Relay Column
Tackling with POPs* Using Simplified Assay Method for Dioxins
"There is no Borders to Environmental Problems" - Hiyoshi's Overseas Business Expansion
The opening ceremony of the joint laboratory with the National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, China.
Hiyoshi Corp. is soon celebrating its 60th anniversary. Under the philosophy of "there is no border to environmental problems," we have made international contributions mainly in developing countries for nearly 30 years since the 1980's.
Especially in recent years, we have focused on spreading CALUX® Bioassay, a simplified assay method, as part of POPs measures. We introduced the method in 1998, which was then approved as an official method in Japan in 2005. While dioxin issues have been almost resolved in Japan, in developing countries it has grown into serious contamination problems around incineration and dumping sites.
However, no sufficient measures have been taken due to economic and technological constraints, thereby causing growing concerns about damage to the health of residents living in the vicinity of those facilities. In 2007, we carried out a project to support the POPs capacity development program in India under the OECC Environmental Project Finding Study, utilizing our past experience as well as a method that is more economical and simpler than conventional methods. Also, we have established a joint laboratory with the National Research Center for Environmental Analysis and Measurement, China, so that the method can be approved as an official one in China. We are dedicated to deal with global environmental issues through the technology of measuring.
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*POPs are materials that are persistent, highly accumulative, potentially moving over long distances and harmful (to human health and ecosystems).
Japanese Youth Participation in International Negotiations
A picture taken at Model COP
Climate Youth Japan(CYJ) is a Japanese youth organization that works on climate change involving Japanese young activists. CYJ was established in 2010 after COP15 where Japanese youths worked together for the first time and now has a vision of creating a fair and sustainable society with the following four missions -1.To raise young people's awareness on climate change, 2. To build a network of young activists, 3. To speak up on behalf of young generations, 4. To cultivate young activists at an international level. Under those missions, CYJ organizes workshops, sends statements to ministries, dispatches youths to COP and so on.
Currently, some activists participated in COP19 in Warsaw for the first time. They hosted Model COP together with Asian youths and learned a lot during COP about how COP works. At the same time they got motivated to work even harder to make a change in those complex climate change issues including negotiations.
Throughout those activities over the past four years after its foundation, we have realized what important roles youths can play at national and international levels. It may seem impossible for youths to make a good influence to negotiations, but we believe it is possible. We will continue to work hard to make a change for our brighter future.
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