Abstract
It is said that the future of the environment and its sustainability is dependent on the attitude and the behavior of human beings. This study aims to clarify what methodologies best develop the awareness, attitudes, and behavior of people with regard to environmental problems. This is carried out by investigating two different community-based activities which encourage people to join local actions which are focused on caring for their local environment. The community-based activities this study focuses on are Landcare, an Australian initiative and the “Iikawa” and “Iikawa-dukuri” Workshop which has been developed in Japan. This study concludes that it is evident that people form perspectives where they can reevaluate themselves positively, through dialogue with others. Also, it is pointed out that there are four key conditions for promoting the dialogue which cultivates ‘Kansei’ (i.e. the ability of an individual to grasp the nature of the relationship between themselves and the environment). These are as follows: dialogue is encouraged when people physically get together; dialogue results from a person’s own practical experiences in the field of activities which care for the local environment; beneficial dialogue develops among a multiplicity of individuals with differing backgrounds; dialogue is pleasurable for people when they experience a congenial atmosphere and feel safe from any criticism. Such dialogue gives individuals the eyes for grasping the nature of the relationship between the environment and the individuals themselves, which in turn fosters initiative and the autonomy of individuals who care for their local environment.
