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Report of the 47th meeting;

Today's Guests; Mr. Nishimoto

Today's Word by TM Nishimori; "ambition"

She just came back from Seattle two months ago. She wants everyone to remember the meaning of this word. When hunting a job, sometimes the ambition leads to success.

Opening thought by TM Konishi; "Summer Time"

Most other countries have summer time / daylight saving time. "I wish I had a summer time in Japan." How do you think?

Table Topic session by TM Brazil; "Problems in the future related to climate."

Now the sea level rise is actually happening. Small island countries in the Pacific Ocean are facing this problem.

Q; If the sea level rise is continuing, what will happen? What will you do in the future when your country start sinking?

- Osaka International Airport is made by landfilling. So tthe technology solves the problem.
- Japan is isolated geographically, if some people set out to other countries, the war occurs.
- In hundreds years later, if we have so many environmental refugees, we can send them to the moon!
- About 1/2 to 1/3 people in the world live in urban areas, and major cities exists along the coast.
- We can create under city (sea city) in the future.
- Cold regions become a good place to live in.

Prepared Speech by TM Firkola; "Career Management"

He introduced his recent research. "The Career Orientations of Japanese and Canadian Students: National and Gender Effects." He had a questionnair to 727 Japanese and Canadian 3rd and 4th year business students in order to compare the career orientations between them.
In Japan, "ambitoius" means "selfish". If someone has a good idea and talk directly, sometimes it seemed as selfish. Also thre're lots of traditions in Japanese companies.
Here's intersting results;
1. Japanese students were more oriented towards Security/Stability.
2. Canadian students were more oriented towards General Management success.
3. Women seek greater work/personal life balance and less rooted, i.e. much more flexible to move around.

Prepared Speech by TM Ando; "Working Environment"

She gave her seventh speech. In Japan, women give the smallest numbers of baby's birth now. If the number of newly born baby will decrease, work force will decrease in the future. When she gave birth, she thought she could continue working until retirement. She took a short maternity leave for six weeks. Now maternity leave is gradually extending in Japan. In Parental period and in child care leaves, workers are paid but not 100%.
There're worries of the future of Japan:
Decrease of children, decrease in work force,....... Health and Welfare Ministry made a poster to promote the father's consciousness to raising children. She introudced her idea to better solve these problems.
Husband has to stay at home at leastone day with paid to take care of his child. This helps the reduce of annual working hours.
She pointed out that teenage violence relates father's don't stay in home. So, if father spends time with his child a lot and communicates better, the problem will be solved.

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