I always remember the biology experiment we did at school with some bacteria in a petri dish. We thought we were so smart and the bacteria so stupid! I am currently living in Japan and am soon to be relocating to a mountainside house. This is a very strange thing for someone to do in Japan. I get strange looks from most people I tell. "What about spiders, snakes, insects?" Most, and that means not all, Japanese people I have met have a huge natural phobia, they love natural things but just from a distace and not too close please. Many of the younger people are moving from their smaller towns to the bigger cities leaving their parents to run the farm. The problem is that their parents are already about 60 years old (generalised statment but you get the picture) and won't have the energy to run the farms for much longer. I have the good fortune to be teaching younger (13 - 29) people to speak a little English in private classes. I have asked them about this happening and what they think will happen when the older generation have "moved-on". They have no idea what wil happen and from their reaction aren't really concerned. I can't really blame them because if you decide to really think about it is something really huge. It is not directly caused by them themselves but more like a byproduct of the huge thing that is swept under the carpet for someone else to clean up. This whole living in another country has made me think even more about where I come from (Australia) and it doesn't seem too different, but there are shining stars everywhere, and that conforts me. Just thoughts.... Chris Nuss
