Spring 1986 RAIN Page 23 Saving the Ikego Forest: Thinking Locally, Acting Globally by Steve Johnson Ikego Forest is one of the few tracts of forest land remaining inside the densely congested Greater Tokyo Metropolitan Area. Used by the U.S. Navy as an underground ammunition depot for nearly 40 years, public access to Ikego has been prohibited, allowing the land’s plant and wildlife to develop and flourish in an undisturbed environment. Recently, the U.S. Navy requested of the Japanese government that lands be made available in order to build 1000 homes for Navy personnel working at Yokosuka Naval Base. The Japanese government responded with the proposal that Ikego Forest be used for this purpose, even though at least five alternative sites are available within 30 miles from the base. Knowing that allocation of Ikego lands as a housing site would destroy the forest, the citizens of Zushi banded together and formed an impressive movement to oppose the proposal. In a special election, the mayor, seeking a ballot box endorsement of the agreement to build the houses, was defeated. Kiichiro Tomino, a leader of the campaign, was elected as the result of an grassroots effort by nature-loving citizens mostly led by women. But the battle was not won, since Japan's central and prefectural government would make the final decision regarding Ikego's fate. It would take an outpouring of public opinion to stop the project, as written opinion plays a key role in official procedures relating to the preparation and submisson of an Environmental Impact Assessment, which may contain the opinion and concerns of any individual, regardless of nationality or location. The citizens of Zushi organized a domestic and international campaign to ask their friends to write and send written opinons about why Ikego Forest should be preserved. The citizens so far have obtained 100,000 domestic letters and 700 worldwide written and electronically transmitted opinions in support of their position. Most recently it is now certain that referendums will be held in Zushi over issolution of the city assembly and the recall of Mayor Kiichiro Tomino, an effort organized by a group in favor of construction of U.S. Military housing. Tomino is saying he will not resign. He is supported by the Society to Protect Nature and Children, which is opposed to construction. One of the more intriguing aspects of the Zushi story involves the use of electronic mail and conferencing systems to provide local officials with world-wide opinion about their actions. During the Save Ikego campaign, an Apple He, communication software, and an acoustic coupler were installed in the Mayor of Zushi's living room. A voluntary project team was organized to prepare appeals, a personal message from the mayor, and a list of 108 species of birds inside the forest. These documents were then transmitted over the electronic networks. The first overseas “written opinion” arrived within days. It was from Billye Lemon, wife of a U.S. Army Colonel. It was just what the citizens of Zushi had hoped to receive: I would not want to create poor relations because of construction of housing for the military and their families...One must look beyond the immediate needs with much broader vision...When by chance a part has been preserved which remains in its natural state, then these special places we need to treasure...for future generations. More warm and supportive responses followed, making the efforts of the volunteers—virtually all of whom were tackling the intricacies and eccentricities of packet switching, uploading, downloading, log-on sequences, etc., for the first time—worthwhile. The on-line phase of the Save Ikego movement stands as one of the first attempts to use computer conferencing to contact and connect a global electronic community in support of environmental concerns. To register support, you may contact the Committee for Ikego Global Referendum, 5-4-24 Hisagi, Zushi-city, Kanagawa, 249 Japan, o O The Other Japan
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