PUTTING PIECES IN PLACE FOR JAPAN'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY/PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE

Date: 02-01-2002

The East-West Wire is a news service provided by the East-West Center in Honolulu. For more information, contact Susan Kreifels at 808-944-7176 or EastWestWire@EastWestCenter.org.

Publications included in this report: 1. "Putting the Pieces in Place for Japan's Economic Recovery," by Terutomo Ozawa, AsiaPacific Issues, No. 57, 8 pages. See http://www.eastwestcenter.org/stored/pdfs/api057.pdf

2. "Preparing for a Changing Climate: The Potential Consequences of Climate Variability and Change," a report of the Pacific Islands Regional Assessment Group for the U.S. Global Change Research Program, coordinated by the East-West Center. See the 8-page summary and the full 102-page report at http//www2.eastwestcenter.org/climate/assessment/climate_draft2a.html

PUTTING THE PIECES IN PLACE FOR JAPAN'S ECONOMIC RECOVERY

HONOLULU (Feb. 1) -- Market forces are driving Japan to carry out major economic reforms, a new East-West Center publication says. And although the gradual process has been further hampered by the slump in the U.S. economy, dramatic changes are in motion, creating promising opportunities for foreign investors as well as potential for new economic vitality in Japan.

President George W. Bush is expected to raise the prospects for Japan's economic recovery when he visits there later this month.

Terutomo Ozawa, an economics professor at Colorado State University and recent visiting fellow at the East-West Center, writes about such prospects in "Putting the Pieces in Place for Japan's Economic Recovery."

Ozawa says the new movement in Japan toward economic liberalization differs from ones in the past because it's being driven by fundamental market forces rather than led by the government. A market-oriented business environment is crucial, and thus Japan is being propelled toward deregulation and institutional reform.

Terutomo Ozawa can be reached at 970-491-6075 or T.Ozawa@ColoState.edu

PREPARING FOR CLIMATE CHANGE IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

HONOLULU (Feb. 1) -- With rising sea levels and other consequences of climate change and variability already threatening Pacific island nations, governments must get plans in place to protect their countries.

A recently published report coordinated by the East-West Center looks at ways scientists, businesses, communities and governments in the Pacific region can work together to develop such plans.

"Together we can combine our individual assets and collective insights into a new paradigm of climate awareness and response," said Eileen Shea, the East-West Center's climate project coordinator. Shea said the report represents the "beginning of a sustained" dialogue process rather than an "end product."

The report, "Preparing for a Changing Climate," includes providing access to fresh water, protecting public health and community infrastructure, ensuring public safety, sustaining agriculture and tourism, and promoting wise use of marine and coastal resources.

Eileen Shea can be reached at 808-944-7253 or sheae@eastwestcenter.org

This is an East-West Wire, copyright East-West Center