Are you thinking about going to college? College will allow you to specialize and learn deeply about the major you choose. After graduation, it will have a great impact on your employment. However, in order to enter a university in Japan, you will need to pay a large amount of tuition. For a four-year university, approximately 2.4 million yen for a public university and 3.55 million yen for a private university are required to graduate (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology/2004). The majority of students receive scholarships and repay them little by little after graduation. Even so, the reality is that many students feel it is tough to afford to pay this fee.

On the other hand, some countries in the world have made university tuition free. For example, the Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Denmark, as well as Germany, France, Poland, and so on. Equal access to education is a very important right for every student. Japan has also provided free tuition to students who meet certain conditions, but the number of such students is still limited.

In Japan, various infrastructures such as water, electricity, and information technology are in place. Thanks to a well-developed transportation infrastructure like trains and airplanes, Japan is a country where people can travel back and forth within a few hours. The spread of the Internet has also made it possible to do work, entertainment, and shopping online. Infrastructure is important for people to improve the quality of their lives.

On the other hand, there are still many countries where the infrastructure is not well developed. In those countries, for instance, young children have to walk long distances to get the water they need for the day. It is important to develop infrastructure to ensure a basic standard of living.

Plants, animals, and, of course, humans all rely on the natural environment on land. However, because of human activity, the natural habitat on land is rapidly decreasing. For example, desertification and severe droughts are both results of deforestation. The loss of agricultural fields has a negative impact on the local population and wildlife. All living creatures would be endangered if these forests disappeared, as forests provide air, water, and food.

Buying products with the FSC certification mark is one step we can take. This mark is applied to wood that has been manufactured using economically sustainable production techniques. You can find it on paper products such as juice packages and toilet paper, so when you buy things, pay some attention.

The oceans contain many resources and ecosystems. However, today, the plastic we use every day is having a negative impact on the marine environment. It is becoming a serious problem. Plastic waste that is thrown into the ocean never disappears and stays there for a long time. Sea turtles and other marine life may accidentally eat plastic waste.

Another example is the decline of marine resources. As fish consumption continues to increase, seafood is being overfished. If this situation continues, we may never see fish on our tables again. Let us look at these issues and take action to reduce the purchase and use of plastic products.