Online exchange of opinions with Mr. Charlie Pierce, Mayor of Kenai Peninsula Borough
2021/6/21
On June 14, Mr. Aniya and Mr. Weinert exchanged opinions online with Mr. Charlie Pierce, Mayor of Kenai Peninsula Borough.
Mr. Aniya mentioned that for nearly 30 years, since 1992, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been a sister city with Akita City. In January 2021, the "Japan-Alaska Sister City Forum" meetings have been held, and as a member of the Forum, Ms. Yasuko Lehtinen from the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been actively participating. Ms. Lehtinen also participated in the Forum’s video campaign, which was conducted with the cooperation of the Forum members, and that Mr. Aniya was thankful that Ms. Lehtinen submitted a wonderful video. Mr. Aniya also said that he would like to carry out a "photo + essay campaign" with Forum members this year.
Mr. Aniya also mentioned that in 2017 the Kenai Peninsula Borough cooperated with Akita City and other sister cities to host the "Akita Sister Cities International Youth Conference.” The Consular Office would also like to hold a similar meeting online. In addition, Mr. Aniya stated that there are many earthquakes in the area surrounding Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula Borough, so he would like to cooperate with the Kenai Peninsula Borough in this matter as well.
Mayor Pierce mentioned that the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been actively engaged in sister city relationships with Akita City, and he himself has experience of cooperating with students’ homestay as a Rotary member before becoming mayor. He believes that it is important for the younger generation to look at international issues, and said that he would like to cooperate as much as possible in sister city exchanges after the impacts of COVID-19 are subsided.
In addition, Mayor Pierce mentioned that he has issued seven emergency declarations for wildfires, floods and earthquakes during his tenure, to which the “Office of Emergency Management" responded, and that, it is desirable for the Consular Office to cooperate with this Office.
Mr. Aniya mentioned that for nearly 30 years, since 1992, the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been a sister city with Akita City. In January 2021, the "Japan-Alaska Sister City Forum" meetings have been held, and as a member of the Forum, Ms. Yasuko Lehtinen from the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been actively participating. Ms. Lehtinen also participated in the Forum’s video campaign, which was conducted with the cooperation of the Forum members, and that Mr. Aniya was thankful that Ms. Lehtinen submitted a wonderful video. Mr. Aniya also said that he would like to carry out a "photo + essay campaign" with Forum members this year.
Mr. Aniya also mentioned that in 2017 the Kenai Peninsula Borough cooperated with Akita City and other sister cities to host the "Akita Sister Cities International Youth Conference.” The Consular Office would also like to hold a similar meeting online. In addition, Mr. Aniya stated that there are many earthquakes in the area surrounding Anchorage and the Kenai Peninsula Borough, so he would like to cooperate with the Kenai Peninsula Borough in this matter as well.
Mayor Pierce mentioned that the Kenai Peninsula Borough has been actively engaged in sister city relationships with Akita City, and he himself has experience of cooperating with students’ homestay as a Rotary member before becoming mayor. He believes that it is important for the younger generation to look at international issues, and said that he would like to cooperate as much as possible in sister city exchanges after the impacts of COVID-19 are subsided.
In addition, Mayor Pierce mentioned that he has issued seven emergency declarations for wildfires, floods and earthquakes during his tenure, to which the “Office of Emergency Management" responded, and that, it is desirable for the Consular Office to cooperate with this Office.