71ST EXECTIVE COUNCIL OF WFSW HELD
The 71st executive council of the World Federation of Scientific Workers (WFSW) was held on 26 and 27 September 2003 at CGT headquarters in Paris. 8 boards of trustees from Confederation Generale du Travail (CGT), the Higher Education Union, Confederation Francaise Democratique du Travail (CFDT), organizations from Republic of Senegal, Republic of Madagascar, the United States, Japan and Peoplefs Republic of China as well as 5 executive boards of Chairman, Vice Chairmen, Deputy Secretary-General and accountant attended the meeting. On the first day, they had the reports on the activities for the past year and made discussions. Most of the activities were related to UNESCO such as attending the Bioethics Committee as an observer. The Federation seemed to have faced difficulty in promoting its own activities. On the second day, the discussion on the next 19th general assembly was made. It was decided that the next general assembly would be held in the week of October 17, 2004 in Lisbon. In spite of the advance proposal from the United States and Japan arguing that the peace issue should be included in the program, the main theme of the international symposium was decided as gScience, Knowledge and Marketh with 5 sessions concerning 1) Intellectual Property, 2) Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), 3) New Pharmaceutical Services, 4) Biodiversity and 5) Basic Research and Public Sphere. The JSA appealed that discussion on peace should be vital at the symposium because science plays an important role in constructing peace. The symposium should give an opportunity to discuss the construction of political program to achieve nuclear abolition as well as to examine the global strategy of nuclear weapon. Therefore, the JSA strongly insisted that the 5th session should be modified. The boards from Senegal and the Higher Education Union agreed with our proposal so that the Chair took a notice of reconsideration. After the early 1990fs, WFSW has been facing the difficulty in keeping its activities since the secession of important affiliates such as the one in the United Kingdom that had sent a secretary for a long time. The most urgent issue for WFSW must be the reconstruction of the Federation.
2002 SCIENTISTS FORUM AGAINST A&H BOMB HELD IN KOBE
The above forum (15th annual meeting) was held on August 1 under
the title "Let's realize a total elimination of nuclear weapons - Challenge to
the global tide of militarization", which was attended by about 140 people
including many citizens and presented by 6 reports and enthusiastic discussion.
In the first session, Prof. Fujioka (Ritsumei-kan Univ.) gave a report on
the title "International movements of nuclear weapons - Thinking of the US's
strategy of extraterrestrial war". He pointed out that the dependence on nuclear
weapons has been rather increased after the terrorism on September 11, 2001, and
we must urgently pursue an alternative resolution. He also discussed the US's
developments of missiles and satellites for extraterrestrial war as a background
of US's single-handed militarism.
In the second session, Prof. Noguchi
(Nihon Univ.) reported the nuclear victims in Rongelap islands etc. in the
Marshal Atolls. He reported that the large-scale developments of the nuclear
weapons were made in the Marshal Atolls, and the significant enhancement of
iodine 131 in this region. He also pointed out the distribution of Plutonium by
the nuclear explosion tests, which is an important difference comparing with the
accidents of nuclear plants.
A special report by representative from India
was held in the third session. He gave a report with the title "Lessons from the
nuclear militarization in South Asia". His report included a critical analysis
of the present status of the confrontation between India and Pakistan. His
report shows that to have nuclear weapons by both countries never resulted in
stabilization, but the elimination of nuclear weapons is the unique solution.
After these three sessions, participants had a panel discussion on the theme
"Nuclear weapons and peace questions". Prof. Wada (Kobe Univ.) reported on
wartime legislation and peace constitution. He remarked that this legislation
was essentially proposed to support the US forces which have been expanding to
Asia-Pacific regions, and that completely conflicts with Article 9 of the
Japanese constitution, which declares to renounce all forms of war. Prof.
Kameyama (Ryukyu Univ.) reported on Okinawan US' military bases. His report
included the US's plan to construct a new large-scale base on the sea off Nago
City. Mr. Kajimoto (Gensuikyo: Japan Council against A&H Bombs) reported on
non-nuclear policy in Kobe City. Since 1975, Kobe City has been refusing the
foreign ships which do not submit a proof that the ship has no nuclear weapon.
After these addresses participants had an active discussion. For instance, the
importance of the Kobe's policy was emphasized as a possible way to realize the
elimination of nuclear weapons based on local government. The importance of the
education for peace was also pointed out.
The forum was designed to make
enough time for discussion, including the session of the panel discussion, which
enables the participants to attend the discussion more actively than in the
previous meetings. After the forum, some participants commented that the role of
scientists in the movements to eliminate the nuclear weapons should be discussed
again. This comment should be included in the discussion to plan the next forum.
JSA 3RD EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING HELD
1) 25TH SETO-UCHI SYMPOSIUM HELD IN YAMAGUCHI
The committee of Seto-uchi (Japanese Inland Sea) has been working for preserving its environment since its establishment in 1972 [ref. JSANOW #134]. The 25th symposium was organized at Yamaguchi Prefecture Seminar Park in Yamaguchi City on August 31 and September 1 under the main theme "Thinking of the Seto-uchi's environment in the 21st century". At the beginning, Prof. Mizota (Yamaguchi Univ.) gave a keynote speech of the symposium, which was followed by a special lecture by Prof. Fukuda (Okayama Univ.) on the title "The last paradise Suo-nada (the sea of Suo) for inner bay's shellfish habitant", where he introduced his investigation of the rare species at the area. Dr. Harada (Yamaguchi Res. Center for Horseshoe Crab) reported the present habitation status of horseshoe crab in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which has been becoming extinct in Seto-uchi because of the inland development accompanying by different types of pollution. Also, Prof. Onari (Tokuyama Col.) gave a special lecture entitled "Role of the micro-bubble technology for fishery cultivation and marine environmental purification". 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, construction of airports etc.), and peace and safety life in Seto-uchi, and 3) reports basing on the on-the-spot investigations (Yamaguchi Prefecture Bay and San Francisco Bay), respectively. At the end of the symposium, the participants adopted the Yamaguchi declaration and an appeal against the plan of founding a nuclear power plant in the Kamino-seki peninsula in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
2) THE COMMITTEE OF MEDICAL CARE AND YAKUGAI PROBLEMS
In the 37th term (2001) the committee has devoted its power to
clearing up and resolving Yakugai (drug-induced) CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jacob
Disease) problem. The Yakugai CJD lawsuit was first filed by Mr. and Mrs.
Tani in 1996, and then families of 20 victims went to Otsu and Tokyo district
courts. The committee has consistently supported the suitors, and held three
national symposia and international symposium (Hitotsu-bashi Univ., Nov. 2001)
in collaboration with suitors, counsel, and supporters. As informed, on March
25, 2002, Yakugai CJD lawsuit concluded as an amicable settlement in
plaintiff's favor. Then signed confirmation stipulates apologies of defendant,
the government and companies, to make compensation and support for victims
(establishment of the support network), to take an expeditious action to avoid
danger in case of necessity, and to make satisfactory education on Yakugai in
medical and pharmaceutical sciences. The contents, having a great significance
in resolving Yakugai problems, should be realized.
The committee's
task in the 38th term is as follows: 1) to consecutively support
victims, 2) to bear a part in building up the CJD support network established in
June 30, 3) to investigate the amendment bill of Medicine Act presented by the
government, 4) to clarify how to help victims caused by blood products and the
way of prevention and eradication, 5) to publish the results obtained in
national and international symposia, 6) to clear up and resolve hepatitis caused
by medicaments and severe drug eruption, and 7) to hold a session in the
14th Comprehensive Scientific Study Conference (Sapporo).
3) THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE OF ATOMIC POWER PROBLEMS
The laying pipes of the No.1 nuclear reactor in Hamaoka nuclear power plant were destroyed by hydrogen gas explosion in November 2001. The explosion mechanism is still unknown according to the final report on the accident by Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency. The occurrence of such an accident shows that the technology of a light water reactor has not been accomplished. A regular meeting of the committee discussed the following themes: 1) recent accidents of nuclear reactor, 2) economic problem of Rokkasho nuclear fuel cycle plant project, which needs more than thirty nine hundreds billion yen for construction, 3) project of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor at Rokkasho-mura, and 4) merger of Japan Atomic Energy Research Institute and Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute. The symposium on nuclear power generation was held in Tokyo this year, where they discussed the ongoing problems: reorganization of administrative organs and plutonium cycle system. They agreed that since the accumulation of plutonium in spent nuclear fuel is severe problem, the policy of plutonium reprocessing should be discussed intensively.
4) THE RESEARCH COMMMITEE OF POLLUTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS
From August 31 to September 1, the Research Committee of Pollution and
Environmental Problems held a symposium on the title "Environmental problem in
Shiga Prefecture" in Tokyo.
In the symposium, there were three reports as
follows: 1) problem of dams around Lake Biwa, 2) waste disposal problems in
Shiga, 3) groundwater pollution in Shiga. The reports showed many of problems,
e.g. futile 7 plans of dam construction, problem of dump of factory waste
in Rittou City, Shiga and groundwater pollution around Lake Biwa which is worst
one in Japan. Participants discussed those problems lively.
In the meeting,
the members of the committee checked up the progress of publishing
Kankyo-tenbo (a review of environment), Vol. 3 and Kankyo-shiryo
Shusei (integration of documents of environmental problems). They also
discussed environmental problems both domestically and internationally, which
the members reported: 1) problems of an artificial island on Hakata Bay, 2) coal
fired power plants, and 3) condominium building in Ichikawa City, Chiba
Prefecture. In addition, the members reported environmental activities of
national and local governments, NGO and society-associated environmental
problems.
5) BIOETHICAL COMMITTEE'S ACTIVITY
The governmental bodies have proposed different guideline for advanced technology of medical care, to which the research committee of bioethics has respectively presented public comments. On the other hand, the achievements of human gene analysis has affected the thinking of concept of life and simultaneously led to develop a new bio-business including gene-technological industry. In the future, so-called market-orienting theory tramples down real bioethical consideration and consequently lets life commercialize to make a venture. In order to overcome such capitalistic theory, the committee is going to propose the ground theory for constructing human-orienting bioethical consideration. As for the clinical ethics in question, the committee has no intention to adopt the clinical ethics as seen in the US and others (autonomy first: since all the patients should be autonomous, they should accept their medical care on the basis of self-determination and self-responsibility), but in stead proposes a medical care system in which the possible patients' advocacy should be encouraged in order to support their autonomous ability. Those research activities and results will be reported in the future Bioethical Symposium.
6) UTILIZATION OF URBAN FARMLAND DISCUSSED IN TOKYO
The research committee of foodstuff problems has been studying in cooperation
with the foodstuff policy committee of the Tokyo branch, where they discussed
the safety problems of foodstuff and the ample supply of foodstuff. The
committees held a research meeting on the above theme on July 27, where Prof.
Goto (Musashi Univ.) gave a keynote report on how to utilize a farmland
available in the urbanized zone. The main point at issue is the various concerns
of the people in the urbanized zone for agriculture that recently become
striking. Based on a wealth of his investigation of the actual conditions, he
introduced needs of the people in the urbanized zone that were not only the
supply of agriculture products but also direct connection with agriculture. As
to the latter, he touched upon how to utilize a farmland in the urbanized zone
and explained its placement in the law system and the problem of reconsidering
the farmland law system. He showed the triangle and placed farmers, citizens and
farmland at each vertex and their interrelationships, farmland-citizens
(environment), citizens-farmers (culture) and farmers-farmland (agriculture
products) each side. His working hypothesis that the general public's concern
for farmland shifts from life to life (living) was very
interesting.
There were various discussions as follows. It seemed necessary
to add labor and education to the triangle and place agriculture in the
industry. In the Metropolitan area, it is worthy of notice that agriculture
volunteers and administrative organs are contributing to preserve farmlands.
What are problems concerning on the deregulation to the farmland law system in
the "Regeneration plan for food and agriculture" that the Ministry of
Agriculture Forestry and Fishery brought up.
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 "PROTECT NATURAL FEATURE OF JAPAN SEA"
The symposium was held on June 8-9 at Toyama Science and Culture Center in Toyama City. About 50 participants attended the symposium. Main report entitled "Pollution of heavy oil and sludge in Japan Sea" was presented by Prof. Tozaki (Kanazawa Univ.), which was followed by general reports as follows: 1) marine pollution of Japan Sea by plastics, 2) state and regeneration of Kahoku lagoon, 3) natural historical data and countermeasures of oil pollution, 4) volunteer activities of removing waste oil at Noto Peninsula, and 5) relief of birds injured by heavy oil in Fukui Prefecture. On the afternoon of June 9 more than 10 participants made a field trip to Nyuzen fishing port. The resent haul of fish in this area remarkably decreases, where a lot of sludge is piled on the sea bottom. Since the sludge was discharged by the construction of two dams on Kurobe River, the relation between the sludge and the decrease of the fish haul should be investigated in the future.
2) STUDY MEETING "KANAGAWA PREFECTURE AND NATIONAL EMERGENCY LEGISLATION" IN KANAGAWA
The Kanagawa branch held a regular study meeting where Prof. Konno
(Kanto-Gakuin Univ.) lectured as follows. Kanagawa Prefecture is the next
largest prefecture occupied by the US forces after Okinawa in the sense of
facilities and holding the highest operation abilities among oversea bases. The
USFJ (US Forces Japan) Army's headquarters is deployed in Zama City and the
Navy's one in Yokosuka City. Yokosuka is not only the homeport of carrier battle
group led by flagship Blue Ridge and carrier air wing Kitty Hawk
but also a quasi-homeport of the 7th Fleet Submarine Force, whose
mother ship Frank Gable homeports Guam. Also in Kanagawa there are Atsugi
Navy Airport, Tsurumi Oil Depot, Sagami Supply Depot (Sagamihara City), Ikeko
Habitation in conjunction with US military base Yokosuka, and distinguished
technology to support advanced base operations.
These bases have been
practiced, aside the Korean War under the occupation of the US Forces, at the
times of the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, the antiterrorist Afghan War and
etc. On every occasion, the air of wars has been repleted at bases in
Kanagawa and around the roads connecting bases. More than 100,000 US soldiers
injured in Vietnam were transferred to the US Army hospitals at Camps Negishi in
Yokohama, Zama, Asagiri, and Oji, and damaged military cars, airplanes and
combat vehicles were landed on Yokosuka and Yokohama to repair in Sagami Depot,
again committed to battlefields. In the Gulf War, the carrier battle group made
a sortie from Yokosuka and Japanese marine sweepers were dispatched. In the
Afghan War, support vessels of the Self-Defense Forces participated in the US's
operation in the Indian Sea and the Arabian Sea. It was informed that the
workers for oil companies were rushed to deliver at once.
All usage of the
US bases was for wars of the US, indicating that Japanese cooperation has
by and by come closer to participation. The national emergency
legislation is the final stage, which should therefore be blocked to make a
substantial contribution to the world peace.
3) DISCUSSION ON "UNIVERSITY REFORMATION AND UNIFICATION - ITS MOVEMENTS AND STRATEGY" IN SAITAMA
On July 6, the 29th annual convention of the JSA Saitama branch
was held. The convention had a lecture on the above title by Prof. Yamaguchi
(Saitama Univ.). There is a plan to unify Saitama University and Gunma
University (a national university in the neighboring prefecture of Saitama)
under the pressure to reduce the number of national universities by the
Government. The speaker talked as a member of Saitama University about the
intension of the university's headquarters, problems in news reports by press,
and the question of the unification of their universities.
In the process to
make a plan for the unification, the discussions in the universities themselves
on academic freedom and autonomy of a university are not included. Discussions
by students and citizens were also not enough. This matter should be discussed
more actively as a problem related to citizens. The speaker not only criticizes
the current plan of the unification, but also pointed out the above weak-point
of the movement.
4) SAFETY PROBLEMS OF FOODSTUFF DISCUSSED IN KYOTO
The Kyoto branch held a regular meeting for the individual members on July
20, where they discussed the above theme. Mr. Shiomi (Department of health of
Kyoto Prefecture) gave a keynote speech on food poisoning. The food poisoning
(over 500 sufferers) occurs 2,000 - 3,000 times every year across the country,
which becomes more widely and extensively. This is caused by a variety of
poisons included in food materials, e.g. salmonella, vibrio and campylobacter
follow. These agents are heat labile, but it is not easy to thoroughly heat
frozen foods.
Typical examples are as follows. 1) Yukijirushi Foods Co., the
factories authorized by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare caused the
food poisoning at every steps of processing of foods, for which the Ministry is
totally responsible. 2) Many lives were lost in the O157 E. coli
infection occurred in the Kinki area. The cause was reported due to white radish
sprouts. No agent, however, has not detected yet. It is suspected that the agent
might be from frozen hamburger imported from the USA on a massive scale. But the
cause has not fully been investigated for some unknown reason. Asahi Shimbun
later reported "Beef equal to 180 million hamburger was collected in the USA".
3) Four (then five later) BSE infected cows were found in Japan. These were born
in 1995. This incident could be prevented at the WTO's advises issued in the
same year that prohibits the use of meat and bone meal. Japanese Government
requested the EU to interrupt the evaluation, just when the EU is about to
announce that in the evaluation of the degree of danger of BSE infection Japan
is at the same level to the countries undergone the BSE infected disease. This
attitude of the Government should be denounced. The heat sterilization of the
BSE agents needs high temperature over 130 centigrade. But some feed tradesmen
imported the meat and bone meal briefly sterilized by heating less than 100
centigrade. They have no sense of responsibility for the national health
management. Many whistleblowers disclosed mislabeling of a producing district
and falsifying of a good consume period. Furthermore, the facts of the sloppy
system for buying BSE infected beef by the MAFF, neglecting consumers and loss
of entertainment morals were also revealed.
The discussion included the
defect of JAS (Japan Agriculture Standards), problems of indication, stiffening
the penalties, consumer's right to know, necessity to establish the law for the
safety of foodstuffs securing rights to choose goods, problems of the usage of
food additives out of improvement and the dioxins content of foodstuffs.
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.37(No.9)(2002)
[Title-page message]
Hiromori K.: Language and
science
[Special issue: Shift of scientific theories]
Inoo M.: Science
wars and science studies
Iwabuchi T.: What is the current meaning of
"paradigm-controversy "?
Abiko S.: Thomas Kuhn and his successors: From the
closed to the open science
Umebayashi S.: On the structure of theory change
in science
[Colloquy]
Matsushima S.: The battle on Fujisawa and the tale
of Taira Clan
[Series: Break a new century]
Kikuchi S.: My expectation
of engineering ethics
[General]
Ohmura M.: The viewpoint of youth in
pedagogy
Inouchi Y.: Sand dredging in Seto Inland Sea and formation of sand
banks
Vol.37(No.10)(2002)
[Title-page message]
Chino Y.: The problems of adult learning
[Special issue: IT and national life]
Iijima N.: Critical theory of the
information technology revolution
Kuroda M.: E-local government and local
autonomy
Sasaki N.: Information technology and people with disabilities -
the possibility and subject
Matsuura S.: The role of NPO on the internet
communication and consensus buildup
[Colloquy]
Hisada T.: Research of
educational practices as a science
[Series: Break a new century]
Susuki
T.: Institution, human being, and education - Some topics of my consciousness
toward educational problems and study of education
[General]
Furomoto
T.: Science Forum of 2002 World Conference against A&H Bombs: A good chance
for total abolition of nuclear weapons - Beyond the tide of global
militarization
Abe K.: Strategic studies of Self-Defense Forces for NBC
weapons - Especially for biological ones
[From laboratory]
Sakuma M.:
Adherence to "education" itself
Vol.37(No.11)(2002)
[Title-page message]
Oride K.: Now we rethink
"the clinical and practical approach"
[Special issue: Proposals to
scholastic ability problems]
Shiomi T.: The characteristic of contemporary
discussion on achievement issue
Iwata Y.: How to support young people to
study nature
Kudomi Y.: The society of education and students' academic
ability in Japan
Takeuchi H.: Declining level of student achievement
identified in the context of university entrance examinations
Watanabe T.:
Poor science literacy fostered by self-complacent junior & secondary school
education
Ohmi T.: The declining of the students' scholastic attainment in
learning foreign languages
Kitabayashi M.: School education and the social
function of science
Obinata S.: Historical perception and academic ability
Kitamura H.: Political cultivation, citizen, learning-attainments: From the
point of view of contemporary democratic theory
Shimazaki T.: Philosophy and
the problem of "academic achievement"
Kawai H.: "Scholastic ability decline
of science" of natural science students
[Colloquy]
Himemiya T.: Thinking
in Poland
[Series: Break a new century]
Kato S.:
Theoretical-chemistry-and-quantum-mechanical approach to chemical reac
[General]
Hiroki S.: Adaptation and speciation in evolution - A critical
speculation to Shirai, H's paper
Noguchi K.: The damage of the Rongelap
people caused by nuclear explosion tests in the Marshal Islands