Food Sustainability : Poverty In Japan 1 of 4

*This "Poverty in Japan" series of articles is based on a presentation given by the Seisen High School Social Justice Committee to their peers at an assembly in November 2021.

What is sustainability? Why is it important?

Definition: Having/maintaining a balance of resources. Avoiding the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain balance in our ecosystems.

Environmental sustainability happens when our natural resources are preserved. Sustainability means meeting our own needs while not jeopardizing future generations' ability to fulfill their own needs.

This is important because we want to be able to live long, healthy lives and for future generations to have the same luxury.
 

Relationship between sustainability and poverty

Being sustainable is becoming more and more important. With cheaper alternatives oftentimes being made with materials that are bad for the environment, it is important to think of ways to stop harmful waste and preserve our planet.
However, poverty may be a challenge to sustainability as it may be unrealistic for people in developing countries to invest in and use renewable energy which are generally more expensive. Therefore, it is essential to eliminate poverty in order to achieve sustainability in the community.
 

Food and Sustainability

Food Sustainability

Currently, around the world, there are around 1.3 billion tons of food being wasted every year. Japan, as one of the developing countries, measures around 6.21 million tons of edible food to be wasted, not consumed or left to rot. 

In Japan, the recent food waste problem was seen during the olympics. Within one month of the Tokyo Olympics, the Olympic committee announced that there were around 130 thousand lunches thrown out. The disposable rate of the lunch boxes was 25%.
 

What can you do?
 

1. Avoid highly processed foods: If a food has been through many steps of manufacturing, the carbon footprint is higher due to travelling, manufacturing and distribution.
2. Avoid purchasing fresh foods out of season : Foods that travel long distances are usually not sustainable When you purchase fruits in the winter from far away countries that are flown in by air, the environmental impact is high 
3. Reduce meat consumption: Animal foods have a much larger and carbon footprint than plant foods 

Useful Resources

Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems 

How Covid-19 is Forcing us to Re-examine Food Waste

Future of Food in Japan

What does Second Harvest do?

Goal: Solve the issue of food waste + hunger 

• Food Safety Nets: “A society where everyone, regardless of your financial status, does not have to worry about their access to nutritional food in the coming days
  • Analyzing regional statistics and culture
  • Connect with NPO and public services
  • Take action
     
• Food Lifeline: similar to the concept of having access to electricity and water wherever you go. 
  • Donation: 
  • Distribution: Easier access to food bank

Activities:

• Harvest Kitchen - meal distribution at Ueno park every Saturday
• Harvest Pantry (Marugohan)- direct distribution of food either by hand or by delivery 
• Food banks - collecting food from stores (supermarkets) and  farmers
• Advocate - go around doing presentations advocating for the necessity of establishing the food lifeline & network

http://2hj.org/english/about/

How YOU can take action with Second Harvest

• Food Donation 
  • Send items such as canned food, instant food, seasonings, dry food to a specific address 
• Financial Donation 
  • 25 yen - 1 meal 
  • Donate through website or bank
• Time Donation     
  • Work at harvest pantry, food packaging,  food drive
• Book Donation
  • Book gets bought by company -> the money is received by Second Harvest as Financial Donation
     

Seisen Social Justice Committee "Poverty in Japan" Article Series

1. Introduction
2. Food Sustainability
3. Fashion Sustainability
4. Immigration
5. Education