200 yen

Data shows that half of the people forced to live in extreme poverty worldwide are children. Recently, there have also been more TV commercials highlighting children living in poverty. It may be important to understand the current situation and take action with a sense of urgency about the issue.

mnemonic

It has been decided that March 17 will be the day to “Think about the 17 SDG Goals Together.” The idea is that the first word, “everyone” (minna), is associated with 3, and the “17 goals” is 17. On this day, companies and individuals share various initiatives related to the SDGs to encourage people to think about them.

Cocoa in chocolate

In Côte d’Ivoire, a cacao-producing country, hundreds of thousands of children are made to work on plantations. Many of these are small family farms, and it is said that the trading price of cocoa beans is often unfairly low. On the farms, children from the families themselves, as well as children brought there through abduction and other means, are made to work.

Tiger

It’s said that tigers currently live only in Asia. Due to illegal logging and poaching for traditional medicine and fur, tiger numbers are declining. In Russia in 2010, a “Tiger Summit” was held to discuss tigers facing the risk of extinction. July 29, the date the “Tiger Summit” was held, has been designated as Global Tiger Day.

plastic

Protecting marine resources is also one of the goals of the SDGs. The problem of marine pollution from plastic waste, such as PET bottles and plastic bags, is becoming increasingly serious. It is reported that animals that live mainly in the ocean—such as whales, turtles, and migratory birds—have plastic waste in their bodies. Plastic that is accidentally ingested cannot be digested and can be life-threatening. It is predicted that if we do not take measures against plastic waste by 2050, there will be more plastic waste in the ocean than fish.

toilet

It is said that half of the children living in extreme poverty worldwide are in South Asia. Simply because they are female, many are unable to attend school and receive an education. Girls are often treated as a burden by their families and have few opportunities to receive proper schooling. Since few schools have girls’ restrooms, efforts are currently underway to install them.

over 200 million people

Even in Japan, extreme weather such as heavy rains and unusually warm winters is starting to occur. Globally, wildfires and droughts have become major problems, and it is said that more people are losing the ability to live in their homes. The impact of global warming is significant, with sea-level rise leading to submersion being one example. There also appear to be other issues such as desertification, hurricanes and floods, and conflicts over resources like land and water.

5

Japan has a well-developed medical and welfare system, so we’re able to live healthy lives. However, on a global scale, it’s said that pregnant women, millions of newborns, and children under five lose their lives to illness. The Shichi-Go-San festival also originated in Japan at a time when medicine was not yet advanced. I truly hope that children around the world can benefit from more robust medical care and welfare services.

food

Laws such as the Act on Promotion of Food Loss Reduction and the Food Recycling Act have been enacted in Japan as well. Some municipalities are taking measures like limiting the sales period of processed foods to their best-before or use-by dates. I’ve heard that France and Italy also have laws that prohibit or regulate food waste.