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Minamata 4 (Kumamoto) | NICE-SCC4 | 2019-09-26 - 2019-11-20 | ENVI, AGRI | Age: 18 - 99

 

This workcamp as a part of SCC (Stop Climate Change) project has been organized with NAP (Nobel Application of Plant resources) since 2016. NAP is a local NPO to recover natural ecosystem cycles by promoting the regeneration and rebirth of land & sea forests. Its been hosting workcamps since 1992 that has made a significant impacts to create a forest on the reclaimed land which was built in the process of clearing the mercury from the bay. This forest bears new lives as a symbol of revival and is an important place to pray for the victims of Minamata Disease, as well as for the world to reflect on the effects of modern industrialization. As well as many other parts of Japan, bamboo trees that was originally brought from China by human being, have been severely spreading and damaging the other trees and eco-system. There is also a new project to revitalize the marine environment. There is a lot of rubbish on the beaches but when its clean, there is a lot of sea food such as oysters and sea urchins. Rehabilitation of seaweed forests is taking place since a few years ago.

Work: Volunteers will work for 1) trimming bamboo trees that can increase the whole amount to fix carbon in the forest. 2) Making bamboo charcoal from ones cut in the Work 1 to be used as fuel instead of oil as carbon offset project. 3) Other work such as harvesting paper mulberry trees, citrus fruits, onions, helping to run marine environmental education for middle school students and ocean life investigation (incl. scuba diving!). See also the following link; https://ivsforclimatejustice.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/ico-2018-green-project-4-japan.pdf

Accomodation and food: Volunteers house (Volunteers will borrow the bathrooms of neighbors that creates nice exchange). Volunteers cook by themselves. Sleeping bag is needed! Moved by the bicycle.

Location: Minamata, Kumamoto

Location and Leisure: Southern part of Kumamoto prefecture in Kyushu, one of the four main islands of Japan. It faces a beautiful semi-closed sea called Shiranui-kai and has some gorgeous natural scenery.

Train/Bus station: The nearest airport is Kagoshima airport. *Volunteer needs to arrive in Japan on the day before the project starts and can leave Japan after 22:00 on the last day.

Requirements: *Language : English Local host can speak English. Japanese is also welcomed! Japanese speaking skill is not necessary, but high motivation to learn and speak Japanese language is needed. *Other requirement : High motivation to work hard and interests in environment issues. Respect to the local culture and way of the local organization!

Language: eng,jap

Extra Fee: 0 JPY

*Other activities : Join the local events etc. Sightseeing, short trip (hot springs, famous places here). *Participation fee : No fee