| (March 27,
2003) War is not the solution, but a cause of another (worse) problem. No justification for US/UK attack on Iraq! http://www.econ.keio.ac.jp/staff/nobu/appeal/index.html (Japanese/English) |
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| (December 23,
2002) The JSA strongly opposes US-UK attack against Iraq and calls for peaceful settlement through the UN October 1, 2002 The Japan Scientists' Association The Bush administration is about to conduct preemptive attack (perchance using nuclear weapons) against Iraq, which the administration this January placed as "an axis of evil" together with Iran and North Korea. The Department of Defense made a detailed plan for attack against Iraq, and the Bush administration proposed a resolution of "authorization to use force" to the US Congress. US military action is already developing in neighboring countries as Kuwait and US intelligence agents start to work in the Northern Iraq where Kurd controls. President Bush brought two excuses to justify attack against Iraq in his UN address in September. 1. There are keen suspicions that Iraq has high-level contacts with terrorists such as al Qaeda members that have been suspected to conduct the synchronized attack on September 11, 2001, and it supports and cooperates with them. 2. There is a possibility that Iraq behind the curtain develops and possesses weapons of mass destruction (nuclear, chemical, biological etc.), on account of Iraq's defection of UN resolutions that asked to accept inspection after the Gulf War. These excuses, however, only indicate the existence of "potential possibilities (doubts)" with the absence of clear evidence. It can be definitely stated that these problems would not be accurately verified without any actual inspection on the spot. Changing preceding strategy, Iraq accepted without condition UN inspection after Bush's UN address. The US did not handle Iraq's acceptance because it stalls, adhering to a new UN resolution that leads to the "authorization to use force", shows an attitude not to hesitate unilateral military action in case of Iraq's reject. One may see here the US's understanding that the heart of issue is not the acceptance of inspection but Iraq's threat and its real intension to "defeat Saddam Hussein" whatever it takes. The US unilateral or the US-UK bilateral attack against Iraq corresponds to "preemptive attack" that Art. 51 in the UN Charter renounces and "the act of aggression" to sovereign nation, and violates international laws. If the UN adopts the resolution of "authorization of use force", it will lead to "the suicide of the UN", namely the forfeit of raison d'etre of the UN. We hope that UN Secretary General Anan will take the responsible initiative in this problem. In Iraq after the Gulf War, approximately a million of tall mostly consisting of children, aged, and women, has been taken on by air raids frequently conducted by the US and the UK on the excuse of trespass into the no-fly zone established without the UN's authorization, after effect of depleted uranium ordnances, and by stringent economic sanction on Iraq lasting up to now from the time of one-sided imposition after the Gulf War. The attack by the US and the UK would wreak further disaster on Iraqi people in this situation. We oppose any attack against Iraq and call for peaceful settlement of the issue through the UN. We strongly hope that every UN country ant its nation be on the same standpoint as ours and reach out to the US, the UK, and the UN. The Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi not only does not show the definite attitude to oppose US's attack against Iraq, while Chancellor Schroder and President Chirac opposed, but also intends to introduce all-out national emergency legislation saying "It is good to have a shelter against every storm". We strongly claim that PM Koizumi should make efforts to peacefully settle on the base of the Constitution, rescinding his attitude to cooperate on attack against Iraq. |
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| (August 15,
2002) Declaration adopted at the International Meeting of the 2002 World Conference against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs in Hiroshima (August 4, cited from Japan Press) 1) For over half a century, people throughout the world working for peace, indeed working for the very survival of the human race, have prevented nuclear war. They have built a worldwide consensus for the elimination of nuclear weapons. Thanks to the efforts of the New Agenda group and non-aligned countries, at the 2000 NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty) Review Conference, the nuclear weapons states agreed on an "unequivocal undertaking" to accomplish the elimination of nuclear weapons. Furthermore, the UN General Assembly has adopted a resolution calling for a start to negotiations leading to the elimination of nuclear weapons. These developments represent significant progress in international politics. In the past year, the world has witnessed the deplorable events of the September 11 terrorist attacks and the war of retaliation that followed. The world is now seriously threatened by new schemes of the leaders of the nuclear superpower, the USA, for the use of nuclear weapons, which took rise from these events. In addition, the heightening tension between India and Pakistan, the two de facto nuclear weapons states, is also a serious concern. Over 30,000 nuclear weapons still threaten the very survival of the human race. It is the common task for all of us who live in this 21st century to prevent the use of nuclear weapons and to get the commitment to the abolition of nuclear weapons implemented. 2) In defiance of the voices calling for the abolition of nuclear weapons, the US Government is preparing scenarios to launch nuclear first strikes in pursuit of its hegemonic objectives. The Bush Administration has set out new nuclear policies, including the withdrawal from the ABM Treaty, rejection of ratification of the CTBT, and promotion of Missile Defense, all designed to establish absolute, nuclear supremacy. It includes contingency responses assuming nuclear attacks on 7 countries, including non-nuclear weapons states, and recommends the development of small nuclear weapons designed to destroy underground facilities. The problems of "terror" and "the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction" are being used as excuses to trample international laws and the UN Charter, whereas these are problems that, by rights, should be resolved through common efforts by the international community. In fact, the US is preparing to make pre-emptive attacks which may include the use of nuclear weapons. In the United Nations, resolutions are adopted every year, describing the use of nuclear weapons as a crime against humanity and calling for a ban on such use. These resolutions represent the international consensus. Even the UN Security Council, of which the USA is a member, has passed a resolution guaranteeing the security of the non-nuclear weapons states, saying that, "any aggression with the use of nuclear weapons would endanger international peace and security". The new policy of the US Administration discards such international agreements, and has been the focus of concern and criticism from people and Governments throughout the world, including from American allies. In the case of India and Pakistan, there are long standing territorial disputes involved. There is a real danger that their deepening military confrontation will result in the actual use of nuclear weapons. A peaceful solution to this problem is more urgent than ever. 3) The abolition of nuclear weapons is now more important than ever before in order to defend world peace and ensure the survival of the human race, and to prevent Hiroshima and Nagasaki from being repeated. It is indispensable also, in order to establish a peace order in accordance with the UN Charter, with its principles of respect for the self-determination of nations, equality between sovereign states and the resolution of conflict by peaceful means, without allowing "unilateralist domination" by any particular country. We demand that the nuclear weapons states that have not yet renounced the nuclear first strike policy should do so immediately and that they should pledge not to use their nuclear weapons. They should cease developing new types of nuclear weapons, resuming nuclear explosion testing, reinforcing their nuclear arsenals and consolidating their nuclear war readiness and put an end to the missile defense program. We demand that all the nuclear weapon states, declared and de facto alike, honor the commitment to achieve the elimination of nuclear weapons. We appeal to the UN and its member states to recall the agreement that the total elimination of nuclear weapons is the "only guarantee" against the use of nuclear weapons (Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference), and to start actions without delay to reach an international agreement on a total ban on and the elimination of nuclear weapons. We call on the people around the world to make their voices heard and join in the movement to achieve this goal. 4) In Japan, which suffered the atomic bombing, Government leaders condone the nuclear first strike policy of the US Government as "one of the possible options", and have gone as far as to speak about a possible review of the "Three Non- nuclear Principles" of not possessing, not producing and not allowing nuclear weapons to be brought into the country. Under the Japan-US military alliance there are more than 100 US bases in Okinawa and other parts of Japan. These bases are being turned into forward bases for the US pre-emptive strike strategy, justified on the grounds of counter terrorism. The contingency bills put forward by the Japanese Government are designed to integrate Japan into this US strategy and open the road to the use of force overseas by the Self-Defense Forces. As such, the bills are facing mounting protest from the Japanese people. It is an international duty for the Japanese people1s movement to oppose every step leading to war, to defend Article 9 of the Constitution and to continue to appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons. The progress of this movement will also help to develop anti-nuclear peace movements worldwide. 5) The calamities caused to Hiroshima and Nagasaki by the A-bombs and the lingering agonies of the Hibakusha are proof of the inhuman nature of nuclear weapons, and teach us that the only thing to be done with them is to eliminate them. Amidst the heightening danger that nuclear weapons will actually be used, many Hibakusha - the A-bomb survivors - and sufferers from nuclear tests or of other stages of nuclear development around the world are renewing their determination to speak of their agonizing experiences, as well as their hopes. In the meantime, they are also continuing their own struggle for compensation and the improvement of existing relief measures. Let us respond to their commitment and develop solidarity with them. Let us organize hearings of their testimonies, exhibitions of A-bomb related photos and materials and develop other creative activities aimed at making known to the people the world over the damage from the A-bombing and the worldwide suffering that nuclear weapons have caused. 6) From the 20th into the 21st century, there has been a palpable trend worldwide against nuclear weapons and for peace. We must give no quarter to schemes for war and nuclear aggression. In order to find a way forward, let us build the movement and develop public opinion in favor of the elimination of nuclear weapons, transcending differences of thought, belief, religion and nationality. Let us also continue to build cooperation with Governments that share our goal of the elimination of nuclear weapons. Let us develop signature collection campaigns and many other activities in every corner of the world, saying "No to the use of nuclear weapons" and "Yes to the abolition of nuclear weapons". These are our common demands. In pursuit of a new world order based on justice, peace and democracy, we work in solidarity with movements the world over that are working to overcome hunger, poverty and foreign debt, and for global environmental protection. Bearing in mind that nuclear violence cannot help but lead humankind to catastrophe, let us unite our efforts for and move forward to a peaceful world set free of nuclear weapons. No More Hiroshimas! No More Nagasakis! No more Hibakushas! |
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| (April 17, 2002) Wartime bills get Cabinet approval: the war-renouncing Constitution is endangered The ruling coalition plans to submit the wartime bills to the Diet and have them enacted as a priority matter during the current session that runs through June 19. Although the legislation including an emargency contingency bill says it is aimed "to secure the peace and independence of the nation and safety of the people," their primary concern is not to secure the peace and safety of the people, but to deal with "situations in areas surrounding Japan" which might be caused by the U.S. military intervention taken place in the Asian Pacific region. In fact, the government-proposed bills have some pending issues including measures concerning the evacuation of people, recovery of damages, maintenance of sanitation and public order, transportation and cummunications, and stability of people's lives. Why? On the other hand, these bills calls for providing "penalty regulations against those who disobey government orders to secure materials Since the 1970s, everytime successive LDP governments attempted to enact emergency legislation, the Japanese people blocked it, maintaining that such legislation is incompatible with the Constitution. Let's gather the strength of people demanding peace, and block the Koizumi Cabinet's attempt to enact wartime laws! |
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(April 9, 2002) Foundations of Education and Research in dangerAn advisory council of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology has submitted to the Education Minister the final report on a study concerning the plan to put state-run universities under independent agencies' administration. The ministry will draft a bill based on this report. According to the report's proposal, which has been strongly opposed by universities and civil society since it was put forward in the council's interim report last September, it can be said that foundations of research and higher education would be endangered. There are some editorials of mass media saying that this proposed incorporation of national universities is welcomed because it aims at relaxing state regulations on matters such as budget use, personnel management and research organization. The primary purpose of this "university reform," however, is not to vitalize higher education and research to serve the civil society, but to make universities better serve government and business interests. Opposite to some expectation, there is danger that state control would actually increase by allowing the ministry to stipulate the medium-term goals and assess the degree to which those goals have been achieved. Such a strengthened top-down setup would threaten the academic freedom of the national universities. Additionally the proposal establishment of board of directors responsible for decision-making on administrative issues will allow business leaders to take part in university management. Actually the Koizumi Cabinet has expressed their intention, in the context of "structural reform," to change universities to ones that help increase major corporations' competitiveness. We are concerned that basic research, regulatory science, or the humanities which would not meet required standards set by the government and business circles would decline. We are afraid, under this proposed administrative system, that we would not be allowed to carry out our mission as a watchdog for the universe. +++++ Say No to Free Ride on
Academic Research and Higher Education In the first year of the third millennium we, the members of Japanese universities, recognize our missions, The global ecology crisis, fear of of nuclear weapons, regional wars and genocide, a terrible imbalance in the distribution of economic resources, the collapse of human values caused by wealth, the despair caused by poverty... we believe that these and other difficulties can only be faced by relying on human wisdom. Universities and colleges always been centers of wisdom. And now, thanks to the development of modern means of communication, we can cooperate with each other closely. Higher education and high quality academic research form one of the pillars of human society. For precisely this reason public spending on universities and colleges is needed. In a world where globalization is advancing, no nation can escape this responsibility. However, on a plea of financial difficulty, the Japanese government is about to shirk its responsibilities. The result will be deterioration in the educational circumstances of students and in our working conditions. Japan's responsibility for promoting global co-operation will be impaired. According to estimates, the average tuition fee for higher education in Japan would exceed 40,000 dollars per year if the government withdrew its support for universities. This is equal to the average income of a Japanese worker, Similar fees would have to be charged to foreign students studying in Japan. Even now scholarships and grants available to students are insufficient to cover tuition fees and living expenses. Moreover, repayment of educational loans can extend over many years and involve heavy interest charges. Many people worry that, in future, these burdens will become even heavier. The withdrawal of government support would also meat that various educational and research programmes that help to solve world problems would stop. This means that the people of the world would be penalized by the government's action. We reject a free ride on academic research and higher education. We believe in global cooperation, We protest against the Japanese government's proposal to reduce spending on academic research and higher education. For the brilliant future of the world's
peoples, For global solidarity we send this message from Japan.
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(October 10, 2001)
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(September 25, 2001) The terrorist attacks are absolutely unjustifiable criminal acts. They can never be justified by any religious belief or political view. However, for elimination of such terrorist acts, military retaliation is not only ineffective, but will also lead to new wars around the world, creating countless new victims. No More Terrorism! No More War Anywhere! What is necessary now is bringing the perpetrators
(organizers and supporters of such criminal acts) to justice with the United
Nations at the center and based on the UN Charter and international law. These
perpetrators should be severely punished in accordance with the
law. |
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(August 28, 2001) Do you know the spirit of "THE CONSTITUTION OF
JAPAN"? Of course, if you are Japanese, you MUST know it. So, here I want you
from other countries to understand that we Japanese desire peace from the bottom
of our heart. Although recently there are increasing number of people who look
away from our activities during the wartime and are likely to think our history
glorious, please keep in mind that there are also many concerned Japanese people
and groups who have been struggling against such a right-wing movement and for
accomplishing the high ideals and purposes clearly stated in the
Constitution.
If you are interested in the action for nuclear-free world, "New History Textbook" issue, and Okinawa problems, please visit following sites;
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