THE OKAMURA CRAVEN CHALLENGE


THE OKAMURA CRAVEN CHALLENGE

Environmentally Sustainable Development
in the Ocean under the Guidance of
the UJNR Facilities Panel

It has been my privilege to have been associated with the UJNR Resources Panel since 1970. During that period of time I have witnessed a most remarkable exchange of ocean technology which has been of individual benefit to each nation, of mutual benefit to both nations and of benefit to the world. Of the many significant technology transfers one must cite the development of the floating city, the development of the Swath Ship, the development of coastal zone breakwaters, harbor protection and environmental protection facilities, the development of fishery and aquaculture facilities etc. Many of Japan's technical leaders have played a major role in this transfer process, but the role played by the late Kenji Okamura was most significant to me as it involved personal friendship and the exchange of the complementary philosophies of East and West as we labor to solve the major resource problems of the world and as we confront the Herculean tasks which must be performed if we are to solve these problems.

Shortly before he died Kenji Okamura met with me to enlist my support in generating the political and fiscal environment for the establishment of a project which would demonstrate self sufficiency in energy, fuel, fresh water and protein for an oceanic coastal community. The reasoning behind this request came from our mutual recognition that the world population was outgrowing world resources at an exponential rate and that this growth was accompanied by a mass migration to the coastal zone where the natural resources of the ocean and its continental shelves seemed to provide immediate relief. Unfortunately the pressure on resources resulting from this movement magnifies the pressure that comes from the absolute increase in population. This pressure is further aggravated by the fact that nutritional requirements of the human doubles at age fourteen and that the bulk of the world population growth is in the bracket from birth to teens. This is best demonstrated by the demographic curve of the Cape Verde Islands.

These islands present a case study of the problem, which Okamura and I perceived to be the world problem, in its starkest form. Similar islands exist in the Pacific and it was Kenji Okamura's thought that the demonstration of environmentally sustainable self sufficiency in one of these islands, U.S. or Japan, or one of each would pave the way for aid programs throughout the world.

In tribute to this forward thinking and after his untimely death, it seemed that the most appropriate response to his last request would be the establishment of the Okamura - Craven challenge. This is a challenge which is addressed to all of the ocean development communities of the world and it is a challenge that I make to the UJNR facilities panel today. It is as follows:

Each oceanic community that wishes to participate in this challenge shall identify a coastal community to be developed such that it achieves self sufficiency in energy, fuel, fresh water and protein. A plan and a schedule for its implementation should then be identified and the work should commence. Potential candidates that immediately come to mind are Okinawa, The Cook Islands, Christmas Island, The Cape Verde Islands, Ke-ahole Point, Taiwan, Bali, Tahiti, Nauru, Okino Torishima, Haiti, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Bermuda, Western Samoa, The Maldives, Mauritius. There are others. Each entry in the challenge should publicize its activity and declare that the technology thus developed shall be vested in the Common Heritage of Humanity. Progress in the race should be continuously reported. But no committee need be assembled to determine the winner or winners nor will there be a formal prize. The winner will be humanity and it will be obvious and the prize will not be trivial -not as trivial as the rewards associated with recognition in the annals of history - no indeed, the prize will be the everlasting gratitude of an agonized world as it seeks to resolve the greatest crisis in humanity's experience.

The Common Heritage Corp. has accepted the challenge by identifying these communities and offering to help them in the design and implemenation of a challenge community. If you wish to sponsor such a community please contact us through MCI or by email craven@aloha.com. We will include your suggestions and your community on the Coastal Communities page as soon as there is substance on which to report.