Jakarta, October 16, 2024 – The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a global and national commitment to improving societal welfare, encompassing 17 global goals and targets for 2030, which were declared by both developed and developing countries at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2015.
The 17 goals include: (1) No Poverty; (2) Zero Hunger; (3) Good Health and Well-being; (4) Quality Education; (5) Gender Equality; (6) Clean Water and Sanitation; (7) Affordable and Clean Energy; (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth; (9) Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure; (10) Reduced Inequality; (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities; (12) Responsible Consumption and Production; (13) Climate Action; (14) Life Below Water; (15) Life on Land; (16) Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and (17) Partnerships to Achieve the Goal (SDGs Indonesia).
During the Practitioner Week held online today, Fikom Untar presented Prof. Tsutomu Kanayama from Notre Dame Seishin University Japan, a researcher and expert in Japanese mass media. As a media professional in television, Kanayama has experience as an announcer and sports journalist.
His interest in the relationship between sports and media goes beyond professional interest; it is a genuine passion that has driven him to conduct research in this field. Among the professionals currently active in Japan’s television, radio, and newspaper industries are Kanayama’s former students. One of the most notable is the evening news anchor at 7 PM for “News 7” on NHK (Japan Broadcast Corporation), one of the world’s largest public broadcasting organizations.
In his presentation, Kanayama shared about “Shohei Ohtani’s Impact on Globalized Society from an SDGs Perspective” online. The event was attended by 500 students from the Faculty of Communication Sciences and several other faculties taking interdisciplinary courses at Fikom Untar.
“In his 4th year as a Major League Baseball (MLB) player, Ohtani’s performance has been remarkable. He signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and together with this team, he achieved new and significant milestones in baseball history. Ohtani has earned the titles unicorn and GOAT (Greatest of All Time) from sports enthusiasts and the general audience through the media,” said Kanayama.
In this phenomenon, Ohtani is mentioned as having achieved SDG 10, Reduced Inequality. “The possibility to harmoniously absorb and even change the long-standing discriminatory atmosphere and people’s mindset as one of Asia’s representatives. In the age of social media, the media’s messages about Ohtani’s behavior could disseminate the image of Asia-oriented citizens,” Kanayama added.
Kanayama analyzed that Ohtani’s presence has become a role model for accelerating the achievement of the SDGs. In the Q&A session, Kanayama emphasized that Ohtani’s humility and work ethic can inspire the global community. “One action can change the world. It does take time, but Ohtani’s attitude, humility, and message can transcend existing barriers,” Kanayama said.
Besides SDG 10, Ohtani’s success also accelerates the achievement of other SDGs such as SDG 4 “Quality Education”, SDG 16 “Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions”, and SDG 17 “Partnerships to Achieve the Goals.” “Many of the next generation of children admire Ohtani. He inspires them to pursue their dreams, which in turn encourages other athletes to instill the same spirit in younger generations. This supports the acceleration of SDG 4,” Kanayama concluded.
During today’s Practitioner Week event, students actively participated in analyzing the SDGs that Ohtani has managed to achieve. The powerful message conveyed by Ohtani about peace, justice, and strong institutions has spread across different parts of the world, ultimately making a global impact. Through this event, students learned new insights and delved deeper into the SDGs. In the future, students are expected to implement the SDGs in every aspect of their lives. (LI)