35TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OPENS
The JSA 35th general assembly was held at Meiji University in Tokyo on May 24-25, in which 63 representatives from 45 branches participated in. The activities, statement of accounts, and audit of accounts in the 37th and 38th terms were reported and unanimously approved. The line of action and budgets in the 39th and 40th terms and the revised rule of the preparatory committee for research funds were discussed and accepted.
In the discussion on the line of action, the following reports and opinions were pronounced by representatives: 1) the situation that the JSA is looked very much to by lawyers, labor unions, and physicians, 2) action of widening membership by cheerful members in retirement, 3) day-to-day actions of study meeting in graduate schools, 4) the actual situation caused by laws related to contingency legislations and significant movement on the elimination of nuclear weapons, 5) to make public the problems in the university reformation to independently managed agency.
The assembly had two special invited lectures “On the problems in emergency legislations” by Prof. Ozawa (Shizuoka Univ.), “Focusing on the Diet deliberation on the university reformation bill” by Rep. Ishii.
The assembly finally adopted a declaration that indicates important points in the action and resolutions: 1) claim for abandonment of the university reformation bill, 2) protest against revision of the Fundamental Law of Education, 3) claim for an early settlement in the trouble case of unfair conversion of work-position and wage discrimination in Nippon Chemiphar.
It must be remarked that the assembly was held in these strained times that the university reformation bill was passed in the House of Representatives, the participants enthusiastically discussed the struggle for repealing the bill, and many graduate students, younger members, and women representatives voiced.
THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT MUST NOT SHOULDER BUSH’S WAR
The U.S. and the U.K. conducted a military attack against Iraq, with no approval of the Security Council, on the pretext that the Iraqi regime, in violation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 687 (1991), researches, develops, and possesses weapons of mass destruction, and the Iraqi regime promotes terror abroad. This attack clearly violates the UN Charter. On May 1 the U.S. President Bush declared that major combat operations in Iraq have ended, and the U. S. and its allies have prevailed in the battle of Iraq.
In spite of this pretext, the U.S. troops could find no evidence of weapons of mass destruction and relations between Iraq and terrorist group. American people raised a question about America’s involvement in Iraq in terms of lives and money. Lives of U.S. soldiers continue to be lost even after the Bush’s declaration, and the president asked Congress to approve another $87 billion for the next fiscal year. Thus military campaign in Iraq cost very much. To break a deadlock the Bush Administration asked friendly countries the approval of America’s aggression into Iraq and military and monetary backup.
Complying with the Bush’s request, the Japanese Government rammed a bill through the Diet to send Self-Defense Forces troops to Iraq for security. The preamble of the Japanese Constitution states that the Japanese people “desire peace for all time”, “recognize that all peoples of the world have the right to live in peace, free from fear and want”, and “pledge our national honor to accomplish these high ideals and purposes with all our resources”. We must therefore point out that the involvement in logistical support to the U.S.-U.K. army of occupation for security’s sake turns out to clamp down Iraqi people and violates the Constitution. Though the Koizumi Cabinet stipulated that the SDF personnel would perform duties only in areas where there is no fighting on account of the Constitution, it is hard to decide where fight is conducted or not. Since some terms remain to be indecisive and consigned to the Government’s decision, the legislation is found to be incomplete and deceitful.
The JSA insists that the Government should resolve the situation through non-military means abiding by the Constitution and voices of the nation to avoid dispatching SDF troops.
During the Iraq war the JSA Saitama branch tackled the signature-collecting campaign “We claim an immediate cession of the attack against Iraq” addressed to the Bush Administration, and “We claim the rescission of supporting Bush’s war” addressed to the Japanese Government.
The JSA Hukuoka branch and Japan Lawyers Association for Freedom, on Murch 24, organized a lecture meeting entitled “Thinking of the Iraq war” inviting Prof. Nishijima (Hukuoka Univ.), author of the book “Why the atomic bomb was thrown down?” He explained the history of the U.S. focusing on its global strategies on the basis of overwhelming military power of which America took a lesson from the circumstances at the time of the Independence. On May 17 the branch also held a symposium “The Iraq war and the situation after then”. Following four panelists’ addresses, the discussion has run on America’s aggression against the Charter of the U.N., world anti-war movements, sloppy deliberation on a contingency bill in the Diet, and the economic decline of America.
NATIONWIDE GATHERINGS
A number of gatherings are held by the JSA alone or in cooperation with other friendly organizations
SYMPOSIUM “THINKING OF SCIENCE AND TECHNICAL PLOLICY IN THE 21ST CENTURY” HELD IN TOKYO
The JSA and Faculty and Stuff Union of Japanese Universities and other 4 labor unions organized the above symposium on March 15, in Tokyo, under the subtitle “The light and shadow of business, academic, and public sector cooperation”, where 70 participants attended.
In the opening address, Dr. Komorita (Academic System Section, JSA) explained the meaning of this symposium, noting that while researches certainly need to be ultimately industrialized and restored to the nation, the expansion of business, academic, and public sector cooperation entails a contortion on researches, the significance to discuss on the line of symposium that have been dealing with problems of the term-based employment system, the Basic Plan of Science and Technology, and the national university reformation.
Prof. Miyata (Osaka Pref. Univ.) gave a commemorative lecture entitled “Business and academic cooperation in the U.S.A.”. Though the cooperation has expanded since 1980’s, it has not only brought no profit to corporations but also hampered the self-support of university. It was found that the technology transfer channel depends on human relationship more than patent license and the cooperation raises the problems of interest conflict and dept conflict. Each university has begun to work on regulation and/or correction. He is afraid that research performance of university might deteriorate because of nondisclosure of results imposed by cooperation with companies.
In his report “The promotion of business, academic, and public sector cooperation in Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MECSST)”, Mr. Saijo (MECSST) explained the present position of the cooperation in the Government’s policy, proposing that universities and university stuffs should actively engage in the cooperation with initiative, and university and industrial society should clarify the mutual role to bring benefits to each other, and stressed, however, that the cooperation is just an option.
Mr. Nomura says, on the title “Science and technological policy and business, academic, and governmental cooperation”, that 1) autonomous exchange and cooperation of business, academy and public sector is a right and demand of researchers, 2) he protests against ignorance and suppression of researchers’ demands, 3) it is significant to sincerely discuss the desirable image of university stressing the problem of interest conflict and complete disclosure, 4) training students with creativity and sense of balance is required, and 5) it is crucial to carry out autonomous and democratic measurements of science and technology and academic activities. He also asserted that it is necessary, in opposition to governmental assessment in the cooperation, to take actions from the standpoint of the right to exchange and collaborate, as well as to develop balanced measurements of full publicity headed by the government instead of business, academic and public sector collaboration called on by economic circle.
Prof. Tateyama (Yamaguchi Univ.) reported the actual situation in his university concerning the cooperation in a local area.
In his report “The actual situation of business, academic and governmental collaboration in National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology”, Dr. Kato (Liaison Conf. of Labor Unions of Res. Inst. in Tsukuba, ex-vice president) pointed out merits in the collaboration (effective utilization of research resources, synergy effect, and progress of mobility in R&D), and demerits (abatement of investment to fundamental studies and education, defection of the research and education policy from the long view, and lowering the academic basis).
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
RESEARCH DEBATE CONFERENCE “TRADE OF THE CHINESE AGRICULTURAL STUFFS AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT” HELD
The JSA research committee of foodstuff problems and the Tokyo branch's committee for foodstuff policy jointly held a research meeting on April 19 in Tokyo, where Prof. Abe (Gifu Univ.) gave a lecture on the title "The trade of the Chinese agricultural stuffs and the safety control under the administration of the WTO".
He reported how the trade of the Chinese agricultural stuffs has been changed after the accession of People’s Republic of China to the WTO, analyzing the change of actual results of the trade and its factor. He pointed out the following three characteristics of today: 1) The export of grain from three provinces of the northeast area is increasing, but promoting rice cropping to the northern area and expanding the production are restricted because of environmental problems. 2) As to the balance of trade of foodstuff, the export is surplus in a weight basis, but deficit in a trade amount basis due to importing foodstuff of high quality and of high price. 3) The production of vegetables has been rapidly increasing by “labor-intensive industry” and a quarter to a third of products is exported to Japan. Concerning safety management of foods and agricultural products, it is problematic that farmers in China are hardly aware to safety, and quality control at a foods processing plant is very poor. He especially pointed out that the system of inspection comes short as seen in postmortem dealing or transient regulation according to inadequate arrangement of legislations and the uncertainty of by whom and by what a reason the law is enforced.
There were several questions from the floor: 1) In Chinese statistics, there is a so-called “extending rope” problem that less surveys the land. Is there no estrangement between actual areas and statistical values? 2) The advancement of socialistic market economy might aggravate agricultural chemicals problem. 3) Understanding on the safety problem in city and rural area might be totally different.
We have to pay attention to the Chinese trends as to the stable supply of our foods and also the safety problem.
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) SYMPOSIUM “THINKING OF ENVIRONMENT AND ENERGY” HELD
The JSA Hokkaido branch held 2003 Science Symposium entitled as above on March 1 at Hokkaido Christian Center. About a half of the participants of 43 were nonmembers. The reports presented were as follows. 1) “Global warming and CO2 in energy problem” by Prof. Kato (Hokkaido Univ.). He expressed his doubt of the hypothesis that CO2 discharge due to industrial activities gives rise to present global warming. 2) “Concealment of the accidents of nuclear power plants and present stage of the atomic power generation” by Mr. Sugano and Mr. Ishizaki (Hokkaido branch). 3) “Coal problems” by Mr. Yamada (Sapporo Kaisei High School). Kushiro-Taiheiyo Coal Mine, the last Japanese coal mine, was closed. Coal, however, is thought as the main energy source in the 21st and 22nd centuries, so we have to keep the coal mining technique. 4) “ On natural energy” by Prof. Itoh (Hokkaido Univ.). Explaining various energy sources in nature such as sun, wind etc., he asserted that we could increase the ratio of natural energy resources up to 20-30 % in the energy budget.
2) REGULAR MEETING “READING THE REAL CONDITION OF HOMELESS PEOPLE”
On March 1, the Tokyo Metropolitan University chapter of the JSA Tokyo branch organized a study meeting under the above title. The chapter has been organizing several meetings to introduce members’ studies to each other.
Mr. Suzuki (Tokyo Metropolitan Univ.) reported the result of interview with homeless people in Tokyo in 2000. In his report, he pointed out that workers not only in unstable jobs but also in stable jobs might suddenly become homeless people according to company restructuring or trouble in debt or family ties. To support them, it is important to assist in job gain as well as life in community, he said.
Participants discussed the relationship between the homeless people problem and the course problem of high school graduates, poverty group in social stratum, and the actual situation seen in technical zone such as exhaustion of skilled technicians, and recognized such problems crucial in present social issues.
3) SYMPOSIUM “NATURAL ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS” HELD
On April 19-20, the Hokuriku district symposium was held on the theme “Natural energy and environmental problems” at Fukui University with 30 participants including 4 graduate students.
The reports presented in the symposium were as follows. 1) “Sustainable and recycle society and energy” by Prof. Matsuo (Prof. Emeritus of Fukui Univ.). This concerns what is requested for the construction of sustainable society under the present destruction of environment from the point of view of energy problems. 2) “The activities of construction of electric power plant by citizen” by Mr. Hayashi (Assoc. for Promotion of Fukui Civic Electric Power Plant). Those by solar radiation in Japan and Fukui Prefecture were reported. 3) On the title “Present stage and problems on introduction of renewable energy in Fukui Prefecture”, Mr. Kodama (Ishikawa branch), as observer of the air pollution in Fukui Prefecture, reported the energy policy and plan for introduction of renewable energy like solar energy and wind energy in Fukui Prefecture. 4) “Think of how to use natural energy” by Prof. Mori (Kanazawa Univ.). He explained the characteristics of natural energy (wind, sun, water and biomass etc.) and how to use them from the point of view of energy technology. 5) “Electric power generator by thermo-siphon using snow” by Prof. Tsushima (Toyama Univ.). 6) “Melting technology of snow by natural heat – Collaboration of related technologies and new field development” by Mr. Miyamoto (Snow Management & Construction Tech. Res. Inst. of Fukui Pref.). The results of practical technology developments by collaboration with university researchers were reported.
Senior members and graduate students exchanged their opinions in the reception on April 19.
4) 31ST OSAKA SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM “COUNTERACTION AGAINST MARKET FUNDAMENTALISM”
The Osaka branch held the above symposium at Osaka City University on April 26. The market fundamentalism seems to destroy our fundamental lives. This trend can be seen not only in Japan but also around the world due to the spread of globalization. The purpose of the symposium was to search for the alternative economic mechanism in the 21st century.
At the morning session, Prof. Nakamoto (Osaka City Univ.) gave a lecture on American capitalism in 1990’s and pointed out that the stock prices would give influence on most Americans. The other lecture on “The Pleasure and Terror of Globalization” by Prof. R. Tolentino (Univ. of the Philippines) explained the influence of American globalization in the Philippines both on military and cultural aspects.
At the afternoon session, Mr. Kawai (Naniwa Cooperative Assoc., ind. org.) reported the network activities among the small and medium sized enterprises. Mr. Hayase (Osaka Volunteer Assoc.) made a presentation on New Public Organization and suggested a new business body with a close relationship to the society. At the discussion session, we had a valuable time to discuss the role and limit of the market mechanism.
5) LECTURE MEETING "WHAT IS HEALTH DISEASE” IN KAGAWA
On May 10, the Kagawa branch held a special lecture meeting before its annual convention. Prof. Uesugi (Kagawa Univ.) gave a talk on “What is the health disease?” First of all, he pointed out that people of today think health as the most important thing but constant worries. Why is it so? Reviewing the changes of the disease and administrative measurements until now, he explained in what situation the inconsistency has arisen among policy, medical information and health administration. He proposed one should establish a correct view of health and life. Participants were impressed with the proposal “Health is a problem in how to live and connected with the realization of dream”, and started thinking about their own health.
The convention adopted the line of action for 2 years, which emphasizes what the JSA should do and the creativity and vitality of young members. Members discussed the action of enrollment for expanding graduate students, and the action of educational campaign for citizens using university-running extramural lectures projected by the JSA.
6) LECTURES FOR PEACE AT OSAKA UNIVERSITY
Young lecturers at Osaka University organized the lectures for peace on May 12-15. The methodical lectures on peace at Osaka University were held after an interval of 20 years. The lectures will be combined to the regular curriculum from next year.
The lectures were aimed to clarify three important points, which were i) the human beings have abilities to live in peace, ii) the reason why the violence occurred, and iii) the path to the peace in the 21st century.
The titles and lecturers were as follows: 1) “The realization of world peace” by Prof. Nagano, 2) “The modern world and Vietnam war” by Prof. Momoki, 3) “Is racial coexistence a cause of dispute?” by Prof. Igaue, 4) “The consciousness of history and peace” by Prof. Kid, 5) “The path to peace” by Prof. Okumoto, and 6) Discussion “What should be done for peace?”
Many citizens participated in the lectures thanks to notices in newspaper beforehand. It was a valuable experience to discuss what we should do for peace among the different generations. We will continue to open the lectures to the public. The topics on globalization and education will be added to the program next year. In addition, we will evaluate the lectures to make them more attractive and fulfilling.
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.6)(2003)
[Title-page message]
Ishizaki, K.: On the environmental education
[Special issue: Cutting the restructuring]
Ninomiya, A.: Structure reform by Koizumi Administration and historical restructuring in power perspective
Iwasaki T.: On the dismissal of 110 thousand people in NTT
Nakanishi S.: The Japanese youth attitude to their employment in transition
Hosoi, K.: University restructuring and national industry strategy
Ohki, K.: An analytical view of ongoing corporate restructurings
[Colloquy]
Shiomi, K.: Discovery of materials – Self-awareness and cognition of literary men
[Series: Break a new century]
Oshima, K.: Challenges in environmental economics and policy study
[General]
Miura, T.: Globalization of food and regulation of food additives
Yokoyama, T.: Seeking out endogenous development in Nago City master plan
[From laboratory]
Kitamura, Y.: On the historical materialism of F. Engels
Vol.38(No.7)(2003)
[Title-page message]
Bando, M.: How can you measure the democratic level of academic societies
[Special issue: Light]
Horie, K.: Light and substances
Yase, K.: Present and next generation of displays as man-machine interface
Tamura, M.: Optical diagnosis: Present status and future
[Colloquy]
Satow. T.: The new course of study in upper secondary school in the spot
[Series: Break a new century]
Tomie, T.: Dreaming of the new era of X-ray science
[General]
Amano, K.: Effective use of environmental information in the EU’s common transport policy in the 1990s
Tokuda, H.: Ensuring principles in food safety administration
Kogure, T.: Terrestrial civilization in the history of universe
Vol.38(No.8)(2003)
[Title-page message]
Sato, Y.: The A-bomb at Hiroshima and me
[Special issue: Bucking against the path to war state]
Kaneko, M.: The revision of the regime of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty and the reform of the Japanese state
Miwa, S.: Tending toward nationalism of education – at the focus of the revision of the Fundamental Law of Education
Shimada, M.: Has the newspaper forgotten war responsibility?
Kuramochi, T.: Legislation for emergencies and state surveillance
[Colloquy]
Yamazaki, Y.: A campaign against industrial-waste incinerators in Wakayama City
[Series: Break a new century]
Ozawa, R.: Three essays on scientist movement
[From laboratory]
Aoki, W.: Observation with the Subaru telescope