BEE Japan

BEE Japan (Bicycle for Everyone’s Earth) is a group of international members that promotes environmental awareness and green living in Japan.

The BEE Ride

Since 1997 our main activity has been the annual BEE Ride; a 2-3 month long self-supported cycle tour from the most northernly to southerly town on Japan’s four main islands. The team is made up of an international group of volunteers (usually participants on the Japan Exchange and Teaching program (JET)) who teach about environmental sustainablity during the ride. The BEE Ride uses both direct action and environmental education.

Our direct action includes:

* Travelling the length of Japan exclusively by bicycle
* Eating low on the food chain (vegetarian)
* Choosing organic products whenever possible
* Choosing fair trade products whenever possible
* Supporting local economies by buying local produce
* Avoiding chain stores and convenience stores, and using no vending machines.
* Minimizing waste by choosing less packaged products, buying reusable, recycled and recyclable items, and using no waribashi or other disposable eating utensils.

Our educational activities are carried out at schools, English discussion circles (eikaiwa), and with international groups. These contribute to a deep awareness, in both children and adults, of the extent to which our daily lives effect the ecosystems in which we live. Many topics are covered, but the focus is on bio-interconnectivity, forest destruction, over consumption, and renewable energy sources (human, wind, and solar).

BEE Japan

The BEE Ride is only a part of what BEE does. We are active throughout the year with a committee of like-minded environmentalists working in their different parts of Japan to promote grassroots sustainablity. We provide advice for JETs on how best to communicate the ECO message and we arrange events like outdoor clean-ups, lectures, classes and activities to engage with local communities on environmental issues.  Currently we have several Earth Day related events, and we plan on conducting several many more fundraisers, vegetarian cooking classes, etc. leading up to our departure in August.  Please refer to our “events” page for more information.

BEE Japan 2009 Ride

In 2009 the BEE Ride will depart from Wakkanai in Hokkaido on August 3rd. The riders will make their wey down the Islands stopping in Sapporo, Akita, Sado Island, Tokyo, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Kobe, Hiroshima, Fukuoka,  Kumamoto, and Kagoshima before arriving in Okinawa.  We will be posting and updating the route on the website over the next two months.  You can  also meet the team members, and email team leaders, Salem Willard & Lindsey Tulloch at teamleader@beejapan.org

For more information please read our information-package-2009

BEE SIG

BEE SIG is a Special Interest Group with the JET (Japan Exchange & Teaching) Programme.  BEE Japan was originally founded by 3 members of the JET Programme, and every year several JETs join/lead the BEE Ride.  Not only that, BEE SIG manages an educational site on green living in Japan.

Currently BEE SIG is looking for a coordinator to assist us in keeping participants of the JET Programme and all English-speakers living in Japan informed about sustainable living.  If you are interested in the position, please contact coordinator@beejapan.org.