SYMPOSIA AND CONVENTIONS ON WORLD PEACE AND THE JAPANESE CONSTITUTION HELD
1) DEC 11, 2004, TOKYO, “WORLD PEACE AND THE CONSTITUTION OF JAPAN”
About 150 participants attended. Due to three panelists’ reports, though the Japanese government has been developing exclusively the defense-oriented policy from the perverted principle based on the Japan-US Security Treaty as an interpretation of Article 9, it changed the policy to debate the corruption of the article according to intention of the treaty. In China, where there had been intensive anti-American and anti-USSR movements, recently grows an anti-Japanese feeling, which was caused by Japanese government’s stand that there was no war between Japan and China and Primer Koizumi’s three-year successive worship at Yasukuni Shrine, which asserts persistently the justice of Japanese aggression. Since most Chinese do not know the Japanese Constitution that definitely states renunciation of war, rising movement of protecting Article 9 might help in mutual understanding between Chinese and Japanese. The US forced through anti-terrorist wars against Afghan and Iraq to bring forth the chain of violence. It will be significant to promote the new peace thought basing on the Constitution of Japan established from the serious reflect of aggression, in contraposition to the US’s concept of military-ruled peace.
2) DEC 5, 2004, SHIMANE, “IT IS THE TIME TO EXTEND THE SPIRIT OF ARTICLE 9”
About 250 participants attended. The Shimane branch and friendly organizations together held the civic lecture to enhance approval of the appeal of Group Article 9. It is very meaningful to protect Article 9 in order to criticize the Japanese government’s line that asserts justified sending Self-Defense troops to Iraq with no sufficient argument in the Diet, no investigation of the actual situation in Iraq and no respect to public opinion. One must recognize that input of Japanese tax money to fuel for the US troops invading Faruja means Japanese participation in Iraq invasion. As Prof. Komori (chief secretary of Group Article 9, Univ. Tokyo) says, Article 9 really has an inference for world peace because of its spirit that has blocked occurrence of war in East Asia and contributes to regional peace.
3) DEC 25, 2004, TOYAMA, “AMENDMENT MOVEMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION AND ARTICLE 9”
The Toyama branch held a regular meeting, where Mr. Hasegawa (chief secretary, Article 9 Fan Club) was invited to give a lecture entitled above. First he surveyed the situation. As seen in the passage, establishment of National Security Force in 1950, signing of The Japan-US Security Treaty in 1951, inauguration of Self-Defense Forces in 1954, policies violating the spirit of Article 9 have been adopted since the day the Constitution was enforced. In 1991 marine sweepers were dispatched to Persian Bay in Gulf War, in 2003 when the US’s Iraq war began the Iraq special laws were enacted, Self-Defense troops are stationed in Iraq since February 2003. Though Article 9 has been emasculated year by year, it is still now an obstacle to building war-state attempted by Democratic Party and enhancement in abroad of rights and interests of Japanese companies. The Constitution, aiming to advocate peace, welfare, and human rights, itself is also an obstacle to neo liberalistic reform. Concealing their aim from the nation, they started to make soft tactics. Mr. Hasegawa defined his group’s movement to pacifism and war-renouncing thought of the Constitution that neoliberalists targeted.
4) DEC 19, TOKYO, “THINKING OF PEACE, THE CONSTITUTION AND THE FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF EDUCATION”
The Liaison Conference of Study Groups for Peace and Democracy and the JSA research committee of peace questions together held a spring symposium under the above title. Three reports were presented. The first report investigated the contents and issue points in the referendum bill for the constitutional amendment that the Liberal Democratic Party conceived. According to the summary issued on November 11 by the block of promoting the amendment, they asserted the a majority of votes to approve an amendment means that in the valid ballot, furthermore the injustice would not affect the result of ballot until the decision of the court, and civil officials and teachers are set limits to the national ballot movement. The second report says, as seen in the interim report dated on June 16, 2004, of “items and contents to be included in the Fundamental Law of Education”, basing on its neo liberalistic educational reform, they intend to adjust the system to force the one financed by the Government to educate following their attempts. The third report explains the rebuilding of United Forces Japan corresponding to the global troop reduction. Its purpose is to build a system in which US troops could make a flexible sally from Japan. As for the problem of the US Henoko sea-base, it is suspected that the US Forces indeed should attempt to integrate it with the Kadena base, on account of the fact that to complete the construction 20 years are needed and it cannot be used in the bad weather. It also must be pointed out that military equipments and headquarters are in common and the personnel exchange is pushed forward.
NATIONWIDE GATHERINGS
A number of gatherings are held by the JSA alone or in cooperation with other friendly organizations
1) 2.11 GATHERINGS AGAINST “NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY” ORGANIZED IN EVERY REGION
“National Foundation Day” was established declaring February 11 as a national holyday in 1966 and enforced in 1967. It revived Kigensetsu, which has been opposed from several intellectuals because of its grounds basing on the legendary enthronement of Emperor Jimmu in 660 BC and aiming to give further legitimacy of imperial institution. It clearly violates the principle of popular sovereignty defined in the Constitution. Gatherings against the Day have been held in every region in Japan since 1967.
In Tokyo this year, 350 participants attending, the 39th Convention entitled “STOP the system to build combatants! Give off brilliance! Article 9 of the Constitution” was organized by the Liaison Meeting of Groups Opposing Against “National Foundation Day” and Protecting the Freedom of Thought and Faith, to which the JSA belongs.
The gathering started with a lecture by Prof. Kihata (historian, Univ. Tokyo). In Germany, in the 60th anniversary after World War II, Neo Nazism is moving to decriminalize the assailant Germany by stressing the victim Germany, also in Japan, the movement of corruption of the Constitute and the Fundamental Law of Education can be observed, he says. He called for nationwide movements against the corruption scheme. Mr. Maruhama (high school teacher) and his high-school students played a mock class following “New History Textbook” (Fuso Pub). He clarified its problematic points: 1) world view focused on war, 2) historical perception as state progress with no viewpoint from the nation and people, and 3) compulsive teaching of such views of the world and history.
Reports from several areas were presented: “The Fundamental Law of Education and the present education” (Mr. Yamamoto, Tokyo Union of Teachers and Staff), “Problem of 2005 edition textbooks” (Ms. Okino, Children and Textbooks Japan Network 21), “Regional activity of protecting the Constitution” (Ms. Nishimura, New Japan Women’s Association), and “Law of National Referendum and Constitutional Corruption” (Mr. Kawamura, Liaison Conference of Opposing the Constitutional Corruption).
The main report was presented by Prof. Goto (Tsuru Univ.) and Prof. Yun (Kanagawa Univ.). Prof. Goto pointed out that the corruption of Article 9 was exerted pressure on by the Japanese multinational business and the US-lead imperialistic alliance and stressed it important to fight combining blocking the constitutional corruption and the task against “structural reform”. Prof. Yun criticized the failure of restart since the end of World War II sustaining the Imperial system and obscuring war responsibility and called on Japanese to live as a member of Asia.
Similar gatherings were organized under the following titles: “2.11 Fukushima gathering for protecting the freedom of thought and principle and opposing becoming military superpower” in Fukushima Prefecture, “2.11 Fukui gathering for not sending children to war and protecting the Constitution and the Fundamental Law of Education”, in Fukui Prefecture, “2.11 Hyogo gathering of disapproving ‘National Foundation Day’” in Hyogo Prefecture, “Gathering of thinking of ‘National Foundation Day’” in Shimane Prefecture, and “The 57th gathering of thinking of the Constitution and peace” in Miyazaki Prefecture.
2) 10TH ANNIVERSARY EVENTS OF THE GREAT HANSHIN EARTHQUAKE ORGANIZED
On January 16, the 10th memorial gathering was held in Kobe, where survivors reported how they have lived since the quake, and exchanged their views for establishing the official measures of rehabilitation. On the day of January 17, the anniversary event started at 5:46 a.m., the time when the quake just struck, a number of the gathered citizens offered a minute of silence, which was followed by various meetings, commemorative lectures, and different performance in Kansai area.
On the occasion of the 10th anniversary, we must reaffirm our commitment to make every effort to improve disaster prevention measures as well as disaster relief as one of the most important tasks to be dealt with by the government. Today, reconstruction of many quake victims’ lives has not yet been completed. Still solitary deaths continue. In public housing for quake victims including temporary housing facilities, 560 have died unattended. Many small businesses and local industries are still unable to recover from damage caused by the quake. Ignoring these difficulties facing the victims, the national and local governments intend on taking advantage of the 10th anniversary to end public assistance to victims through collection of disaster relief loans, ejection of residents from public housing for victims, and termination of a grace for repayments of loans to small business owners. It is an important responsibility of the government to maintain and strengthen assistance to rehabilitate local economies as well as people’s livelihoods. Therefore, it is necessary to drastically change the government policy from one of using funds for reconstruction projects amounting to about US$160 million (one fifth of the national budget) for large public works projects, including the construction of Kobe Airport, to one of giving priority to helping victims put their lives back in order.
Also, an important lesson of the Great Hanshin Earthquake is that local communities should be made disaster-resistant and that a more effective disaster prevention system is necessary. However, it cannot be said that the lesson was learned completely. We have to therefore design an advanced plan for disaster protection.
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 the country
1) THE ACTIVITY OF THE COMMITTEE “SETO-UCHI”
The committee of Seto-uchi [Seto Naikai or Japanese (Seto) Inland Sea] has been working for preserving Seto-uchi’s environment since the committee’s establishment in 1972, and annually holding a symposium for studying the environmental preservation question. Simultaneously, the committee of Seto-uchi has been making known their views on how to preserve the environment to the public. The symposium is therefore called “Seto-uchi Symposium”, for which both the JSA committee of Seto-uchi and the peoples’ alliance for protecting Seto-uchi’s environment have basically been responsible. The most important contribution to the local movement was as follows. Heading the voices of scientists and the local citizens, the central government began to take action to protect Seto-uchi. For example, Seto-uchi Environment Conservation Temporal Measures Law was passed in 1973, which is somewhat effective in delaying further pollution in Seto-uchi and thereafter Seto-uchi Environment Conservation Special Law was made in 1978 for permanently protecting Seto-uchi’s environment. Recent activities are summarized as follows.
The 25th symposium was organized in Yamaguchi Prefecture from August 31 to September 2 (2002) under the main theme “Thinking of Seto-uchi’s environment in the 21st century in order to enjoy safety life”. In the scientific sessions, they discussed 1) reactivation of local area (nuclear power generation, fishery, etc.), 2) 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.
The 26th symposium was organized on March 13 and 14 (2004) on the title “Thinking of a sustainable society on the basis of the environmental movement in Seto-uchi” in Mai-shima (newly land-filled island), Osaka City, where they discussed the to-be-solved problems in Seto-uchi: 1) waste, 2) nuclear fuel stock, and 3) sustainable energy consumption and supply, which was followed by adopting an appeal for sustainable development in Seto-uchi. Before the symposium, participants made an on-spot investigation in the reclamation zone in Osaka Bay
The 27th symposium was held on March 26 and 27, 2005 in Higashi-Hiroshima City. Prof. Tomii (Hiroshima Univ.) gave a welcome speech, which was followed by an opening address (Prof. Moritaki, Emeritus Prof. of Okayama Univ., chair of the committee). There were four scientific sessions: 1) general discussion for Seto-uchi environment – past, present and future, 2) redress, rebuild and rehabilitation of the damaged environment, 3) environmental pollution in Seto-uchi area – its present status and inhibitory factors for biological production, and 4) conservation of the original scenery in Seto-uchi as an archipelago equivalent to “world heritage”, which was followed by a synthetic discussion for the symposium. At the end of the meeting, they adopted the Hiroshima declaration calling for the conservation of Seto-uchi environment.
2) PROBLEMS OF EXOTIC SPECIES “BLACK BASS” DISCUSSED
The committee for studying environmental pollution problems held a mini-symposium on the title “Thinking of ‘black bass’ problems and its solution” on February 12 in Tokyo, where given were three papers: 1) the Invasive Alien Species (IAS) Act – comparison between New Zealand and Japan (Dr. Kondo, Gifu Univ.), 2) Problems relating to black bass in lakes (Dr. Adachi, Biodiversity Study Conf.) and 3) Role of natural science – producing data for constructing citizens’ agreement (Dr. Seno, Kanagawa Pref. Museum of Natural History), which followed by a synthetic discussion.
The symposium was timely held and was filled with excitement because the law for Preventing Averse Effects on Ecosystems Caused by Invasive Alien Species (the Invasive Alien Species Act) has been just established. Based on the law the Ministry of the Environment started selecting IAS to prohibit imports and transfers. “Black bass” had been the object of an argument whether it should be listed or not, finally listed in the IAS.
Dr. Adachi, a member of the grass-root movement tackling the black bass problem, squarely claimed that we should grasp the black bass problem not as a simple confrontation between fishermen and black bass anglers, but as “a big environmental problem” that causes to exterminate freshwater fishes. He and his friend are continuing a hard fight to win.
Dr. Kondo reported the case of New Zealand. Its nature has been once utterly destroyed by IAS. New Zealand changed the environmental policy into a highly advanced one. The policy named “white list” is now under way to block IAS. Participants agreed that the IAS problem should be tackled in thoroughgoing means (one may say it “Fundamentalism”).
Dr. Seno sketched the IAS problem including biological properties of IAS such as effects on the ecosystem, secret transfers, effects of lobbying group of the fishing business world on the Government policy, the instigation by the black bass supporters and so on. He pointed out a lot of intentional instigations and illogical and unscientific championship of popular intellectuals like university professors are rampant.
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 “COOPERATION OF CITIZEN’S AND SCIENTISTS’ MOVEMENTS”
The JSA branches in Kyushu district held the above symposium under the subtitle “Another regional contribution” on December 4 and 5. The executive committee organized this symposium to think about what citizens wish and what scientists contribute to those wishes, considering that the regional contribution has been promoted as university-industry-government activities in the absence of citizens.
On the first day environmental problems were treated. In the report “The meaning of having won provisional injunction in the lawsuit ‘Resurrect the Ariake Sea!’”, Mr. Kawanishi (defense council) explained the course of the lawsuit to call for suspending reclamation work in the Isahaya Bay, Nagasaki Prefecture, and the meaning of having won provisional injunction, prospecting further actions. Against the situation that “Isahaya Taboo” arises even among researchers, participants insisted that the criticism from the standpoint of citizens would be important. Other two reports were “Citizens’ movement stopped the local government to vainly expense public funds to sustain a nearly bankrupt luxurious resort facilities”, and “Anxiety about environmental destruction and water pollution occurred by the construction of dump yards”.
On the second day three reports concerning the mental freedom and peace were presented. Prof. Hashisako (Miyazaki Univ.) said, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) drew up “Note of Mind” as learning materials to distribute among local educational committees, which aims to cultivate nationalism and violates the mental freedom of children. A teacher in the floor expressed his anxiety that it is difficult to offer resistance to the order to use those materials. As to peace problems, the recent situation of US bases in Okinawa, especially the helicopter crash event at Okinawa International University, and peace action of the cooperative society were explained.
2) LECTURE “FROM WHERE DOES THE SCIENTIST’S SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY STEM?”
The Ryukoku University Chapter of the Kyoto branch held a study meeting on December 7, 2004, with 20 participants. In the meeting Prof. Masukawa (Kyoto Industrial Univ.) gave a lecture titled “ The origin of social responsibility of scientist”. The summery of the lecture was as follows.
“Social responsibility” is not inherent in Science itself. A scientist will be conscious of the social responsibility when he comes into play in the society. Science provides larger flame of freedom for human kind, though it to this end needs a long time. Science is becoming very much stiff due to its drastic advances. This is called the alienation phenomenon of science, but it is inevitable thing. A scientist is required to have critical mind in the tendency of counter science that science is not omnipotent, but must be faithful to truth and is insight into the larger necessity. Scientists have not only specialized knowledge but also the sense as citizens because they are living in society. As scientists have potential to propose problems to society, the JSA and university worker unions should organize them in order to help scientists with specialized knowledge to be aware of social responsibility through movements.
3) TALKING “MY WAR AND PEACE – AS A SCIENTIST”
The following move recently can be viewed: the dispatch of the Self Defense Forces troops, the movement to amend the Constitution, the Japanese government’s correspondence to movement of North Korea and China and attempt to build a war-conducting state. In the JSA Tokushima branch a lot of members express concern to such state, and think that they should do something. In order to defend peace and democracy in every day’s activity and extend the movement, on November 30, 2004, the meeting under the above title was held. Prof. Yagi (professor emeritus of Tokushima Univ.) presented a topic, the war experience in World War II, and expressed anxiety about the current state as a scientist.
At the response of the ex-Director-General of the Facilities Administration Agency to the newspaper article about weather or not an extension of troop dispatch under special anti-terrorism legislation is truly needed, he says “pressure on the act of hooliganism is not only necessary to restrain the activities of scoundrel groups but …”. Such a technique appealing the conduct of the war to the nation’s feeling reminded him the Manchurian Incident and he felt that we are under the very similar condition. Introducing lyrics of military songs “Even if tens of thousands of enemy soldiers” and “Commander Hirose” (torpedo officer in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905, revered as a war-god until 1945) sung in school in World War II, he pointed out that a very illogical and unscientific point had been maximally emphasized. This way of “appeal to feeling” and “illogicality” has continued and been expanded in Japan from the Manchurian Incident to World War II. The professor desires not to repeat such fault from the historical views based on his experience.
All participants shared the opinion that appealing to feeling to wage a war conflicts with science and the desire that scientists utilize science to achieve the society free from war.
4) DISASTER PROBLEMS DISCUSSED IN HYOGO
The danger of a natural disaster (earthquake, tsunami, typhoon, heavy rain, landslide, flood) is everywhere on the Japanese archipelago. Tsunamis generated by earthquakes also pose a great danger as made clear from the recent major tsunami in the Indian Ocean. Typhoon often brings a heavy rain and a deluge. It is important in the 21st century that we have to make clear strategy and tactics how we can get along well with such a natural disaster. Firstly we have to point out the responsibility of the government to protect the people’s lives and ensure their safety by making real efforts to establish disaster-resistant local communities and to strengthen the disaster-prevention systems, including observation, prediction, and alarm systems.
Hyogo branch organized a special meeting entitled “Why could we not prevent the large-scale flood disaster in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture, which had been caused by the typhoon in November (2004)?” They discussed how the flood control should be for the future, and what we could find out from the flood plain of the river Maruyama, which was also followed by a report of an amount of precipitation in Hyogo Prefecture. An important discussion must be remembered. More than 100 years ago, citizens had the measures for a flood disaster: 1) setting a buffer zone to protect a densely built-up area, 2) constructing a double embankment to strengthen the first step of bank, and 3) setting small vessels to rescue residents in a predicted flood area. Such a device tells us the future’s countermeasures for protecting a flood disaster, since it is are not necessarily incorporated into the ongoing measures in the central and local governments.
5) MEMBERS GATHERED TO EXCHANGE
The Saitama branch held a regular spring meeting on January 29, 2005. Two reports were presented: “The effects of low level radiation on human body” by Dr. Hida, “The problems of radioactivity at Mitsubishi Material Institute” by Mr. Kobayashi.
Dr. Hida has worked in Hiroshima Army Hospital and treated atomic bomb victims after the drop of atomic bomb. He talked the fear of acute and delayed disorders on human body by radiation with his experience. By his field survey in America we knew that the treatment of the soldiers who were exposed to radiation is a subject of punishment and the research of radiation damage to human body is integrated into the US nuclear strategy. He translated an article written by an American researcher who suggested the effect of low-level radiation exposure to breast cancer. He pointed out that there is a significant correlation between Chernobyl accident and breast cancer analyzing 50 years Japanese mortality statistics of breast cancer.
Mr. Kobayashi, who is studying the radioactive problems at Mitsubishi Material Institute, reported that the institute is in urban area near the JR station. During 1954 to 1988 the institute produced nuclear fuel and construction of a nuclear reactor was planned for experiment. It was made clear by prosecution that the radioactive waste and contaminated soil in the institute were removed stealthily. The residents held a negotiation with Mitsubishi Material Company and the Science and Technology Agency for above subjects. He pointed out that the support by the specialists in the JSA is important for the residents’ movement.
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.40(No.3)(2005)
[Title-page message]
Imamiya, K.: Fictitious capital
[Special issue: World of number theory]
Hironaka, Y.: What is number theory?
Taguchi, Y.: Number theory related to Fermat’s last theorem
Nakamura, K.: Algorithmic number theory and cryptography
[Colloquy]
Miyazaki, S.: My 40 years – participation in the citizen movement
[Series: The focus of problems with the amendments to the Constitution of Japan]
Terakawa, S.: The “painful” process of formulating the New Constitution of Japan
[Series: My graduate school days]
Kaneko S.: My first years of Mori Ogai Study
[Challenging works by the young scientists]
Yan, S.: Education of Chinese language in commercial schools and middle schools of Japan in the prewar period
Vol.(40)(No.4)(2005)
[Title-page message]
Fukao, M.: Let’s change life style
[Special issue: Towards a sustainable society with respect to environmental and economic problems]
Wada, T.: Is there an easing of the environmental crisis caused by climate change?
Iwasa, S.: The environmental problems considered from life style
Ninomiya, A.: Economic democracy and new welfare state in contemporary world
Morioka, K.: Shareholder activism and corporate reform in the age of corporate social responsibility
[Colloquy]
Kaino, T.: Difficulties in tackling with sexual harassment on campus
[Series: The focus of problems with the amendments to the Constitution of Japan]
Okuno T.: Is pacifism of Japanese constitution “One-country pacifism”
[Series: My graduate school days]
Katsuyama, Y.: I wanted to become a teacher of primary school indeed
[General]
Momma, K.: Personal opinion of getting a position for woman researcher and a post-doc issue
[From laboratory]
Ota, K.: My life in a computer department
Vol.(40)(No.5)(2005)
[Title-page message]
Obinata, S.: Future-oriented history
[Special issue: University part-time lecturers today]
Nagumo, K.: The movement of the unions of the part-time lecturers at universities in Japan
– Short history, employment conditions and perspectives
Matsumura, H.: Petition and result of treatment improvement to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
Shida, N.: Turning national universities into independent administrative corporations and movement of part-time lecturer at university
Aoki, W.: Improvement in conditions of work and parity of treatment rules on part-time lecturer at university
[Colloquy]
Ishigaki, K.: On the registration of Shiretoko for the world heritage
[Series: The focus problems with the amendments to the Constitution of Japan]
Oguri, M.: Did the Constitution of Japan get out of date?
[Series: My graduate school days]
Yase, K.: Starting my scientific study at research institutes
[General]
Summer School of JSA 2004 executive committee: Report of summer school of JSA 2004 in Tochigi (Nikko, Ashio)