Dr.Teruo Higa’s
Living A Dream

#28 The "World EM Mudball Day" in Malaysia

 
In recent installments of this series I have mostly dealt with medical applications of EM^TM, but here I would like to introduce two very interesting reports presented at the EM^TM Forum held in Salzburg, Austria at the beginning of last July. The first is a report concerning EM-X Gold®. When measured on an oxidation-reduction potential index, EM-X Gold® is five times more powerful than regular EM-X® and other products that are its equivalent; when heated to 80-85 degrees C this increases by a factor of three, meaning that EM-X Gold® becomes 15 times more powerful. It was also clearly demonstrated that when products equivalent to EM-X® are heated their effectiveness decreases.

These numerical values are in accord with statements I have made in the past that EM-X Gold® is five times stronger than conventional EM-X® and that if it heated will be more than ten times stronger. In other words, if you want EM-X Gold® to be as effective as conventional EM-X®, you need use only one-fifth to one-fifteenth the amount. With the stress of everyday life and the burdens associated with aging, it is vital to always maintain high levels of deoxidation, and EM-X Gold® is a greatly enhanced product that will live up to these expectations.

The second notable presentation was by the head of the environmental agency in Germany. He reported on how in areas of the country that formerly produced an abundance of agricultural products there were techniques to enrich poor soil through introducing a substrata of highly decomposed black soil; they made many attempts to reproduce this, but none of these attempts were successful. When EM^TM was introduced, however, they obtained the results they had been hoping for. What they did was make EM^TM mudballs, mixed with charcoal, buried them at a depth of between 30-90 cm, and the surrounding soil turned into rich subsoil. When I have the opportunity I would like to introduce this case in more detail.
The “World EM^TM Mudball Day” in Malaysia

In March of this year Mr. Soo visited us in Okinawa from the state of Penang in Malaysia with an invitation from the governor of Penang.  As I have introduced in this series, I have wanted, along with the cooperation of Mr. Sawada, to EM-ize not just Penang, but all of Malaysia. To kick off this effort, I was invited to an event in Penang in which one million EM^TM mudballs would be thrown into the rivers and sea in order to clean them.

In Japan we’ve thrown 300,000 mudballs into the Ariake Sea, with great results there and in many other places, but I thought that one million would be impossible, though I did accept the invitation. I flew from Thailand, arriving in Penang late at night on August 6^th. The ministers in charge of agriculture and consumer affairs greeted me at the airport with warm smiles, as if we were old friends.

On the 7^th we held an EM^TM seminar, with a number of notable figures in attendance, including the governor of Penang and other government ministers, plus other local dignitaries and leaders of the EM^TM movement. The seminar was an excellent opportunity for people to learn more about EM^TM, and for both sides to forge stronger ties. At the seminar I made the following points: Those who throw EM^TM mudballs will become concerned about whether or not the rivers and ocean are clean. This will create an environmental consciousness, and as results are seen, people will confidently become active participants in the EM^TM environmental movement, and finally adopt an EM^TM lifestyle.

In order to fundamentally improve society one must follow the principle of self-responsibility and contributing to society; in other words one must establish a lifestyle in which a person is aware that his very existence can contribute. From a commonsense viewpoint this may seem very difficult, but if one puts into practice the “EM^TM Life,” where EM^TM is as much a part of daily life as the air and water, there will be no sickness, day by day the environment will become cleaner, there will be abundant natural resources, leading to, in the real sense of the term, a healthy, ideal recycling-based society. In order to achieve this, it is important to create a system in which EM^TM can be easily utilized in all areas of life.

After the seminar I signed, in the presence of the state governor, a proclamation declaring August 8^th  “World EM^TM Mudball Day.” The governor also signed this proclamation. I also signed a declaration presented by the minister of agriculture calling for the creation of an EM^TM experimental farm. From reports that over 1.2 million EM^TM mudballs had been made locally it was clear to me how earnest people were about EM^TM.

For the Chinese, who make up the majority of the population of Penang, 8 is an especially auspicious number since the Chinese character indicates growing prosperity, and August 8^th—double eight, in other words—was an especially auspicious day. Incidentally, the room I stayed at in the hotel was No. 808.

On August 8^th , before the 10:30 a.m. mass throwing of mudballs, 2,000 people gathered to hear a report from government officials as well as an explanation of the purpose of the movement. After this, the state governor spoke of the use of EM^TM in developing Penang. The governor was quite versed in EM^TM and the government minister who spoke revealed the tremendous trust he has in EM^TM.

18,000 participants threw the 1.2 million EM^TM mudballs into the polluted river and seashore. Seven local newspapers reported on the event with special 2-4 page sections, and the event was covered substantially on TV and radio. After this event everyone in Penang should know about EM^TM.

Penang state is an island that was used as a base when Britain ruled Malaysia, with a population of 1.4 million, about the same as Okinawa prefecture. There are many sites left over from the colonial period that are designated as world heritage sites, many woods and forests, and the people are relaxed and friendly. The state governor hopes to make Penang the premier EM^TM model state in the world, and told me I should consider it my second home and come back and visit every year.

In Malaysia Penang state is where the highest concentration of retired Japanese can be found. There is a Japanese language newspaper, and many local Japanese-Malaysians  helped out, throwing EM^TM mudballs during this special World EM^TM Mudball Day. The Japanese Consulate General also helped us greatly.
It is no easy feat to make over a million mudballs. Mr. Soo, who planned this event, began by getting the enthusiastic support of the state government, businesses, schools, and organizations, however I heard that they got stuck at the 100,000 level.

Mr. Soo had many sleepless nights, worried about how he would face me. But then one day a nine-year-old girl came to see him, and said, “We did terrible things to the earth’s environment. We want to apologize to the earth and make EM^TM mudballs to help out.” This reinvigorated Mr. Soo, and with the slogan of “One Million Apologies to Mother Earth”, they redoubled their efforts and by the end of July had reached the one million mark.

Since they’d reached their goal of making one million mudballs, Mr. Soo contacted everyone and told them they could stop. However, there were many groups who enjoyed making the mudballs so very much they continued, finally surpassing the 1.2 million mark.

The local media covered this event thoroughly, and they reported also on other rivers that had been cleaned through the experimental use of EM^TM mudballs, so that making mudballs became a statewide project; organizations and people who had never gotten together before enlarged their scope, and much new collaboration built up between people. The effects on society have been various and profound and have become an important base in urban and state development in Penang. I will write more about this system in next month’s essay.

 
1.2 million EM^TM mudballs were thrown into the river and seashore in Penang.

The ceremony on August 8^th.

The governor of Penang state speaking at the ceremony.

Approximately 2,000 people attended the ceremony.

Dr. Higa and the governor of Penang state.

A sign saying “One Million Apologies to Mother Earth.”