Eco Corner: Choices for Sustainable Lifestyles

Eco Party
Green Drinks International
This organic, self-organizing network of informal environmental discussion groups gathers in cities all around the world. The events are a great way to chat and network with other eco-minded folks from NGOs, academia, business and government. Green Drinks are found in dozens of countries and hundreds of cities, from Jerusalem to Barcelona to Bozeman. For info about Tokyo meetings write to party@greenz.jp.
WEBLINK
www.greendrinks.org

Eco Web
Greenz Online
The Greenz team provides an extensive bilingual Internet media source dedicated to promoting a green economy and a sustainable society. There is a lot of eco information, and it’s a good source for finding out about upcoming events. They are the official media company for Earth Day Tokyo and are involved in a number of interesting projects. Check them out online and see where you can fit in.

Eco Eating
Raw Foods
So you thought vegans were hardcore for not eating any animal products? How about not eating any cooked food at all? The “raw food” movement has come to Japan at Veggie Paradise in Yoyogi Uehara, Tokyo. These folks have mastered the fine art of cooking without fire, with a varied menu that will amaze you.

The pasta is actually Zucchini slices. The cheese? Fermented cashew nuts. Meat in the lasagna? Nope, that’s grated, dehydrated root veggies. Check out the macrobiotic lunch set for ¥1,470. Tel: (03) 6421-2925; open 11 a.m. – 9:30 p.m. daily.
WEBLINK
www.bento.com/r-veg.html

Eco Hiking
Jambo International

The fine folks at Jambo run monthly hiking and environmental restoration activities to beautiful natural areas around the Kanto Plain.

They also hold regular charity parties in Takadanobaba to raise donations for a children’s home in Tokyo and various African charities with whom founder Davis Howenstein has long established relations. Come by and make new friends while doing something positive for the environment.
WEBLINK
www.jambointernational.com

Eco Biology
Transparent Frogs
The common practice of dissecting living frogs in biology class has long been the bane of animal rights activists. Perhaps this no longer needs to be the case, as Japanese scientists at Hiroshima University have developed a see-through frog, so students can see the organs, blood vessels and eggs without cutting the poor amphibians to bits.

What’s next in amphibian engineering? Supposedly they are working on frogs that will sweat antiseptic ointment, bug repellent and glue.