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).

In 2008 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 and Kumamoto before arriving in Kagoshima on October 7th. You can read about their route and also meet the team members. You can email the team leader, Colin Johnston at teamleader[at]beejapan.org

BEE Japan

The BEE Ride is only a part of what BEE does. We are active throughout the year with a committee of likeminded 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.

Our current coordinator is Salem Willard. He can be mailed at coordinator[at]beejapan.org

BEE　Japanとは?

BEE Japanは自然環境問題の啓蒙活動をしてい る日本人・外国人混合のグルー プです。　BEEという名は、「Bicycle for Everyone’s Earth」の頭字語で、サイクリングを大気を汚染しない効率的な交通手段として促進している。　わたしたちの主な活動の一つは「BEE Ride」です。自転車ライダーたちは８月に北海道を出発した後、２，３ヶ月かけて沖縄まで旅をします。その旅では、自然環境問題を考慮し、自転車だけ交通手段とし、ベジタリアン食を食べ、そしてその土地の生産物を応援していきます。 さらにオーガニック食品を食べる運動をしたり、貧しい国でのフェアトレード商品を育てることに目指しています。