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global acidrain monitoring network



 Let's survey environment of th Earth "Our living field"!

 You are invited to join our global network of acid rain survey!

During the five years from December, 1990 to December, 1995, Eco/InInstitute r
eceived more than 20,000 acid rain survey data from citizens all over Japan.
This figure indicates that there are great number of people who "wantto survey
 the world where they are living". The collected data showed the nation-wide a
cidification of rain water is in progress. Interesting analytical results are 
being obtained one after another about what 
conditionssuch as area, season or weather pattern are likely to cause rain aci
dification or about what ecological effects such acidification might 
have.
 Environmental survey by citizens expands from acid rain to other themes.
Namely, the themes are water they drink, foods they eat, water quality of
rivers and lakes, soil conditions, living conditions of surrounding living thi
ngs, and so on. Their survey is not limited to natural environment.
 Citizens are beginning to study, for example, about how many popula-tion thei
r own community has, what the major industries are, how wide the area of farmi
ng lands and forests occupies, and how much the amount of waste 
they are disposing is.
 Through such survey or study, citizens in Japan are learning about 
what to do for autonomous management of the world where they are living.
 By filling a map with environmental survey data which are made based on 
common indices like an acidity index, they can share a feeling of unitythat th
ey are all living on this Earth and they may recognize what 
significance the place they are living may have, as a part of the Earth. 
Such recognition would provide a basis for producing various chances of 
international collaboration for problem solution.
 This concept of "Global Sensing" was accepted by citizens of Hungary,
Russia, Jordan, Pakistan, and Uganda and survey of acid rain or water 
quality was started in these countries. The respective themes these 
countries are pursuing to solve at first hand are:

 Hungary - Soil acidification of the Danube plain.
 Russia - Acid fallouts on and drain inflow into the Lake Baikal.
 Jordan - Water pollution of catchment areas of the River Jordan.
 Pakistan - Water salification of the Indus plain
 Japan - Nation-wide encroachment of forest and financial failure in 
             disposal of waste.
 We, the citizens of the six countries, would like to encourage 
herebypeople in every and each region in the world to join the "Global
 Sensing Project". For this year (1996) and as a project via internet, we will
 implement "drawing of acid rain map of the world". Please survey acid rain in
 your community and send the data to Eco/Institute.
And, if you are an expert or professional in the areas concerned, we will appr
eciate it if you provide us with wisdom or information, for
 sustainable development of our six countries.
 Finally, as a special message for protection of catchment areas of the 
River Jordan, we would like to encourage ecology scientists of the 
neighbouring four countries of Israel, Jordan, Syria, and Lebanon to 
exchange relevant information. If you are willing to participate, please 
send a mail to Eco/Institute.
Now, together with those people living in this same era and on this 
same Earth, we, too, would like to grow as a driving force for managing ofthe 
global society.

 Japan Eco/Institute Hiroyasu Masuyama
 Russia Baikal Environmental Wave Marina Plus
 Pakistan Sindh Rural Workers Cooperative Organization Chndio Munir Armad
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 Making of 1996 acid rain map 

Dear Friends

What is present concern is that of  "environmental acidification" in a global 
scale. We want people over the world to survey by themselves acidrain, a symbo
l of such environmental acidification, and to share the data in a form of "glo
bal acid rain map". The objective of this program is to 
utilize such a global acid rain map for considering of the present 
condition of the Earth.
 At present, emission of air pollutants is increasing on a global 
basis. Also, there is a concern that there will be increase in such 
irradiation of ultraviolet rays or vapor density in the atmoshpere as may
accelelate chemical reaction to produce acid substance in the air. 
A possible danger is suggested that destruction of ozon layers, or such 
increase in vaporing amount from surface of oceans as may occur by 
temperature hike, might create the condition under which chemical reactionprod
ucing acid substance would be accelelated. While it is believed that 
acid rain is falling mainly in comparatively high lattitude areas now, 
there is an observatory forecast that acid rain areas will expand to the 
areas near the equator.
 Thus, as incremental acid substances in the atmosphere fall down to 
the ground, there may occur further acidification of lands and outer layerwate
r (e.g., rivers and lakes) in a global scale. If acidification of landhappens 
globally, it is likely to cause damage to forestry and agricultureand to bring
 about even an irreparable situation such as natural hazards,
shortage of food or deterioration of water quality.
 Yet the actual condition of global acid rain has not been identified.
As such, this program is designed to encourage all the people living on
this Earth to catch rain water at home or at school, check the acidity, 
and bring the data all together. All of such data from you will be helpful
for "development of community harmonizing with environment" in Hungary, 
Jordan, Russia (the surroundings of the Lake Baikal) or elsewhere.
 We earnestly ask you to join this acid rain survey at your own place.

I prepare 500 acidrain monitoring kits for this programm, this year. If 
you send me following application form, I will send you a monitoring kit
to you.

Sincerely yours

Masuyama Hiroyasu 

EcoInstitute
1-12-22,Mita,Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan,153
Tel 81-3-3793-1641 Fax 81-3-3711-8550
E-mail ecoken@kiwi.ifnet.or.jp 

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FORM OF APPLICATION

Dear Masuyama Hiroyasu 
EcoInstitute, 1-12-22, Mita,Meguro-ku,Tokyo, Japan,153

As I (We) want to participate in the 1996 Global Acid Rain Survey Network,
please send me (us) survey kit(s).

Name of applicant:
Country:
Address:
Telephone number:
Facsimile number:
E-mail address:
Your identity: (Please fill in what you think your identity (single or 
           prural) such as nationality, people, religion, sex, occupation)
Motive of participation:

FORM OF ACID RAIN SURVEY REPORT
Name:
Addresss:
Telephone number:
Facsimile number:
E-mail address:
Duration of raining (local time): Time      :       :  
                                  Day     / Month     / Year       
Duration of setting container or tray to catch water (local time): 
                                  Time      :       :  
                                  Day     / Month     / Year      
Time difference between your local time and the Greenwitch standard time:
Place of survey:
Latitude and longitude of place of survey: North/South latitude    degrees
                                           East/West longitude     degreespH d
ensity of rain water:
Volume of rain water caught in container or tray:
Bore (Diameter of mouth) of container or tray:

* Time difference with Greenwitch standard time as well as the latitude
/longitude are necessary to check the time and place on the globe where 
you conducted survey. So please do not forget to fill in.

If not inconvenient, please answer to the following questionaires.

How did you feel after you finished acid rain survey?
Would you like to continue acid rain survey further?
Do you see any program of Eco/Institute or sustainable development in any
  country to which you may provide a support?
What do you expect to Eco/Institute, if any?
Do you permit that your answers or responses be introduced into 
newsletters of Eco/Institute or into publication on the internet?
   O.K. with real name
   O.K. with anonymity
   Sorry, even with anonymity