THE BULLETIN OF JSA

No. 87 (June 25, 2003)
THE JAPAN SCIENTISTS' ASSOCIATION (JSA)

20^TH KYUSHU SYMPOSIUM HELD IN KAGOSHIMA

On December 7 and 8 (2002), the 20^th Kyushu symposium was held under the theme “How we can build university and local community in the 21^st century” at Kagoshima University. On the first day, they discussed the theme “how to build local community”: 1) a merger of cities, towns and villages, and local autonomy, 2) a big consolidation plan carried out in the Heisei era, and 3) effects of a consolidation of municipalities on local citizens’ life.
On the second day, the theme “how we can build the 21^st century’s university system” was comprehensively discussed: 1) world movement and Japan’s university system in the 21^st century, and 2) problems in “university agency administration system” and movements against its legislation. Then there were held two parallel scientific sessions, university problems and local reconstruction. In the former session, presented were: 1) teachers’ status in Kagoshima International University, 2) education and research in university agency system, and 3) university teachers under the non-public servant system. The latter session included: 1) a new guideline and wartime legislation, and the US base problems in Kyushu, 2) Hansen’s disease and school education, and so on. They enthusiastically exchanged their views on the university and local problems in question. As for the university problem, the bills “university agency administration system” was brought into the present Diet and the related discussions have processed as described below. It is considered that in the long run, such a course of reforming the present national universities into agencies necessarily decreases Japan’s international competitiveness. Therefore, we must urge the government to withdraw the bills for further development of Japan’s higher education.
P.S.
On May 16, the Lower House’s Committee of Education adopted the bills to change the status of the state-run universities to be administrated by independent agencies, which was followed by passing through a plenary session in the Lower House on May 22. The proposed introduction of the independent administrative agency to run “national universities” necessarily destroy the principle of independence and self-discipline of education and academic activities, under which the government and bureaucrats wield enormous power over “national universities” and control them. The bills authorize the education minister to decide mid-term objectives of education and academic activities and require the university’s plans and their changes to be approved by the Education Minister. Their achievements are assessed not only by an independent panel but also by a governmental panel. Should the Minster have questions in a certain agency, the rout to their downsizing, privatization, or closure could be advised. Moreover, the bills create more than 500 positions of meaningless trustees and high officials for national universities all over the country [a paradise for retired high-ranked bureaucrats as every Japanese knows the trick as amakudari (literally: descending from the sky)]. Therefore, the bills let universities provide for the organizational interests of outdated Japanese bureaucracy and the private interests of its bureaucrats. Under such a system, university education and academic activities certainly are basically destroyed. For instance, the key to the Japanese economic rebirth is the quality of education, especially of higher education, for which national universities should become more independent and autonomous to offer the education of thus needed quality. (JSA^NOW: #143)

8^TH ANNIVERSARY MEMORIAL OF THE GREAT HANSHIN(-AWAJI) EARTHQUAKE HELD

In Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, at 5:36 on January 17, 2003, the memorial started with a trumpet performance and then the silent prey in “Early Morning Memorial Service”. Participants were about 300, including 64 from other prefectures.
In the morning were simultaneously run the programs “Walking in 8-year passed Nagata district (the most damaged district)”, “Hand-made memorial service”, and “Disaster prevention forum”. In the afternoon was held “the 8^th Anniversary Memorial Symposium of the Great Hanshin(-Awaji) Earthquake Disaster – the actual situation in 8-years’ time – till and from now” (the JSA being one of affiliated bodies).
In the forum, organized by the JSA, they discussed lectures from the Great Earthquake Disaster to develop the nation wide movement of disaster prevention. Above all, pointed out was the role of local governments and workers therein and promoting cooperation with residents as to-be disaster victims.
In the first session of the symposium the severe actual situation of victims was reported by representatives from the Reconstruction Conference of Prefectural Residents, the Hyogo Joint Association of Commerce and Industry, and other organizations. In the second session discussion was lead by coordinators and panelists, Prof. Kikumoto (Kobe Univ. Comm.), Dr. Kanemochi (Prof. Emeritus, Nihon Fukushi Univ.), Prof. Shiozaki (Kobe Univ.), and some figures of organizations. They reported the degradation of economical circumstances around medium and small companies and expanding gaps between rich and poor, proposing what should be done such as revision of the Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law and movement of new community building focused on medium and small companies for the aged society.
The Conference finally had a special report from the Liaison Meeting of Miyake Islanders in Tokyo on their actual situation and cooperated for signature gathering for revision of the Natural Disaster Victims Relief Law.

ACTIVITIES OF RESEARCH COMMITTEES AND GROUPS
The JSA headquarters organize a number of research committees and groups undertaken
on a nationwide scale, which are encouraging the members across th country

1) THE ACTIVITITY OF SETO-UCHI COMMITTEE

For the purpose of protecting the Seto-uchi’s environment in cooperation with local residents, the committee of Seto-uchi (or Seto Naikai: Japanese Inland Sea) has been working for preserving its environment since the committee’s establishment in 1972 [Course of activities are chronologically described below]. The 25^th symposium was organized at a prefectural seminar park in Yamaguchi Prefecture from August 31 to September 2 in 2002 under the main theme “Thinking of the Seto-uchi’s environment in the 21^st century in order to enjoy safety life”. In the scientific sessions, they discussed 1) reactivation of local area (nuclear power generation, fishery, etc.), 2) the Seto-uchi law and environmental protection (waste dumping, dredging, water environment and its utilization, etc.), and peace and safety life in Seto-uchi. At the end of the symposium, they adopted the Yamaguchi declaration and an appeal against the plan of founding a nuclear power plant in the Kamino-seki peninsula in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
[Activities]
On the occasion of holding the first Seto-uchi symposium in 1972, the JSA committee of Seto-uchi was established to make known their views on how to preserve the environment in Seto-uchi. Since then the symposium is called Seto-uchi Symposium (shown below), for which both the JSA committee of Seto-uchi and the peoples’ alliance for protecting Seto-uchi’s environment (Seto-kan-ren) have basically been responsible. The former analyzes all the problems in question and proposes the strategy for its realization, while the latter organizes different citizens’ movement, where both the organizations have been quite cooperative for preserving Seto-uchi environment..
Heading the voices of scientists and the local citizens, the central government began to take action to protect Seto-uchi. Seto-uchi Environment Conservation Temporal Measures Law was passed in 1973, which is somewhat effective in delaying further pollution in Seto-uchi. The movements to urge the government to stop the reclamation projects to recover the environment had been strongly carried out across the country. Consequently, Seto-uchi Environment Conservation Special Measure Law was passed in 1978, providing further possibility to protect the Seto-uchi’s environment in combination with the related laws. The law has been discussing to review in order to comprehensively develop it on the basis of environmental law.
In the symposia in the 1980s, discussed were a number of proposals to overcome the destroyed environment, e.g. reclamation (#10), revision of the Seto-uchi law for aiming at more sustainable development (#11), water problems (#12), and local problems (technopolis #13, Shikoku and Chugoku problems #14-16, evacuation of industries #17). From the 1990s, they have discussed the way of sustainable development that was stimulated by the Rio Summit of Sustainable Development in 1992. Namely, citizens were interested in how we could realize sustainable development in Seto-uchi, and they therefore visited and investigated a number of sustainable spots, e.g. formers, industries, and social workers. In the 21^st century, they are discussing sustainable development in the area from the viewpoint of the world movement.

[“Seto-uchi” Symposia]

No	Theme	Year	Place (City)
1	Development and pollution in Seto-uchi	1972	Takamatsu
2	ditto	1973	Yamaguchi
3	ditto	1974	Hiroshima
4	ditto	1975	Kobe
5	Combinat's disaster and environement	1975	Okayama
6	Reclamation and local society	1977	Oita
7	Resuscitation of Seto-uchi by citizens	1978	Matsuyama
8	Seto-uchi’s development and citizens' life	1979	Takamatsu
9	Democratic development of Seto-uchi	1980	Yamaguchi
10	Seto-uchi and Osaka Bay	1981	Osaka
11	Resuscitation of Seto-uchi	1982	Hiroshima
12	ditto	1983	Okayama
13	ditto	1984	Oita
14	Creation of Seto-uchi’s environment	1985	Matsuyama
15	Nature and culture in Seto-uchi	1986	Osaka
16	Towards Seto-uchi’s rehabilitation	1987	Sakaide
17	ditto	1989	Yamaguchi
18	Seto-uchi in the 21st century	1990	Hiroshima
19	ditto	1992	Oita
20	ditto	1993	Okayama
21	ditto (Re-examination of Seto-uchi)	1995	Matsuyama
22	ditto (Role of Seto-uchi Law for 25 years)	1997	Osaka
23	ditto	1998	Takamatsu
24	ditto	2000	Oita
25	Preservation and of resuscitation of Seto-uchi	2002	Yamaguchi
26		2004	Osaka

2) NEW YEAR SYMPOSIUM “THE WORLD IN CRISIS: HOW IT AFFECTS PEACE IN JAPAN”

The committee of studying peace problems held a new-year symposium was held on January 12 in Tokyo.
Prof. Sugie (Emeritus Prof. Chukyo University) made a report on Iraq and North Korea matters. He stressed that the U.S took hostile action against Iraq on the pretext of nuclear inspection, whereas, as for North Korea, the U.S. seemed to have the different strategies. Prof. Kaneko (Rissho Unviversity) criticized the reports presented by the research committee for the Constitution in the Diet and explained the important role of Article 9. According to
Prof. Kaneko, the committee had intended to guarantee the U.S. dominance in Asia. Also, advocates of constitutional amendment were trying to induce the Japanese public to accept the amendment. He again stressed the importance of Article 9 and concluded that it was meaningful to introduce Article 9 throughout the world.
Prof. Ozawa (Shizuoka University) criticized the recently enacted contingent laws to support US war. He mentioned that the U.S. wanted the logistic support from the Japan-Self Defense Forces. Then the military action would be taken so easily just by the order of the Prime Minister.

3) “DECLARATION OF RIGHTS AND STATUS” IN PREPARATION

In 1995 and 2001, the committee of scientists' rights published books, “White paper on Rights” and “Rights and Status of Scientists”. At present, they prepare a draft “Declaration of Rights and Status” based on these books.
In order to publish Declaration, the committee has organized many symposia, which covered “ILO”, “Science and technology policy of government and industrial circles”, “Actual condition of national research organizations faced with a problem of changing to independent agency”, “A problem of evaluation of Universities and private research organizations”, “The wage structure in the time of accomplishment-based system”, etc.
The fruits were featured “Rights of Scientists” in Journal of Japanese Scientists. On the other hand, they also have tackled recent infringements of rights occurred in some private colleges and informed these problems to the JSA members.

4) STATEMENT ON NORTH KOREAN NPT WITHDRAWAL

The research committee of peace question made public a statement “The abolition of nuclear weapons is just the present focus point of world peace”, which is outlined as follows.
On January 10 the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) declared its withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and hence bond of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Safeguard Agreement. The declaration makes the international affairs strain and opposes the international opinion to aspire world peace.
We demand that DPRK recedes from the declaration.
We also denounce critiques of the US and other haves because of inequity of NPT, and Japan under a nuclear umbrella. It should be noted that haves ignore nuclear abolition in spite of their adopting the final agreement to take away possessed nuclear weapons at the NPT Review Conference (May, 2000), and reconfirming it in the subsequent UN assembly. The Bush Administration should be accused of its conduct of subcritical experiments and advanced nuclear weapons development, and also of its nuclear preemptive attack scheme. It is not surprising that the US possessing the most many massive weapons, taking self-righteous behavior as seen in the nuclear inspection in Iraq, is rebelled against by the international opinion.
We here appeal for people who are anxious for world peace to rise up to totally abolish nuclear weapons and redress the unequal world regime relative to nuclear weapons.

5) SYMPOSIUM “IS TAX REFORM FOR PREVENTING GLOBAL WARMING POSSIBLE?”

On February 8, the research committee of pollution and environmental problems held the above symposium in Tokyo. There were three reports as follows: 1) “Point at issue of tax in force on energy” by Prof. Oshima (Ritsumei-kan Univ.), 2) “Review and discussion of tax system for preventing global warming” by Prof. Teranishi (Hitotsu-bashi Univ.), and 3) “Suggestion from NGO as to carbon tax” by Mr. Hata (Workshop for carbon tax).
Prof. Oshima outlined a tax system on energy and pointed out problems of tax system reform. Prof. Teranishi talked about his experience to serve for the committee for carbon tax and environmental tax in Environment Agency (at present, Ministry of Environment) and outlined the introduction of carbon tax in 2005 proposed by Ministry of Environment, and suggested the review for “tax system and financial reform for preventing environment”. Mr. Hata stressed the importance to maintain a carbon tax system, which is necessary for preventing global warming and proposed comprehensive carbon tax system building.
After these reports, they discussed system building and relation between government and citizens for preventing global warming.

NATIONWIDE GATHERINGS
A number of gatherings are held by the JSA alone or in cooperation with other friendly organizations

2003 GATHERING AGAINST 2.11AS NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY

In Tokyo, the Liaison Conference for disapproving National Foundation Day and protecting freedom of thought and religion has been organizing 2.11 meeting every year. The meeting this year was held under the title “Against war state, but towards the peace constitution vividly living state” just before a U.S.-led strike on Iraq, which was chaired by Prof. Hamabayashi (Prof. Emeritus, Hitotsu-bashi Univ.), representative councilor of the JSA.
First, Mr. Kimura, a representative councilor of the Association of Historical Science, gave an opening address.　He accentuated the importance of the historical point of view for thinking of peace and war. He introduced the statement against National Foundation Day that the Association issued. Then three opinions were expressed from each field.
Ms. Takahashi (New Japan Women's Association) pointed out that the promotion of male-female cooperative society is now facing adversity. Mr. Takamori (primary school teacher) reported the affair in Fussa city. The board of education began to enforce Hinomaru as the national flag and Kimigayo as the anthem in education circle. School teachers organized fight against the board and achieved a great success. Mr. Chisaka (Secretary general, Nihon Heiwa Iinkai, Japan Peace Committee) explained the actions of US and Japanese Self Defense Force bases in all parts of Japan before Iraq war. He claimed to pay attention to their preparation for attacking Iraq, and reported that KITTY HAWK had left from Yokosuka base, and Japan planned to dispatch Aegis destroyer toward Iraq.
Prof. Komori (The Univ. of Tokyo) gave a lecture entitled “Stop war nation building”. He touched upon a career of US President Bush and a group sharing political and financial links to support his political power. He explained that the Bush's administration was cultivating closer relations with oil companies, and working for petrol and armaments industries in the US. Prof. Kurita (Chiba Univ.) talked on “the contemporary world structure from the viewpoint of the Middle East”. First of all, she indicated her intentions against US attacks against Iraq that causes great damage to Iraqi people, explaining the history of the Middle East. Thus the United Kingdom and France once divided and put these areas in colonial rule, whereas people of the Middle East, nowadays, are worried about another colonization by the US, since the aim of the US is interests of the area.
Participants adopted an appeal based on the present situation

DISTRICTS AND BRANCHES' ACTIVITIES
The JSA consisits of 47 branches which are grouped into 9 districts, and they are independently
and/or cooperatively carrying out their activities in addition to the headquarters' ones

1) THE YEAR-END RESEARCH MEETING AT RYUKYU UNIVERSITY

The year-end research meeting was held at Ryukyu University, Okinawa on December 18.
Prof. Sakuma (Ryukyu Univ.) described the Fundamental Law of Education as the educational constitution, which was established through Japanese people’s effort against fascism. After introducing the current development on amendment of law, he pointed out that the discussion on amendment was not enough. Prof. Satoi (Ryukyu Univ.) introduced his effort on editing junior high school textbook to let the students think themselves. Then he stressed the importance on teachers’ abilities and suggested what should be done at the department of education, Ryukyu University. Prof. Takashima (Ryukyu Univ.) talked on the new vision for peace education. He introduced the textbook used at the elementary schools, which mentioned the pros and cons on the Japan Self-Defense Forces. Then, he concluded that we could give various ideas to the students at the classrooms so that they could think themselves. In the meantime he reported the contents of Fusosha’s textbook. Then he mentioned his suit concerning the textbook matters. Lastly, he suggested how we should build the relationship with Asian countries.
About 30 people attended this meeting. The organizing committee plans to continue to use internet as a tool so that more participants can be expected in the coming meetings.

2) MOVEMENTS AGAINST THE CHANGE OF THE FUNDAMANETAL LAW OF EDUCATION

In Akita Prefecture, the movements against the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education were jointly planned by the Staff Union of Akita University, to which a half of JSA members belong, and the Union of High School Teachers. On December 12, they opened a forum for prefectural residents to discuss the problems of this amendment of law, in which 160 people participated. A prepared appeal had gotten about 1000 advocates.
These unions and the JSA Akita branch have independently worked so far, but cooperation is now rapidly developing through these activities. Unfortunately, movement in universities is rather inactive, and the activities of JSA are highly desired. In Iwate Prefecture, a meeting “The problem of the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education” was held on 21 December 2003 by collaboration of seven organizations in Iwate Prefecture including the JSA Iwate branch, where 60 people participated in. The outline of lectures is as follows. The central education council disclosed an interim report to revise the Fundamental Law of Education last November. This report emphasizes the respect for Japanese traditions and patriotism. However, it is sometimes pointed out that there is a potential danger in changing the purpose of education from establishing one’s individual characteristics to making swear the loyalty to the nation. This meeting was organized to make clear the problems and promote the movements against the revision of the law.
Prof. Takeda (Iwate Univ.) gave a talk entitled “The contents and problems of the interim report to revise the Fundamental Law of Education”. Active discussions by participants followed this report. A retired high school teacher talked his unfortunate experience that his students had been encouraged to go to war by the education in elementary school (called “Nation School” in those days) during the World War II. He emphasized the importance of the spirit of the Fundamental Law of Education. Other participants also appealed their own thinking on the law. Some reports concerning current status of the education in Iwate Prefecture were given. Some advanced activities were also proposed. The organizations that held this meeting agreed to develop the movement to protect the Fundamental Law of Education.

3) 31^ST MINI-SYMPOSIUM ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

The JSA group of Japan Patent Office and the study group on intellectual property held the symposium. The reports in the symposium were as follows. Report 1 “Invention in duties and practical problems”. From the fact that many lawsuits have been brought by workers to ask adequate consideration of their invention in duties, the revision of the 35th article of the patent law is required. Japan Intellectual Property Association suggests that the consideration of inventions is provided in the rule or contract between employers and workers. The rule and contract, however, may be disadvantage for workers according to their current relative strength.
Report 2 “The patent system under the Basic Law on Intellectual Property”. Japan Patent Office and Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry are discussing the patent system in four sub-committees in the Industrial Structure Council. The report said that the discussion is not adequate for improvement of the patent system and invention activities.

4) STUDY MEETING “WHAT JAPANESE AGRICULTURE SHOULD BE IN THE 21ST CENTURY”

The Chiba branch organized a study meeting on January 28 at Chiba University, where Prof. Ishii (Chiba Univ.) gave a report on current topics, a measure revised to deal with WTO (World Trade Organization) and a corporation-based management system of farmland.
The former is the biggest issue of the agricultural policy today. It was reported that the crucial point is the lowering of customs duties, which threatens the continued existence of rice crops in Japan. The Japanese Government expressed “An outline of essential points of the rice policy reform" at the successive consultation of the WTO agreement. In spite of the continued import of MA rice (Minimum Access rice), the Government leaves supply and demand in balance to an agricultural body and withdraws from the deal. This means the government’s complete renouncement or denying the price policy of agricultural products. The latter is also linked with the above issue. In general there is a tacit understanding that the large scale of agricultural management reduces the price of agricultural products. But this is not proved in the actual situation. The intentional management to lower costs by gathering up farmland does not necessarily succeed in reducing price of agricultural products, but sacrifices the safety of foods. Further it is incompatible with sustaining the local agriculture and the existence of villages. It should be noticed that the entry of joint-stock cooperation into a corporation-based management system of farmland is far from the promotion of agriculture.
Comparison of agriculture and agricultural policy between Japan and the western countries were discussed. Although there are some differences of farm system, farm utilization and farm scale between those countries, a common point is known. That is, they developed the agricultural policy under and after the Second World War based on a price policy of agricultural products and a continuation of a family management. The difference is that Japan aimed exclusive expansion of the scale, but the western countries the continuation of a family management. Consequently it is clear that they have different stance on the WTO. The one is ensuring the sum total of agricultural budget (securing direct income rather than maintaining the price. The other is inclined towards cut down of the agricultural budget and expansion of a public works. We should learn the Swiss system as a small country, namely a great care to farmers of small scale farmland or the difficult area to secure the income. As a conclusion they have a different historical condition. Japan, however, has had a considerable experience of post war democracy over a half century. We must struggle national reform aiming at such an agricultural policy as that of the western countries, keeping and holding the family management in high regard, and preserving national land and environment.

5) REGULAR MEETING OF EHIME BRANCH

The Ehime branch held a regular meeting “Ehime-maru Accident” on February 18. Prof. Mukai (Prof. Emeritus of Ehime Univ.) reported on the collision accident of Ehime-maru and an atomic submarine. On February 10, 2001 an atomic submarine of US navy collided with Ehime-maru, a ship of Uwajima fisheries high school and nine high school students aboard were killed by shipwreck. He suggested in the report that the background of the accident is the preservation of US atomic submarine fleet and the US policy of expansion of armament. The accident came to an end with one-time captain Waddle’s visit to Uwajima, Ehime Prefecture and apology. However, the cares of the victims who are still suffering with trauma and PTSD are needed.
The society supporting the victims was organized immediately after the accident and started supporting activities. The society now has eleven groups and 472 members.

ARTICLES OF "JOURNAL OF JAPANESE SCIENTISTS"
The Journal of Japanese Scientists or NIHON NO KAGAKUSHA (in Japanese) covering all the
scientific fields is monthly published and distributed to all the members and other readers

Vol.38(No.3)(2003)

Vol.38(No.4)(2003)

[Title-page message]
Osada, Y.: Small talk about a Nobel prize
[Special issue: Drag induced hepatitis]
Yamazaki, K.: Lawsuits for the relief to the victims with drag-induced hepatitis
Yoshiba, M.: Grouped lawsuit against hepatitis virus spreading
Yasui, S.: The iatrogenic aspect of viral hepatitis and the fault of the welfare and health administration
Nishi, S.: Endemic hepatitis in Japan dependent on the lack of preventive action on view of the public health research
[Colloquy]
Uozumi, K.: Integration of ethnic Chinese through calligraphy
[Series: Break a new century]
Yamagata, Y.: Structural bases of protein functions
[General]
Kaneko, M.: The gist of bill to govern Japan’s response to a foreign military attack
Sasaki, S.: Issues of Food’s risk control by HACCP
[From laboratory]
Inoue, E.: The travel to see people who have been studying

Vol.38(No.5)(2003)
[Title-page message]
Yasui, S.: A prophecy of Mao Zedong
[Special issue: Academic degree]
Terasaki, M.: A short history of the degree system in modern Japan
Tachi, A.: An overview of the recent reformation of the degree system
Morii, T.: Ph.D. and Job shortage in the field of natural science: What can be seen from one example
Nanaka, Y.: Doctoral degree at united graduate school of education, Tokyo Gakugei University
[Colloquy]
Ishigami, M.: My outlook after success in intercepting the Kiinyu River dam construction
[Series: Break a new century]
Takanori, S.: Toward a rebirth of folklore studies
[General]
Mitsumoto, S.: From the public university to the public university agency