| The press conference opened up with the program presenter, Ms. Miyuki Ishikawa,
introducing the panellists.
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(From the left: Prince Mirwais Zahir, Hiro Yamagata, Dr. Sayed Makdoom
Raheen, Haron Amin and Mohammad Ibrahem Akbari)
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| Greetings were given by Mr. Haron Amin, the Afghan Ambassador of Tokyo. |
About 2000 years ago, Afghanistan was prosperous as the
advanced center of art.
This project can be considered to be the starting
point of the new Afghanistan. Moreover,
I believe that it is what revives the prosperity,
which our nation had in the past. Around
the year 2001, by the hands of the Taliban, Bamiyan
Buddha Statues were destroyed
and we all deeply grieved for this disaster. This
project is forecasted to be one of a very
phenomenal work of art at the time of the completion.
At night, the splendid world of
3D will be projected around the location where
the Bamiyan statues once stood.
For the future prospect, this will indeed be regarded
as valuable and well considered
project for the environment as well as in the aspects
of energy; it will most definitely
produce wonderful outcomes. |
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| After, the images of the project were shown on the screen; Hiro Yamagata discussed his enthusiasm towards the project. |
As I took pictures of those residents and children living in the Bamiyan valley, I was very much touched as they were all very
natural and filled with innocence. I received this very powerful impression from this land. Whenever I visit,
this passion rise inside me that convinces me that without any doubts, this is the place that I want to create my art work.
For me, Bamiyan is a very special place. I want to integrate my laser art work with these historical and cultural valuable remains,
providing electric power to the village and in the future, I hope to plant many trees on this rough land to turn it into a place
filled with many rich green resources. I will continuously be active for these dreams to come true. |
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| Mr. Yoshifumi Nishizawa from Ashikaga Institute of Technology reported about the wind force and the solar power
generator utilised in the project. There were explanations given about the exact numbers and materials necessary for the project and
these reports were based on the findings from Professor Izumi Ushiyama, vice-chairman of the executive committee; reports from the local
investigations and from the specialists' position. |
| To start out with, first, there are necessities of the electric power for the education of the local children.
It is considered to supply electric power to approximately 20 thousands households in the city of Bamiyan.
It is most likely that this is one of the world's largest scale of work to come into reality. |
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| Dr. Sayed Makdoom Raheen, the minister of Information and Culture of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan,
spoke about his ambition towards the project. |
I believe that rather than reconstructing the Bamiyan statues, preserving it in the current condition will allow people to acknowledge
the tradegy of this cultural and historical genocide and the serious mistakes and destruction of the Bamiyan statues done by the hands of
human beings in the beginning of the 21st century.
By this project being undertaken, I am certain that the issue of poverty that Bamiyan faces today will move towards a better direction. Likewise,
I believe that there will be creation of wonderfully new things rising to Bamiyan, which was once the central city of art.
|
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| Mohammad Ibrahem Akbari, the vice-governor of Bamiyan prefecture, addressed the current situation of Bamiyan. |
 Everyone
in Bamiyan is delighted about the idea that the
electric power will be supplied covering up to
20 thousand households. Currently, we depend on
trees as the principal source of fuel. Therefore,
there is great deficiency of trees. Simultaneously,
at this moment, the water in our rivers is running
low. With this in mind, I must say that there is
this great necessity of electric power in Bamiyan.
In the past few years, there have been no reports
made on any incidents occurring around the Bamiyan
region. It is a very safe place. I am certain that
when you actually visit, you can feel it yourself,
what a safe place Bamiyan is. |
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| *For
the question and answer session. >> |
