YPD Japan on the move!

Although there are a few members of YPD Japan, we are motivated enough to work together! we bought handicrafts directly from villages of Thailand, some are made by YPD Chiangmai Team. We sold them in Japan to support YPD Chiangmai and YPD Karen. Jean-Joseph(YPD France) living in Japan came help YPD Japan. Everytime we do something, we meet young people to help us. This is the YPD work!
-Mako Higasayama, YPD International Team

Victoria University supports Green World Youth Day

After a series of meetings and consultations, Ms. Selvi Kannan, Events Management Lecturer of Victoria University (VU) committed to take up the Green World Youth Day (GWYD) Program as a project of her students. Seeing potential and importance in talking about water and the need for international solidarity, she encouraged the Green World Youth Day management team to articulate the daily events of the program.

Last Wednesday, February 27, 2008 the Green World Youth Day International Volunteers met Selvi's class and did a general presentation at VU-Sunbury Campus. Afterward, they also met with the marketing team of the same university. After the team's presentation, they commented that the activity is very relevant because it is Green, youthful and international. These are the reasons why VU would very much like to be a part of it.

Widening of solidarities

January 15-19, 2008 - Sydney, Australia. We were welcomed in the best of circumstance and hospitality by the Karen community based in Australia. In such a big city wherein most of the energies of the friends we knew in Sydney were poured into the World Youth Day preparations this July, the Karens were unaffected. They still look upon those days as moments of receiving young people from all over.

We want to make use of the space and opportunity for training and interaction with other young people... We can do it if we are together and we cooperate in this program... Words that can sum up their will to do a post WYD program with the youth. Most of them were leaders in their own rights while they were yet at home. They also found their own ways of continuing their service to other people through their own organisation.

Some of the new arrivals found it difficult to speak English. It is a struggle to find jobs in this context. However, one can truly feel the cohesion of the group. They found a way to support one another. They come to a new country because it is not possible for them to live in safety in their own place and people...

In four days, we met a mixture of people. People with a big heart to accomodate the other. They are the kind who understands our need to care for the earth and look at the young as partners in development.

Green alternatives and some concerns back home

Following the green developments back home, I found out that more and more taxis are using Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPGs) as an alternative fuel. According to reports, it managed to save 50% of their energy consumption.

However, this initiative is not yet fully recognized by the government and might create complications in the future if this is not fully addressed.

I have also seen signs of green hopes budding amidst the simmering heat of Manila. Green architecture is catching up among the ecology-friendly people. This is an initiative that we can fully support.


Another challenge that brought to my attention is the worsening quality of water in the Philippines. This is not an isolated problem for my country. Other countries are not only facing problems on water quality but also water scarcity.

Looks like we have so much work in our hands…

Japan to help Tuvalu

The ABC reports that Japan plans to give $11 billion over the next 5 years to countries suffering from the effects of climate change.

As well as countries like China and Indonesia, Japan plans to assist the Pacific island country of Tuvalu, which is made up of 9 islands totalling 26 square km and with a population of only 11,000.

Tuvalu's people fear that with seas rising their country is destined to disappear and that they will become climate change refugees.

Last year, the previous Australian government of John Howard refused to even meet the Tuvaluans to discuss the issue.

Let's hope the new Rudd government may change its tune on Tuvalu.

Wake up and take a lead: British Anglican bishop

Wolverhampton Anglican Bishop Clive Gregory has published a pastoral letter to his Lichfield diocese in which he warns of environmental "catastrophe" but also says that there is still time to respond.

Quoting St Paul he says that it is time to "wake from sleep".

"Who should be the most committed environmentalists?" he asks.

"Those whose vocation is to be stewards of God's wonderful creation."

Muhammad Yunus on Microcredit

Microcredit pioneer and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Muhammad Yunus from Bangladesh has published a new book Creating a world without poverty which is reviewed in the Austin American Statesman.

In his book Yunus tells the story of the foundation of the Grameen Bank which pioneered microcredit among Bangladeshi women and which has been instrumental in reducing poverty in that country.

More recently, Yunus says, the microcredit industry has extended its focus to "social businesses" that endeavour to chart a middle path between profit making businesses and social welfare charities.

"Such businesses engage in commercial activities with the purpose of creating a social good. Unlike charities, however, they don't depend on contributions — they aim at self-sufficiency, and expand depending on how much they take in," says book reviewer Roger Graham.

Yunus distinguishes the social business approach from that of hybrid businesses that aim for both profit and charity because these "hybrids quickly become for-profit entities, disguising themselves behind a set of good intentions".