2019, Vol.3, No.2

Analyses & Alternatives 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 1.46

pISSN : 2508-822X / eISSN : 2508-8238
https://journal.kci.go.kr/aanda

How can we reconcile our aspirations for more economic growth or prosperity with the constraints of a finite planet? One of the high-income countries, Japan, makes us wonder if we can deal with two different challenges simultaneously: overcoming economic recession and solving environmental degradation. This study investigates the supply-side perspective which highlights the productive capacity and efficiency of the economy through economic lenses and the demand-side perspective which highlights the Japanese personal lifestyles through social lenses. This study aims to answer the question, if Japan’s sustainable consumption behavior is counter to economic development whilst environmentally proactive. It finds that translating individual practices and cultures of sustainability into the macro- scopic economic growth path is key to a sustainable and healthy Japan.

After the tragic incident of the sinking of Sewol in spring 2014, Korean migrants in Britain began to hold street protests in London. These protestors condemned the Korean government for the lack of appropriate responses to the accident, and for its failure to conduct proper investigation on the issue. The small group of protestors held silent street protests every month at Trafalgar Square, despite not gaining much media coverage nor public attention. These migrants’ almost three-year long protest outside their homeland is puzzling. Not only did they live in Britain for a long time to the extent that they regard the country as their second home, but they also exert scant amount of influence on the political landscape in South Korea. What can then account for these individuals’ participation in activism related to their homeland politics? In this paper, we utilize the concept of ‘moral identity’ to explain the behaviors of Korean migrants involved in the street protests. These migrants had strong ‘moral identity’, which triggered a sense of responsibility to act when their cherished moral values were jeopardized. Korean migrants who possessed a strong sense of moral identity placed huge importance on living in accordance with their moral values. It is a way of upholding their self-esteem and sustaining their ideal self.

The Hong Kong’s Anti-Ordinance Amendment Movement is the most serious radical social movement since the 1997 return, which has served as the promotion of the 2014 Occupy Central Movement and broken through the violence baseline. The movement came from a criminal case committed in Taiwan，which gave a good reason and motivation for the HK government to amend the Fugitive Offenders Ordinance. The HK government has responded to the protests by strictly limiting the legal scope and transfer procedure, even giving up the legislative motion. But the protests still say no and develop into the constantly violent activities. Many of the protests have committed the crimes in HK laws，part of whom have been arrested，prosecuted and under judicially judged. It is necessary for the offenders to be punished to protect the authority of rule of law in HK. Two different paths for HK have fought against each other since the 1997 return：one is the “democratic-welfare” path taken by the Pan-Democratic Camp, the other is the “Legal-development” path taken by the Pan-Establishment Camp. The second path shares some nuclear characteristics of the so-called The China Model mainly shaped from the 40-years Reforms and Openness. However, the HK people can’t understand the China Model very well and show great fear and distrust on the judicial system of Mainland China. The foreign powers such as US and UK have illegally interfered the HK issues which are deemed to be the domestic affairs of China. The so-called Sino-UK Joint Declaration can’t serve as the legal basis for the interference. Taiwan, as a part of China, also plays a negative role in this movement for its electoral and political interest. Up to now, the movement has gone down and the HK government has the legal capacity to solve the problems under the supports from the central government and the HK people. The HK people love its rule of law and order under the constitutional framework of One Country Two System。After the movement，One Country Two Systems will be go on, and the integrated development under the policies of the central government will be the main stream。However, the relevant problems exposed by this movement muse be checked and solved legally and strictly，especially concerning the social inequality and youth development.