Court Settlement and Establishment of Foundation
After 17 years of battling in court, a settlement was reached in March 1995. In addition to an apology and payment of damages, this landmark settlement included the donation of a sum of money to establish a foundation for community redevelopment. The Nishiyodogawa Association for Pollution Patients and Their Families decided in a general meeting to incorporate a public service foundation to support the redevelopment of pollution-debilitated areas, and started a preparatory committee. The initial activity was an “Expeditionary Party.” This triggered the formation of the “Children’s Eco-Club,” in which children think and act for themselves. The foundation was formally established when government authorization was obtained on September 11, 1996.
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Left: Children’s “Expeditionary Party” —- Right: “Eco-Club Declaration”
Children’s Eco-Club
Message reads, “Nishiyodogawa is an area enclosed by rivers and islands, and connected to the ocean. We set up an Eco-Club here. The ocean is polluted by the red tide, and the rivers are full of trash. The ocean is close by, but we can’t swim there, and we have rivers, but can’t play in them. We want to make our place better, so we go on expeditions to the parks. We thought it would be nice if there were places to drink water and benches to sit, and if there were no litter. We made the Eco-Club because we want to find out about the plants and insects, and the other natural things around us in Nishiyodogawa.
August 25, 1996
Nishiyodogawa Eco-Club”