Interest in the importance of nature and the environment has been increasing throughout the world. In Kyushu, a variety of environmental conservation initiatives closely related to nature are being carried out as well.
At a museum in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka , visitors can learn about the concepts and the history of how the city overcame this pollution, as well as learning about the ingenuity which went into eliminating this pollution to create non-polluted areas.
At the Minamata Disease Municipal Museum, located in the city of Minamata, Kumamoto Prefecture, there are various materials and documents on display about Minamata disease, a dreadful pollution-related illness, as well as individuals who unfortunately experienced it. Visitors here are able to have a profound environmental education distinctive to Minamata.
Besides this, there are facilities working on countless environmental initiatives, including solar power and composting facilities, theme parks equipped with sewage treatment plants for recycling water, the largest geothermal electric power plant in Japan effectively utilizing volcanic activity and waste management facilities which make practical use out of solid and human waste as a resource.
Experiencing learning programs related to ecology and environment, which visitors can only learn about in Kyushu, will provide experience and knowledge in relation to environmental issues. Understanding nature and the environment is the first step in environmental conservation.
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- The speech by someone who experienced Minamata Disease, a pollution disease, makes students think about society and what the students should think about. I want people to look again at the environment, life and human rights found in this area.
- Kita Kyushu City is an "environmental model city" that has conquered serious pollution. It was fun to learn about domestic environmental problems and the history of overcoming pollution using learning through programs, games, videos and panels.