What about cases that are not sent to a jury? Most charges are dismissed by plea bargain. In this way, prosecutors can dispense with the long process of investigation and trial while the defendant will have the sentence reduced accordingly. As an ultimate case for such, a serial killer named Gary Ridgway (commonly known as Green River Killer) who allegedly slaughtered more than 48 people got his death penalty commuted to life imprisonment after plea bargain in 2003 at the King County Superior Court, Washington.

    Should a criminal commit an aggravated first-degree murder, he or she is likely to be sentenced to death even if the victim is only one. It is quite illogical then that a serial killer could escape from death penalty.

    It is true that investigation will take enormous time ad labor if the victims total as many as 48 or more. Bereaved families would prefer having the case probed as soon as possible to spending many months and years for a trial. If they could do without a trial, it would save a lot of costs, which is beneficial to the citizens as taxpayers. In case of Ridgway who was certain to be guilty and sentenced to death in a trial, he might have calculated the odds that he could stand a fair chance of avoiding death penalty by fully cooperating with the prosecutors for investigation. Here, a very weird win-win relationship was created.

    The verdict delivered to Ridgway was 48 life sentences without parole. It means living a life 48 times in prison. To the question if such judgment makes any sense, a prosecutor in charge replied that it was decided according to the rules. Even if it is unrealistic and physically impossible, the judicial authorities take a stance that the decision is made legally based on theoretical measurement of a crime.

    Incidentally, 29 percent of the American citizens do the jury duty at least once in lifetime (Note 3). Average daily allowance for jury service is US$22, just a quarter of a normal wage (Note 4); therefore, it is a duty that could only be accomplished by service-minded people.

    The government casts a wider net to collect necessary jurors taking account of a certain number of dropouts. The estimated number of people summoned each year for jury service is 32 million, representing 15 percent of the adult population. Majority of them are screened out eventually because they are found unqualified, or cannot be reached as their whereabouts are unknown, or by some other reasons. Therefore, the number of jurors impaneled each year is estimated at 1.5 million (Note 5).

    In principle, jurors are supposed to be the nationals of the United States. However, the government summons citizens indiscriminately regardless of their nationalities. As a matter of fact, the writer, a Japanese national, has got a notice ordering to report for jury service four times in his seven years' residence in the States. Every time it arrives, he excuses himself from the duty on the ground that he is not an American citizen, but it appears that no amendment has been made to the record so far. Does it going to happen over again?

Written and Photographed  by Masafumi Mori

Note 1 - Crime in the United States 2008 by FBI
Note 2, 4, 5 - State-of-the-States Survey of Jury Improvement Efforts: A Compendium Report, April 2007 by National Center for State Courts
Note 3 - Jury Service: Is Fulfilling Your Civic Duty a Trial, 2004 by HarrisInteractive

    In contrast with Japan where the Lay Judge System has not been much welcomed, many British citizens rejoice at being selected as jurors, saying, "Look! I've got it." Such a sentiment may be hard to understand for Japanese people who are accustomed to leave national affairs to the governments, but British people appear to be happy about being afforded an opportunity to sit in judgment on an evil on behalf of the entire citizens. During the course of deliberation, it happens that jurors fail to agree on the interpretation of assertions made by the plaintiff and defendant and therefore have heated discussion. In such circumstances, debating skills cultivated since the days of primary school mean a lot. Every juror, regardless of social status and educational background, expresses his or her opinion squarely without heeding others' reaction, which is quite surprising to the Japanese who are reluctant to be too much self-assertive and have respect for total accord.

                                               On the other hand, there are some who are happily excited with the juror assignment as they would be away from work for two full weeks, rather than being motivated by the duty. Courts are normally located in the urban area, so they plan shopping and sightseeing to heart's content after the end of the day's work. Employers are obliged to give a necessary leave of absence when their employees are appointed to a jury. The employees are not paid during the period but receive from the government the necessary expenses and an allowance of £30.64 to £61.28 per day (equivalent of 4,350 yen to 8,700 yen at the conversion rate of 142 yen for a pound). Mothers nursing a child get their baby-sitting charges covered.

  Thus, people driven by a sense of duty and people of shrewd and calculating type equally return to workplace with a sort of fulfillment, saying, "It was a worthwhile experience." I wonder if the day ever comes to Japan when the Lay Judge System is firmly established among the citizens in this manner.

Written and Photographed  by Nao Fukuoka

The first contact between Australia and Japan was recorded in 1831, when the Australian whaling ship Lady Rowena landed on the eastern shores of Hokkaido after being struck by heavy storms for weeks. According to historical records of this event from both Australia and Japan, the Australians fired guns at the Japanese and destroyed a village. In 1854, a Japanese intellectual, Shoin Yoshida, wrote in A Prison Notebook that "it would be most profitable for Japan to colonise Australia". Half a century later in Australia, a Japanese exclusion bill was considered as soon as the Commonwealth of Australia was created in 1901. Japan was a major influence on Australian defence policy until the end of the WWII, and even today, we are still ironically "fighting" over the whaling issue almost 180 years since our first contact.

Australia stopped whaling in 1979 as whale oil was no longer a profitable commodity, and started to focus on working towards the protection and conservation of whales. The international moratorium on commercial whaling came into force in 1986, but Japan decided to continue its whaling in the name of scientific "research" despite international criticism. Hundreds of whales are still killed in the Southern Ocean every year by the Japanese, and this upsets many Australians who want to protect these huge marine mammals for a range of environmental and ethical reasons.

In 2004, the animal welfare activist organisation, Humane Society International, made a legal claim that Japan's whaling in the Southern Ocean is illegal according to Australian domestic law. In January last year, the Japanese whaling company Kyodo Sempaku, which conducts whaling in the Southern Ocean under their government's supervision, was ordered by the Australian Federal Court to stop killing whales in Australian Antarctic waters. However, the judge also admitted that no realistic enforcement of this order can be made "unless the respondent's vessels enter Australia", since Australia's territorial claim over the Southern Ocean is disputable according to The Antarctic Treaty (1961). This treaty formalises an international agreement to prevent any permanent human settlement in Antarctica, hence no government can enforce its authority there or in the surrounding ocean.

On the contrary, Japan has a much stronger legal justification to support its whaling in the Southern Ocean. The International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (1948) allows Japan to conduct whaling for research, and this activity may include the killing of whales, so long as the whaling contains a degree of scientific research. Furthermore, Japan is legally permitted to use any by-products of their research, such as whale meat. Thus, Australia is legally powerless to stop Japan's whaling even though the Federal Court called Japan's activities illegal.

This summer, Japan will continue whaling in the Southern Ocean. Australians will express anger - politicians, environmentalists, citizens and media will all point an accusing finger at Japan. We may never be true friends... however, it is advantageous for us to cooperate rather than continue to fight. Australia and Japan are already isolated in the Asia-Pacific region due to the fact that both are not typical "Asian" countries. Regionalism is the global trend of the 21st century, so it would be a shame if the whaling issue were to continue to weaken our vital diplomatic relationship.

Written By Tets Kimura

    In the United States, doors are open to the women who seek job opportunities with drive and determination, and there are many successful women who have improved their career by starting unique business with ingenuity.

    Cathy Cardenas, once engaged in accounting in Boise, Idaho, came up with an idea of new business called "Designer Home Tending." The job is to give a facelift to a house left unsold in the wake of the housing bubble bust for leasing it at a knockout rent for the time being. This scheme is beneficial to three parties in that the owner can keep the house well-maintained at no cost, while the tenant can use it at less than half of the market price until the owner finds a buyer. The Designer gets a share of the rent. This trading system, well-devised to meet the requirements of each, is becoming popular in the big cities on the West Coast like Los Angels and Las Vegas.

Website of Designer Home Tending
http://designerhometending.com

    Anya Orlanska, with a 10-year career as a hotel clerk, has become a head of Sleep Concierge at The Benjamin, one of the luxurious hotels in Manhattan, New York. The Sleep Concierge is a new job at a hotel that provides assistance and advice to ensure good sleep of the staying guests, and its services include an offer of options to select from 12 different types of pillows that suit to their needs, and arrangements of aromatherapy or milk and cookies on their request. The services are in high repute as the hotel is carrying on a campaign whereby guests are guaranteed a refund of room rate if they could not sleep. Orlanska is now a high-profile employee at the hotel.

Website of The Benjamin
http://www.thebenjamin.com

    Criket Azima, who earned a master's degree in nutrition education at New York University, conceived an idea of performing a cooking class named "Creative Kitchen" by integrating cooking and education. While chopping up vegetables into dices, she puts a question to the pupils, "How many faces does a cube have?" This is one of the elements of geometry. While cooking Mexican food, she asks, "Can you spot Mexico on the map?" This is an approach to geography. Parents are happy because their children get an interest in various kinds of vegetable and start loving them for food. Azima is invited to schools and events every now and then to demonstrate the Creative Kitchen. She gives advice to the women who are puzzled and undecided in career, "Find a way to incorporate the things you love into your career choice."

Website of Creative Kitchen
http://www.thecreativekitchen.com/

Incidentally, the greatest number of women (3.17 million) takes on a job as secretaries and administrative assistants. The supreme position of them all is represented by Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State. So far as Clinton and other "pretty women at work" are concerned, they have a brilliant future before them.

Written and Photographed  by Masafumi Mori

In the United Kingdom, cases of sexual harassment by female managers to male employees occasionally get into the news. The women's liberation movement in the nation has roots back in the 18th century. Even in the Victorian era when the social system was deemed feudalistic, women's position in society was considered fairly high compared to that of Japan. For instance, once a mother decided dinner starts at six, the husband and the children had to be ready sitting at the dining table. If they were late for the time, they were served no meal, or otherwise cold dishes at best. It was inconceivable for the mother to recook the meal according to family members' convenience like in Japan.

    From Japanese point of view, such practice in Britain appears to symbolize the strong status of housewives and mothers and the respect they gain, putting them in easier circumstances for working outside if they wish so. To British women, however, it simply means that they are handling the authority only in the limited domain of "the household ruled by women." It is said that, even today when female presidents and managers number as many as 20 times more than those in Japan, chances are still slim for them to be fully accredited for their accomplishments in comparison with men. Moreover, social institutions for child rearing are not fulfilling.

    Now dual-income families are quite common in the urban areas. Those who can get assistance from their parents for child-raising are fortunate but scarce. If they have babies, their options for nursing them would be making use of child-care center, or leaving them with the care of "child minder," or calling for "nanny," or asking "au pair" to live with the family. Should they send a child to the child-care center, the remuneration would amount to 60,000 to 200,000 Japanese yen per month or minimum 1,200 yen per hour. When a child reaches the age to go to primary school, it is mandatory for the guardian or its surrogate to escort the child to and from the school until the day of graduation. Further, what is called "after-school care program" is entrusted with private firms and costs 2,000 yen for three-hour care.

    Despite such a hard situation, many families opt for two incomes because of economic reasons or a desire to retain wife's career; some of them eke out a lifestyle in which either of the couple becomes a part-timer, or husband and wife work in different timeline. As for sharing the burden of child-care, there is little gender bias left these days. It is assumed that the historic women's liberation movement has changed people's perception in this regard over time.

Written and Photographed  by Nao Fukuoka

Indeed, it is difficult to maintain a balance between work and home life. Especially for women, the responsibilities they are expected to assume at home are greater than those of men, despite being in an era of women's social advancement. Many Australian women believe that it is almost impossible to be a good mother while successfully climbing the corporate ladder. Despite the equal opportunity laws, good old "glass ceiling" has not been removed from society, still bothering many Australian female workers. However, this is not necessarily why they choose to stay at home.

Australian Women in their twenties and thirties who are becoming mothers today often missed their mothers as children, as their mothers were the first generation to leave the domestic environment. Quite a few women think that they do not want their children to go through a similar experience. They are learning from the negative examples set by their mothers, who had to fulfil household duties under tight schedules while coping with the pressure of work stress. In fact, two thirds of Australian women in the Y generation (currently between 18 and 29 years old) admit that they would rather lead a lifestyle comparable to 50 years ago. If their financial situation would allow it, these women would prefer to take care of household chores such as cleaning, washing and cooking, saying "If I don't stay home, who will raise my children?"

However, this attitude has been met by a furious backlash from the generation who had to fight to gain women's rights. Feminists question why only women have to give up their roles in society; to give up being independent human beings. Women confined in a "domestic cage" are not able to live their lives independently. Feminists say the opposite to the Y generation mothers; "What will they do when they reach their fifties and their children leave home? They still have 40 years of their lives left."

In short, the reality is that the last few generations of women in Australia have not been able to find a common ground on this issue.

Still, when viewed from a different perspective, it can be said that today's Australian mothers have options to choose from. In their grandmothers' time, women simply had to stay at home. In their mothers' time, women left home thanks to the feminist movement. Today, after all these years, mothers are now able to choose their own way of life.

Written and Photographed  by Tets Kimura

In the past several years, in particular, an increasingly larger number of women are taking up important posts or successfully building huge wealth as entrepreneurs. They are now free to fall in love and marry the partners of their choice. Steps in life such as a marriage and giving birth are no longer barriers for pursuing careers and many women must be enjoying living in the present, where people can freely "earn money."

Nevertheless, the bond linking clan and family members remains very strong and there are still traditions that were fostered through a long history, despite the changes that have radically altered social systems.

One example is the unnaturally high birth rate of baby boys compared with baby girls, which is 120 to 100. The male-dominated tradition that is represented by the idea that boys should succeed families is deeply rooted in Chinese society, even today. The moment one gets married, a mother-in-law will pressure her son's wife to give birth to a boy. Under the Chinese government's policy of one child per family, giving birth is basically a once-in-a-lifetime event. Even if they are not really into it, women try to preselect the sex of the baby even before conceiving, so that they will not have to put up with the complaints from their mother-in-law, which are likely to continue after giving birth. As a result, it is not uncommon for babies to be aborted if they are determined to be female. After giving birth as well, many mother-in-laws will be strict in keeping the family heir under control and keep butting in with unsolicited advice and criticism in respect to the education and attitudes of children. Despite the improved status of women, there is always a "Xi Taihou" (Empress Dowager) reigning supreme.

The common practice in China is that mother-in-laws nag their daughter-in-laws and wives nag their husbands. Chinese families are definitely gynecocracies. It is quite common for women to loudly shout abusive words at men when quarrelling. Nowadays, some women declare without hesitation that they "do not cook at home," while men help with household chores and taking care of children. Three months after giving birth, women will return to their jobs and work as actively as before. Increasingly greater numbers of women are earning higher salaries than their husbands. Although traces of a "male-dominated society" still remain in families, husbands can no longer contradict their wives in real life.

When I get in a taxi, some drivers say, "Are you Japanese? Japanese women are good, aren't they? They don't seem to get angry so much. My wife keeps nagging me day after day about our family, my wages and so on" and their complaints about their wives are endless.

Meanwhile, I hear liberated women in China say, much to my surprise, "If only my husband was more capable, I could enjoy being a full-time housewife." I wonder where these women in China are headed with such a dream.

Written by Hideyo Hayashi

Of course, the hotels close to Times Square are expensive. According to hotels.com, the average rate for a room on October 1, when the number of tourists increases from the fall until New Year's Eve, ranges from $250 to $350 per night. At around the same time of the year, a room at the Hilton Times Square costs $280 per night whereas the Hilton Tokyo charges $220. The rate is 25% higher, even in comparison with a big city like Tokyo. You have to be wary, however, because the level of service offered by hotel employees at the Hilton Times Square is only half as good as that offered at the Hilton Tokyo.

You should also be careful when shopping at the numerous nameless electronics stores in Times Square. Some stores are selling miniDV cassettes, which usually cost less than $10 each, for more than $30 a piece. Overseas tourists with a poor sense of the value of a dollar might casually buy one and be surprised to find out the cost after calculating it later. As such stores distinctly display "No Refund" signs, they won't accept complaints after the fact, unless it happens to be an exceptionally "conscientious" retailer.

Another tourist destination that is as popular as New York City is Las Vegas, which welcomes 38 million people every year. A total of 40 million hotel rooms are filled annually and demand for business conventions in Las Vegas is also strong. As far as data provided by hotels.com is concerned, room rates on October 1 start at $30 and even many rooms at luxury hotels are less than $150. Having said that, be aware that you will end up having to spend a lot of money for nighttime activities.

While the number of tourists visiting Las Vegas has decreased slightly over the last two years, Washington D.C., the U.S. capital, is making a good showing. Situated around the National Mall, which has 25 million visitors per year, are Capitol Hill, the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial and 16 museums run by the Smithsonian Institution. As none of these attractions charge admission, the number of visitors is increasing during the current economic depression. Partly aided by President Obama's popularity, Washington D.C. is the hottest tourist attraction in America at the moment!

The Smithsonian Institution's website:
http://www.si.edu/

Written by  Masafumi Mori

The low-cost Irish airline Ryanair, flying between various European destinations, is well-known for its frequent sale of "limited time only 1 pound (approximately 150 yen) one way bargain flights." In reality, additional charges such as booking and luggage fees are added and the actual cost ends up being at least 30 pounds or so one way. Nevertheless, it is still far cheaper than a major airline and people rush to buy these bargain flights.
Like Ryanair, rival EasyJet also only accepts bookings online and the earlier you purchase a ticket, the lower the fare. As both airlines cut back on costs to the extreme, there are no in-flight meal services and all drinks cost money. The flight attendants are little different to a typical shop clerk. The biggest risk with discount flights is that they tend to be delayed and there are no back-up flights to switch to in case of problems. Flights delayed by fourteen hours and passengers having to spend the whole night at the airport are everyday occurrences.

Although Japanese people may wonder if having a holiday is worth it if you have to go through such hassles, the British craving for sunshine boggles the mind (maybe because of the UK's unpredictable climate). The typical British idea of a holiday is to spend two weeks or so leisurely sunbathing on a beach in some country to the south. To achieve this, people start planning their holiday a year in advance and look for cheap ways to travel. Families that enjoy camping domestically are mostly middle class and tend to be very conscious of environmental issues;　consequently they choose to stay in the UK rather than travel overseas.

However, it is quite difficult to travel around the UK just using public transport. In many cases, trains are more expensive than airplanes and even environmentally-conscious families tend to use their own cars when travelling.

Written by Nao Fukuoka

Across the Pacific in Japan, discount carriers that virtually did not exist in the last century are now offering flights. I myself took advantage of such a carrier when I took a domestic flight in Japan this January. It cost me less than 10,000 yen to fly from Fukuoka to Tokyo's Haneda Airport. A Japanese friend of mine was surprised to learn how much I paid.

Still, this cannot be called a "discount" when compared with global standards. I once flew from Adelaide to Melbourne, which is about the same distance between Tokyo and Fukuoka, for 20 Australian dollars. On another occasion, a three-hour flight from London to Athens was only 16 pounds. A ticket for an eight-hour flight from Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur was available for 92 Australian dollars. I can list countless other examples. It is clear therefore that a 10,000 yen flight between Tokyo and Fukuoka is by no means a discount.

While things are in such a stage in Japan, JetStar and Cebu Pacific have already landed the country and are selling discount tickets for international flights. A one-way ticket from Tokyo to Queensland (Northeast Australia) was sold for 12,000 yen during a sale, and a return ticket between Osaka and Manila was available for less than 5,000 yen from Cebu Pacific during a promotional period. There is also a rumour that AirAsiaX will enter the Japanese market next year. Aside from domestic flights, it is logical to conclude that Japanese consumers benefit in respect to international flights.

Nonetheless, these discount flights are not popular among Japanese passengers, despite their low prices. You are charged for terrible in-flight meals. You have to pay to watch a movie and there is an extra charge for luggage. In short, the service is poor and there are many shortcomings.

However, the lack of service compared with full-service flights is what makes discount flights what they are. In the 21st century, for people like us who live in developed countries, air travel is nothing more than a form of public transportation that moves us from point A to point B. Flying is no longer a special event. Taking a flight is no different from catching a bus and I cannot help but wonder what people are expecting from flights, especially discount flights. Aeroplanes aren't flying boutique hotels, although if you prefer luxurious service, you have a choice to pay more and book a business or even first class seat.

Ten years ago, Qantas and Ansett Australia dominated the skies over the southern continent and beyond. Tickets departing for the same destination at the same time were sold for the same price. The competition that consumers expected was practically non-existent. Then, discount flights breathed the air of competition into the market - which is necessary for a healthy capitalist society. To cite an example of an international route between Australia and Japan, both Singapore Airlines and Malaysia Airlines decided to lower prices for their flights via their hub airports following the launch of JetStar.

When travelling by air, I don't expect much. If it is a day flight, carrying a paperback will do. If it is a night flight, I will just tuck myself under a blanket and sleep. I am a frequent flyer of discount carriers.

Written by Tets Kimura

Most people in China take part in group tours when traveling inside the country. Not only do they have little knowledge of how to travel, but sightseeing spots are often inconveniently located and are hard to reach. Likewise, Chinese travelers usually travel as part of a group when going overseas, since applying for a visa can be a cumbersome task. The number of Chinese tourists is expected to rise, however, as the ban on individual travel was lifted from July 2009 for destinations in Japan, although exclusively for wealthy travelers with more than 250,000 yuan (approximately 3.5 million yen) of annual income residing in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

With that in mind, I reflected on how the typical Chinese person travels. In particular, what is it like to travel by air in China?

During the Lunar New Year or consecutive holidays in China, airports are extremely crowded. Since most airports do not have group check-in counters, individual and group travelers are all mixed in the same line and irritation and frustration boils over among individual travelers as a result of the lengthy check-in wait times. Gate changes - even after you have received your boarding pass - are an everyday occurrence. One of our Japanese clients missed a flight departing from Beijing for Japan because he missed the announcement and did not realize that the gate had been changed.

 At the gate, there will be a long line of people waiting to board. Many Chinese are eager to rush to their seats and secure space to stow their hand luggage. Quarrels often arise between passengers and the airport staff that measure the size of a passenger's luggage and fights even breakout among passengers over the use of the luggage compartments. Even after boarding, one can't avoid the noise made by the large number of tourists travelling in groups and arguing over seat assignments, not to mention passengers refusing to move from somebody else's seat. You will be amazed to find people around you making phone calls or sending text messages after settling down in their seats.

The moment the aircraft lands, you will hear three kinds of sounds: "bang, clang and beep." As the aircraft lands, people take off their seat belts and everybody switches on their mobile phones. People start making phone calls as soon as they land and start emptying the luggage compartments before the aircraft comes to a stop. They then rush to be the first to get out of the aircraft. I once witnessed a passenger pulling out his luggage and dashing from his seat to the exit the moment the aircraft landed. Although a relaxed attitude is supposed to be a virtue in Chinese society, maybe people are still haunted by memories of harsh days gone by when it comes to vehicles.

The travel habits of the Chinese have yet to progress beyond the beginner level. I wonder what they will aim for next.

As a result, the number of Americans who only think of the band Green Day when they hear the word "green" has decreased - well, I am not sure about that - but the word "green collar" is often used these days in the same manner as blue collar and white collar are used. Green collar refers to workers involved in environmental industries, such as alternative energy or recycling businesses.

According to a report released by a research organization called the Pew Charitable Trusts on June 10, the clean-energy economy grew 9.1% during the ten years between 1998 and 2007 and generated 777,000 jobs. The increase rate of employment during the same ten-year period surpassed the overall increase rate of employment in 38 of the U.S. states and Washington, D.C. Although the number of newly created jobs accounts only for 0.5% of the total, people can't help but see it as a ray of hope in times where one hears words like "bankruptcy" and "unemployment" from the media day after day.

Under such circumstances, the Solar Decathlon, a unique event hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, will be held in October 2009 in Washington, D.C. The event brings together twenty teams nominated to represent colleges and universities from around the U.S., Puerto Rico, Canada, Spain and Germany. The teams will bring the houses they developed to the National Mall in Washington D.C. and compete to have them selected as the ultimate energy-efficient house utilizing solar or wind power. Contests will be held in the ten categories of Architecture, Market Viability, Engineering, Lighting Design, Communications, Comfort Zone, Hot Water, Appliances, Home Entertainment and Net Metering, from which the title "Decathlon" seems to have been derived.

The thing that concerns me the most is the sense of temperature of a typical Caucasian person. Once there was a fierce battle between a number of Japanese workers and a Caucasian worker in an office that I used to work in over the temperature setting of the air conditioning. The temperature that a typical Caucasian person thinks is just right is too low for most Japanese people. To begin with, the commonly recommended temperature for energy conservation is said to be 25 °C (78 °F), which is still too low for most Japanese, who try to maintain the temperature at 27 to 28 °C. I suppose that there is nothing anyone can do about innate predispositions to temperature.

One example of this is the country's poorly functioning recycling system. It comes as a shock to the Japanese, who are so used to a waste collection system that strictly separates waste. Indeed it was only a few years ago that separate waste collection started in Britain, although it is totally voluntary. Moreover, waste is only separated into "recyclable" and "non-recyclable" rubbish. Things such as glass bottles, plastic bottles and paper are all randomly thrown in together, the sight of which almost makes me cry with disappointment. "This isn't 'separate' waste collection!" All the waste is destined to be shipped overseas to countries such as Thailand for a fee. While it is believed that the garbage is sorted when it arrives at its destination, who really knows?

Most British people say that global warming is a serious problem, but they never indicate what they are doing about it, just quipping that "The government must set stricter regulations" or "Companies need to be more socially responsible." Although they boast that they bring their own shopping bags with them, this is mostly because supermarkets have started charging for plastic bags. If the government announces a plan for building a wind power station as an alternative source of energy, candidate sites all rush to wage opposition campaigns. They claim that "The beautiful scenery of my home town will be lost." As represented by the expression "Not in my backyard," when it comes to the environmental consciousness of the British people, they are nothing more than opportunistic.

Although there are some people who have lead thoroughly self-sufficient "hippy" lifestyles, the people who are contributing the most to environmental issues are often those who do not loudly make a fuss about "eco" living. For a long time, inventor Trevor Baylis, who has even been honored by the Queen, has been developing gadgets that don't require a power source, such as a windup radio that you power by hand. His latest invention is a windup media player. The device is gaining popularity because of the convenience of being able to play MP3s and video without the need to recharge it. If 25% of the iPod users around the world were to change to this device, it is said that harmful battery waste would be reduced by 20%.The country seems to be in need of more people who not only talk about the issues, but also actually do something useful about them.

It was during this period when I was travelling in Europe that people in Australia started using so-called eco bags. After I returned to Australia, I started carrying eco bags too.

On the 4th of May 2009, South Australia became the first state in Australia to essentially ban plastic bags. The move is still a few years behind Europe, but the ban will save roughly 400 million plastic bags a year. I thought every South Australian would support this move. However, according to a survey conducted by the Advertiser, a local daily newspaper, almost 60% oppose the new regulation.

In the Advertiser's article on the 5th of May 2009, there were even concerns over the number of shoppers complaining at checkouts, and in some cases, people who didn't bring their own shopping bags left stores without buying anything, rather than spending a dollar to purchase an eco bag. Although Shop Distributive and Allied Employees' Association secretary Peter Malinauskas said most consumers supported the move, there are no grounds to confirm that claim.

After all, many human beings may live a very selfish existence. People can and often will put themselves before the environment. Then, another thought came to mind. In Australia, public opinion is at least in favour of not using plastic bags. For example, you will never come across people using plastic bags for shopping on Australian TV, just as you will never see a tobacco commercial.

In Japan, plastic bags are used as props in TV shows such as dramas, and I have never heard of so-called intellectuals discussing the problem of how plastic bags are used on TV, and how it affects society. However, Japan does not always ignore environmental issues. The Japanese government just launched the "eco-point" system on the 15th of May 2009. Under the new system, people who purchase energy-efficient home appliances and television sets that can receive terrestrial digital broadcasts will receive eco-points, which can then be exchanged for other products. Japanese rules for sorting recyclable domestic waste including paper and plastic are set out in extreme detail and there is probably a lot that Australians could learn from government-led environmental measures in Japan. When it comes to attitudes toward the environment driven by public opinion, however, Japan is far behind Australia, which is in turn way behind Europe.

Until around 30 years ago, it was common to go grocery shopping with your own shopping bag in Australia, just as it was in Japan. Turning back the hands of time may be easier in Australia, where things do not change as rapidly.

There is no doubt that a number of rivers in China are polluted and sometimes domestic wastewater and industrial sewage pours into the rivers without being properly treated. As for soil pollution, 20,000,000 ha of agricultural land, which is one fifth of the total land area of China, is said to be contaminated with chemicals according to a Chinese environmental news article. Accordingly, the first question that needs to be asked pertains to agricultural products, rather than agricultural chemicals. Concerns over "made in China" foods and cosmetics are serious, not only in foreign countries, but within China as well.

Photochemical smog is an everyday occurrence in urban areas in China. Beijing has a continuous spell of days without seeing a blue sky, particularly during the summer. Despite the sluggish economy, car sales have been increasing in China and more than 1,000 new cars are registered every day in Beijing alone. As a result of generous policies to expand domestic demand from farming villages, the number of car owners is also increasing in rural areas.

It is not that China is neglecting environmental issues for the sake of economic development, however. Environmental regulations are becoming increasingly strict. Still, the collusive relationships between local governments and companies remain strong, making it difficult for conditions to improve. In 2008, the National People's Congress of China finally decided to strengthen corporate liability regulations for pollution and blacklist the names of companies that breach regulations. This blacklist contains some familiar names of foreign-based companies.

Developed countries bear much of the responsibility for turning China into the "world's factory," taking advantage of its lenient environmental standards, low cost and low wages. In order to produce the goods that we casually use every day, something had to be sacrificed. While consumers are enjoying the convenience and economic benefits, there are likely people who can no longer drink the water from local rivers.

In recent years, treatment technologies for polluted water and waste disposal, drainage facilities and devices for measuring pollutants have become booming environmental businesses. Even the polluted water and contaminated materials of China can be a business gold mine. China is also facing the problem of desertification and a number of its rivers are drying up, which is causing water shortages. Although these issues may present business opportunities for foreign companies that hope to sell environmental technologies, they are nothing but "businesses" and fail to deal with the aftermath.

This issue surrounding these companies isn't something that we can easily deal with, but after actually living n China, there are a few things I thought of in terms of how we live. The number of foreign residents living in big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai is enormous indeed. It is quite likely that it is the foreign residents who are causing the deterioration of the environment in urban areas by using cars to go everywhere, relying on air conditioning, consuming too much water and producing such a large volume of garbage.

There is a big difference in terms of living conditions and customs between the local people and foreign residents. Foreign residents, of course, need to maintain their own hygiene standards to a certain degree in order to ensure their health. Looking at the Chinese maids employed by these foreign households, however, it is apparent that the maids maintain a "LOHAS" lifestyle.

Most foreign residents, including expatriates, live in luxurious condos or serviced apartments that are far more expensive to rent than those in Japan and their lifestyle is quite different from that of the typical Chinese citizen.

In China, the heat is turned on and off at the same time for each building. In Beijing, heating starts on November 15 and ends on March 15. Many residences housing a number of foreign residents start and finish heating almost one month earlier or later than these set dates. If you live in a Hutong or a traditional single-story house called a Siheyuan on the outskirts of the city, rather than an apartment building, there is no central heating and you can turn on the heat by yourself. Chinese people, however, usually don't turn the heat on unless the temperature of the room drops to around 12 °C in an effort to save on heating costs. Instead, they wear warm underwear such as long johns, move around a lot or eat body-warming foods such as ginger and chestnuts.

Although summer air conditioning usually does not start at the same time, most houses try to cool the air by taking in the natural breeze through open windows, even in Beijing, where the temperature can rise as high as 40 °C during the day. The air conditioning in the stores isn't very strong, either. If you walk around the areas where foreign residents come and go, on the other hand, you are most likely to encounter strong air conditioning. In the evenings, when cool breezes can be felt, Chinese people go for walks with fans in hand and Chinese children can be seen munching cucumbers, which cool the bodies and are good for rehydration.

As can be seen, Chinese people use wisdom to adjust their bodies to the seasons and weather, rather than seek an artificial living environment where one can wear a short-sleeved T-shirt regardless of the season.

The Chinese also detest wasting things and take good care of their belongings. Whatever can be reused, they use it until the very end of its life. After washing cleaning rags, they ring out the water on plants or in the garden. Needless to say, clothing that children have grown out of and simple, reusable packages and snack cans are shared and reused among friends and family without fail. When going out, they carry their own tea leaves and hot water in a thermos. One maid working for a friend of mine doesn't like parchment paper, condemning it as "wasteful," making a reusable straw net for the steaming pot for her. As for food, any edible part, including the guts and feet of the chicken, are all cooked and thoroughly consumed.

In Beijing, where the air is dry, the apartment buildings that the local people live in do not have bath tubs, although they may have showers. Furthermore, many people do not shower every day. When you pass someone or walk among a crowd, some people might smell a little. This is due to the deep-rooted custom of handling water carefully, as water has always been considered precious from ancient times in China, not to mention the fact that water rates are growing increasingly higher because of recent water shortages.

What would happen to the energy and water supplies in China if all of the country's population of 1.2 billion people adopted the same lifestyle as people in the West?

Taxi drivers never leave their cars idling, since it consumes so much gas and is so costly. They always stop their engines while waiting for customers. They even get out of their cars to push them forward by hand when it is necessary to move forward one car length. This scene of taxi drivers going to all this trouble is poignant.

This is how the Chinese live, with thorough energy saving and little waste. Although some of these methods aren't easy to imitate, there are many things that would remind Japanese people of the way things were some decades ago. Now the soil of China even produces products for us. The world is intertwined in a complex manner.