MOTTAINAI TOPICS

We talked directly to school students in France!!

2008.02.25Topics

--Elementary school children in Japan and France exchanged opinions on “3Rs.”--

Children from Strasbourg, France, and children from Itakura-cho, Gumma pref., exchanged opinions on “MOTTAINAI” over internet TV phone on February 1. The city of Strasbourg is the heart of European Union and well known as an environmentally advanced city.


A girl in Saint Jean asked about the difference between Japan and France.

Many of the students from each school had a chance to introduce their local habits and activities of reducing food waste and saving water. They were all excited to learn the differences in cultures.

　The discussion forum was arranged by Toyo University, which promotes a college student exchange program with a university in Strasbourg. The Toyo University called a forum and the idea was materialized by Itakura East Elementary School in Gumma and Saint Jean Elementary School in Strasbourg accepted. More than sixty students of 5th graders from both schools exchanged their opinions by seeing each one’s face on web monitor.

A girl from Saint Jean, asked if Itakura East wastes food. Itakura East students showed a picture of leftovers from school lunch and explained that they would be fed to pigs. Saint Jean students disagreed with the idea of giving eatable leftovers to pigs, but instead they explained that they would give food to poor people.


Ms. Momo Shinomura from Itakura East introduced a Japanese custom of taking a bath in bathtub and explained a merit of getting warm with less water than taking a shower. She has then suggested their taking a bath in a bathtub like in Japan. Students from Saint Jean were showing the interest and saying that it may be a good idea.

　Students from Itakura East had collected MOTTAINAI items for this day and gave their thoughts on what and how things should be handled. One student who gave a presentation on paper waste emphasized that the number of papers used in a day should be controlled in order to prevent the loss of green on the earth.

　And the students from Saint Jean introduced the city’s action of regulating the car entry to the city by constructing rails of the beautifully designed LRT (Light Rail Transit) throughout the city. They expressed their resolve of using bicycles and public vehicles instead of getting on cars.

　The event was introduced in the local TV news and papers in Strasbourg, with headlines such as “A big step toward the change” and “A unique attempt in international exchange.”【Tatsuru Yamamoto】


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