HEADQUARTERS
60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE A-BONBINGS ORGANIZED ACROSS THE COUNTRY
As scientific workers, we must conduct the successive research on (1) the damage of Hiroshima and Nagasaki from the A-bombings, (2) criminality of nuclear weapons, (3) demands and rights of the Hibakusha (A-bombs' sufferers), and (4) the preservation of the memories of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki tragedies. No matter what one might deal with, nothing is important than the movement to annihilate nuclear weapons from the earth.
On August 1, the headquarters organized the 2005 scientists' forum entitled "Let's construct a great grassroots movement to annihilate nuclear weapons over the many difficulties" in Tokyo, which was to positively stimulate the 2005 World Conferences against A and H Bombs on August 2 ? 9 in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The morning session began with the opening remarks by Dr. Nagata (chair of the organizing committee), Mr. Kamiyama (Movie director), and Prof. Kitamura (Prof. Emeritus of Waseda Univ., and representative councilor of JSA), which was followed by a report on the title "The US's nuclear strategy in the year of the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki" (Dr. Niihara). A special report entitled "Illegality of the presence of nuclear weapons and scientific workers' role" was given by Prof. Christpher G. Weeramantry (ex-Judge of Intl. Court of Justice). He dealt with scientific workers' responsibility on the basis of the ICJ's documents: (1) Legality of the use by a state of nuclear weapons in armed conflict (orders: 1993 and 1994, and advisory: 1996) and (2) Legality of the threat of use of nuclear weapons (order: 1995 and advisory: 1996)
In the afternoon session, Ms. Chen (China) gave a vocal solo "The song of bird" (Catalan folk song), which was followed by five interesting reports; (1) Ms. Yoneda (feminine gender researcher, chair of Hiratsuka-Raicho Society): World peace construction in the presence of feminine gender, (2) Prof. Sawada (Emeritus Prof. of Nagoya Univ.): 60th year of the atomic bombings and collective lawsuit of the bombing sufferers, (3) Ms. Saito (actress and social worker): "Towards tomorrow from the bottom" of a mushrooming cloud resulted from the nuclear blasts (Kinoko-gumo) ? The course of a parent and child circle "Kinoko no kai (the circle of mashroom)" and individual life history, which have engaged in "A-bombing-caused microcephalia", (4) Ms. Ikeuchi (Chuo Univ.): New York parade to ask the NPT (the nuclear non-proliferation treaty) review conference to realize its accord, and (5) Dr. Kitamura (Political and Economical Inst.): World citizens' movements for nuclear abolition.
In the synthetic discussion, all the participants exchanged their views and then concluded that eliminating nuclear weapons is constructing the road to a sustainable society, which was followed by a closing remark (Dr. Noguchi: general secretary of the organizing committee).
FOOD PROBLEM DISCUSSED
The research committee of food problems organized a regular meeting on July 23 in Tokyo, where Prof. Masaki (Emeritus Prof. Nippon Col. Phys. Ed.) was invited to give a lecture on the title "Children's physical and mental status, and how their daily diet manner should be", which was followed by enthusiastic discussions.
11TH MINI-SYMPOSIUM OF SCIENTIFIC WORKERS' RIGHTS
The research committee "Scientific workers' rights" is to publish the book, in which they will propose "Ethical code for scientific workers" and "Declaration of scientific workers" in order to establish the scientific workers' rights in every working place. The committee prepared the draft that is openly discussed in the Association. The above symposium was held on July 23 in Tokyo, where the committee explained the draft's contents. Then many comments were made by five panelists, which were followed by a synthetic discussion.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES IN JUNE AND JULY
1. OKINAWA BRANCH
The branch organized a peace meeting for remembering "the Okinawa battle and the atomic bombings on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the last war" on June 23 at Ryukyu University, Okinawa, where three reporters discussed (1) Constitution, observe or revise ? its point of debate, (2) How they describe the Okinawa battle in textbooks, and (3) Off-shore US military base construction and Okinawan nature conservation, respectively.
2. TOKUSHIMA BRANCH
On June 29 at Tokushima University, the branch held a colloquium on the theme "Thinking of the background of a made-up story of the relics of the ancient times, which happened 5 years ago", where Prof. Nakamura (Tokushima Univ.) reviewed what had happened in those excavation cases, and gave us a living lesson from a fabrication incidence for developing further research.
3. TOTTORI BRANCH
The branch organized an open lecture meeting on the Constitution problems on July 2 at Tottori University, where Prof. Hamada (Tottori Col.) gave a lecture "Let us put the Constitution to real practice use! Thinking of the Constitution problems as a scientific worker", after which they also held the branch's annual convention to decide the coming movement.
4. OSAKA BRANCH
The Kansai-area's colloquium for scientific workers in private enterprises was organized on July 3, where Dr. Nakamura (Osaka branch) gave a seminar entitled "Recent advancement of an electric car".
5. TOKYO BRANCH
1) The 14th Hachi-oji science forum was organized on July 14 in Kitano City, where Prof. Imamiya (Emeritus Prof. Chuo Univ.) made a talk entitled "Mal-revision of the Constitution and our daily life ? Summarizing Premier Koizumi's reform plan".
2) The individual members' activity was made on July 17, where they visited the Ino-Tadataka Memorial Museum. Mr. Ino made a geographical measurement of the coast of Japan on his foot (40,000,000 steps) for 20 years (he had started at his age of 50).
6. KYOTO BRANCH
The 23rd individual members' meeting was held on July 16, where Prof. Iguchi (ex-president of Kyoto Pref. Univ.) gave a lecture on the theme "Why must we think of Yasukuni Shrine problems?", which was followed many discussions.
The International Symposium on Exchange and Cooperation of Science and Technology in Asia (Part III) (ECSTA III) in Commemoration of the 40th Anniversary of the Founding of the Japan Scientists' Association (JSA)
The Organizing Committee of the Symposium has the honor to announce that the International Symposium on "Exchange and Cooperation of Science and Technology (ECSTA)" will be held on December 11 (2005) at Waseda University Toyama Campus Bldg 36, RM #382, Tokyo, Japan.
The 2005 is a year commemorative of not only the 60th anniversary of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and the end of the World War II. It is accordingly significant to hold an international symposium on this occasion to discuss the Asian problems past, present and future, in the presence of many distinguished scientists and citizens from different countries, who are very much concerned about the Asian future in the national and international level.
The Asian countries, which have by force been invaded and destroyed by the Japanese troops 60 years ago, send now many students and scholars to Japan. It may be good sign, however, that their population especially in graduate schools has increased, some of which can get jobs in research and educational organizations in Japan. On the other hand, many Japanese are dealing with different cooperation and exchange in Asia so that we could develop ourselves in humanistic way.
In these 60 years, each country has developed in the form characteristic of her country, of which development must highly be appreciated on the basis of a broad view of thinking and a deep analysis, resulting from economical, internationally political and historical discussions. It is therefore a problem that any Japanese technological transfer to those countries is necessarily accompanying with the multinational enterprises' occupation of their markets mainly under the US strategy to control all the Asia. Such an economic occupation has been inhibiting true science and technological cooperation. As a result, the Japanese ODA has never reached to citizens and research sites. There remain many human rights' violations especially in women scientists. However, it has been pointed out that since the APEC region including many other nations is expected to be "a motive force of world economy", we have to find out own autonomous way of equal development basing mutual discussions.
Prior to progress a way of exchange and cooperation in Asia, however, we, as Japanese, must recognize the past Japanese war crimes in the Asian countries invaded. It must also be confirmed that they had therefore to find out their own developmental direction, since their rights and culture had been destroyed and the development of science and technology had been depressed. We could not find the Asian future without criticizing such the past Japanese imperial invasion to those countries. It is quite natural that the Asian countries propose the compensation problems for the Japanese war crimes.
In the present ECSTA Symposium, we wish to totally but comprehensively discuss the above problems in the presence of many participants from different countries, so that we could establish the new frontiers of exchange and cooperation of science and technology in Asia. The fruits thus obtained must contribute to that of global level of cooperation and exchange of science and technology.