Blog: Realising the Benefits of Face-to-face Courses (27 July 2023) Japanese here: https://nishoren.net/new-information/18878 Since Covid-19 was reduced to a Category 5 infectious disease, face-to-face study meetings and gatherings have gradually increased. On 1 July 2023, the general meeting of the East Japan Liaison Group for Clean Water and Life was held face-to-face for the first time in four years. A study session was held with Associate Professor Harada Sadao of Doshisha University speaking on the theme “Plastic in the Ocean” Seeing the lecturer’s facial expressions and hearing his voice, I think the participants realised the advantages of face-to-face lectures. It was also invigorating for some of the participants to see…
PFAS Artifical Turf at Your School?
Artificial plastic turf, PFAS chemical pollution in Japan, how about it? Join us to stop it. Japanese here Artificial turf is on the increase on playing fields, but also in school yards, children’s playgrounds and private gardens. Plastic green space has attracted attention as a source of large amounts of microplastics, but it is not the only problem. PFAS (organofluorine compounds) have been found in groundwater and river water in many parts of Japan above the national provisional guideline values and have become a social problem. It has been pointed out that PFAS is also leaching from artificial turf. Furthermore, the filler (rubber chips) used to make artificial turf elastic…
Following in the Footsteps of CUJ’s Founder, Naokazu Takeuchi
Blog: Food is not a Commodity – Healthy Life for the Future Japanese here: https://nishoren.net/new-information/18760 (June 22, 2023) Members of the CUJ steering committee held a meeting to exchange opinions after reading “Food is not a Commodity – Healthy Life for the Future” by Takeuchi Naokazu, the 1969 founder of Consumers Union of Japan. The title of this book expresses well the thoughts of Mr. Takeuchi, who was involved in the activism consumer movement in the 1970s. This was an age of environmental pollution when Japan was known as the “pollution archipelago.” CUJ was vocal in criticizing corporations on issues such as food, cosmetics, and detergents. Takeuchi’s book also describes…
60 Years and More, for Japan’s Nuclear Reactors? No Thanks!
We Protest Against the Kishida Administration’s Passage of the GX Bill to Promote Nuclear Power 6 June 2023 Click here for original Japanese text On 31 May 2023, the Green Transformation (GX) Decarbonization Power Source Bill, which will allow nuclear power plants to operate for more than 60 years, was passed and enacted in Tokyo, Japan. This happened at a plenary session of the House of Councillors by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, as well as Isshin no Kai, and others. This legislation bundles together five bills amending the Basic Act on Nuclear Energy, the Nuclear Reactor Regulation Act, the Electricity Business Act, the Reprocessing Act, and…
Japan Resources – 189
Please click here for our latest English newsletter (pdf): JR 189 Contents: From the Editors: Over 90 Consumer Organisations Have Signed Our Peace Appeal! Symposium: Let’s Connect Citizens for Peace in Asia! Peace Action by Japan, Korea and Taiwan 90 + Support For Our Consumer Peace Effort GM Zucchini Found in South Korea: How about Japan? Action Day to Bring Citizens’ and Farmers’ Voices to the G7 Agriculture Ministers’ Meeting Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) to Stay GM Free Open Letter of Inquiry on Artificial Turf In the News: Corteva’s Genome-Edited Maize Not Commercially Cultivated at Present From the Editors: Over 90 Consumer Organisations Have Signed Our Peace Appeal! Consumers Union…