WHAT DOES INDEPENDENTLY MANAGED AGENCY SYSTEM BRING ABOUT?
The Ministry of Education disclosed on September 20 (1999) that the government should transform all the state-run system of national university (99 universities) into respective independently managed agencies (maybe, a temporary organization to university privatization). The worst point of the Ministry's transformation plan is to change the form of university. University must basically possess two functions: 1) planning and mapping out and 2) carrying into effect. However, the government explained last September that the former should necessarily belong to the governmental board, and the latter would do to the university, which is principally controlled by the government. The government would ask all the university to show productive power on the basis of independence, self-support and self-responsibility, which would be the same as that governed under the market-orienting principle. Since the independently managed agency system to be designed is part of the administrative organizations and therefore supported by public finance, the presence of the national administration power must necessarily be required, the Ministry said. In order to realize the governmental presence, they ask the university the following four points. a) The competent minister(s) orders all the agencies to set a goal of task for the limited term of 5 years, on the basis of which a proposal for the limited term must be approved in advance. b) When the competent minister(s) approves the proposal, it is a prerequisite to flexibly use a budget for the contents of the proposal. c) A committee to be situated in the competent minister(s)'s office critically evaluates the results of the proposal for the limited term. d) When the term of the proposal ends, the competent minister(s) makes a critical decision whether or not the proposal should be continued in the next term. In the negative case such an agency no longer exits.
A number of organizations as well as the JSA have been campaigning against the plan of the Ministry of Education. If accepted the plan, we are to finally admit the road "national university --> independently managed agency --> privatized organization". Performing competitive and effective management in university would produce "university enterprise and academic business". All the national universities are necessary for giving the people higher education and culture to achieve the world sustainability. Education should be carried out as a farsighted program, for which the government therefore be principally responsible.
The Kyoto liaison conference against the university council report's enactment, to which the Kyoto branch belongs, held a meeting to study the transformation of national university and institute into independently managed agency on October 7 (1999) in Kyoto City. Prof. Okada (Kyoto Univ.) gave a lecture on the problems of the independently managed agency.
On October 22 (1999), the Nagasaki branch organized a meeting on the problems of transforming national university into independently managed agency, which was in cooperation with the Nagasaki University Labor Union. Prof. Obara (secretary of the Union) analyzed the proposition of the independently managed agency. Prof. Yoshida (Nagasaki Univ.) gave a report under the title "Market-orienting principle and its application to the independently managed agency newly established by transforming national university". He stressed that the transformation of university system would absolutely be opposite to the peace Constitution, the fundamentals of education act and the UNESCO's world declaration on higher education for the 21st century, and then university would completely be collapsed under the market principle, if realized.
EMERGENCY SYMPOSIUM OF THE JCO CRITICALITY ACCIDENT
On November 14, the symposium entitled "Emergency symposium of the JCO criticality accident" was held with about 100 participants under the joint auspices of the JSA research committee of atomic power problems and atomic problem information center at Chuo University.
In the symposium, Prof. J. Tateno (Chairperson of the JSA research committee of atomic power problem) first reviewed the entire incident that had occurred in JCO Ltd. (uranium processing facility) on September 30, 1999. He also pointed out, as the cause of the accident, lack of fail-safe system and frequent alteration of the facility and plan, restructuring, priority over economy, absence of specialists of criticality accident throughout coping with the accident, and lack of recognition that atomic power is basically danger. As he indicated, the Atomic Power Safety Committee has a serious responsibility, above all, it is necessary to improve the nuclear fuel cycle plan and never to start MOX burning in thermal reactors.
Next, Dr. Aoyagi (Japan Atomic Energy Res. Inst., ret.) introduced the examples for criticality accidents all over the world and referred to the points at issue of the JCO's accident : lack of application on detailed indication of the safety assessment for the JCO's facilities, leaving the criticality accident out of consideration, not following the Prime Minister's Office Ordinance Art. 3, paragraph 2 (adequate measure such as criticality alarm in case of criticality accident), absence of countermeasure against wrong operation in criticality, neglecting the preventive measure in maintenance and management of restricted nuclear value that nuclear criticality does not break out unless more than two independent anomalies occur simultaneously.
Finally, Prof. Noguchi (Japan Univ.) reported the victims exposed to radiation and the environmental effect as follows. Three operators were exposed respectively 18, 10 and 2.5 times the dose limit, and one of them had been under critical condition and has gone. There were two distinctive features in the investigation. Employees and firemen wore own film badge to be able to measure radiation. Estimate was done from the amount of the radioactive 24Na created in the body irradiated by neutrons. Residents were low exposed to radioactive products initiated by gamma rays out of radioactive noble gases (Kr and Xe) and iodine, but the exposed radiation measured 0.1 mSv near the accident sites. The radiation exposed to the residents measured 10 mSv during 5 hours till evacuation.
ACTIVITIES OF RESEARCH COMMITTEES AND GROUPS
The JSA headquarters organize a number of research committees and groups undertaken
on a nationwide scale, which are encouraging the members across th country
1) RESEARCH MEETING "PEACE IN JAPAN: LESSONS FROM THE 20TH CENTURY AND PROSPECTS FOR THE 21ST CENTURY"
The research committee of peace issue held the above-titled meeting on September 23 in Tokyo. The aim of the meeting was to discuss the related topic further.
There were three presentations at the meeting. The first presentation covered the term until the end of World War II, the second one was until the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the last one was until the present. The first presentation titled "Japanese Imperialism observed from Outside" by Prof. Ishikawa, (Kyushu Univ.) was about the process of Japanese imperialism. Aside from the common understanding that Japanese fascism no longer existed, he analyzed the reason why people had not been able to stop the trend of fascism based on the idea that fascism was the national recognition. Dividing the process of fascism into four stages (formation of thoughts and movements, formation of the system, establishment of the system, and corruption of the system), he explained that the process from the second to the third stage was irresistible. He then concluded that people should have been aware of fascism in an early stage. In order to abolish the Japanese fascism, we should keep the Japanese Constitution.
The second presentation was "The Cold War and the Japan-U.S. Security System" by Prof. Kaneko (Risho Univ.). He explained the lesson from the Japan-U.S. security alliance and the Cold War behind the system. The Cold War eventually became the military competition between the U.S. and the Soviet Union so that we had been threatened by the crisis of nuclear war. In both sides, peace, democracy and human rights were disregarded. To Japan happened the same thing under the Japan-U.S. security system in those days. The lesson we found was only the dark road without future where military dependence led to the occupation by other nations, poverty and retreat of democracy. Therefore, the Japan-U.S. security alliance should be ended to accomplish the spirit of the Japanese Constitution in the coming century.
Following these presentations, Dr. Sugie (Prof. Emeritus, Chukyo Univ.) talked on "Post Cold War and Nuclear Deterrence." He explained how the nuclear abolition should be done in current situation. Observing the status of nuclear weapon in the Post Cold War period, the nuclear powers have been decreasing the number of unnecessary parts; however, they have still been quite passive in total destruction. They seemed to shift from nuclear deterrence to the strategy based on the usage of nuclear weapons, which was against the UN Charter. On the other hand, now was the good chance to abolish the nuclear weapons since a total destruction was widely discussed such as the opinion presented by the International Court of Justice. Especially the New Agenda Union or the establishment of the middle power states must be the important trend to abolish the nuclear weapons.
At a wrap up session after these presentations, we have once again recognized that the spirit of the Japanese Constitution should be accomplished in the 21st century. To abolish the nuclear weapons, we have agreed to submit the opinion note to the Japanese Government asking not to abstain from UN resolutions.
2) SYMPOSIUM ON COAL-FIRED POWER PLANT AND WITHERING PROBLEM OF JAPANESE APRICOT TREES
The research committee of pollution and environmental problems held a symposium entitled above on September 25 and 26 in Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture, in cooperation with the JSA Wakayama branch. This area is famous for Japanese apricot but suffering from withering. In the meeting participated more than 100 of scientists who are facing the coal-fired power plant problems, citizens and farmers, and Mr. and Mrs. Wilson (environment activists, New Zealand).
Firstly Dr. Suzuki (Ibaraki branch) talked his investigation that the present coal-fired power plant plan proposed by the Government exceeds ludicrously and violates the international agreement for countermeasure against discharging carbon dioxide. He concluded that the severe damage might possibly be caused by withering resulted from the smoke of a neighboring Gobo coal-fire power plant. Then Dr. Seto (Wakayama branch) also explained the withering evidence based on his precise investigation of the area what happened to the apricot field in question and its possible relation to a power plant.
Apricot farmers sincerely expected strong cooperation with scientists to solve the problems concerned. Through enthusiastic discussions, reached was an agreement that switching from a power plant to alternative energy one such as a wind power plant and/or a solar cell, could create a new way to solve the withering -caused problems.
On the second day, apricot farmers showed participants round apricot fields. They were surprised with severe damage of apricot. It was strongly suggested that withering is possibly due to toxic smoke produced from the power plant, even if the company in question and the local governments raised another causes. Both of the symposium and the on-spot investigation were a great success and fruitful.
3) SYMPOSIUM "THINKING OF JAPANESE CONSTITUTION - ABOUT THE MOVEMENT OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT" HELD
On October 25 in 1999 research organizations' committee for peace and democracy held the 12th symposium titled above. Prof. Naito (Senshu Univ.) described the development of the movement for amending the Constitutional before establishing an ad hoc Committee for Investigating the Constitution in the Diet. Prof. Kaneko (Risho Univ.) stressed that the Article 9 of the Constitution of Japan concerning renunciation of war has been highly appraised in the international peace movement. Criticizing advocates of the constitutional amendment have claimed that the present Constitution had been imposed on Japan by the United States and has been timeworn. Participants made a firm resolution to defend the Constitution.
DISTRICTS AND BRANCHES' ACTIVITIES
The JSA consisits of 47 branches which are grouped into 9 districts, and they are independently
and/or cooperatively carrying out their activities in addition to the headquarters' ones
1) CIVIC LECTURE "TOXIC CHEMICALS IN DAILY LIFE" IN HYOGO
The Hyogo branch has organized a series of six civic lectures. The main theme is "Thinking of the 21st century on the basis of light and darkness in the 20th century". The first part of lecture was "From the 20th century to the 21st century". On September 11 in Kobe City, they had the second part of lecture "Toxic chemicals in daily life", where three lectures gave invaluable talks on the subject, especially so-called environmental hormone, ecosystem and toxic chemicals, and citizens' investigation of toxic chemicals available in city environment. Twelve members and another 13 citizens participated.
Prof. Izumi reported a threat of flooding chemicals from the point of view of a chemist. He explained in detail the facts of heavy metals pollution after the appearance of man on the earth. The lead pollution in the human body will reach the risk level in near future as a result of the modernization in the 20th century. He emphasized that important is to take measures thoroughly at the source of pollution since heavy metals spreading in natural environment change to another type. He also touched upon the fundamental principle of environmental hormone. Finally he stressed that chemicals which are impossibly or insufficiently managed should not be used.
Prof. Amakawa appealed against the risk of toxic chemicals and environmental hormone as a biological chemist. He explained plainly how toxic chemicals are accepted to cells as he showed the experiment data using the receptor cells of cuttlefish. He also explained plainly the reaction mechanism that is suspected to be the mutagenesis and the endocrine disruption by chemicals.
Ms Fujinaga (Osaka branch) also appealed toxic chemicals problems showing the result of the questionnaire survey for citizen's daily life. She showed that a moth repellent is daily used without indication in toothpaste contains toxic solvent but is not officially restricted. She stressed that it is urgently necessary to improve the measures for the free access to information and the indication of safety.
2) "WHY MUST WE ARGUE AGAINST THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT?" CIVIC LECTURE HELD IN SAITAMA
The JSA Saitama branch held the above lecture, on November 3, the day on which the Constitution was enforced. Comparing with the situation of politics, economics and ideology in the 1950's, Prof. T. Miwa (Saitama Univ.) analyzed the point of issue as follows.
In the 145th regular session of the Diet were railroaded bills menacing the peace principle of the Constitution, namely, the new guidelines (war manual)-related bills and ones concerning wire-tapping, reform of governmental organization, decentralization of power, the fundamental ledger of residents, anthem and national flag, and the setup of the committee of the constitutional investigation. Now is in a tense atmosphere that only emergency defense legislation remains to be done. Present argument on the constitutional amendment is different from the preceding one in a sense that the Diet is occupied in a ratio of more than two to three by parties urging to amend the Constitution, Liberal Democratic Party, Liberal Party, New Komeito, and Democratic Party of Japan. They claim "Shift to Japan with the ability to do the international contribution (new liberalism) so as to fit for New Japan (the second economic major in the world)" to advance strengthening the cabinet's executive power, support system for economic society consisting of multinational companies, and military buildup and sending troops oversea under the name of international contribution.
In addition, as an emergent report, Dr. Kakuta (Saitama branch) gave a lecture "The criticality accident in Tokai village and risk management system", raising the problems of national information management and manipulation in risk management.
3) 17TH KYUSHU DISTRICT SYMPOSIUM IN OKINAWA
The Kyushu district consisting of eight branches (Fukuoka, Saga, Nagasaki, Miyazaki, Kagoshima, Kumamoto, and Okinawa) held a symposium in Okinawa on November 27 and 28, 1999. It is for the first time that such a symposium was held in Okinawa, which also commemorates the 30th anniversary of Okinawa branch inauguration.
The theme discussed on November 27 was "Peace construction and rehabilitation of local area". In the session titled "The US's world strategy in the 21st century and Japan, Kyushu and Okinawa", five speakers talked on the themes such as "The new strategy of NATO appeared in the Kosovo's war"(Prof. Kimura), "The Japan-US new bilateral defense cooperation guidelines and the problems of US Bases" (Prof. Kameyama), "The chemical pollution in the base" (Prof. Takei) etc. The present-day problems such as the Urazoe military port and firing practice with live shells were also discussed.
In the next session on "Change from the extremely public enterprise-dependent social system", the problems of public enterprises now appearing in Kyushu were discussed. The titles of the reports were "The unreasonable situation in construction of Kawabe-gawa Dam" (Mr. Itai), "The changes of biological characteristics in Isahaya bay after the construction of the water gate" (Prof. Azuma), and "An example of failures of the public works appearing in the construction of the large recreation facilities and direction to resolution" (Prof. Iriya).
The second theme of this symposium was on education and research system. In the session held on November 28 titled "Thinking of the 21st century's education and research system -- Against a storm of reforming national university and institute into the independently managed agency", about 30 participants discussed the reform of university. Prof. Abe reported on "The problems of universities and evaluation system in UK". Participants exchanged the information and their experiences on the university problems and discuss the future movements.
Through this symposium two persons newly became members of the JSA.
ARTICLES OF "JOURNAL OF JAPANESE SCIENTISTS"
The Journal of Japanese Scientists or NIHON NO KAGAKUSHA (in Japanese) covering all the
scientific fields is monthly published and distributed to all the members and other readers
Vol.34(No.12)(1999)
[Title-page message]
Shoichi H.: Democratization of agricultural design and city planning last 30 years
[Special issue: Thinking of the Japanese housing policy]
Kishimoto Y.: Criterion of the housing policy of Japan
Miyake J.: A fundamental study of the housing and dwelling policy for the elders
Katagata S.: Influences on housing planning caused by amended building standard act
Hiramoto S.: Problems of housing quality assurance act
[Colloquy]
Uehara H.: Protection townscape and the municipal task
[General]
Katoh K.: To the fifth anniversary of Science Council of Japan
Hayashi H.: Scientists forum of 1999 World Conference against A&H Bombs
Yokomuro K.: Listening to cultured cells whispering about human nature
Vol.35(No.1)(2000)
[Title-page message]
Kawasaki T.: Postwar movements of the Japanese scientists and the JSA
[Special issue: Subaru telescope]
Sekiguchi K.: Subaru telescope as big science
Iwamuro F.: The results of the test observation using the near-infrared camera, CISCO - Participating in the big project from a university
Watanabe J.: Big science and the activity of public relations - Case of the Subaru telescope
Hayashi S. S. : A female astronomer's view of the Subaru telescope
[Colloquy]
Murata S.: My thought for national anthem of Finland
[General]
Asami T.: Discussion processes on the reform of Science Council of Japan
Ikeuchi S.: Science Council of Japan and the science-technology policy
Toishi S.: Case study -- A problem of controlled landfill site in Choshi city, Chiba prefecture
Vol.35(No.2)(2000)
[Title-page message]
Toyoda H.: The accumulation of wealth and poverty
[Special issue: National university reformation into the independently managed agency]
Ichihashi K.,Yamaguchi K., Uesugi S., Nomura Y., Irako M. & Kitayama M.: Round table discussion: National university reforming into the independently managed agency - A road for reconstruction of nation
Iwata S.: On the aim of the independently managed agency
[Colloquy]
Wakamatsu M.: My joyful activities of drawing
[General]
Nakatsuka A.: A fifty years' history of Science Council of Japan: A viewpoint in its historical analysis
Tateno J. & Noguchi K.: On the criticality accident at a nuclear processing plant (JCO) in Tokaimura
Executive Committee of Summer School: Report on 1999 summer school of the JSA in Yokohama