Consumers Union of Japan went on a field trip to investigate the current problems surrounding the massive project to build a MagLev superconductive train system (known as “Linear” in Japanese). Before the trip, we talked to our guide, the director of Gauss Network, Mr. Kakehi Tetsuo, an expert on magnetic field radiation issues. These are some of the main concerns: The system selected to run Japan’s Central Shinkansen MagLev train is to use refrigerated liquid helium at minus 269 C and make the resistance or impedance zero. This is based on superconducting magnets. But there is a possibility that the cooling system will fail. This abnormal termination is known as…
Japan’s Soy Sauce Makers Replied to Our Questionnaire Regarding GM-Free Labelling
Japan’s Soy Sauce Makers Replied to Our Questionnaire Regarding GM-Free Labelling Consumers Union of Japan Food Safety Citizens’ Watch NO! GMO Campaign Japan is considering changing its mandatory labelling system for genetically modified (GM) food. Currently, a processed food can contain as much as 5% GM ingredients but still be labelled as GM-Free. At a Consumer Agency meeting on February 16, 2018, a new strategy to deal with GM labelling and such contamination issues was discussed. One of the draft proposals was to set the limit at 0% (below detection limit). If such a strict rule is introduced, it will probably be very difficult for food companies to avoid contamination,…
Japan Resources – No 170
Please click here CUJ-JR-170 for the latest issue of Japan Resources, our English newsletter. In this issue we ask, “What if…?” Trade policies should support local production and local consumption. Health and education policies should prioritize the best interests of consumers and citizens. Well, that is not always the case, as with the controversial TPP agreement and new genetic engineering research. We hope you will continue to stay updated with CUJ’s activities and news on our English website, and support our campaigns! Contents: Statement: Japan’s Consumers See No Merits from TPP 2018 GMO-Free Zone Movement Report Who Pays for Genome Editing and Gene Drive Research? ”Consumer Rights” vs. “Consumer Life”…
2018 GMO-Free Zone Movement Report
Report from the 2018 GMO-Free Zone Movement Event Held in Nagoya, Japan The 13th annual event to celebrate the Japanese GMO-Free Zone movement was held in Nagoya, Aichi prefecture, on March 3, 2018. During the past year, many groups participated in the preparation of the event, including members of the Seikatsu Club co-operative movement, local citizens and farmers groups in and around Nagoya, as well as the No! GMO Campaign. Some 300 people joined this year’s event. We welcomed five participants from South Korea’s National Korean Anti-GMO Movement and two participants from Taiwan’s Anti-GMO School Lunch Movement. Starting From Seed to Otowa Rice, the research council that promotes the Otowa…
Japan’s Consumers See No Merits from TPP
Statement of Consumers Union of Japan Japan’s Consumers See No Merits from TPP March 9, 2018 With the controversial signing today of the TPP11 in Chile, Consumers Union of Japan is concerned that “consumers” are not mentioned even once in the formal agreement. “There can be no merits to our health or the environment, or to future generations, when only the interests of private corporations were taken into concern by the TPP negotiators,” says Koketsu Michiyo, General Secretary of CUJ. “More trade in products like cars and beef will further harm the climate, and make life even more difficult for Japan’s farmers, without any consideration of our democratic rights…