Only one Earth
The human race needs its planet. We depend upon it completely, because we evolved from it, remain forever part of it, and can exist only by courtesy of the self-sustaining Earth System.
The Earth is unique not only in our Solar System, but as far as we know, in the accessible universe. It is not just the only planet we have – it is the only living planet we know, or may ever know.
The Earth provides so many riches, about which we have so much more to learn – as innovative new research techniques are brought to bear. The more we learn, the more we understand that we must nurture the Earth as we would our children, for their sake.
... Planet Earth in our hands [PDF: 3.3MB]
The International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE) is an international program
to increase awareness of the importance of Earth sciences in achieving
sustainable development of society. The 60th UN General Assembly has proclaimed
the year 2008 to be the United Nations International Year of Planet Earth.
The IYPE activities run the three years 2007-2009 (IYPE Triennium) to realize
ambitious science and outreach programs.
IYPE International Site
The Japanese National Committee for the International Year of Planet Earth,
a subsidiary of the Earth Planetary Science Committee, the
Science Council of Japan,
has worked as a base-height of the planning of the IYPE programs in Japan, and
implementation of the IYPE activities is being carried out by the
IYPE Japan with close relationship to the National Committee.
On the 31st of October, 2007, the IYPE Japan signed the MoU on
the relationship between the IYPE Japan, on behalf of the Japanese NC, and
the IYPE Corporation.
The final event in Japan promoted by IYPE Japan and cooperative contributors was held at Akihabara, Tokyo, on 27th and 28th of March, 2010.
AKIBA Declaration
We, the IYPE Japan, its Members, other bodies and individuals cooperating with the IYPE Japan, and those who join the Planet Earth Forum 2010 in AKIBA, acknowledge that
- the United Nations has declared 2008 as the United Nations Year of Planet Earth,
- the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) have been designated by the United Nations as the leading agencies to conduct activities during the International Year of Planet Earth,
- a vast range of science and outreach activities have been actively carried out all over the world during the Planet Earth Triennium 2007 - 2009,
- the IYPE Japan, established with close relationship to the Japanese National Committee for IYPE, a subsidiary of the IUGS Committee of Earth Planetary Science, Science Council of Japan, has promoted many activities in Japan in cooperation with its Members and other bodies, and consequently,
- a variety of activities of various fields have been developed within the past three years so as to embody the IYPE’s subtitle “Earth Science for Society,” and
declare that we will
- reaffirm that it is crucial to learn how important and exciting earth science is,
- encourage vast amount of information and knowledge on our planet to be freely-available,
- expect the further development of outreach initiatives such as Geoparks, the Geology Day, and the Earth Science Olympiad so that people can think about, feel, and learn the relationship between the Earth, environment, society and culture,
- assure the further cooperation, collaboration and networking among all the members gathered and cooperated under the IYPE Japan, and
- try to follow in the footsteps of IYPE in Japan, by participating in the new initiative of the Planet Earth Institute to be established with agreement among UNESCO and relevant international geoscientific organizations,
in order to show the general public, especially young people who will shape the planet’s future and policy makers, and make them recognize how wonderful and exciting it is to learn earth science, how usefully it is utilized in society, and how effectively it can stimulate the economy.
On behalf of all life on the only one Planet Earth,
28th of March, 2010
Akihabara, Tokyo
