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The Tokyo Diplomat

linari explains, Im thinking more about what Costa Rica can contribute to Japan, what can Japan contribute to Costa Rica, and what can both create together to add value to the global community. The contributions that he refers to involve humanity living peacefully in balance with nature, and what he expects to emerge in the coming years through innovative new technologies. His diplomatic agenda Photo: Costa Rica Ambassador Alvaro Cedeno Molinari in his ofce in Tokyo he summarizes as consisting of the development of bilateral ties with Japan in everything that has to do with sustainable economNew Costa Rica ambassador seeks environmental innovatio! icsthe production of renewable energies, bio-innovation, biodiversity research, conservation, ecologiMeeting the newly accredited Tokyo ambassador of cal tourism, and everything that looks green. the Republic of Costa Rica, Alvaro Cedeno Molinari, Specifically, hed like to convince Japanese busithe first impression that you might have is that he nesses and the government to collaborate with Costa looks quite young. Once the conversation begins, Rica on research and development for renewable enyou will quickly understand that he has a genuine ergies and the sustainable development of his napassion for environmental issues. tions rich biodiversity. Im not into cooperation in terms of how it used The notion that immediately came to our mind as to be in the 50s and 60s, Ambassador Cedeno Mo- we heard him speak in this way is that the timing of

Green Growth

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his diplomatic mission seems to be particularly apt. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis and all of the scandals that have been revealed this year about Japanese electric power companies have opened up questions about energy policy to a much broader segment of the Japanese population than had ever been the case before. To take only one prominent example, consider the fact that one year ago Japans richest man, Masayoshi Son of Softbank, was known only as a very talented communications company entrepreneur. In the wake of Fukushima, however, he has developed into a major political figure as well, and one of the most important voices demanding a shift in the nations overall energy policysomething which had previously been well outside of his immediate concerns. At any rate, Costa Rica is already quite well positioned when it comes to the subject of renewable energy. Ambassador Cedeno Molinari explained that about 95% of his nations electricity already comes from renewables, and this is expected to reach 100% in about four years. The ambassador also speaks proudly of Costa Ricas history as a nation without a standing military, which has not engaged in wars with its neighbors for many decades. Now that we managed to declare peace to the world, he comments, were determined to declare peace to nature. Part of that peace with nature involves stopping the reoccurrence of a nuclear power disaster like that which happened in Japan this year. Playing into the contentious contemporary public debate about this issue, he takes a clear stand: The only way to make sure that this doesnt happen again is if you stop all atomic energy operations. Thats the only way you can guarantee it. That sounds nice, but the counterargument that Ambassador Cedeno Molinari might hear from skeptics (and this is in fact the perspective of current Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda) is that the abandonment of nuclear power is unrealistic in the short term, and maybe even in the long term. The ambassador responds by pointing to the power of innovation: It was unrealistic to think in 1988 about an iPhone. The Moores Law that applies to telecommunications has started to apply to renewables. He clearly believes that Japan should jump into this race for renewables with both feet. Looking at the case of solar energy, he notes, The question today is who is going to develop the ever-efficient photovoltaic cell. Is it going to be IBM, which is investing a lot in it? Is it going to be the Israelis? Or the Chinese? Or the Australians? Or is it going to be Japan? ...Somebody will break through with paradigm-shifting innovation. Whether it will be Japan or not, were about to find out. Speaking of the role of diplomacy more generally, he describes it as a universal communication protocol, but one that may not be fully adequate to the challenges of the 21st century. Diplomacy, at its best, may help keep peace between nations, but more consideration must also be given about to how to legitimize the role of those tribesgroups with common interests of one sort of anotherwho have come together across national borders

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through the internet and other means. We have a need for belonging, and it is not constrained to our citizenship anymore, the ambassador points out. Ambassador Cedeno Molinari served as his nations commercial councillor in Beijing before his appointment to his current post a couple of months ago. A lawyer by training, he also holds postgraduate degrees in peace studies from Norway and public policy and management from Australia. Before his entry to public service, he volunteered for ten years in an NGO. Addressing the readers of this e-mail magazine, he concluded, Im very keen on engaging with other ambassadors and colleagues from the diplomatic community in specifically what refers to Green Growth and towards this Green Economy path that we are already heading to. ONE HIT NEWS -Public alarm arises after news reports indicate several radiation hot spots have been detected in Tokyo and nearby communities. In evening, government says Setagaya Ward hot spot is unrelated to the Fukushima crisis and has other causes. -South Korean diplomats raise comfort women issue at UN General Assembly in New York. -Russia to strengthen military defenses on islands whose ownership is disputed with Japan. -Number of Japanese lawmakers who have signed document opposing entry to TPP negotiations has risen to 190. -IMF says more needs to be done by Japan to pay down its massive public debt.

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