Have you ever heard of the word "Backcast"? It is punning the word "Forecast". Instead of forecasting the future from the present past, it is a research method to first imagine the ideal state, and think of ways to bridge the gap between the present state. There is a report called "Japan Low Carbon Society Scenarios toward 2050" (Japan and UK co-project) based on this backcasting method. It presents two extreme ideal societies, one a countryside slow-life society, and the other an urbanized technology-based society. The group made scenarios to realize a low carbon society with 70% less carbon emmission for both types of society. By combining policy, technology and social structure, the research presents a realistic solution toward such a society.
One of my favorite Japanese words, MIRAI 未来 means "future". The two Japanese characters will literally mean "not come yet". I posted this word in wish that this confused world can regain some calmness. Yes the finance market is quite chaotic, but it is just too easy to say negative things like "the consumers expectations will go downward" or "everyone will start to tighten their wallet". That is such a boring comment that anyone can say. It is also too easy to forecast that the world's effort for solving environmental issues will shrink because of recession. The needs for eco-friendly products and company effort are not declining yet in Japan, and we hope this trend will not shut down for such copybook mentality.
Japan Low Carbon Society Scenarios toward 2050
http://2050.nies.go.jp/
2 comments:
Kanji are really wonderful at giving lots of additional meanings and allusions to a concept! Thanks for your thoughts about "future".
I recently had to think long and hard about the Japanese word for "particle" because of the Nobel Prize in Physics. Ryushi (粒子) contains "rice" (米） as an element of the kanji on the far left.
Yes, we humans cannot exist without "rice" as part of the most fundamental elementary particle of our existance ;)
that is an interesting observation. 粒 is written "standing rice". Well rice does look like a dot when seen from the top, but I think your way of thinking is deeper!
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