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 By Kaoru Kanetaka, Eco-tourism Promotion Association Director In March of the year before last, the Eco-tourism Promotion Association held a conference in Okinawa to commemorate its establishment. We have spent almost two years since then promoting eco-tourism as a way to harmonize ecological concerns with tourism and so ensure that the natural legacies of our one and only Earth are passed down to the generations that come after us. Since that time, the interest of the nation's people in eco-tourism has spread like a prairie fire. At the founding conference, we invited Dr. Craig Macfarland from the U.S., the former chair of the Charles Darwin Foundation, and he spoke about the Galapagos Islands, the origin of the eco-tourism concept. In Okinawa, the unmistakable lush greenery makes it the Galapagos of the East. Last year, following along with the Iriomote Island Eco-tourism Association, the Higashi-son Eco-tourism Association was established in Yanbaru. I can't tell you how truly happy I am about this. It is my wish that at the Okinawa Summit the world leaders who come will experience the splendid natural environment of Okinawa and renew their awareness of the nature around us. I myself adore Okinawa. In the 31 years I have spent in broadcasting "World Travel with Kaoru Kanetaka" I have had numerous opportunities to come to Okinawa but those times were mostly just trips to Naha City. At the founding conference two years ago, my long cherished wish to see the rest of the islands was realized. I saw various places including Nago, Iriomote, and the Kerama Islands. I was able to feel and experience for myself Okinawa's unmistakably rich natural environment. I want to see these spectacular natural treasures of the world remain with us forever as symbols of our continuing protection of this beautiful planet Earth. During my stay here I came to love the relaxed atmosphere and the warm smiles on the faces of the elderly. I remember in the Kerama Islands, it was the once a year occasion when the tide is low enough to walk down and harvest the shellfish and octopus on foot. When I went down to the beach, I sat down on the shore looking out on the cobalt blue seashore and was treated to a homemade box lunch made by some of the elderly, they even let me dance together with them. It was a remarkable day for me. The natural environment remaining on Okinawa is a unique legacy, but the human nature one finds there is also first class. I am sure that those who come for the summit will enjoy the soft Okinawan breezes of both locals and the nature. Kaoru Kanetaka Director, Eco-tourism Promotion Association Honorary Chair, Tabi-no-Shiryokan (world's folk craft museum), Awaji Island. Director, Yokohama Ningyo-no-Ie (doll museum), Yokohama. Ms. Kaoru Kanetaka is one of the Japan's prominent journalists. From 1959 t o 1990 she narrated, directed, and produced the TV series "World Travel with Kaoru Kanetaka". She traveled to over 150 countries and circled the globe 180 times gathering material and reporting for the show. Currently engaging in international related work, Ms. Kanetaka is a member in numerous organizations and associations.  |
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