Katsutaka Idogawa, former Mayor of Futaba Town, the site of the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant, will travel to France, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, and Switzerland. He will be reaching out to municipal leaders and citizen groups about the ongoing situation in Fukushima. Seven days after the disasters of March 11, 2011, Idogawa temporarily evacuated town residents 45 kilometers away to Kawamata City. After witnessing ashes floating down from the sky, fallout from the explosion at reactor no. 1, and measuring radiation levels on his dosimeter, he came to the conclusion that the only way for the people of Futaba to be safe would be to be as far…
Support Soybeans, Seriously…
If you like your proteins from soy, you already love tofu, natto and miso, important traditional foods here in Japan since a long time ago. But much of that soy is imported. No! GMO Campaign initiated a campaign some 15 years ago to encourage farmers to grow the beans again, and educate people about the importance of local consumption. On February 15, 2013, a meeting was held with expert Makushita Keiki and others, to take a look at the progress so far. Yes, consumption of locally grown soy is increasing. But still, Japanese consumers are depending to a very large extent on imported soy. Take a look at the graph:…
No To TPP Participation!
Japan has a large number of consumer organizations, both on the national level and local level. Several, including Shufuren, Parc, Seikatsu Club, Pal System Coop, Dai-ichi Mamoru Kai, Shin Nihon Fujin Kai, have joined CUJ in protesting against the Trans Pacific Partnership agreement (TPP). Here is the latest statement from CUJ: February 25, 2013 To: Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Statement of Protest against the Japan-US Joint Statement Regarding TPP According to the Japanese government’s communique about TPP after the talks between Prime Minister Abe and President Obama on February 23, 2013, that “it is not required to make a prior commitment to unilaterally eliminate all tariffs upon joining the TPP…
Japan Resources No 157
CUJ JR 157 (pdf) Japan Resources No 157 We have had a busy fall going into winter, and still some snow this morning here in Nishi-Waseda, Tokyo. Lots of political changes too, while we continue our focus on energy issues and food safety. Feel free to download the pdf file of Japan Resources No 157 and print it for your library. – Editors Contents: Do Not Approve GM Salmon! BSE In Brazil After the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: The Roles of Consumers and Farmers Proposal for a Basic Law to Abandon Nuclear Power! Highlights from the Negotiations in Hyderabad about Biological Diversity Stop TPP Action/Occupy Monsanto Protect Biodiversity from GMOs: Hyderabad…
Do Not Approve Genetically Modified Salmon!
Consumers Union of Japan opposes GM salmon, and sent the following appeal to US FDA as part of their Public Comment (deadline Feb. 25, 2013): Re: Docket No. FDA-2011-N-0899 Genetically Engineered Salmon We the consumers in Japan are strongly opposed to the approval of genetically modified (GM) salmon. This GM fish has been said to pose no risks to the environment or as food, according to the December 12, 2012 evaluation by FDA. However, we regard it to be very unsafe. We ask that you do not approve it, for the following reasons. If this GM salmon escape to the environment in large quantities, it will cause genetic contamination. Although…