Birth & Growth

エコマラソン印旛(エコインバ )の誕生とその成長(予測)

21世紀初頭の印旛沼流域の市町村は、経済成長や利便性を追い求めた車優先社会の影で住民の環境保全意識の欠如が目に付き、140万人もの千葉県民を含む、生命体の生存に不可欠の「清潔で安全な水」の源となる印旛沼の水質汚染(COD)が日本一となり、利用者に高額な浄化経費負担を強いた。

　自然や人との触れ合いを楽しみ､環境保全を世界に訴え､7大陸72ヶ国の555を越す市町村や砂漠、森林、高山、極地でのマラソン参加を通し、地球規模の環境破壊の実態を体感し、執筆を続けて来た京都出身のエコマラソナー､西一は､1998年ギネスブックに「7大陸マラソン最速走破記録」認定を受けた。

250の国と地域での1000マラソンに参加し、環境優先を説くエコマラソン普及を生涯の使命と選択した西は､遂行に不可欠な海外渡航時の自宅から空港への移動時に排出する二酸化炭素削減の為、長年住み慣れた東京渋谷区から印旛沼流域の佐倉市、後により空港に近い印旛村（「印西市」）に移住した。

　 移住後、汚染した水を飲まざるを得ない自分を含む世界の人達のことを思うことに耐えかねた西は、人間が汚したものは、利便性を諦めても人間の意思と行動で、本来の「子供達が泳げて、ホタルが棲める」印旛沼に戻し、未来世代に渡すことを決意。それを実現する為、人々の意識を変え、印旛沼水環境再生の機運を高める起爆剤となる事を趣意とする国際市民スポーツイベント、エコマラソン印旛（エコインバ ）をエコチップス (大会中･日常生活での環境保全規則及びガイドライン)に沿って開催する事にした｡

　 趣意に賛同する印西市長を始め､千葉県､国際企業､各省や多彩な社会奉仕の精神に溢れた地域の人々や団体･企業の深い理解と暖かい協力連携の基、2011年4月3日、満開の桜の下、コスプレごみ拾いで、ZERO EMISSIONを印旛沼から世界へ！をテーマとする第一回エコインバ が世界のコスプレイヤーを含む1000名が参加し、開催される。

　 環境優先･非競技･機会均等を旨とするエコインバ 成功は､21世紀最大の環境問題としての､「清潔で安全な水」の欠如に対するコスプレ発祥国､日本からのユニークな解決法､と海外メディアが報道する。

　 それまでの完走タイムのみで優劣が決まる競技中心のマラソンではなく、自然や人との触れ合いを通し、相互理解を深め､環境･健康･地域振興･国際親善･青少年の育成に貢献し､人口の多数を占めるウォーカー･女性･高齢者も安全に快適に楽しめるエコマラソンを開催する市町村が世界各地で次々に生まれる。

　 その結果、印西市は20世紀に世界の環境首都として世界に認知されて来た「京都」に代わり、21世紀の世界環境首都、「印西」として国際的に広く認知される様になり、市民の生涯スポーツとしてのエコインバ 参加者数が急増した結果、健康人口の高齢化の恩恵により､医療・介護費用の大幅減少や地域ブランド力向上､外国人を中心とする観光客増大､地域農・商業振興､青少年育成等に最大の貢献を果たす。

　 21世紀半ばには250の国と地域で千を越すエコマラソンが開催され、年間参加者数が1000万人を超す世界最高の社会的貢献を果たす国際市民スポーツイベントとして地球規模の拡がりを続け、エコマラソンが21世紀末迄に達成をめざす自然環境と調和した恒久平和社会創造ﾍの機運を高め続ける・・　

続く・・・

ZERO EMISSION challenge thru Cosplay-Trash Picking Up from Lake Inba to the World!

Birth and Growth of Ecomarathon Inba or ECO INBA

At the beginning of the 21st century, in the Lake Inba Basin of Japan, there was a glaring lack of environmental awareness among residents in the shadow of economic growth and automobile usage. This was, especially true of Lake Inba, which, as a major source of water was essential to the survival of human life. Lake Inba had shown the highest COD level and, as the most polluted water reservoir in Japan, led to one of the highest cost to get "clean and safe water" for 1.4 million residents of Chiba prefecture of the surrounding communities.

Hajime Nishi, born in Kyoto, Japan and recognized as an Ecomarathon author had been experiencing and writing the reality of global environmental destruction as a result of his over 555 international marathon experiences running in 72 countries on 7 continents in cities, deserts, forests, mountains and polar regions. He was even certified by the Guinness Book of World Records on the basis of, “The fastest time to run marathons on each of seven continents”.

He then changed his focus to engage in slower running to gain a greater understanding of ecology issues. He created the term” Ecomarathoning” to fully describe the experience and enjoyment of running 1000 marathons in 250 countries in his lifetime. He also moved to the Inba Basin area from Shibuya, downtown Tokyo to reduce carbon dioxide emissions to reach Narita International Airport as he continued traveling abroad.

As a result of his worldwide pilgrimage, Hajime Nishi could not bear to observe and think about people, including himself drinking contaminated water in so many areas. He determined to take action to raise the consciousness of people worldwide to recognize that if the natural environment can be defiled by human then humans have the obligation to repair the damage by changing their attitudes and actions.

Closer the home, this would require giving up some conveniences, if necessary, to make Lake Inba so clean that "children can swim and the firefly can inhabit" the lake. The goal would be to hand over to future generations, a renewed Lake Inba through the organization and actions followed by EcoTips, a set of conservation rules and guidelines of Ecomarathon Inba or ECO INBA, it would be an international people’s sports event to play a catalyst of resuscitation of the Lake Inba water environment and, perhaps, in the future became a worldwide catalyst.

Thanks to the deep understandings and warm supports by the Mayor of City of Inzai, a host city of ECO INBA, global corporations, ministries and agencies plus a variety of people, local groups and businesses brimming with the spirit of community service, the inaugural ECO INBA has been organized for Apr. 3, 2011 with 1000 participants around the globe. The theme and purpose of theECO INBA will be a ZERO EMISSION challenge thru Cosplay-Trash Picking Up from Lake Inba and, eventually, the World!

ECO INBA , based upon the principle of an eco-oriented, non-competitive, equal-opportunity Ecomarathon has been reported by foreign media as a unique sports event focused on the goal of "Clean and Safe water" as a major global Environmental issue of the 21st century from Japan, a home country of Cosplay. For those not familiar with “Cosplay”, it is short for “costume play”. According to Wikipedia, it is a costume event not based upon a specific holiday or custom but, rather, the object is interpretation in which one tries to adopt a costume to represent a character or role to convey a particular message. In this case, restoring and maintaining the local environment

With ECO INBA as a model, the goal is to also to develop a chain reaction with more cities, towns and villages around the globe taking the initiative to organize Ecomarathon events. Such events can contribute to deepen mutual cultural understanding, the environmental awareness, improving health, regional commercial and agricultural development, international friendship and the positive youth influences.

This can come about through personal contact with nature and involve more people through a broader range of runners, walkers and females to enjoy walking or running the 26.2 mile (42.195 K) marathon distance in a safe and comfortable, non-competitive environment unlike timed races there participants compete and are judged ONLY by their finishing time.

As a result, the city of Inzai had been recognized as the Environmental Capital of the World of the 21st century; a role which was played by city of Kyoto in the 20th century. Also the participants of ECO INBA can lead to increased participation in lifetime sports and more healthy life style for citizen resulting in a reduction of healthcare costs, an increased healthy aging population, encourage foreign tourists and bring economic benefits to local agricultural and commercial business and greater Youth Development.

By the middle of 21st century, offering 1000 Ecomarathons events have been established as a goal in 250 countries and regions with a total of 10 million participants, all brought about by a highly socio-responsible sports event to keep benefitting the world’s environment and it’s people. One People, One Planet and Ecomarathoning…growing globally! 　

To be continued…

.© 2010-2011 Ecomarathon International, a Non-Profit Organization www.ecomarathon.org