Re: Japan environmentalists battle Y2K bug

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Japan environmentalists battle Y2K bug

By Yvonne Chang

  
TOKYO, Sept 13 (Reuters) - When Yumi Kikuchi learned of the ``Y2K'' issue, 
she thought it was a gift from god -- a chance to promote her earth-friendly 
lifestyle. 

``The Y2K issue is a big challenge, but I'm looking forward to it,'' said 
Kikuchi, a banker-turned-environmentalist. ``We can use Y2K as a catalyst to 
create a truly sustainable society.'' 

While experts continue to disagree on the extent of the impact of the 
computer glitch on the daily lives of the people, Japanese environmentalists 
are calling on people to prepare themselves for the worst. 

Y2K, AN ENVIRONMENTALIST'S VIEW 

Kikuchi moved to the countryside last year to seek a lifestyle not dependent 
on nuclear energy and other modern conveniences which she believes will 
eventually destroy Mother Earth. 

She now lives in an old, Japanese-style house and grows her own food for her 
family while holding weekend workshops for people who wish to learn more 
about her ``simple'' lifestyle. 

Kikuchi's initial reaction to the Y2K issue was that it would not affect 
people like her, but the more she learned about it, the more she became 
convinced that no one was free from its risks. 

``I realised it wasn't just a computer problem. Our lives are at stake,'' 
said Kikuchi, who launched a world-wide campaign calling on governments to 
close down nuclear reactors on New Year's Eve to avoid the risk of 
malfunctions caused by the Y2K bug. 

As a minimum protection, Kikuchi recommends others to start stockpiling daily 
necessities such as water, food and fuel, as well as to work as a community 
when preparing contingency plans. 

``We can't protect ourselves alone,'' said Kikuchi. 

COORDINATING EFFORTS 

Initiatives like Kikuchi's are gaining momentum. 

Takashi Tsumura organised the ``Y2K Citizen's Forum'' on the Internet to 
exchange information on Y2K as well as safety and survival resources in case 
the bug triggers a disaster equivalent to the 1995 earthquake in the port 
city of Kobe which killed 6,500 people. 

``The earthquake taught us two things; to be close to nature and to help each 
other. We can, and must, learn from the lessons of the earthquake,'' Tsumura 
said. 

Eijo Yamato, a Buddhist monk who engages in anti-nuclear activities set up 
the ``Y2K Citizen Network Information Center'' in Tokyo to focus on 
protecting children and the aged from Y2k-triggered disasters. 

``The nuclear reactor threat is important, but we must also not forget the 
socially weak people when addressing this issue,'' Yamato said. 

Yamato recently received a phone call from an elementary school girl who had 
to research the Y2K issue for her homework. ``I told her to share what she 
learned with her parents and friends,'' said Yamato. ``Activity is picking 
up.'' 

SCEPTIC PUBLIC 

Behind the expansion of the environmentalists' activities is growing public 
concern that New Year's Day on 2000 may not be the same as any other despite 
repeated assurances from the government and major firms that a social 
meltdown is unlikely. 

``I don't think things will be alright as the government says,'' said 
businessman Tamio Nakano. 

``I don't understand on what grounds they are saying everything will be 
fine,'' said Nakano, who gathers with his friends periodically to study the 
Y2K issue and discuss what they can do on their own to protect themselves. 

Companies are also becoming cautious. 

Japan's largest travel agency, Japan Travel Bureau Inc. (JTB) decided not to 
sell year-end international tours due to safety concerns, only one week after 
Japan's major airlines announced themselves fully millennium complaint. 

``We cannot be sure at present whether safety in the period between December 
31 and January 1 will be the same level as at other times,'' a spokesman for 
JTB said. 

According to a survey by AC Nielsen Japan, a unit of the U.S. marketing 
company, 77 percent of the 500 people surveyed in Tokyo said they expected 
the Y2K problem to have some impact on their daily lives. 

Of this group, over half expected great disruptions, but only one in five 
said they had developed contingency plans. 

``The survey shows there is a great deal of uncertainty among people that 
needs to be addressed,'' said Bill Pulver, group chief executive at ACNielsen 
Japan. 

Responding to such criticism, Tokyo has said it would set up crisis 
management centre to deal with Y2K emergencies. 

Despite government and expert opinions that the financial industry was one of 
the sectors most prepared for the millennium bug, the survey showed 79 
percent as saying financial institutions were likely to encounter problems. 

``There is an information gap to be filled if public panic is to be avoided 
as we approach the year 2000,'' Pulver said. 

22:11 09-12-99