2003 JAPAN PEACE CONFERENCE IN OKINAWA
The conference was held on January 30 through February 1, 2004, in Okinawa (at first planned to hold in 2003) under the title “Let us abolish the Japan-U.S. military alliance and dismantle U.S. Marine Corps bases from Okinawa”. The dates of conference were arranged in consideration of coming general election and climate of Okinawa.
The conference invited many different guests from oversea, Ms. Gabin (Le Mouvement de la Paix, France), Mr. Garson (American Friends Service Committee, U.S.), Mr. Nelson (antiwar activist, ex-marine, U.S.), and Mr. Yu-Kyeong (leader of eradication movement of crimes by U.S. troops in Korea, Korea). Especially impressed was a claim of Dr. Ali (physician, Iraq) who, showing realistically vivid pictures of patients, pointed out the influence of depleted uranium bombs used in 1991 over the increase of cancer patients, though various causes such as radioactivity, chemicals, undernourishment, contagious diseases can be thought.
The JSA Okinawa branch distributed to about 1700 participants JSA Okinawa Leaflet, which covers an article written by Prof. Yagasaki (Ryukyu Univ., branch member) “Why are depleted uranium bombs frightening? – Depleted uranium entered the body causes cancer”. Dr. Kameyama (Okinawa branch, secretary general) gave a special address “Let us protect Dugong’s Sea – Thinking of new construction of U.S. military bases, environments and residents’ life” in session 1, introducing a book “Dugongs are in danger” published on the occasion of the conference.
9TH MEMORIAL GATHERING FOR THE GREAT HANSHIN EARTHQUAKE HELD IN KOBE
The Great Hanshin Earthquake struck the Hanshin district including Kobe on January 17, 1995, which killed more than 6,400 lives and left tens of thousands homeless. This year citizens of Kobe area marked the 9th anniversary of the Earthquake, where they agreed that it was necessary to remember the memories of the tragedy, since they have rapidly been fading day by day. The anniversary event started in the snow at 5:46 a.m. on January 17, the time when the quake just struck. Citizens offered a minute of silence, which was followed by a trumpet performance. Then, they took a walk along the recovered street in Nagata ward, repeating the phrase that people should always remember the lesson learned from the sad event nine years ago, which was followed by a citizens’ memorial gathering in Kobe City. In the afternoon, a memorial symposium to mark the 9th anniversary of the tragedy was organized on the title “Towards the legislation of a law supporting housing rehabilitation”, where they discussed how they could solve the question in order to realize a law quickly and its related concerns. There were many movements for citizens to have recovered their daily life (earthquake and volcanic disasters). At the end of the meeting, they adopted an appeal for establishing a law supporting housing rehabilitation. On the other hand, a trumpet-performing evening entitled “Setting off a new journey” was held in Kobe City, where they sincerely enjoyed the performance by Mr. Matsubara, and prayed that we would need nothing else if we could survive and that we would live by helping each other.
NATIONWIDE GATHERINGS
A number of gatherings are held by the JSA alone or in cooperation with other friendly organizations
1) 2004-GATHERING AGAINST “NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY” HELD IN TOKYO
A number of gatherings Disapproving the day “2.11” (February 11) as National Foundation Day (refer to <What is “2.11”? >, were organized across the country. The Tokyo-based Liaison Conference Disapproving “National Foundation Day” and protecting freedom of thought and religion organized the 38th meeting entitled “Stop war, and keep the Peace Constitution”, where all the participants could enthusiastically think of the importance of peace in the presence of Constitution. In the meeting, Dr. Masutani (chair of History Res. Committee) gave an opening address, where he touched upon the ongoing situation in educational circle (all the teachers and pupils are forced to sing Kimigayo in unison and hoist Hinomaru under a legal restriction), and stressed that we scientifically discussed the day “2.11” and the related to create a new frontier for peacefully developing society.
In the keynote reports, Prof. Watanabe (Hitotsu-bashi Univ.) gave a lecture on the title “Why do they now revise the Constitution?” and Prof. Horio (Emeritus Prof. the Univ. of Tokyo) was on the title “Let’s realize and then develop the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education”. He pointed out the ongoing move of revising the Constitution and stressed the importance of widely discussing the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education, which was followed by invaluable comments and discussions from the floor, where they expressed their opposition to the conservative forces’ attempt to use the national day as a leverage to adversely revise the Constitution to gut its principle of peace. Prof. Watanabe also analyzed the present situation as follows: 1) by plying at a political tug of war among (a) US’s pressure for Japan to bear the expense for its operations as a world watchdog, (b) Japan’s militarization policy for Japan to protect multi-national enterprises mainly developed in Asia, and (c) Japan’s and Asian movements for keeping peace and democracy, the successive cabinets and economic circle stretched the Constitution in their favors and then established the new Japan-US guidelines for military operations, 2) by coincidently combining a new front to encourage hostile operations and a group to promote political reform of governmental structures, they produced a power for undesirably amending the Constitution to freely carry out operations abroad in the presence of the US forces, 3) by introducing the single seat presentation system in the Diet members’ elections, the powers which are against militarization and therefore for protect the Constitution, have extremely decreased election by election, and 4) by judging from all the circumstances, they eager to take advantage of the opportunity that the Constitution might be changed in the Diet. He finally stressed that we should construct a strong front to protect the Constitution and keep peace.
At the end of the meeting, the participants adopted an appeal to protect the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education and keep peace and democracy to achieve a sustainable society.
2) NEW YEAR SYMPOSIUM
On 21 February 2004, the Liaison Conference of Study Groups for Peace and Democracy held “New Year Symposium” at Determinant of Dentistry, Nihon University, Tokyo, which was to discuss the theme “No dispatch of troops of the Self-Defense Forces to Iraq! No corruption of the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education!” In his report “Thinking of troop dispatch and the problem of amending the Constitution”, Prof. Oshizaki (Asia Univ.) analyzed that those opinions of Keizai Doyukai (the Japan Association of Corporate Executives), Mr. Abe, the chief secretary of Liberal Democratic Party, and Mr. Kan, the head of Democratic Party, indicate a new wave of amending the Constitution. He asserted that U.S.-Britain interference into Iraq conducted on the fake pretext as well as reasonless dispatch of SDF troop could be never justified in any sense, concluding that to protect the Constitution of Japan is to protect peace, living, and rights of world people. In his address “Thinking of the problem of revision of the Fundamental Law of Education”, Mr. Ishiyama (History Educationalists Conference of Japan) chronicled the moves of revision of the Fundamental Law of Education. He pointed out that the nation’s movement blocked the introduction of draft revision to this session of the Diet, and stressed that the Law intends to basically change the regime of Imperial Rescript on Education, which had been used to press people to war, and achieve the same ideals as the Constitution. He also explained nationwide movements and an immediate task against corruption of the 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) ACTIVITIES OF THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE OF ATOMIC POWER PROBLEMS
The Research Committee of Atomic Power Problems held regular meetings on March 15-16 and August 23, 2003 to discuss the current status on atomic energy problems. In January 2003 Nagoya high court gave a judgment that supports opposition to the nuclear reactor “Monju” construction. In December the plan of nuclear power plant construction at Suzu City in Ishikawa Prefecture was canceled and Tohoku Electric Power Company abandoned the construction of Maki nuclear power plant. On the other hand a construction plan of nuclear power plant at Kamiseki in Yamaguch Prefecture was made clear to the public. The construction would give sever environmental bad effects to Seto-uchi Sea (the Inland Sea of Japan). The themes in the meetings were as follows: Nuclear development in North Korea, Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant and Tokai Earth Quake, “Monju” judgment and government correspondence, Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, and safety checking system and the research system for stress corrosion cracking.
2) FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION SYSTEM RESPECTING SCIENTIST’S RIGHT
Scientists’ right has been sometimes infringed mostly in private universities and companies in Japan. However, similar problems have been occurring in research institutes which were recently transferred from national institutes to independent agencies. National universities were also changed to independent agencies this April, and the business efficiency has been emphasized in the course of these changes. This situation makes difficulties in keeping scientists’ right. Researchers, however, are becoming less conscious to their right, which is seen particularly among young scientists. The cause can be referable partly the increase of big research projects in which project leaders have strong initiative in deciding the use of budgets and sometimes force young scientists to obey them. There are many examples of post-doctoral researchers who are engaging in research almost with no rights. This situation is bringing up a new problem in scientists’ right. The JSA committee on scientists’ right started the questionnaire on the current situation of scientists’ right to publish the “declaration of scientists’ right and status”. The questionnaire will be treated in JSA branches. The committee also held a number of small meetings so as to consider recent issues related to scientists’ right, for instance, the problems in the reform of the Tokyo Metropolitan University and Yokohama Municipal University, which will have some influence on the national universities recently transferred to independent agencies. These activities will become the basis of the declaration.
3) SYMPOSIUM “WASTE AND RECYCLE”
On Feburuary 8, the research committee of pollution and environmental problems held the symposium about waste and recycle in Tokyo. There were three reports as follows; 1) “Collapse of industrial waste policy” by Mr. Takasugi (journalist), 2) “Environlmental problems in waste-dumping zone” by Dr. Sakamaki (The Geological Survey of Japan) and Mr. Ishikawa (Keio Univ.), and 3) “Problems of waste and recycle in Japan” by Prof. Hata (Osaka City Univ.).
Mr. Takasugi reported waste problem at boundary between Aomori Pref. and Iwate Pref. and pointed out the problems of policy for waste. Dr. Sakamaki and Mr. Ishikawa showed research data of water pollution around waste-dumping zone and pointed out a cozy relationship between politics and corporations. Prof. Hata summarized troubles of waste and problems of environmental pollution by waste.
After these reports, they discussed recycle system, responsibility of politics, etc.
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) LECTURE GATHERING ON KOIZUMI’S REFORM PLAN IN MATSUE
On December 23, in Matsue City, the JSA Shimane branch held a gathering , where Prof. Teruoka (Prof. Emeritus, Saitama Univ.) talked under the title “What is Koizumi’s Reform: Toward the True Rich Society”, 70 people participated in the lecture. Looking back the year 2003, many unexpected matters have occurred in Japan and in the world. The purpose of this lecture was to examine so-called Koizumi’s reform objectively and to give a perspective for the future society.
First of all, the professor made a comment on the image of Prime Minister Koizumi by referring the words of journalists. The common understanding among the journalists was that Mr. Koizumi made decision quickly without any future visions or persuasive power. This was due to his lack of ideas and understandings. When the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2005, the constitutional reforms which admit collective right of self-defense by deleting Article 9-2 would be added to the party’s policies. Surprisingly, Mr. Koizumi clearly mentioned that the Self-Defense Forces were definitely the armed forces.
The so-called Koizumi’s reform did not have any contribution to our lives so far. In spite of the fact that the national debt has been increased, the investment to the public sector such as highways construction is still on the rise. And a huge amount of tax would be used to the Self-Defense Forces in Iraq. The journalists referred the Koizumi Administration as the sun past noon. The meaning was that the sun would never be on the rise.
Prof. Teruoka strongly expressed that Koizumi’s reform would abandon the democracy which protected human dignity. For example, the terminable employment or discretional works would threaten the spirits of the Labor Standard Law. She criticized the discharge and overtime works forced by the corporations where the labor forces were simply equal to the commodities. This is the essence of Koizumi’s reform. Therefore the true rich society could not be expected. On the other hand, development of local autonomy such as Tottori or Nagano prefectures should be focused on as the counter movement where the politics looked for the local needs.
There was a lively discussion among participants on the relationship between local autonomy and globalization or on the realization of rich society in the global competition. According to the reaction sheets from participants, they were very much satisfied with the lecture.
2) “THINKING OF THE FUTURE IWATE UNIVERSITY FOR CITIZENS”
The JSA Iwate branch and Iwate cooperative society (COOP) held the above symposium on 6 December, 2003. Valuable opinions and requests on how the Iwate university should be as a national university were given in the symposium.
In the beginning of the symposium, Dr. Saito (the assistant president of the university) reported what will change through the transfer of national universities to independent agencies, and presented his hope to make the Iwate university to be required and loved by the region through the researches based on local characteristics. Dr. Kajiwara (a lecturer of the Iwate university) talked, based on his own experiences of citizen's activities, that the university should be an independent organization from the governments to research the problems in the society and to provide everybody with the results. Mr. Kato (a representative of the Iwate co-op) requested a contribution of university staff to the co-op activities, and to promote researches which analyze the structural problems in the current society. He also emphasized the importance to educate students who can contribute to the local society.
In the subsequent discussion, citizens presented many requests to the Iwate university. For example, 'the highest priority should be given to the undergraduate education', ' studies to contribute to local activities should be included in the curriculum', 'the university should be opened to all people who hope to study regardless of their financial resources'.
3) REGULAR MEETING “WORLD VIEWED FROM EXPERIENCE OF CASSAVA BREEDING” IN OKAYAMA
The regular meeting was held at Okayama University on December 2, where Prof. Kawano (Kobe Univ.) was invited to give a seminar on the above theme. He has been engaged in cassava breeding for thirty years worldwide. Cassava is widely cultivated mainly in poor tropical countries, and its yield is the tenth in the world. Recently, the development of biotechnology has caused problems that big businesses monopolize the patents on genomes of various species. But he emphasized that all the genetic resources should be commonly cultural property for all humans. Agriculture is applied science, and is involved in the social or economical phenomenon. He also emphasized that “breeding should be practice for society and should concern effectively to promote human welfare.” Based on his long term and international practice that has improved the farmer’s quality of life, his talk was extremely fantastic for participants including JSA members and non-members, including archaeologists and physicists.
He also pointed out the system for funding research expenses. Only the subdivided projects aiming immediate results are funded, but those projects that need a long term span of research and are pure and fundamental are not. There is great fear for the future of science and our society. The necessities of cooperative works are recognized.
4) REGULAR MEETING “EDUCATION AND RESEARCH BUDGETS IN THE UNIVERSITY FINANCE AFTER THE REFORMATION”
Ishikawa Branch held a regular meeting on 26 December 2003 to discuss university finance and grant for education and research after transformation of national universities into independent administration corporation (National University Corporation). In the meeting Prof. Umeda (Kanazawa Univ.) presented that the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology is planning the cut of granting funds to universities every year and asking university hospitals self-supporting accounting system. In the discussion the following was pointed out. The management expense of university corporations would increase sharply in 2005. As a result the budget for education and research would be cut down drastically. Furthermore university corporations will strengthen the selective distribution of research budget.
5) A YEAR-END RESEARCH EXCHANGE MEETING IN OKINAWA
A year-end research exchange meeting was organized at Ryukyu University on December 10, where two professors who had been contributing the JSA’s activities gave their reports
Prof. Yoshizawa (Ryukyu Univ.) talked on “Ryukyu University? before and after its state-run university”. He talked on an interesting story concerning the many things in those days when Ryukyu University was transferred to the state-run or national university in 1972. At that time the Okinawa Island was revised from the U. S. A. to Japanese control. The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture was going to cut back to a small scale university. The student movement against this scheme and political movements for the revision which arose among the Okinawa’s people were reported based on his own firsthand experiences. Now that all national universities had been reformed into independent agency administration, the talk gave an opportunity to think about the future of Ryukyu University.
Emeritus Prof. Takei (Ryukyu Univ.) who is the representative councilor of the Okinawa Branch published a book as a coauthor titled “Peace Textbook for people involved in medical care to the non-nuclear world” last November. Touching upon the content of the book he talked on “medicine, medical care and peace”. He entered to the medical department of Nagasaki University 11 years after the atomic bomb attack. He talked on his activities since then, and ended his talk as follows. “I strengthen my determination to continue movements eternally as one person who has a vicarious experience of the destruction of human life by the A-bomb, that is, the vast destruction of human in the 20th century, until the achievement of the complete restoration of human.
As the problem of the US-base took a rapid turn, a proposal of “The opinion about a feasibility study to build the base on a reef off the Henoko district, Nago city” was introduced and asked to discuss in haste during the meeting. Next morning, the opinion was sent to the Government, the Prefecture and the mass media as the one expressed by the JSA Okinawa branch. The opinion helped the subsequent movement such as the application to arbitrate the dispute over pollution, and also gave rise to an opportunity to take three lawyers to the JSA.
Participants enjoyed the following get-together. Prof. Sakai (Ryukyu Univ.) reported that the subject for peace education entitled “science of nuclear weapons” reached 20th year. They enthusiastically discussed various problems.
6) SAITAMA BRANCH OPEN LECTURE ON THE FUNDAMENTALS OF EDUCATION LAW
Saitama branch regularly holds an open lecture on current issues once a year. On February 1, 15 people attended the lecture on the Fundamentals of Education Law. The lecturer, Mr. Michio Tsuda, has been known as the author of many books and articles on this topic.
Mr. Tsuda talked about his own experience in his childhood when the emperor, rising-sun flag or imperial rescript on education had great powers. The audience could feel how much the education gave influences on our lives.
There was no article on education in the constitution of Japan before the war. Therefore the imperial rescript on education was issued from the emperor to let the people wish to die for patriotism. The person who died for emperor was deified at Yasukuni Shrine. In short, education was considered as a tool to filter the imperial rescript into people’s minds.
On the other hand, the Fundamentals of Education Law established after the war has been regarded as the educational constitution. It should be highly evaluated today as the only reference which clearly stated our international responsibility on war.
Throughout the lecture, Mr. Tsuda expressed the unique perspective which compared the issues on the Fundamentals of Education Law with imperial rescript. In addition, he stressed the importance of learning the modern history, especially Showa history, to understand the current issues.
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.39(No.3)(2004)
[Title-page message]
Ishigami, M.: Chimpanzee and mankind
[Special issue: Radioactive waste]
Tateno, J.: Nuclear fuel cycle issue in Japan
Motojima, I.: The geological disposal of high-level radioactive waste
Shimizu, S: Location problem of the nuclear waste disposal site
JSA JAERI-Group: Problem of waste management and clearance of materials from reactor decommissioning
Nakajima, T.: Some issues concerning the dismantlement of nuclear weapons
[Colloquy]
Sakuma, H.: The risk of food additives and the subjects of consumer
[Series: My graduate school days]
Mori, T.: For a meaningful graduate school life
[Mini-series: Public universities in crisis]
Okubo, H.: “The Osaka Prefecture University Reform” and problems of the public university incorporation
[General]
Bando, M.: How can you measure the democratic level of academic societies?
Vol.(39)(No.4)(2004)
[Title-page message]
Matsui, Y.: For economic valuation of environmental preservation
[Special issue: On declining birthrate in Japan]
Kawaguchi, K.: The problem of falling birthrate from the labor viewpoint
Morikawa, T.: The stability of civil life and depopulation in Japan
Kukuda, N.: Lowest-low fertility and marriage: Two kinds of family formations in the developed world?
[Colloquy]
Fujita H.: The culture of peace and peace system
[Series: My graduate school days]
Indo, M.: Philosophical research for nature – Too much assignment left in my graduate school days
[Mini-series: Public universities in crisis]
Kimura, Y.: On the merger of prefectural universities in Hyogo
[General]
Maeda, A.: Let’s try Bush: International criminal tribunal for Afghanistan (ICTA)
Yokohata, Y.: Problems of sovereignty and wildlife conservation – Especially on the problem of introduced goats in Uotsuri-Jima, Senkaku Island, Japan
[From laboratory]
Misawa, K.: There is no research without education
Vol.(39)(No.5)(2004)
[Title-page message]
Tazaki, K.: Women scientists and their children – We need the circumstance in which we can take care of children
[Special issue: Postdoctoral researchers]
Aoki, W., Ogawa, T., Tarao, M. & Tomoda, S.: Present situation of postdoctoral fellowship
Miwa, S.: The background and the points at issue of the increase of postdoctoral researcher
Nagashima, M.: Postdoctoral situations in theoretical astrophysics from a personal poins of view
Hirokoshi, A.: A postdoctoral in the ACT-JST Project
Yamasaki, M.: Report about my experience as postdoctoral fellow
Tampo, H.: Present situation of postdoctoral fellow in AIST
Fujiki, K.: Struggle against many difficulties
[Colloquy]
Miyagawa, S.: Personal computer
[Series: My graduate school days]
Ota, K.: An eye for reality: Study and practice in my graduate school days
[General]
Kobayashi, K.: Human dissection experience is critical for education of co-medical professionals
Fukui, M.: Ohta Takeshi and Community-School movement in Hongo – The historical experience of Community-School movement