Latest news with #NipponFoundation
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
An alarming disconnect: Global study by Back to Blue reveals urgent need for ocean literacy
A global study has recently revealed consistently low ocean literacy levels in 18–24-year-olds across 35 countries. 75% of young people are concerned about our ocean's health, yet 61% believe deforestation and other climate issues should be prioritised over ocean conservation. Young people have high expectations for governments, NGOs, and local communities but low expectations for businesses, highlighting a misunderstanding about who holds responsibility for ocean pollution. NICE, France, June 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- World Ocean Day serves as a vital reminder to protect our oceans. A global study by world-leading ocean health initiative of Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation, Back to Blue, has recently uncovered a concerning disconnect between young peoples' recognition of the ocean's vital role in climate change, and the measures required to protect and restore it. A large majority of young people are concerned about the ocean's health and believe it can protect us from climate change, yet they place a higher priority on protecting forests, tackling air pollution and freshwater scarcity. Results from the 3,500 respondents in 35 countries found that 75% of 18-24 year olds are concerned about the state of ocean health. Yet, few acknowledge the jeopardy the ocean is in, nor the ways in which this can be prevented because despite concerns for the ocean, almost half (47%) of young people think the ocean is still healthy. The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and The Philippines are among some of the top countries that believe this, when each is struggling with plastic pollution, coral reef degradation and habitat loss. It strongly indicates that young people do not fully fathom the dire conditions of our oceans. This is also evident in the fact that 50% of young people do not understand how the ocean impacts them and how they, in turn, impact the ocean. Furthermore, 61% prioritise other climate issues, such as deforestation, over ocean conservation. Notably, this perspective is shared by 88% of young people in Panama—a country bordered by both the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, where the ocean plays a vital role in the economy. Peter Thomson, UN Ocean Envoy said: "It is surprising and alarming to see so many young people misjudge the ocean's health. This level of low ocean literacy risks hindering progress and funding for protecting our oceans. We must invest in educating young people about the importance of ocean health and how to safeguard it for the future." Strengthened ocean literacy can be argued as pivotal for fostering a deeper understanding of the ocean's multifaceted role, not only as a driver of local economic prosperity through industries like fisheries, tourism, and renewable energy but also as a critical buffer against climate change impacts. A lack of this foundational knowledge risks delaying urgent policymaking and sourcing of funding as weak citizen or stakeholder pressure to reverse damage, will slow progress, perpetuating a vicious cycle of ocean neglect. Peter added: "The ocean is one of the most overlooked and underfunded areas in global sustainability, yet its decline directly impacts how we live. We must remember that the ocean is silently dealing with sea level rise, soaring temperatures and acidity levels as well as irreversible threats to biodiversity because of human activity. The least we can do is understand it better and make it a priority to save." Limited comprehension of the oceans' endangered state was also accompanied by little demand amongst young people for significant action or accountability from ocean stakeholders. The study found that less than half (46%) of young people want government action that will ensure the oceans health, and only 17% want to see corporations and businesses take increased responsibility. The latter finding is increasingly concerning as the study also reveals that young people are significantly concerned about contaminating the ocean - chemical pollution (48%) and plastic pollution (50%) yet they do not know where responsibility lies. Tackling ocean pollution is no easy feat, but private sector accountability will be paramount to its success via increased responsibility for the lifecycle of plastic products and chemical leaks in the process of production. Emma McKinley, Ocean Literacy expert and Senior Research Fellow at Cardiff University said: "It's incredibly interesting to see that some young people recognise that the ocean can have a role in addressing the impacts of climate change and that damaging ocean health is detrimental to this; yet, this study suggests that not all young people recognise the need to demand more action from governments and the private sector to do more to prioritise ocean health." Emma added: "Given its roots in formal education, many ocean literacy initiatives are grounded in the importance of raising awareness and knowledge about ocean issues. Looking to the future, we must embrace diverse types of ocean knowledge and relationships to deliver ocean literacy as a societal outcome. If the ocean and the issues facing it were included more widely in education systems across the world, the more positive change we would see. Knowledge is one of our most powerful tools." Educators and policymakers have a unique opportunity to address the low levels of ocean literacy among young people. By incorporating ocean literacy into school curriculums—and with greater support from governments—they can equip the next generation with the knowledge and tools needed to protect our oceans and address the challenges they face. Notes to Editors About the surveyThe survey was created by Economist Impact and issued to 35 countries in September 2024. It was in the field for three weeks and acquired 3,500 responses from young people aged 18-24. Countries involved were: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, South Africa, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Kingdom and Vietnam. Ocean literacy definitionOcean literacy is the understanding of the ocean's influence on us and our influence on the ocean. It encompasses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to understand and communicate the ocean's essential role in our environment, climate, and everyday lives. It empowers individuals to make informed decisions and take responsible actions to protect the ocean and its resources. About Back to BlueBack to Blue is an initiative by Economist Impact and The Nippon Foundation tackles ocean challenges with evidence-based solutions. Addressing gaps in understanding plastic and chemical pollution and ocean acidification, it leverages both organizations' strengths in research and program development to drive progress in ocean health. About Economist ImpactEconomist Impact combines the rigour of a think-tank with the creativity of a media brand to engage a globally influential audience. With framework design, benchmarking, economic and social impact analysis, forecasting and scenario modelling, Economist Impact provides creative storytelling, events expertise and market-leading media products. About The Nippon FoundationEstablished in 1962, The Nippon Foundation is Japan's largest philanthropic foundation. In ocean affairs, the Foundation aims to cultivate human resources who will chart a course for the ocean's future and to pass on the ocean's riches to future generations. Other primary areas of activity include support for children, persons with disabilities and disaster relief. View original content: SOURCE Back to Blue Sign in to access your portfolio
CNA
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
She's making space for artistes with disabilities to shine on Singapore's biggest arts stage
The pre-pandemic 2010s were a blur of excess. ZoukOut transformed beaches into pulsating raves, Marquee re-imagined nightclubbing as an adult theme park replete with a towering slide and Ferris wheel, stadiums heaved with pop and K-pop heavyweights. Audiences demanded bigger names, louder beats, grander spectacles, and the entertainment industry obliged. It was amid this maximalist race that a single quiet voice cut through the noise. A festival and arts producer, Audrey Perera was not interested in big headliners or bright pyrotechnics. Instead, she assembled some 100 of the most diverse artistes with disabilities from 22 nations – many of whom most Singaporeans may not have heard of. There was the Canadian one-armed violin virtuoso Adrian Anantawan; Australian singer Tony Dee, who has cerebral palsy; New Zealand wheelchair dancer Rodney Bell; as well as visually-impaired musicians and wheelchair dancers from Singapore. Together, they launched the first True Colours Festival in March 2018. Presented by UNESCO and the philanthropic Nippon Foundation, ticketed shows drew more than 12,000 people. It was groundbreaking. Shortly after, the world was gripped by the pandemic, and the festival went virtual with film festivals, documentaries and music videos. Then, in 2022, as the world emerged from the pandemic, Perera produced a True Colors live concert in Tokyo, Japan. This year, True Colors is returning to Singapore, from May 30 to Jun 1, 2025, as part ofthis year's Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA). A blend of dance, music and behind-the-scenes footage, COLONY – A True Colors Project is inspired by an ant colony. The dance production features a cast of artistes without and with disabilities, including loss of limb, mobility impairments and Down syndrome, from Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines. The storyline revolves around a community of people living in the same tenement. They are different, yet the same – though they don't realise it. It follows the characters' journey as they confront prejudice, fear and conflict those differences stir, ultimately forging a deep human connection. NOT A CHARITY SHOW One thing Perera wants you to know upfront: This is not a charity show. 'The mindset (in Singapore) is, when you see people with disabilities on stage, it's usually in the context of a fundraising show,' the 63-year-old lamented. 'There is nothing wrong with a fundraiser – organisations have to raise funds, and that's one way. 'But it can also be disempowering if you keep putting people with disabilities into that category – to think that first, a sad story about their life must be narrated, then you watch them play the drums badly, and then the cheque book comes out.' Many also think that artistes with disability 'are not at the same level and hence lower their expectations', but that is simply not true, Perera said. 'When you have different bodies performing together, obviously not everybody's going to be technically perfect. But dance is not just about technical perfection. It's about self-expression, communicating emotion through that movement,' she told CNA Women. 'The fact is that in every human, there is the desire, the need to self-express. And dance is a way to self-express. Watching this is very powerful and poignant,' she reflected. But don't watch it through a lens of pity. Artistes with disabilities want to be seen for who they are, not defined by their disability, Perera stressed. 'The thing I'm learning from these artistes is that we are the ones who fixate on their disability. They don't. They get on with their lives. They express themselves, they work, they live, they find their ways around the disability,' she said. That is also how the True Colours Festival in 2018 got its name. And no, it has nothing to do with the well-known Cyndi Lauper song. At that time, Perera was struck by something two artistes with disabilities from different parts of the world said in separate media interviews. 'They said that although social media appears to have made the world more connected, it actually had the opposite effect because it was dictating what was acceptable and cool. As a result, people like them did not feel welcome at the table – they never get to show their 'true colours',' she said. Perera wanted to give them that platform. 'The reality is, more than 15 per cent of human society is made up of people who have a disability, according to the United Nations,' the producer noted. 'If we are saying that one role of art is to reflect society, shouldn't this be more represented on mainstream stages?' she asked. This diversity better showcases the full spectrum of human experiences. Disability or no, humans are by nature unique and diverse, reflected Perera. 'Conformity is an enforced condition.' But art has the power to cut through those barriers, she said. As a journalist and editor, Perera went on a media trip to Australia three decades ago for the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) festival. She vividly remembers watching Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, a singer from Pakistan, performing religious music in Arabic to a predominantly white, Australian audience. 'Nobody understood a word he sang. But the power of his voice and emotions crossed all the barriers. I felt like this voice was coming from a higher power through him. The crowd was rapt, and asked for encore after encore until he couldn't perform anymore. He was on the verge of collapse. I was very struck,' she reminisced. At the same festival, Perera watched Tibetan singer Yungchen Lhamo performing in Pali (the scriptural language of a branch of Buddhism). 'She is very small-sized and looked tiny on stage. But she sang with a beautiful voice, clear as a bell. This was 1am in the morning, and there was pin-drop silence. I wish more people could experience this feeling of connection,' she recalled. Later, when Perera interviewed the founder of WOMAD, she learnt that he wanted to bring WOMAD to Singapore. Though she had no festival-producing experience, she volunteered for the job. Returning to Singapore, Perera began knocking on doors and pitching the idea. Many doors slammed in her face. But by sheer determination, three years later, she pulled it off. In 1998, Perera launched the inaugural WOMAD, a four-day festival that took place at Fort Canning Park. 'I remember the opening night (of WOMAD in Singapore), there was a group from Scotland called Shooglenifty that played the fiddle. I wondered if anybody would dance because in Australia, New Zealand, UK, (festival-goers) danced. But I knew Singapore was a tough audience – shy. 'At the opening beats, people already went up to the front to dance! It was a thing of beauty to see people feeling free and un-self-conscious enough to just dance,' she smiled. Over the years, Perera presented Hungarian musicians and Burundi drummers to Singapore audiences. 'I feel that it is important to be in a space where we appreciate art and culture beyond our CMIO (Chinese Malay India Others) script,' she reflected. Before leading the True Colours Festival, she produced several smaller festivals, all while raising her now 25-year-old daughter. 'I want to create spaces and worlds that take people out of their everyday world and uplift them – where they can experience moments of joy, connection and exhilaration,' she said. Live performances are powerful, she added. 'You are in the presence of hundreds of people who are experiencing a whole welter of emotions, just like you. It makes you feel more connected to everybody else.' In the fractured world we live in right now – divided by trade wars, protectionist policies and fear – Perera said such connection and collaboration are more vital than ever before.
30-04-2025
- General
Young People in Japan Think Wages Most Important When Job Hunting
The Nippon Foundation, which regularly conducts surveys to gain better understanding of the opinions held by young people aged 17 to 19 years old, ran a survey in early March 2025 asking 1,000 young people nationwide about their views on employment and work. When it came to job hunting, 85% of young women and 78.4% of young men in total answered that they were either 'concerned' or 'somewhat concerned.' Asked how they felt about working, 84.2% of young women and 72.5% of young men said they were concerned, for a gap of more than 10 percentage points between the two. When it came to choosing a job, at 52.6 %, the majority of respondents placed most importance on 'wage and benefits,' followed by 35.7% prioritizing a 'benefits package,' and 33.2% who considered working in their 'desired industry' top. This seems to indicate that young people are being more pragmatic, putting the assurance of 'earning money' ahead of 'liking' their work. Respondents were also asked about what they would consider harassment at work by supervisors and clients. The most common response given by both young men and women was 'being shouted at for making a mistake.' The practice of 'being made to come to work before the start of regular hours' is also now considered harassment. In most cases, the percentage of young women who considered certain practices and actions to be harassment was higher than for young men, particularly 'being shouted at for making a mistake,' 'being asked questions of a private nature,' 'being asked for personal contact details,' and 'comments being made about physical appearance.' (Translated from Japanese. Banner photo © Pixta.)
Japan Times
03-04-2025
- Health
- Japan Times
Japanese medical team arrives in quake-hit Myanmar
A Japanese emergency medical team arrived in Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, on Wednesday, after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the Southeast Asian nation on Friday. The death toll from the earthquake has risen to 3,003, Myanmar's military said. Nippon Foundation Chairman Yohei Sasakawa donated emergency supplies to Myanmar in a meeting with the country's military chief, Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, on Wednesday. Japanese experts are expected to participate in a Thai panel to investigate the cause of the collapse of a high-rise building under construction in Thailand following the earthquake. Japanese Ambassador to Thailand Masato Otaka agreed to his country's participation in the panel at a meeting with a Thai minister on Tuesday.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
"Guitar shark" among the 866 new marine species discovered in ocean
Over 800 marine species were newly discovered after two years of collaborative efforts by scientists, governments, museums and others participating in the Ocean Census, a global alliance founded to accelerate the discovery of marine life. New species of shark, sea butterfly, mud dragon, bamboo coral, water bear, octocoral, and shrimp were just some of the findings that were registered in a directory after the collaborative conducted 10 global expeditions and hosted eight Species Discovery Workshops. "The past two years have been transformative for the Ocean Census: we've pioneered new methods, forged key partnerships, established a global network of participating scientists, and overcome the hurdles of a truly global mission," said Oliver Steeds, director of the Ocean Census, in a statement. While oceans cover most of our planet, not much has been done to protect its biodiversity, manage the conservation of ocean life and establish marine protected areas in the high seas. United Nations members agreed on a unified treaty in 2023 to protect biodiversity in the high seas. More than 100 nations , including the United States, have agreed to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030. "The ocean covers 71% of our planet, yet it is said that only around 10% of marine life has been discovered so far, leaving an estimated 1–2 million species still undocumented," said Mitsuyuki Unno, executive director of The Nippon Foundation. The alliance was founded by Nippon Foundation and Nekton in April 2023; about 400 institutions participate in its activities, and 93 scientists were funded to participate in expeditions and research projects in an effort to speed up the identification and official registration of a new species, the Ocean Census said on its website. The process can take up to 13.5 years, some species may go extinct before they are even documented. Dave Ebert of the Pacific Shark Research Institute said in a video that knowing we have another new species, "We can develop conservation methods for it - if it needs it." The recent flurry of expeditions launched by the Ocean Census used divers, submersibles and deep-sea robots up to 5000 meters below sea level to discover new species. The species were analyzed and confirmed in dozens of global laboratories. Some of the species discovered include: Guitar Shark Ebert, also known as the "Lost Shark Guy," identified the guitar shark at 200m depths off Mozambique and Tanzania in Africa. This shark has 38 known species across the globe and shares characteristics of both sharks and rays. The guitar shark family is among the top 10 most threatened vertebrate groups and two-thirds are threatened. Turridrupa sp Gastropod Discovered 380 - 400m in the waters of New Caledonia and Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, this predator is one of 100 newly identified turrid gastropods. These deep-sea snails inject toxins into their prey with precision with venomous, harpoon-like teeth. Sea Star: Tylaster sp. Found at 2770m to 3575m in the Arctic's Jøtul Vent Field, east of Greenland, this is the second species recorded for this genus, with the first one cited in the Norwegian Sea at 1100 m back in 1881. Trump reacts to European Union slapping tariffs on U.S. goods Judge blocks deportation of pro-Palestinian activist who helped lead Columbia University protests House's short-term spending bill heads to Senate, passage needed by Friday to avoid shutdown
