Preface

As we standon the thresholdof the new millennium,

can see that since the earliest

times

build civilizations.

Modernindustrial

progress,have brought

sumptionof resources

socioeconomicronment

issuesoverpopulation

have

warming,of species

advances,

togetherozone

energytowith rapid
mass

con-parts of the world. Today,

implications
depletion,

for the global envi-

acid rain, deforestation,and loss of biologicaland excess

environment

and the accompanying
advanced

weconsumption

diversity,

as well as

threatenhumanity's

among

the air, water,

for survival.

The Earth is a complex
soil, animals,

to economicallysuch as global

the extinction

very prospects

lifestyles

have come to have enormous

desertification,
includinghas used the naturaland technologicalmodernand energy

activities

Problems

scientifichumankind

if we look back over history

plants,only one home,able conditionzens, superseding

systemand microbes—athe Earth,boundariesof the Earth from the perspective

truly uniqueplanetand we have an importantfor future generations.
nationalof subtle interrelationships

We must undertakeand generationalof the wholein our solar

system.

Wemission—toleave it in liv-

new activities

as global

differences

citi-to view the futureof humanity.

In 1992, the year of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, the Asahi GlassFoundation first awarded the Blue Planet Prize, an international prize that recognizes
individuals and organizations who have made major contributions to solving global
environmental problems. In expressing its appreciation for the achievements of thewinners, the Foundation hopes to raise awareness of environmental issues and stimulate interest and involvement in these issues throughout the world.
The lectures and essays of the Blue Planet Prize recipients recorded in this publication cover subjects ranging from leading scientific research on climate change andthe interrelatedness of the atmosphere and oceans to the preservation of ecologicaland biological diversity, sustainable agriculture and aquaculture, and food supply
issues. Furthermore, their messages point to the importance of sustainable development for meeting the needs of current and future generations. I sincerely hope that thisillpublication,by makingaudience,

will servethroughout

the world.

the achievementsof the prize

as an aid to people

workingrecipients

to solveavailable

to a wider

environmental

problems

Seen from the vast, jet-black emptiness of outer space, Earth is brilliant andblue—a miraculous planet capable of supporting life. Earth is humankind's sharedhome, and all of us on Earth today must endeavor to establish a new society based on
harmony with our natural environment. In this way, we can leave for future generations
a more prosperous, just, and safe world.
We believe
humanity,solved.

wholeheartedly

the serious

Throughthat,environmental

its work,

the Asahi

throughthe ingenuity

problems

that we now faceGlassFoundation

hopes

and earnest

efforts

ofwill someday

beto contributeto finding

these solutions.

October

1997

Jiro Furumoto
Chairman
The Asahi

1VGlass Foundation

TheEarthhome

At the Asahi

is a precious
to myriad

Glass

everywhere
our planet

fromenvironment

humanecosystem,

livingFoundation,

we hope that people

will work toward
destruction

continues

things.

protecting

and ensuring

to exist for tomorrow'sthat our magnificent
generations.

* The symbolof the Blue Planet Prize, top left on this page, represents our responsibilities
to our fragile home. It
is a symbol of hope for our children, of coexistence and interrelation
with our environment.
This design depicts
the dynamic connection and balance between all elements of our world: the pristine blue sky and sea, people,
nature and the universe.

vInauguralBlue Planet
Winners

Prize

Announced

at UNCEDMedia

receptionprior to the press
conference on theannouncementofthe awards.

Professor Jiro Kondo, president of theScience Council of Japan and a directorof the Asahi Glass Foundation, makes aspeech at the media reception.

Announcement
press conference briefing
the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro.

Attendingthe awards

announcement

atwere,left, Richard Sandbrook, executive director ofthe IIED; Maurice
Strong, secretary-general
UNCED;
Dr. Saburo Okita, former minister

EM Announcement of Winners
The winners of the inaugural Blue Planet Prize wereannounced during UNCED, which took place in Rio deJaneiro from June 3 to June 14, 1992. On June 4, theFoundation held a media reception at the Meridien
Hotel in Rio de Janeiro. On June 8, the winners wereannounced in the Briefing Room of the Rio Centro
Convention Center, the same room in which the United
Nations held its UNCED press conference. TheFoundation also sponsored a display booth spotlighting
its activities at Global Forum '92, an event organized bya number of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs)
and held during UNCED in Rio's Flamengo Park.
fromofofForeign Affairs and a director of the Asahi GlassFoundation;
Hideaki Yamashita,
chairman of theAsahi Glass Foundation;
Ambassador
Masaki Seo;and Osamu Shiragami, senior executive director ofthe Asahi Glass Foundation.

UNCED = (United Nations Conference on Environment and Development)
All personal titles refer to positions held at the time.

VISome Background

Humankindon the Blue Planet

has only one home,in an inhabitablecondition

the Earth,for future

for solutions

to global

environmental

Planetan annualinternationalPrize,

that have made outstanding

and we all bear a responsibility

to environmental

humankind's

searchproblems,

the Foundation

establishedthe Blueaward

presented

Summitthe Foundationand interest

throughout

ciationfor the achievementsof global

and organizations
environmental

1992, was the year that the world

at the Earthissuesto individuals

to the solution

ing with the spirit of that conference,in environmentalit

To encouragecontributions

issuesto leavegenerations.

lems. The year the prize was first awarded,
attentionPrize

held in Rio de Janeiro.
hopes

the worldprob-turned

In keep-

to help raise awarenesswhileexpressing

itsofits appre-of the winners.

Each year, the Foundation chooses two individuals or organizations whose pioneering achievements represent major contributions to solving such environmental
problems as global warming, acid rain, ozone layer depletion, destruction of ecosystems such as tropical rain forests, species extinction, and desertification.
TheFoundation is also keen to recognize work in areas related to energy, food, population,waste treatment, recycling, as well as environmental management, ethics, philosophy,and education. The achievements of potential award winners must contribute to forming a basis for the harmonious coexistence of peoples, societies, and the environment.
They should contribute to humankind's pool of scientific knowledge as well as to therealization of a global community that uses science and technology for the good of all.
Candidate nominations are received from nominators in more than 70 countries aroundthe world. Living citizens of all nations, irrespective of gender or religion, are eligible.
The list of nominees is narrowed down by the selection committee with the help ofoverseas advisors. Final decisions are made by the presentation committee and nominees are approved by the Foundation's board of directors and councillors.
The winners are presented with a certificate of merit, a commemorative trophy
and a supplementary prize of V50 million at an awards ceremony. The ceremony takes
place in Tokyo and is attended each year by members of the Japanese royal family,
government officials, foreign diplomats, academics and researchers, as well as representatives from many fields of endeavor. On the day following the awards ceremony,the laureates present lectures on their work to an audience at the United Nations
University in Tokyo. This lecture event is well attended by journalists, environmentalVIIspecialists, and academics from related fields. For the past five years, the Foundation
has published a full transcript of the lectures and subsequent question-and-answer sessions. Information about the laureates and their achievements is also available on-line
at the Foundation's Web site. (http://www.af-info.or.jp)
The Blue Planet Prize was so named in the hope that our blue planet will be ashared asset capable of sustaining human life far into the future. The Earth is a preciousecosystem, home to myriad living things. At the Asahi Glass Foundation, we sincerely
hope that people everywhere will work toward protecting our planet from a humanmade demise, ensuring that the natural environment continues to exist for tomorrow'sgenerations. We believe wholeheartedly that, through the ingenuity and earnest effortsof humanity, the serious environmental problems that we now face will someday besolved.
Blue Planet

Prize

Selection

Process

Selection Criteria Determined by Selection Committee
Selection Committee Members Evaluate Nominees_Evaluation Results Compiled
Selection Committee Convened

Nominees Selected

Presentation Committee Convened

BoardofDirectors
andCouncillors
Approves
Nominees!

viii