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A Japanese who worked on peace by greening the desert -Seiei Toyama(1906-2004)
Global warming is believed to jeopardize food production and lead to desertification, leading many to starvation. Global warming is expected to reduce cultivated land, reduce food and water supplies, and continue to increase the Earth’s population. The effects of global warming are likely to be serious, especially in poor countries where food supply is inadequate.
The “Sahel” zone is a belt-shaped area extending east to west to the south of the Sahel Desert on the African continent, and is becoming increasingly desertified, reducing agricultural land and putting it in a poor economic condition. According to the “Human Development Index 2011” (out of 187 countries), which is an index showing the quality of life and the degree of development of people, Niger in this area is very poor at 186th and Mali at 175th, and Japanese people are also sacrificed. A group claiming to be “Ansar Shariah (supporters of Islamic law)”, to which the perpetrators of the Tunisian case belonged, is also active in these countries.
There was a Japanese who worked on the greening of the desert, thinking that desertification would bring about political and social turmoil. Seiei Toyama (1906-2004) began researching greening in the Engopei Desert in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in 1980, and spent nearly 10 hours every day for 14 years during his 8-9 month stay. In addition to continuing, he traveled all over Japan and energetically raised funds for desert greening.
In 1990, Toyama began to live in the Engopei Desert in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. “Engopei” is a Mongolian word meaning “peace, happiness” and was once a green area. By 1995, one million fast-growing poplar trees had been planted, and by 2001, three million had been planted, his greening activities were successful, and the United Nations awarded him the “Citizen’s Award for Compassion for Humanity.”
A bronze statue of Seiei Toyama built in China. Wearing boots, wearing work clothes, and holding a shovel = Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China (provided by the Japan Desert Greening Practice Association)
“Desert greening is closely related to world peace. One-third of the land is dry, and global warming, population growth and unlimited clearing accelerate desertification,” Toyama said. This has exacerbated problems such as food shortages, so greening the desert and stopping desertification is the best choice to solve these problems. ” “Sand greening is also a tribute to China. In the olden days, Japan learned a lot from China and put it to good use in each field,” he said.
Mr. Toyama’s achievements in desert greening also provide lessons for curbing the violence of “Extremists” and improving Japan-China relations.
Seiei Toyama, who gives guidance on tree planting = Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China
https://www.sannichi.co.jp/article/2018/06/13/00277238
砂漠の緑化によって平和に取り組んだ日本人ー遠山正瑛（1906-2004）
地球温暖化は、食物生産を危うくし、砂漠化によって多くの人々が飢餓状態に陥ると考えられている。温暖化で耕作地が減少し、食糧や水の供給も減少することが予想され、さらに地球の人口は増加し続けている。特に食糧供給が十分ではない貧困国において、地球温暖化の影響は深刻になると思われる。
「サーヘル」地帯はアフリカ大陸のサハラ砂漠の南に東西に広がる帯状の地域で砂漠化が進んで、農耕地が減少し、貧しい経済状態に置かれている。人々の生活の質や発展の程度を示す指標である「人間開発指数２０１１」（１８７カ国中）では、この地域にあるニジェールは１８６位、マリは１７５位と大変貧しく、日本人も犠牲になったチュニジアの事件の実行犯たちが属していた「アンサール・シャリーア（イスラム法の支持者たち）」を名乗るグループもこれらの国々では活動する。
砂漠化が政治的、社会的混乱をもたらすと考え、砂漠の緑化に取り組んだ日本人がいた。遠山正瑛氏（１９０６～２００４年）は、１９８０年から、内蒙古自治区のエンゴペイ砂漠で緑化の研究に取り組み始め、毎年８～９カ月の滞在期間には、毎日１０時間近くにも及ぶ作業を１４年続けた上に、日本では全国を巡り、砂漠緑化のために募金活動を精力的に行った。
１９９０年に、遠山氏は内蒙古自治区のエンゴペイ砂漠に住むようになった。「エンゴペイ」にはモンゴル語で、「平和、幸せ」という意味であり、かつては緑が茂る地域であった。１９９５年までに成長の早いポプラの木が１００万本植えられ、２００１年までには３００万本となり、彼の緑化活動は成功し、国連から「人類に対する思いやり市民賞」を授与された。
遠山氏は、「砂漠の緑化は世界平和に緊密に関わる。地球の３分の１の土地は乾燥しており、地球の温暖化、人口の増加や無制限な開墾などは、砂漠化を加速させ、これによって糧食不足などの問題は深刻化している。だから砂漠を緑化して、砂漠化を止めるのはこれらの問題を解決する上で最善の選択なのだ」と語った。「砂の緑化は中国への恩返しでもある。昔の日本は中国からいろいろと学び、それを各分野で活かした」とも話している。
遠山氏の砂漠の緑化という業績は「イスラム過激派」の暴力の抑制や日中関係の改善にも教訓を与えるものである。
Mr. Seiei Toyama meeting with President Jiang Zemin = in China (1996, provided by Japan Desert Greening Practice Association)
Featured image：
１９９１年の植樹から８年後、大きく育ったポプラを抱きしめる遠山正瑛氏。手をかけずに育ったポプラに見て涙し、「ありがとう」と語った＝中国内モンゴル自治区（日本沙漠緑化実践協会提供）
Eight years after planting the tree in 1991, Seiei Toyama embraces the poplar that has grown up. I cried when I saw the poplar that grew up, and said “Thank you” = Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region in China (provided by the Japan Desert Greening Practice Association)
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