be enough and will it be in time to avoid an IPCC or Gaia like prognosis?”

Uwe Paschen

at 06:53 on June 8th, 2009

Thanks Rhonda for the comment. That is in deed the main question and yet, would I know with certainty that tomorrow the end of all life will be, I would still plant an apple tree today in hope that it may grow and give fruits to many children, because maybe nature will show mercy and let one of its miracle happen.

Well, one has to keep hope and do what ever one can.

PIM of SPAIN

at 06:36 on June 8th, 2009

Unfortunately it will no be enough for sure. The problem still is to get the whole infrastructure, law enforcement, policing, inspections, licenses, etc. well coordinated in place and operational without hick-ups. Like in Spain 10 years ago we should adapt ourselves for solar energy for water heating and electric energy generation. Since I had already by now close to 30 years hot water from solar, I decided to put up a 4kWh installation (€60.000 investment) for my own use. Permits not necessary, subsidy was announced but not coming forward, so I did the whole investment on my own account. One department didn't know about the next and so on. Totally incompetent bureaucrats in charge. Now ten years later I'm still waiting for my autorization to be connected to the municipal network, everything approved, paid for and prepared. By now ten year long wasting solar energy, nobody can use even not myself, due to the system that was required by authorities. There we go again. Japan might be different, but legislation and red tape are common for both.

Uwe Paschen

at 06:53 on June 8th, 2009

Thank you for the input here. Well, PIM I would agree that this may be a problem in Spain and many other countries as well. However do not underestimate the Japanese, they will get it done once it is implemented and the once the ball is rolling.

Hick ups, we will always have them as we are Human, however if we can get it right to 90% we would be doing great.

Timing may be the biggest question here as well as extend, is it enough and is it still in time?

I would say it is never to late until it actually is, meaning until we are alive we better do what ever we can to avoid a total apocalypse.

It is our duty to all our descendent and to the Earth it self to change and do what ever can be done and this as fast as can be. With or with out subsidies we better do it.

PIM of SPAIN

at 07:09 on June 8th, 2009

Uwe I'm completely in agreement with your saying:

"I would say it is never to late until it actually is, meaning until we are alive we better do what ever we can to avoid a total apocalypse." That's why I'm still smiling when confronted with the bureaucratic stupidness.

Uwe Paschen

at 07:20 on June 8th, 2009

:-) I like that. Good attitude.

Yuliya Talmazan

at 07:35 on June 8th, 2009

Thanks for this interesting perspective on Japan's environmental laws and regulations. Seems like they are way more organized and conscientious back there than we are here in North America.

Uwe Paschen

at 07:46 on June 8th, 2009

Thanks for the input here. Much more will be needed though from Japan and the rest of the Globe before we will even be able to make a dent into our accumulated pollution and stop the destruction of life on Earth. But it is a beginning and a big step into the right direction.

jazzyzazzy

at 08:01 on June 8th, 2009

Good for them, I just hope its not all puff puff blow political spin,pray they get what they need.

Uwe Paschen

at 08:05 on June 8th, 2009

I was afraid of that my self as Japans Government made the announcement a few month ago that the Environment was to be the top priority. that However, here it is and it is law and they came through. No empty words this time, they do mean business.

Barbara McPherson

at 08:43 on June 8th, 2009

This sounds like good news indeed. It will make the executives think twice about polluting if they face a jail term.

Uwe Paschen

at 12:05 on June 8th, 2009

I like the jail part my self as well, especially the up to 10 years in Jail. I would have gone a little further on that one.

djermano

at 16:06 on June 8th, 2009

In concern to the environment and the Ocean...I would think Japan should create a Whale and Tuna Farm off the coast of Japan... This is a desperate industry in need of help...to raise these fish stocks, and manage the harvesting....so to bring balance back and to prevent extinction.

Rev. Jermano

Uwe Paschen

at 17:15 on June 8th, 2009

Thank you for your input Rev. Japan does have some Fish farms in the North mainly for Salmon though. Most farmed fish through out Japan is Eel.

The off shore Fish farming is a mixed of blessing and curse for the Ocean.

L-S (not verified)

at 00:56 on June 9th, 2009

I wonder how much pollution one NP post creates? There is a drastic increase in power consumed, mainly because of an ever increasing number of computers! Many of which are left on even when not being used.

In the early 90's I was an electrical engineer in BT (UK). In a single building there were more than 5,000 computers which no one bothered to turn off/put to sleep when they left for home at the end-of-the-day.

Around 6 pm when the building was empty I would turn off the power mains which in turn shut down the computers.

Uwe Paschen

at 23:12 on June 13th, 2009

I read an article about an EU Provider trying to make the net greener and less energy wore last year. I do not remember the exact numbers, but the power consumption saved was enormous and yet the power still needed was equally incredible.

The power used for all the little lights on electrical equipment that show power is another great drain on the continuous power consumption and not to be underestimated.

Here, we also have the heated Toilet seats that use a great deal of power over time why I disconnected ours.

Google invested in solar power in part for because those computers need a lot of power to cool down and even though we have made them more efficient it still far from ideal.

If I remember correctly each search on the internet equates to one 100 watt Hour use of electricity.

We may not have the net has available for free much longer.

BTW, a comment would pollute as much as a Post. :)

Amy Judd

at 17:55 on June 9th, 2009

This is actually quite amazing, good for them

Uwe Paschen

at 04:28 on June 10th, 2009

Yes, it is, especially the up to 10 years Prison for burning Plastic and garbage as well as the rather high fines for polluters. I just hope it stays that way and that much more is yet to come. I believe we can achieve al the targets and reach all the goals if we put our minds and will to it.

Life is certainly worth the effort. No matter the sacrifice.

renovatio

at 19:13 on June 12th, 2009

Save our environment!!

DollyandNiki

at 00:44 on June 21st, 2009

Good article, Japan surely is on top of it all, I'm all for solar/wind power, what concerns me the most is the rate hikes that will be done to individual households in the U.S., seems the funds for this could be found somewhere by stopping some of the programs we have that are not working or putting a higher tax on some of the plastics our products come in, the corporations have to focus on their containers, don't use plastic its as simple as that, I always wondered why it was allowed that we went from paper sacks to the horrible plastic bags you see flying in the air, blown onto trees and creating litter here.