The Earth Charter Initiative in Japan has received a new burst of energy thanks to the efforts of Earth Charter Commission, and ECI Council member, Senator Wakako Hironaka.

ECI Executive Director Alan AtKisson has been in Tokyo, and wrote about the special meeting he attended, marking the convening of a new Committee for the Earth Charter in Asia Pacific and Japan. (The Committee has chosen this name to underscore that it intends to reach out beyond Japan's borders to promote the Earth Charter in the region.)

Alan also visited Beijing on this trip, and began to explore new possibilities for the Earth Charter there, as well as checking in with ECI's World Leadership Corps intern, Kat Cooley (stationed in Chengdu for the year).