Eco-friendly --> Eco-hypocritism!

I haven't blogged in a while. There's quite a lot to be said.

Ever since being in Japan, I've seen big contradictions in Japan's so called eco-friendliness. On one hand, the commercials on TV are always going on and on about new eco-tax-free cars, eco-friendly TVs washing machines air-cons refridgerators vacuum cleaners cellphones coffee farm produce etc as well as TV programmes on eco-friendly exercises and activities around the country etc etc.

Yet on the other hand, there's so much packaging in EVERYTHING. Take a box of souvenir cakes for example. First there's the paper bag, then the cardboard box, then under that is a plastic bag, and then you'll find a plastic tray carrying the little cakes, and you find these little cakes individually wrapped in plastic wrapping, and open the little wrapping you are likely to find a small piece of cardboard paper underneathe the little cake/tart/snack.

I do however, like the fact that the Japanese separate their rubbish in so many categories - burnables (wet rubbish), recyclable plastics, plastic bottles, cans, paper, glass, unburnables (metal and used cosmetics bottles etc), electrical appliances etc. It is quite a pain in the face when I first got here, and another pain in the face since it is impossible to find rubbish bins on the street. But still, great initiative.

Back to the criticisms. Supermarkets in my city have stopped giving out free plastic bags, they're only 3 yen (0.02 british pounds) per bag, and not to mention the clear plastic bags that you put your onions and brocollis in, and the plastic trays you get if you buy meat or sushi or cooked food. Then if you buy a 'sanitary product' they put that 'product' in a separate little paper bag.

Finally, the most ridiculous idea ever - the new government is proposing to make all highways completely free. Highways in Japan are tolled. And then about a year ago the government made it a lot cheaper by promoting the 'ETC' system - you buy this card for something like 30,000yen (200 pounds), and then when you have that you can use the highways all you can like for 1000yen per ride (I think). Come long weekends, number of cars on the road up, congestion up, pollution up, noise up, frustration up. And tour bus companies are going out of business.