HEADQUARTERS
BSE QUESTION REVIEWED
We must urge the government not to rush to lift the ban on the import of the US beef, although the US refuses to comply with the December 2005 Japan-US agreement allowing the import of the US beef only on condition that cows are 20 months and/or younger, and their risky parts are perfectly removed. It is of very reason to oppose to resumption of the US beef import while its safety is not guaranteed. In this connection, the research committee of foodstuff problems held a regular meeting on July 8 in Tokyo, where Prof. Yamauchi (Emeritus Prof. of the Univ. Tokyo) gave a lecture on the title “The governmental foodstuff safety committee’s judgment as a safeguard against BSE (bovine sponge-form encephalopathy: mad cow disease)”, which was followed by many discussions and comments.
12TH STUDY MEETING OF HIBAKUSHA ORGANIZED
The Osaka District Court on May 12 supported all nine Hibakushas’ (atomic bomb survivors’) claim that the state’s refusal to certify that their illnesses were caused by atomic bomb radiation should be revoked. The ruling was the first in a series of the related lawsuits. The plaintiffs who won the victorious ruling include Hibakushas who were denied government recognition as having atomic bomb radiation-related illnesses on the grounds that their exposure to radiation was 3.3 km away from ground zero or that exposure to radiation took place after entering the city in wake of the atomic bombing. The judge also raised the issue of the governmental underestimating of the dose of radiation in areas 1.3 to 1.5 km from the hypocenter and criticized the governmental procedure of automatically applying this formula to all the Hibakushas. He strongly pointed that Hibakushas may have inhaled or eaten radioactive materials causing internal radiation and ensuing disorder, saying that the governmental standards for certification are criteria for consideration, but a decision should be taken based on a comprehensive understanding of the patients’ symptoms and living conditions. It is therefore for the government to drastically review the standards for recognizing the atomic bomb disease and relieve all the Hibakushas.
Catching the wind, the 12th study meeting of Hibakusha wad organized on July 15 in Tokyo. They exchanged their views on (1) environments about Hibakusha, (2) A-bomb victims and certification system of A-bomb-caused disease, and (3) A-bomb victims for general discussion, which was followed by a synthetic discussion.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES IN IN JULY
1. OSAKA BRANCH
1) The study group Hegel’s ‘The Great Logic’ held a meeting on July 1, where Prof. Makino (Hannan Univ.) discussed a part of the last volume of “The Great Logic”.
2) The Kansai-area’s colloquium for scientific workers in private enterprises was organized on July 9, where Dr. Yutani (Osaka branch) gave a seminar on nuclear fuel recycle.
2. HYOGO BRANCH
The branch co-organized a citizens’ social forum on July 2 in Kobe City, where they enjoyed a movie show “The Corporation”, which was followed by a lecture under the title “From corporate-governing society to citizens-governing society”. Afterwards there were many comments and discussions.
3. TOKYO BRANCH
1) The individual members’ group took a field work on July 2. Thinking of the past military period and constructing peaceful daily life in the future, they visited a so-called spooky but well-politically managed historic construction Yasukuni shrine and Yushu-kan, where they were given an invaluable explanation. 2) The Machida scientific forum was organized on July 4 in Machida City, where Prof. Mizuyama (Emeritus Prof. Tokyo Agricul. Univ.) gave a lecture on the title “Pan-Europe movement and the European Union”. 3) On July 23, the Takao chapter organized a rally for disapproval of excavating a tunnel through the Mt. Takao, where the government constructs a super highway in disregard of citizens’ demand. They made a demonstration using a long-nosed goblin (a guardian spirit for Mt. Takao) against the ongoing construction, which was accompanied by a number of events. 4) The 23rd peace seminar was held on July 28, where Prof. Kaneko (Rissho Univ.) gave a seminar on the national referendum law that is discussed in the present Diet session.
4. FUKUI BRANCH
The branch organized a regular meeting on July 11 at Fukui University, where Prof. Saburi (Fukui Univ.) gave a lecture on the title “Math education on the cultural base”. He reviewed a number of math education trials abroad, which was made by a view-exchange meeting.
5. KYOTO BRANCH
1) The research committee for co-evolution economics organized a regular meeting on July 14 in Kyoto City, where Prof. Shigeta (Emeritus Prof. Gifu Univ. Economics) made a talk entitled “Capitalism: Karl Marx and the present day”, which was followed by a synthetic discussion.
2) The study group Nikkori-net (Kyoto Human Network for East-Asian Peace, and Independent and Peaceful Unification of Korean Peninsula) organized a regular meeting on July 18 in Kyoto City, where Prof. Sokawa (Emeritus Prof. Kyoto Inst. Tech.) gave a seminar entitled “Is the DNA identification of the skeletal remains scientific? – On the case of Ms. Yokota kidnapped by North Korea.”.
3) The individual members’ conference held a gathering on July 29 at Kyoto University, where Prof. Ashida (Emeritus Prof. Ritsumei-kan Univ.) gave a talk on the history of the Ritsumei-kan University’s democracy after the last war.
6. MIYAGI BRANCH
The branch held the first study meeting on July 22 in Sendai City, where Dr. Hayashino (Miyagi branch) talked on the gigantic structure at the early stage of the universe.
WE URGE THE GOVERNENT TO STOP SUBSERVIENCE TO THE US
On June 29, the Japan and US heads published a joint document entitled “Japan-US Alliance of the New Century” stating that they together herald a new Japan-US alliance of global cooperation for the 21st century, by reaffirming their pledge to make further efforts to strengthen the global role of the Japan-US military alliance. Basically they literally aim to broaden and enhance the Japan-US military alliance setup into a global alliance. The two leaders confirmed that Japan and the US have common strategic objectives, and called for the importance of fighting terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, and that they will establish a setup for military cooperation in the event of a preemptive war. They also stressed that the bilateral accord that would integrate the Japan’s Self-Defense Forces and the US forces is the most significant realignment of their forces in decades, and called for the full and prompt implementation of the military agreement (May 1, 2006) to make the US military presence more endurable and effective. The above necessarily helps the movement to adversely revise the Constitution of Japan to revoke the ban on Japan’s use of force abroad as an exercise of the right of collective defense. The agreement that makes the US military presence more enduring and effective is nothing less than “declaration” that the US bases in Japan further strengthen their functions and make their presence permanent well into the 21st century. We must not allow Japan and the US to continue to strengthen the functions of the US bases in Japan in disregard of the people’s demand. We must now urge the government to stop subservience to the US, and then make every effort to increase popular awareness of the need to abrogate the Japan-US Security Treaty, for which extraordinary subservience to the US keeps increasing. (S. YUASA)