Meguro UNESCO Short News １７８
Report on UNESCO Cultural Lectures
1st“ Lecture by Mr. Masami Hirayama on Thinking about Life and Death,
2nd Lecture by Mr. Juichi Shibusawa on Earth Environment and Society in
21st Century
Sponsored by Meguro Board of Education
Managed by Meguro UNESCO Association
1st Lecture onThinking about Life and Death,
Mr. Masami Hirayama, Professor of Toyo Eiwa Jogakuin University, Psychiatrist
June 6, 2001, Wednesday, 18:30-20:30
Moriy
a Educational Hall
Prof. Hirayama, who teaches study of life and death and that of life
ethics for university students and citizens, spoke about
lHistory of education of life and death
lLife and death of oneself (to live a better life, or to meet a better
death)
lLife and death in connection with oneself and other persons or oneself
and transcendental existence
l Meaning and Method of Reading Therapy.
In addition to the WHO’s definition of ‘health,’ that is,①physical,②psychological,
and③social, he examined ④spiritual health. Based on his clinical experiences,
he claimed that spiritual health inquires of us the meaning of life, told
us how confused an unprepared person becomes when he is forced to face
death, and said that we can learn how a dying person has spent his life
by looking at the visitors’ record. A person at his or her death bed
gets strength to bear physical weakening or pains by having loved one besides
him or her and refusing separation from the beloved ones. He also explained
difference between Japanese and Westerners in the way of thinking about
life and death, including the transplanting of internal organs. His speech
was very interesting.
2nd Lecture onEarth Environment and Society in the 21st Century
Mr. Juichi Shibusawa, Managing Director of Trees and Environment Network
Association (NPO)
June 15, 2001, Friday, 19:00-20:30 Midorigaoka Culture Hall
Mr. Shibusawa explained the relationship between people and nature observed
everywhere in old Japan by citing examples of mountain villages of Shirakawago
in Hida, Uyashinai in Akita, and Okumiomote in Niigata.
He continued to explain the water problem of the Yellow river in China,
the relationship between water and vegetation, and the recycling system
in the Edo period, which easily matches the sewage system in Paris. He
further introduced a model city having functions of recyclingwater and
garbage displayed at Haustenbosin Nagasaki. He moved on to peacefulness
and richness in mind of people of Myanmar which is considered one of
the poorest nations.
He indicated that a solution of the future environment problem depends
fundamentally more on whether or not we can build society which values
such human feelings as tenderness and affection, which the society has
long neglected as something unscientific and emotional, rather than politics,
economics, and sciences. Shouldn’t we give up ‘uncontrollable human desires’
and the ‘abnormal world dominated by money’ of our time and rediscoverinstead
that what we have in mind is the most valuable asset?
In mountain villages and farm villages we still meet many people who are
living lives as he just described. He considers that conveying their words
is important work for the NGO, he concluded.
19th Bazaar of Meguro UNESCO Association
Sales-revenues: ￥164,791 Thank you for your
cooperation
The first bazaar of this year was held at the Meguro UNESCO Preparation
Office. It was held to raise enough funds to make a successful 'International
Peace Concert', planned for the UNESCO 50th Anniversary Commemoration Project
in Tokyo, which will be held this Autumn (9/29).
We made 'Let's listen to good music and invite 500 kids!' our slogan.
Lots of the members played an active part in getting donations and pricing
the items one week before the bazaar. On the day, fortunately the weather
was fine, but unfortunately too hot to have the stalls outdoor as originally
planned. Anyway, it turned out to be a pleasant venue, attracting about
15 visitors everyday to our office.
We'd again like to thank all of you who sent or handed in donations or
did the volunteer work.
Junko Ashida
Chairperson of the International Support Activities Committee
