Planetary Philosophy and Social Consensus Building

Kuwako has worked extensively in Japan to apply his expertise in environmental ethics to the resolution of practical environmental problems. The Ohashi River, which runs through Matsue City in the Izumo region and feeds the Hii River, has recently undergone extensive modification for flood control. This controversial project has been politically polarizing because of the tensions between human welfare, traditional cultural beliefs, sustainability, and environmental aesthetics. Changing the spatial structure of a community is both a cultural and a historical project that must take into account traditional beliefs about the relationship between human beings and the environment. The decision-making process for the development of social infrastructure should be grounded in meaningful citizen participation and should reflect the environmental values of the people.