HEADQUARTERS
THINKING OF “SOCIALISM” IN THE SOCIETY OF TODAY
The research committee for co-evolution economics, which is to make clear the mechanism for economical contribution to sustainable civilization, organized a regular meeting on February 9 in Kyoto City, where Prof. Seto (Setsu-nan Univ.) discussed the above theme, especially on socialism and socialistic democracy. He also touched upon (1) relationship between scientific socialism and socialism, (2) socialistic democracy of Japan type, and (3) perspective of socialistic democracy of Japan type.
2・11 GATHERING FOR DISAPPROVING “NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY”
On February 11, “National Foundation Day”, citizens held rallies in major cities in opposition to the Day and discussed various issues including the adverse revision of the Constitution.
In Tokyo, they adopted an appeal calling on the public to increase opposition to the recent move for the state control of education and the bill to establish procedures for revising the Constitution of Japan. Prof. Obinata (Waseda Univ.) gave a speech, in which he touched upon the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Japan-China War and the 60th anniversary of the promulgation of the Constitution of Japan, proposing that it is important for the Japanese people to discuss about the death and destruction that Japan inflicted on other Asian countries as well as on its own citizens during WWII.
In a rally in Osaka, Prof. Watanabe (Hitotsu-bashi Univ.) outlined the historical role of the Constitution and criticized the pro-constitutional revision forces’ argument using the North Korean threat as a pretext. In Nagoya, Prof. Takahashi (Univ. of Tokyo) gave a seminar that the Liberal Democratic Party’s draft of the Constitution aimed at turning Japan into a nation waging wars abroad, pointing out that they dr1ve the people to support (1) the Japanese war of aggression, (2) the state-run Yasukuni Shrine, and (3) the education system instilling patriotism.
<NOTE> “National Foundation Day” was originally proclaimed under a different name in 1873 by the Imperial Meiji Government with the aim of deifying the Emperor. After WWII this day was repealed because it went against the constitutional principle that sovereignty rests with the people. The Liberal Democratic Party government, however, resurrected it in 1967.
THE PROBLEM “MOVING OF A FISH MARKET” DISCUSSED IN TOKYO
The Tokyo Metropolitan government plans to move the Tsukiji fish market to Toyosu area polluted with heavy metals and chemicals that have caused underwater contaminations. After moving the market, they plan to utilize an open space left as a media-center for an Olympic game that might be held in 2016. Therefore the research committee of pollution and environmental problems organized a symposium under the theme “Thinking of the fish market moving from Tsukiji to Toyosu”, where they discussed a number of problematic points available in both sites. Simultaneously they carried out on-spot investigations in Tsukiji and Toyosu.
GLOBAL WARMING STRATEGY DISCUSSED IN TOKYO
On February 17, the research committee for foodstuff problems organized a regular meeting, where Dr. Saiki (Alcohol Assoc.) gave a lecture on bio-ethanol production in the pretext of global warming strategy.
LOCAL ACTIVITIES IN FEBRUARY
1. OSAKA BRANCH
1) The Kansai-area’s colloquium for scientific workers in private enterprises was organized on February 4, where Dr. Yamaguchi (Kyoto branch) gave a seminar on the origin of life, which was based on a book written by Dr. Nakazawa. Afterwards, they exchanged their views on life in its origination and evolution, and human development as well.
2) In a meeting of the study group Contemporary capitalism on February 21, Dr. Iwahashi (Osaka Constitution Network and Intl. Lawyer Assoc. Kansai branch) gave a seminar “East-Asian security”, which was followed by enthusiastic discussion for observing and developing the Constitution of Japan..
3) The study group Philosophy organized a meeting on February 27, where Dr. Nakamura (Osaka branch) gave a lecture on water pollution due to medical, pharmaceutical products and extremely small quantities of organic substance, which might have different influence on our life.
2. MIYAGI BRANCH
The branch held the 4th branch’s lecture meeting on February 10 in Sendai City, where Dr. Hashimoto (Miyagi branch) lectured on the title “Rethinking of the earth and civilization – Discussion of the thinking of Javed Diamond and Wolfgang Sachs”.
5. FUKUOKA BRANCH
On February 17, Fukuoka environmental research group held a regular meeting, where Mr. Ikeda (photographer) was invited to give a lecture entitled “Chikugo river-side scenery and environmental question”. He also presented a number of photos taken along the river, which stimulated a discussion for improving a neighboring environment.
NHK, CARRY OUT ITS MISSION AS A PUBLIC BROADCASTER
On January 29, the Tokyo High Court found NHK (Hippon Hoso Kyokai, or Japan public broadcaster) responsible for altering the contents of a TV program on Japan’s wartime sex slavery and ordered it to pay a women’s rights group (that had cooperated with NHK in creating the documentary program aired in January 2001), which is the plaintiff, two million yen in compensation. The point at issue in the High Court trial was whether alteration of the TV program was made due to political pressure. Acknowledging that NHK met Liberal Democratic Party members, including then Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe (present premier), and were told to make the program “fair”, the Court stated that NHK took to heart the lawmakers’ remarks more seriously than necessary and surmised that NHK was requested to make the program uncontroversial, thus changing contents of the documentary. Since the program was edited in a different way from what producers had originally planned, as a result, testimonies of a perpetrator who had been a former Japanese Imperial Army soldier and of victims of sex slavery cases were cut out just before the program was aired. NHK should modestly respond to the Court decision and take its responsibility as a public broadcaster. (S. YUASA)
THOUGHT DISCRIMINATION ENDS
Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. (IHI) secretly drew up a plan Zero-Communist Plan to eradicate the workers labeled as communists, and systematically practiced discrimination based on the plan for 40 years. In addition to the plan, the corporation formulated “individually” top secret plans to keep each communist member suspected under surveillance and control them for 40 years. However, recently IHI reached a settlement agreement with 175 employees and ex-employees who had filed a complaint with the Labor Standards Inspection Office to instruct IHI to end the discrimination. On January 19, IHI finally expressed remorse over discrimination against Japan Communist Party members and supporters in the workplace, and promised to take measures to prevent any recurrence. Is it epoch-making for a large corporation pulling Japan’s heavy industry to clearly express its remorse for the first time over discrimination and human rights violations on the ground of thought? In the agreement on preventive measures, IHI also stated that the corporation would no longer practice discrimination against the employees on the grounds of ideology, gender or unfair labor practices, and expressed that the corporation would instruct all employees not to engage in discrimination. IHI will accordingly redress its discriminative wage system and pay a settlement to all the 175 workers. (S. YUASA)