 | Extramural Lecture by Ambassador Hiroshi Ota Asian Institute of Technology Bangkok, Thailand November 4, 2008 --- Lecture Abstract: What was behind Japans modern economic development ? Japan was the first non-Western country that succeeded in modernization and industrialization. Japans economic development after the Meiji Restoration of 1868 was phenomenal. One reason was that already in the Edo Period that preceded the Meiji Restoration, Japan enjoyed a high level of education and of pre-industrial technology. Japan was prepared for modernization. However, a main motivating factor was a strong sense of national crisis that the Japanese had in the 19th century. It was an era of imperialism and Western powers were competing in having access to natural resources and markets and in the process colonized countries all over the world. In Asia, although China was nominally an independent nation, it was virtually a colony of Western powers including UK, France and Russia. Japan had closed its doors to the outside world at the beginning of the 17th century but in the 19th century, Western merchant and military ships began to appear near Japan and Japan was finally forced to open its door. When Japanese leaders learned that China was a prey to Western imperialism, they considered Western incursion into Japan as a national existential threat. The first reaction was to try to expel the barbarians (called Jooi). However, Japanese soon learned that the military strength of Western powers was overwhelming. People gradually realized that in order for Japan to escape from the destiny of China, Japan had to learn from the West, and to become militarily strong. In order to be militarily strong, one had to develop a strong economy. Thus a slogan of Fukoku Kyohei or to enrich the country, strengthen the military. This slogan became a slogan of the Meiji Government. Thus we can say that a strong sense of national crisis caused by external threat was a strong driving force to bring about modernization and a phenomenal economic development in Japan in the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century. --- On Ambassador Hiroshi Ota: Mr. Ota graduated in 1959 from Tokyo University, Faculty of Liberal Arts, majoring in American area studies. He received a masters degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, USA, in 1962. Mr. Ota spent most of his career in the Japanese Foreign Service. He served in such posts as director of the Policy Planning Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), deputy chief of mission of the Japanese Embassy in the Republic of Korea, director-general for Scientific and Technological Affairs of MOFA, and Japanese ambassador to Saudi Arabia. He was also seconded to the Japan Foundation as its Senior Vice President. He served as Japanese Ambassador to Thailand between September 1996 and December 1999, during which time he was a member of the Board of AIT. Between the years 2000 and 2002, he was a visiting lecturer at Thammasart University. He taught Japanese diplomacy at an MA course in English. He is currently a member of the Executive Committee of AIT. He wrote such books as Waning of Technological Superpower: Self-Portrait of the US, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Diary of a Japanese Ambassador and a number of papers on international politics (all in Japanese). Mr. Ota is currently advisor to The Federation of Electric Power Companies of Japan, vice president of the Okazaki Institute, Tokyo, and director of the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, Tokyo. |
 | Fathers Love Cape Town South Africa The Extra-Mural Education Project (EMEP) is a South African Non-profit organisation that helps change schools and local communities through extra-mural opportunities. EMEP schools aim to be sites of life-long learning, recreation and support services in communities with little or no access to the resources that a school is well-positioned to supply and co-ordinate. This video is part of a mentoring initiative for men and boys in Project Hope - an EMEP programme that runs in rural areas. www.emep.org.za Please comment and tell us what you think. |
 | HomelandSecurity #131 Public Law 107296 107th http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h107-5005 through joint agreement with the Commandant of the Coast Guard, to carry out research and development of improved ports, waterways and coastal security surveillance and perimeter protection capabilities for the purpose of minimizing the possibility that Coast Guard cutters, aircraft, helicopters, and personnel will be diverted from non-homeland security missions to the ports, waterways and coastal security mission. 6 USC 188. SEC. 308. CONDUCT OF RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, TESTING AND EVALUATION. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, shall carry out the responsibilities under section 302(4) through both extramural and intramural programs. (b) EXTRAMURAL PROGRAMS.— (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary, acting through the Under Secretary for |
 | Blomvlei Primary School - A Call for Action In 2005 Cape Talk 567MW aired the "Silence the Violence" campaign from the Blomvlei Primary School in Hanover Park. The educators interviewed highlighted the schools need for a school hall and library that would provide a safe space for learners to participate in extra-mural activities and do their homework. A trustee of the TCD Trust, listening to Cape Talk at the time, was so moved by the challenges facing this community and the educators calls for assistance, that he convinced the other trustees to meet with the school in order to identify how the TCD Trust could be of assistance. This project had grown and developed from the outcomes of this initial meeting. This video showcases the needs of Blomvlei Primary School, its learners and the broader community. http://tcdtrust.org.za |
 | Work with wildlife in South Africa Preview on what to expect on the 3 week course at the project. Once in a lifetime experience not to be missed!! For more info go to www.wildlifestudents.co.za or email info@wildlifestudents.co.za |
 | Business Class: Katie Payne Ruth Korver chats to ex-Extramural tutor Katie Payne about her comic and freelance illustration work. |
 | SPOT - PWSZ Legnica Spot reklamujący Państwową Wyższą Szkołę Zawodową im. Witelona w Legnicy prod. Dami Media montaż. P. Wajs |
 | Auburn Nursery Cooperative The Nursery Cooperative initiated activities in 1978. It was recognized at that time that nursery production in the Southeast was facing a number of critical issues influencing the cost effective production of southern pine planting stock used for reforestation. Nursery managers from forest industry, the states, and the U.S. Forest Service were facing severe pest management problems. The Coop, therefore, devoted considerable research effort to developing effective weed and disease control technologies and to transfer this knowledge to those individuals in nursery management. During the 1980s, the Coop program moved into the area of seedling quality as research showed that nursery related factors such as seedling size, fertility, and health, affected performance after planting. The Coop continues work in both pest management and seedling quality issues, but now is putting increased emphasis on environmental impact of pesticides and fertilizers in nurseries, hardwood culture, and the integration of nursery practices with site preparation and post-outplanting operations. All of these research programs are accompanied by rapid dissemination of new information to the Coop membership through research reports, annual meetings, newsletters, and field visits. The Coop increasingly represents the forest tree nursery community of the South to the EPA and USDA regarding policy and regulatory decisions that affect the nursery business. Since 1978, the Nursery Coop has brought to Auburn more than 4.5 million dollars of extramural funding. |
 | PSU Quezon Palawan State University College of Community Resources and Development Quezon Extramural Studies Center Quezon, Palawan |
 | AISPED Marcapata - DIRESA CUSCO Anécdotas d trabajo extramural |
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