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| May 3, 2011 |
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| May 3 – Constitution Day |
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The Constitution Day, May 3, is commemorated this year in the special context. For us all, who have survived the enormous earthquakes of Mach 11, it is time to think about what to do, taking into account the principles of Constitution to analyze the incalculable toll. The radiation disaster has not yet ended. Let’s discuss the right to survive. Do people really enjoy the right in this country?
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS MUST BE REACHED TO DISASTER-HIT PEOPLE
The March 11 earthquake and tsunami which hit the eastern region of Japan and a subsequent failure at the nuclear power plant reveal vulnerability of the constitutional rights of people. Politicians have neglected the state’s obligations of Article 25 which enforces the authorities to protect people’s life and the fact turns the natural disaster into a grave man-made calamity. Furthermore, the nuclear plant was struck by an unusual accident. A political crime attacks people directly.
Out of almost 30 thousand people who died during the earthquakes and tsunami the majority could have been saved. Sacrifices were numerous due to lack of manpower: it is crucial to rescue victims within the first 70 and some hours after the incident. Residents, employees of public offices, school teachers, policemen and fire fighters, who themselves were victims of the disaster, desperately worked to save people’s lives and take care of them. But under the circumstances the elderly and the sick died after they had been rescued.
Quite a few people spent some time, feeling chilly, in the half-broken houses in the absence of an evacuation facility. For the past decade municipalities have been merged to be a greater administrative unit and public workers were reduced. Schools with a small number of children as well as post offices, railroad stations and extension service offices of forestry and agriculture were closed, which has eventually destroyed community bondage in parallel with disappearance of workers of these establishments.
Efficiency-First Policy Brought Greater Sacrifices
Efficiency-first policies were imposed to disintegrate local communities based on safety and relief. The right to survive was not ensured as a
The nuclear accident and hazards constitute the worst consequence of an absurd choice of the mankind.
The Liberal Democratic Party and the Democratic Party of Japan as well as mass media, which have been and are promoters of nuclear power generation, have attempted to revise Constitution on the ground of lack of the right for environment and the right to know. Their logic is proven to be a sophistry.
Politicians, Big Business, bureaucrats and mass media - as a collective body - favor nuclear power generation. It has blocked the right of people to know and freedom of speech to object the nuclear policy. As a result the environment is destroyed. Nuclear power generation is the culprit that violates the constitutional principles.
At the moment, however, the political elite remain cool without feeling guilty. Facing the aggravating nuclear disaster, they propose ‘reconstruction initiatives’ in the carefree way. We must be cautious.
Article 22 of Constitution provides ‘freedom to choose and change of his/her residence’, but the government plans ‘urban reconstruction projects’, ignoring voices of inhabitants in the disaster areas through ‘regulations’. The government even intends to raise the consumption tax rate, which may hit directly the disaster-hit regions and smaller enterprises. Taking advantage of the enormous damages of towns and villages, the government tries to implement the controversial Do-Shu system (=merger of prefectures to greater provinces across the nation) and join the TPP (=Trans-Pacific Partnership) initiative with a purpose to rationalize industries in the northeastern region of the country.
Self Defense Forces of Japan and US Troops
Problems are found in the military terms, too. Collaboration between the Self Defense Forces (SDF) of Japan and the US Forces is welcomed. A nuclear reactor on board the US aircraft carrier is not dangerous, is it? The policy to station US military bases in Okinawa with a roll of notes is the same tactic employed to build nuclear power facilities, isn’t it?
The SDF should be dissolved and reorganized to be a rescue team to fight against natural disasters. If that had been so, SDF soldiers could have saved a far greater number of lives with the right equipment and training techniques. Why are military tanks with a cannon turret necessary to remove radioactive debris? Camouflaged uniforms are less convenient than luminous overalls for various jobs as far as safety is concerned.
Governments have presumed a possible missile attack at a nuclear power station and allocated trillions of Yen of tax money to set up the MD (=missile defense) network without assuming natural perils on the nuclear facilities. Isn’t that silly?
On the Day of Constitution let’s think over the earthquake and nuclear accident. Let’s enhance our determination to make Articles Nine and 25 more appreciated and materialized in our life.
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