Environmentalism and Theories of Environmentalism relating to the movie Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind

Introduction

Environmentalism is a theory that views environment rather than heredity as the important factor in the development and especially the cultural and intellectual development of an individual or group. (Satoshi 1)

Environmentalists or members of the environmental movement advocate the preservation, restoration, or improvement of the natural environment; especially regarding the control of industrial and other pollution. Other issues of concern may also include species extinction and preservation of biodiversity, responsible waste management, recycling, the threat of global climate change, ozone depletion, and genetically engineered organisms.

Discussion

The story takes place 1,000 years after the "Seven Days of Fire," an event which destroyed human civilization and most of the Earth's original ecosystem. Scattered human settlements survive, isolated from one another by the "Sea of Corruption" (fukai, sea of rot/fungus in Japanese), a lethally toxic jungle of fungus swarming with giant insects which seem to come together only to wage war. (Miyazaki 21)

The title character, Nausicaa (Naushika transcribed into Japanese), is a charismatic young princess of the peaceful Valley of the Wind. Her name comes from the princess in the Odyssey who assisted Odysseus; part of her character comes from a Japanese folk hero known as "the princess who loved insects", while another part was inspired by the writings of Bernard Evslin, as he had written a more in-depth extrapolation of character of Odyssey 's Nausicaa. First volume of English manga of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind published by VIZ Media, back cover. Although a skillful fighter, she is normally humane and peace-loving. She has an unusual gift for communicating with the giant insects (particularly with the Ohmu, (Gerbert 01) the gigantic armored caterpillar-like insects who are the most intelligent creatures in the Sea of Corruption). She is also noted for her empathy toward animals, humans, and other beings, and for her skill at "windriding", flying with an advanced glider-like craft with a jet assist called a mehve. The Valley of the Wind becomes threatened when another state, Pejite, unearths a God Warrior (kyoshinhei) which is then stolen by a more powerful state, Tolmekia. The God Warrior is one of the lethal giant bio-weapons used in the ancient war. Pejite and Tolmekia hope to use the God Warrior against each other and, ultimately, against the Sea of Corruption. While transporting the Warrior back to their realm, the Tolmekians ...