HEADQUARTERS
FORA “PEACE QUESTION” ORGANIZED IN OSAKA AND KYOTO
The Koizumi Cabinet has pursued the destruction of the Constitution by getting the adverse revision of the Constitution on the political agenda for the first time since the end of WWII. Also, the Cabinet in 2003 violated the Constitution by sending the Self-Defense Forces of Japan (SDF) to Iraq, the first postwar dispatch to troops to a country at war. Alleging that the Japan-US alliance exists in a global context, Prime Minister Koizumi shows his subservience to the US by accepting and promoting the strengthening of the US bases in Japan in the name of US military realignment and transformation, and increasing the integration of the US forces and the SDF in order to deploy them worldwide.
Even in such complicate circumstance, we must make clear our movement for peace, especially in Asia. The research committee for peace question and the Osaka branch jointly organized a meeting entitled “Thinking of peace in Asia in the absence of the Japan-US Security Treaty” on April 30 in Osaka City, which was organized as a pre-symposium for the 16th HQ’s CSSC (comprehensive scientific study convention) held in October this year, and as an Osaka branch’s forum for observing the Constitution Article 9. Firstly Dr. Kawai (chair of the committee) gave an opening address and introduction to the meeting, which was followed by four invaluable discussions: 1) problematic points of realigning the US bases (Prof. Kameyama: Ryukyu Univ., and Prof. Konno: Emeritus Prof. of Yokohama Natl. Univ.), 2) Japan-US Security Treaty and US’s world strategy ? towards cooperative task for complete nuclear disarmament and observation of the Constitution Article 9 (Prof. Sawai: Emeritus Prof. of Nagoya Univ.) , 3) peace in Asia and the Constitution of Japan (Prof. Kaneko: Rissho Univ.), and East Asia Community and Japan’s future (Prof. Nakagawa: Emeritus Prof. of Kagawa Univ.), respectively. After presenting papers, many enthusiastic discussions were made, which strongly stimulated all the participants.
In relation to the above event, the 4th Kansai area’s meeting for peace study was held in Kyoto on April 9, where they discussed the East Asian economy and politics. There were two key reports: 1) China’s new developmental strategy and economic cooperation in east-north zone of Asia (Prof. Matsuno: Ritsumei-kan Univ.) and 2) peace policy in Korean peninsula and East Asia (Prof. So: Ritsumei-kan Univ.).
DISCUSSION “LEAVINGS OF AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS IN FOOD” MADE IN TOKYO
The research committee of foodstuff question held a regular meeting on April 22 in Tokyo, where Dr. Ogura (foodstuff researcher) discussed the problems related to the leavings of agricultural chemicals in food and their scientific documentation to be opened to the public, and proposed the future approaches to those problems to keep the nation safe in food life.
COLLOQUIUM “SCIENTIFIC WORKERS’ RIGHTS, STATUS AND ETHICS” HELD IN TOKYO
In order to establish the scientific workers’ rights in every working place, the research committee of scientific workers’ rights problems is preparing to publish “Ethical code for scientific workers” and “Declaration of scientific workers” in the near future. In order to polish the documents, the committee has been gathering a number of opinions and comments in and out of the Association, for which the committee already held 14 mini-symposia. On April 23, the committee held a colloquium in Tokyo, where many friendly organizations’ members were invited to give invaluable comments to the committee. The committee’s organizer firstly explained the draft’s contents, which was followed by a view-exchange meeting.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH
1. MIYAGI BRANCH
On March 25, the branch organized a seminar for young scientists at Tohoku University, where Dr. Ogasawara (secretary-general) gave a lecture on the title “Let’s read The Capital”, which stimulated not only the young but the senior. On the other hand, the branch organized the 5th lecture meeting on April 8 in Sendai City, where Drs. Makino and Hayashino (Miyagi branch) gave seminars: (1) towards improving the productivity of rice, and (2) early stage of the gigantic structure of cosmos.
2. EHIME BRANCH
The branch organized a regular meeting entitled “Newly enacted Disabled Support Act and citizens’ participation” on April 4 at Ehime University, Matauyama City, which was to understand a number of problematic points of the newly legislated law for supporting the disabled. They must from now on basically sustain their life on their own account whatever handicap they have. In the meeting, an invaluable report was given by Ms. Suzuki (mother of a disabled person with a tough difficulty far from being on his own) who had been against its law that equally asks the disabled to do on their own, since all the disabled can only move and work in accordance with the status of their trouble, which was followed by many discussions.
3. TOKYO BRANCH
On April 21, the 6th peace lecture meeting was organized, where Prof. Kaneko (Rissho Univ.) discussed the LDP’s draft “new Constitution”, in which he analyzed the problematic points especially on the nation’s rights and obligation.
4. KYOTO
The branch held the 2006 Kyoto comprehensive scientific symposium entitled “How should we overcome the presently competition-dominated society?” on April 22 in Kyoto, where they discuss (1) scientific workers’ obliquity, (2) competition among scientific workers in case of the 3rd program for science and technological plan, (3) how we overcome a so-called competitive society in the international relation to the discussion of climate change, and (4) made-up aseismatic structure and construction administration, which was followed by various comments from the floor.
5. TOHOKU DISTRICT
The District symposium “Thinking of the young’s carrier education and their working problems, and government-enterprise’s labor policy” was held on April 22 at Fukui University. Firstly, Prof. Goka (Kanazawa Univ.) gave a keynote speech “Change of the government-enterprise’s labor policy and the young’s workplace”, which was followed by discussions such as (1) the present status of the young at work, and (2) support for mental development and the view of work. Various comments and reports also followed main discussion.
6. MIYAZAKI BRANCH
On April 27, the branch organized the 10th seminar for young scientists at Miyazaki University, where Dr. Yamamoto (Minami-kyushu Univ. ret) gave a lecture on his scientific activity. He touched upon what scientific activity should be on the basis of his thinking of literacy, humanism and society.
CONSTRUCT THE MOVEMENT FOR RECOGNITION OF HIBAKUSHA’S ILLNESS AS A-BOMB RELATED
On April 6 and March 14, some 50 atomic bomb survivors (Hibakusha) living in 6 different prefecture submitted applications at their respective prefectural government for governmental recognition that the A-bombings caused their illness. They were the first and second group to take part in Hibakusha’s 2nd concerted application for the recognition called for by Japan Hidankyo (Japan Confederation of A and H Bomb Sufferers Organizations). More Hibakusha group will apply for the recognition in the coming month. Among about 260,000 Hibakusha certificate holders in Japan, only 0.8% (2,000) has obtained the recognition by the government and are eligible to receive medical benefits. We have to aim at heightening public opinion to press the government to remove all the restrictions on the recognition, and calling on as many as possible to take part in the concerted action. Also, we have to support 169 Hibakusha having been filed lawsuits in 12 district courts to demand the revocation of the rejection of their applications. It really contributes to the movement to get rid of the worldwide nuclear weapons. (S. YUASA)