Draft Notes for the Address
by Nippon Keidanren
(Japan Business Federation)
Chairman Okuda
カジノシークレット 出金 確認he Inaugural Meeting of the STS forum

Thank you for the warm introduction
On behalf of Japanese industry, I welcome you カジノシークレット 出金 確認he inaugural meeting of the STS forum.

Modern society has emerged, expanded, and evolved on the basis of amassed science and technology devised by the wisdom of humankind.
Although science and technology have contributed to gains, or "lights" in human affluence and comfort, they have also confronted humankind with an array of challenges, or "shadows", that demand action on a global scale-from environmental and security-related issues to ethical and human dignity concerns.
These "lights and shadows" also heavily impact the activities of our industrial sector.
To facilitate the sustained prosperity of the human race, it is essential that scientists, politicians, corporate executives, and professionals representing a broad diversity of backgrounds continue to gather together under one roof and engage in a dialogue committed カジノシークレット 出金 確認he solution of the problems we share.
Given that this forum serves as a vehicle precisely for such dialogue, I am delighted to have the opportunity to participate with the many esteemed delegates here from throughout the world.

Today I would like カジノシークレット 出金 確認alk briefly about the "lights and shadows" of science and technology; specifically, the problems concerning the environment and energy.
Last January, Nippon Keidanren announced its vision for Japan in a paper entitled "Envisioning a Vibrant, Attractive Nation in the Twenty-First Century."
As one of the central viewpoints underlying this vision, the paper advocated that a new growth model for Japan be engineered through the pursuit of environmentally-conscious activities by consumers, the government, and the corporate sector.
The twentieth century earned a place in history as the age of mass production, mass consumption, and mass disposal.
These legacies in turn translated directly into global environmental degradation, energy resource scarcity, and burgeoning levels of industrial waste.
I believe that science and technology hold the keys to break this vicious cycle and engineer new social systems.
As the global community knows, Japan is a small country with virtually no energy resources of its own. Despite major resource deficiencies, Japan has established a record of sustained economic growth.
This growth has been due to Japan's world-leading technologies in the fields of energy and resource conservation and anti-pollution measures.
In terms of primary energy consumption and CO₂ emissions per unit GDP, Japan has already achieved the highest standards in the world.
Drawing from this perspective, I believe Japan should contribute カジノシークレット 出金 確認he creation of a new recycling society by actively sharing its experiences to date, its amassed technologies, and its expertise in this field with the rest of the world community.
For example, the corporate sector needs to more actively supply the world market with new technologies and business models for energy conservation and environmental protection and, through fair international competition, pursue the development of products that are more environmentally friendly and in step with society's needs.
In the interim, we can expect the growing environmental awareness of consumers worldwide to provide additional momentum to environmental undertakings by the public and private sectors.
At the government level, we need to see more international collaboration on large-scale projects in basic research that will help speed up the pace of technological innovation. We need to witness closer international cooperation against global warming.
It was right here, within this Kyoto International Conference Hall, that the Kyoto Protocol on measures against global warming was adopted in 1997.
We must now take additional steps to strengthen international collaboration in dealing with global scale environmental issues.

It should be understood that the voluntary actions of individuals and corporations-and not a force of laws and regulations-will provide the foundation for the drive to build a vibrant, sustainable society.
カジノシークレット 出金 確認hat end, in 1997 Nippon Keidanren formulated the Keidanren Voluntary Action Plan on the Environment.
That plan has drawn participation from practically every industrial sector in the country.
On this basis, individual sectors have set their own targets for measures against global warming and the reduction of industrial waste.
As a result of the follow-up efforts made last year, Japan's industrial sector as a whole cut its CO₂ emissions by 1.9 percent and its volume of disposed industrial waste by 80.5 percent compared with 1990 levels.

I do not view efforts to address issues in the energy and environmental fields as a burden to industry or society.
カジノシークレット 出金 確認he contrary, I believe they should be recognized as opportunities for growth.
In the energy and environmental sectors, Japan commands extensive technological prowess and has already cultivated the seeds for an array of new technological innovations.
From massive systems down カジノシークレット 出金 確認he scale of a single light bulb, the key concept today is fusion with the environment.
This concept has been embodied in the development of technologies for the creation of a hydrogen-powered society and commercial applications for fuel cells and the utilization of nuclear power, solar cells, distributed power sources, hybrid systems, and consumer electronics products that are only one-tenth as power-hungry as their counterparts of a decade past.
Although Japan has essentially no energy resources of its own, it does have the ability to cultivate intangible assets in the form of expertise and technological innovations in the energy and environmental fields.
In terms of securing resources of energy, protecting the environment, and enjoying sustained economic growth, and as a country dependent on other countries for its energy supplies, Japan has, I believe, a responsibility カジノシークレット 出金 確認ake initiative.

In closing, let me emphasize my belief that humankind will reap the true benefits-the "light"-from our creations in the realm of science and technology. Our ever-new strengths and powers will chart the path to our future...but...only after we have collectively taken action カジノシークレット 出金 確認ackle and overcome the detriments-the "shadows"-that science and technology also present.
What if humankind instead focuses its pursuit on the light only? I fear that if we do we, like Icarus the Athenian, will be overwhelmed by the thrill of flying, will not heed the warnings, and will eventually lose our wings and fall inカジノシークレット 出金 確認he sea.

I hope that this forum will be a resounding success, and that each of you will have the opportunity to fully enjoy the autumn scenery during your stay in Kyoto.
Thank you.