Global COE Program - Kyoto University - In Search of Sustainable Humanosphere in Asia and Africa

Date: January 20, 2009 (Tue.) 14:00～16:00
Venue: 331, the 3rd of floor, Inmori Memorial Hall

Presentation:
1. Shuhei Kimura (G-COE Assistant Professor)
"Natural Disaster and Networks for Life in Istanbul, Turkey"

2.Makoto Nishi (G-COE Researcher)
"A Virus, Democracy and Sustainable Society"

【Record of Activity】
First, Shuhei Kimura gave a presentation looking at the linkage between humanosphere and geosphere by tracing back the history of Istanbul. In response, opinions were raised that taking into account the time constraints on the presentation, the threads of the story could have been made simpler and more specific. In addition to thatparticular, there was a comment that residents’ organizations were difficult to understand unless figures and the structure of those organizations were presented more specifically and clearly. Another participant suggested that further examination was needed on the frequently used term “linkage,” and that when talking in Japan about Turkish earthquakes, the distance from case in Japan needed to be considered in an appropriate way. Also, it was proposed that at the coming international conference the presenter further clarify the following arguments: (1) various forms of knowledge that differ from science (are not aligned with it) are necessary, and are actually emerging, and (2) linkages among people can help their well-being if such linkages follow the mechanism of the geosphere.

Comments in response to the presentation by Makoto Nishi were that it was difficult to understand how comparing the “individual approach” and “risk approach” to HIV/AIDS related to the issue of democracy, the main theme of his presentation. Another participant stated that it was necessary to clarify which of the two cases that were presented as local residents’ efforts against HIV/AIDS, (i.e. the premarital checkup campaign and the “cultivating the gardens and fields of neighboring house” campaign) would fall into either of the two approaches. In addition, one questioner stated that if the presenter dealt with the topics of democracy and sustainability, it would be inadequate for the presenter to only appeal the need to support the livelihood of people living with HIV, and that the reporter needed to define who should assume what responsibility for the HIV/AIDS issue, and furthermore, what policy or schemes he hoped to propose.

(Shuhei Kimura, Makoto Nishi)