Building sustainable communities and their worldwide network | Hiroyuki Sato | TEDxKyoto

Summary

This video script explores the inspiring story of Minamisanriku Town's recovery after a devastating disaster, highlighting the importance of sustainability and community resilience. After the loss of 20,000 lives, the town began focusing on self-sufficiency using local resources like forests, food waste, and biogas. A sustainable cycle was built to create energy, fuel, and fertilizers, transforming waste into useful resources. The speaker then shares how this model inspired the development of similar projects in Palau, aiming to solve environmental and community issues. Ultimately, the message advocates for global cooperation to build sustainable communities that are self-reliant and harmonious.

Takeaways

• 🌊 Four and a half years ago, a devastating disaster in Japan resulted in the loss of 20,000 lives, highlighting the importance of immediate survival essentials: food, water, energy, and human support.
• 🍙 Community members quickly organized after the disaster, preparing 10,000 rice balls per day and distributing them to shelters, demonstrating the power of cooperation in crisis.
• 🏠 Despite losing his home and friends, a fisherman in Minamisanriku focused on rebuilding his town sustainably, inspiring efforts to create a resilient community.
• 🌱 The goal of Minamisanriku's project was to establish a sustainable community with self-supporting systems for food, energy, and resources using local natural assets.
• 🌲 Abandoned and unmanaged forests posed environmental risks, so trees were thinned and converted into wood pellets for fuel, providing local energy solutions.
• 🔥 Pellet stoves improved living conditions in shelters, showing how small, local energy initiatives can have a significant human impact.
• ♻️ Food waste was separated and converted into biogas and liquid fertilizer, which residents embraced, demonstrating the benefits of circular resource management.
• 🌏 The Minamisanriku model was expanded internationally, such as in Palau, to address waste management, marine pollution, food and energy security, and community breakdown.
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• 🔄 Integrated circulation systems, including fast-growing energy crops, were implemented to restore community relationships and promote self-sufficiency.
• 🌐 The ultimate vision is a global network of sustainable communities that share cultural, technical, and educational resources without overexploiting limited natural resources.
• 🤝 Cooperation, sharing, and rebuilding community bonds are central to overcoming disasters and modern societal challenges, creating resilient, happy societies.

Q & A

What was the primary focus of the community's survival efforts after the disaster?

The primary focus was providing basic necessities such as food, water, energy, and maintaining good human relations. A key effort was the creation of 10,000 'onigiri' rice balls every day, which were delivered to shelters for a week.

What did the fisherman from Minamisanriku express regarding the future of his town?

The fisherman expressed a strong desire to rebuild his hometown with pride and sustainability. Despite losing his house and friends, he was focused on creating a sustainable future for the community.

How did the speaker plan to create a sustainable community in Minamisanriku?

The plan was to establish a self-supporting community with systems for obtaining food, energy, and resources in a circular way, utilizing the town's natural resources, such as forests, farmland, and the ocean.

What role did waste management play in the sustainable development of Minamisanriku?

Waste management was crucial in the sustainable development of the town. Food waste was separated, turned into biogas, and liquid fertilizer was produced as a by-product, which was then used to enhance local agriculture.

How did the community react to the waste separation trial in Minamisanriku?

The community responded positively to the waste separation trial. Residents appreciated the process, with many expressing satisfaction and asking for the trial to be expanded throughout the town.

What are some of the environmental and social challenges faced by Palau?

Palau faces several challenges including waste management, marine pollution, food security (relying on imports for over 80% of food), energy security (dependence on external sources), and community breakdown due to land being purchased by developers.

What integrated system is being developed in Palau to address its challenges?

An advanced circular system based on the Minamisanriku model is being developed in Palau. This system aims to address waste management, food and energy security, and community relations through a combination of resource circulation and cooperative efforts.

How does the speaker envision the future of sustainable communities?

The speaker envisions a future where sustainable communities are self-sufficient, with circular systems for utilizing natural resources. The goal is to create such communities worldwide, fostering cooperation and cultural exchange while reducing dependency on external resources.

What was the significance of the visit from the governor of Palau's largest state to Minamisanriku?

The visit marked the beginning of a global exchange of ideas on sustainable community development. The governor and Minamisanriku's mayor exchanged ideas and discussed future collaborations for sustainable practices.

What global lesson does the speaker hope to impart through the story of Minamisanriku and Palau?

The speaker hopes to impart that the future of communities lies in cooperation, sustainable resource management, and the sharing of values. By moving away from resource scrambling and community breakdown, a path toward happiness, cooperative relations, and shared prosperity can be achieved.