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The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 4, 2012)
Keep tax on printed matter low to protect culture, democracy
消費税と新聞 文化と民主主義を守るために(8月3日付・読売社説)

A number of European nations have adopted reduced tax rate systems to keep value-added taxes low on newspapers and books.
 欧州諸国では、新聞や書籍に対する付加価値税を低く抑える軽減税率を採用している。

To preserve the culture of print and democracy, Japan should introduce a similar system in the course of its planned consumption tax rate increase.
 活字文化と民主主義を守るため、日本でも今回の消費税率引き上げで、軽減税率を導入すべきである。

Value-added taxes in Europe, which are equivalent to the consumption tax in Japan, have higher rates--at about 20 percent--than Japan. But the tax rates applied to newspapers are just 7 percent in Germany and 2.1 percent in France, while there is no tax on such matter in Britain.
 日本の消費税に当たる欧州の付加価値税は、税率が20%前後と日本より高いが、新聞に適用される税率は、ドイツが7%、フランスが2・1%、イギリスが0%などに軽減されている。

This is because newspapers are recognized as public organs that support democracy by providing information on the policies of central and local governments and carrying various opinions on a number of issues. As a result, they offer material people use to form judgments.
 新聞が、国や地方の政策や多様な言論を伝えて判断材料を提供するなど、民主主義を担う「公器」として認識されているからだ。

In this respect, newspapers have won the trust of many readers in Japan as well. The use of newspapers at schools also has been spreading with Newspapers in Education (NIE) programs, which are aimed at helping schoolchildren improve their reading comprehension abilities and cultivate their abilities to think and make judgments to solve problems.
 日本でも新聞は、こうした観点から多くの読者の信頼を得てきた。子どもたちの読解力を伸ばし、問題解決のための判断力や思考力を養うことを目指して、学校で新聞を活用するNIE(教育に新聞を)活動も広がっている。

We consider it necessary to pay due attention to newspapers' inherent role in serving the public and its interests.
 新聞の公共性、公益性に着目する必要がある。

===

Diet group backs current rate

A Diet group to promote the culture of print, comprising lawmakers from various parties, has issued a statement calling for maintaining the current tax rate at 5 percent for newspapers, books and some other publications.
 超党派の国会議員でつくる「活字文化議員連盟」は、新聞や書籍などに現行税率5%の維持を求める声明を出した。

The statement expressed a strong sense of crisis regarding these types of publications, saying: "Their public nature is extremely strong, in that they have played central roles in maintaining the culture of print in Japan. Consumption tax hikes would accelerate people's moves away from printed matter."
 「日本の活字文化保持の中枢の役割を果たしてきた公共性は極めて高い。消費税率引き上げは国民の活字離れを加速させる」と強い危機感を示している。

In Diet deliberations on bills to raise the consumption tax rate, which are now in the final stage, there has been active discussion of reduced tax rate systems.
 大詰めを迎えた消費税率引き上げ法案の国会審議でも、軽減税率を巡る議論が活発化している。

New Komeito's vice representative, Akira Matsu, called for introducing a reduced tax rate system on printed matter when the consumption tax rate is raised to 8 percent in the first of the envisaged two-stage tax hike plan.
"Reduced tax rate systems [on newspapers and books] are implemented in a number of European nations as they are considered intellectual infrastructure for democracy," Matsu said.
 公明党の松あきら副代表は「欧州では新聞や書籍は民主主義の知的インフラとみなされ、軽減税率が目立つ」とし、日本でも消費税率を8%に引き上げる段階から導入するよう求めた。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in response: "[The government] will consider [reduced tax rate systems] from various points of view. It's important that we study the situation in foreign countries."
 野田首相は「様々な観点から検討する。外国の事例の検討も大事な要素だ」と応じた。

===

Be careful of taxing education

Learning from European models, we consider it necessary to give prudent consideration to taxes imposed on knowledge and education.
 欧州の事例に学び、「知識」や「教育」に対する課税は、慎重に考えるべきだろう。

To maintain social security systems in a stable manner, it is inevitable to consider a future additional increase in the consumption tax rate beyond 10 percent.
 社会保障制度を安定的に維持するには、将来的に消費税率を10%超に引き上げる追加増税を視野に入れざるを得ない。

To ease the financial burden on households and obtain the people's understanding, we think it would be effective to introduce reduced tax rate systems.
 家計の負担感をやわらげ、国民の理解を得るためにも、軽減税率の導入が効果的だ。

Opponents of such systems, mainly in the Finance Ministry, argue it would be difficult to set clear lines for which items should be subject to lower tax rates and that the systems might result in lower tax revenues.
 「対象品目の線引きが難しく、税収減につながる恐れがある」として、財務省を中心に軽減税率への反対論がくすぶる。

But if eligibility for lower tax rates is limited, it is unlikely there would be sharp drops in tax revenues.
 だが、軽減対象を限定すれば、大幅な税収減とはなるまい。

To determine what should be subject to lower tax rates, political leaders should be responsible for deciding after a third-party committee or other body studies the issue.
 軽減税率の対象に何を選ぶかは、第三者委員会のような組織で検討したうえで、政治が責任を持って判断すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3, 2012)
(2012年8月3日01時55分 読売新聞)
# by kiyoshimat | 2012-08-05 08:31 | 英字新聞
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 3, 2012)
Education boards must improve their responses to bullying
いじめ対策 教育委員会の在り方問い直せ(8月2日付・読売社説)

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has set up a new office specializing in bullying issues in response to a case in which a second-year middle school student committed suicide in Otsu last October.
 文部科学省がいじめ対策を専門に扱う新組織を発足させた。大津市で中学2年生が自殺した問題を受けた措置だ。

In addition, two other serious middle school bullying cases have recently been revealed--one in Soka, Saitama Prefecture, and the other in Neyagawa, Osaka Prefecture--both of which resulted in severe injuries to the bullied students.
 埼玉県草加市や大阪府寝屋川市でも中学生がいじめで重傷を負っていた。

Bullying-related issues continue to appear. We urge the ministry to make effective use of the new office to deter bullying, which causes serious suffering to children.
 いじめを巡る問題は後を絶たない。新たな対策室を有効に機能させ、子供を苦しめるいじめの抑止に役立ててもらいたい。

The new office, established Wednesday, comprises about 20 officials, including some from the National Police Agency. When serious bullying cases are revealed or students commit suicide as a result of bullying, the office is supposed to provide schools and boards of education with instructions and advice regarding how to probe such cases and prevent their recurrence.
 新組織は約20人の体制だ。警察庁の職員も参加する。深刻ないじめや、いじめを苦にした自殺が起きた際、学校や教育委員会に対し、原因究明や防止策を指導、助言することを想定している。

===

Ministry's commitment needed

The ministry used to leave how to respond to bullying cases up to schools and boards of education whenever they came to light. It can be said that the ministry has responded slowly to bullying issues so far even though it is aware of the overall trend of bullying nationwide.
 文科省は従来、個別のいじめの対応については、学校や教委に委ねてきた。全国的な傾向の把握には取り組んできたが、対策は後手に回っていたと言えよう。

Setting up the new office suggests that the ministry has concluded it would be difficult to solve bullying cases as long as it leaves them up to schools and boards of education.
 対策室の設置は、現場任せでは問題は解決しないと判断した結果だろう。

It is necessary for the ministry to gather information related to bullying and establish a framework that will allow it to swiftly respond to emergency cases.
文科省はいじめに関する情報を集約し、緊急を要する事案に対処できる体制を構築していく必要がある。

It is also important for the ministry to dispatch experts to schools and boards of education to give them appropriate advice on preventing children from killing themselves.
 子供の自殺防止のため、専門家を派遣して、適切なアドバイスをすることも重要だ。

It would, however, be unreasonable to expect the ministry to directly respond to every single bullying case. Only schools and boards of education are responsible for dealing with the issue firsthand.
 ただ、文科省がすべてのいじめに直接対応するのは無理がある。最前線でいじめ対策を担うのは、やはり学校や教育委員会だ。

The Otsu case has revealed how dysfunctional the city's board of education was in responding to the problem. Reforming education boards is an urgent task.
 大津市の問題では市教委の機能不全が浮き彫りになった。教委の立て直しは喫緊の課題である。

The Otsu Municipal Board of Education rushed to wrap up its investigation even though many students at the public school the boy attended told how he was bullied when the board surveyed them following his suicide.
 大津市教委は生徒の自殺後に実施したアンケートで、多くの生徒からいじめに関する情報を得ながら、早々に調査を打ち切った。

===

Board showed no understanding

Members of the board, moreover, reportedly did not raise any questions or express any opinions regarding the case during their regular meetings following the suicide. The board did not show that it understood the seriousness of the case or that it was committed to probing the cause of the suicide.
 自殺後に開かれた市教委の定例会では、教育委員からいじめ問題への質問や意見は出なかったという。市教委には、問題の重大性の認識も、自殺の原因を究明しようという姿勢も感じられない。

This seriously calls into question whether boards of education are really necessary.
 教育委員会の存在意義が厳しく問われている。

It has long been said that boards of education--most of whose members are appointed from among local communities--lack substance. Although the boards are independent from the heads of local governments, it is often the case that the majority of board members simply rubber-stamp decisions made by their secretariats, which handle practical affairs.
 地域住民から任命された委員らで構成する教委については、かねて形骸化が指摘されている。首長から独立した機関であるにもかかわらず、実務を担う事務局の方針を追認するケースが目立つ。

Many boards of education have former teachers as their superintendents--the heads of the secretariats. A common criticism is that such superintendents fail to respond properly when problems arise because they feel camaraderie with the teachers involved.
 事務局を統括する教育長の多くは教師出身者だ。学校で問題が生じた際に、「仲間意識」が働いて適切な対応がとれていないとの批判も絶えない。

Some observers strongly feel that boards of education are unnecessary.
 教委不要論も根強い。

Some heads of local governments insist that it should be up to them to decide whether to even have such boards, in light of moves toward the decentralization of power.
地方分権の観点から、教委の設置を自治体の選択制にすべきだと主張する首長もいる。

Should boards of education be left as they are?
教育委員会は現状のままでいいのか。

It is necessary for the ministry to review the system.
文科省はその在り方を再検討する必要があろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2, 2012)
(2012年8月2日01時26分 読売新聞)
# by kiyoshimat | 2012-08-04 07:53 | 英字新聞
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 2, 2012)
Defense paper rightly highlights need for caution over China
防衛白書 中国軍の活動に警戒を怠るな(8月1日付・読売社説)

In response to the Chinese military's rapid modernization and increased activities, it is imperative that the Self-Defense Forces steadily strengthen their surveillance and patrol activities.
 中国軍の急速な近代化と活動の活発化に対し、自衛隊は警戒・監視活動を着実に強化することが肝要である。

The government's 2012 white paper on defense stated, as last year's report did, that China's military movements are "a matter of concern" for the Asia region and the international community, and "should require prudent analysis." It is natural for the government to point this out.
 2012年版防衛白書は中国の軍事動向について、昨年に続き、アジア地域と国際社会の「懸念事項」と明記し、「慎重に分析していく必要がある」と指摘した。当然の認識である。

China's defense spending has jumped to more than double the level it was five years ago and 30 times that of 24 years ago. Its official defense budget is now more than 1.6 times that of Japan's. The gap will almost certainly continue to widen. Some observers have suggested China could match the United States as a military power by about 2050.
 中国の国防費は過去5年間で2倍以上、24年間で30倍に急増した。日本の1・6倍超に達し、今後、この差は拡大することが確実だ。50年頃には「米国の対等なライバルになる」との見方もある。

Besides China's sea trials of an aircraft carrier and development of next-generation fighter jets possessing stealth capabilities, Japan must not underestimate the implications of China's advance into the Pacific Ocean, where its naval vessels are operating increasingly frequently, and test-flights of reconnaissance drones.
 空母の試験航行、ステルス性を持つ次世代戦闘機の開発に加え、海軍艦船による太平洋進出の常態化や偵察用無人機の飛行訓練なども軽視できない。

===

Beef up SDF capabilities

Given such factors as senior Chinese military officials making remarks on security issues more often than before, the white paper said relations between the Chinese Communist Party leadership and the People's Liberation Army have "been getting complex." The paper said it is a "risk management issue," and expressed caution over the growing influence of China's military.
 白書は、安全保障問題に関する軍幹部の発言の増加などを踏まえ「共産党指導部との関係が複雑化している」と分析し、「危機管理上の課題」として、中国軍の影響力増大に警戒感を示した。

The lack of transparency in China's military capabilities and decision-making process has long been a source of unease. It is crucial that close attention is paid to this issue.
 中国の軍事力や意思決定プロセスについては、かねて透明性の欠如が指摘されている。引き続き注視することが欠かせない。

The Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces in recent years have been placing greater emphasis on the defense of the Nansei Islands. But due to growing activities by Chinese forces, the SDF are being stretched when dispatching patrol aircraft and other vessels as needed.
 海上・航空自衛隊は近年、南西諸島防衛を重視しているが、中国軍の動きが激しいため、哨戒機などのやり繰りが厳しいという。

We believe it is urgent for the nation to strengthen the "dynamic defense cooperation" with the U.S. military, which is renewing its focus on the Asia region. Improving the deployment formation and equipment of the SDF's maritime and air wings is also a pressing matter. The government should end its paring of defense spending, which has continued for 10 consecutive years.
 「アジア重視」を鮮明にした米軍との「動的防衛協力」を強化するとともに、海空自の部隊配置や装備を充実させることが急務だ。防衛費の10年連続の減少にも、歯止めをかけるべきである。

On the other hand, it is important to step up confidence-building efforts between Japan and China through such measures as reactivating bilateral defense exchanges, which have stalled in the past few years, and establishing an emergency contact system between forces of both nations to deal with a maritime accident.
 一方で、ここ数年停滞している日中防衛交流を再活性化し、海上事故発生時の部隊間の緊急連絡体制を構築するなど、双方の信頼醸成を図ることが重要だ。

===

N. Korea text needs update

With regard to North Korea, the white paper said following the failed test of a ballistic missile in April, Pyongyang "is likely to attempt similar launches" in the future.
 北朝鮮について、白書は、4月の弾道ミサイル発射の失敗を受けて「今後も同様の発射を行う可能性が高い」と指摘した。

Japan must enhance its deterrent capability by expanding the scope of military information sharing with the United States and South Korea and conducting joint exercises with them. The government should quickly conclude a general security of military information agreement with Seoul, the signing of which has been delayed due to domestic issues in South Korea.
 日本は、米韓両国との軍事情報の共有を拡大し、共同演習を通じて抑止力を高めねばならない。韓国の国内事情で延期されている軍事情報包括保護協定(GSOMIA)の締結を急ぐ必要がある。

We find it baffling that since 1994 the white paper has not changed the language it uses to assess North Korea's military movements, saying only that it "constitutes a serious destabilizing factor for security in the entire East Asia region."
 疑問なのは、白書が1994年以来、北朝鮮の軍事動向に関する評価を「東アジア全域の安全保障にとって重大な不安定要因」とし、一切変更していないことだ。

Over this period, Pyongyang has conducted two nuclear tests and test-fired long-distance ballistic missiles and carried out other military provocations that have significantly endangered Japan's security environment. We think the white paper should use expressions that more accurately reflect the changes in North Korea's posture.
 この間、2回の核実験や長距離弾道ミサイル発射などが行われ、日本の安全保障環境は格段に厳しくなっている。北朝鮮情勢の変化を適切に反映した評価の表現を工夫しなければなるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 1, 2012)
(2012年8月1日01時13分 読売新聞)
# by kiyoshimat | 2012-08-03 07:24 | 英字新聞
--The Asahi Shimbun, July 30
EDITORIAL: Anti-nuke protests offer an opportunity to move democracy forward
国会を包囲する人々―民主主義を鍛え直そう

A myriad of lights cast a soft glow around the Diet building as dusk fell on July 29.
 夕暮れの国会議事堂を、無数の灯(ともしび)が取り囲んだ。

Thousands of anti-nuclear protesters formed a human chain around most of the Tokyo landmark in the latest of a continuing series of demonstrations against the reopening of nuclear power plants following the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The "Encircle the Diet" rally was organized by a coalition of citizen groups.
Participants demanding the phaseout of nuclear power generation in Japan chanted slogans against the restart of idled nuclear reactors, holding candles and flashlights.
 きのう、市民グループの呼びかけであった「国会大包囲」。脱原発を求める人々が、キャンドルやペンライトを手に「再稼働反対」を連呼した。

The massive demonstration came after several months of Friday night protests at the prime minister's office and the Diet building. Tens of thousands of people have joined the growing movement.
 ここ数カ月、毎週金曜の夕方には、首相官邸と国会の前でも何万という人々が抗議の声をあげている。

Never have so many Japanese participated in a movement against a government policy since a wave of protests against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty swept the nation half a century ago in 1960.
 1960年の安保闘争から半世紀。これほどの大群衆が、政治に「ノー」を突きつけたことはなかった。

This loud chorus of objections to nuclear power generation that has risen among the silent majority is an amazing change triggered by the March 11, 2011, disaster and the subsequent reactor meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
 「もの言わぬ国民」による異議申し立て。3・11と福島原発事故がもたらした驚くべき変化である。

MOVEMENT FUELED BY REACTOR RESTARTS
■原発再稼働で拡大

The weekly anti-nuclear protests in front of the prime minister's office began at the end of March with just 300 participants. The number of protesters swelled after the government decided in June to bring two idled reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant back online.
 官邸前の抗議行動は、3月末に300人ほどで始まった。それが、6月に政府が大飯原発の再稼働を決めた前後から、みるみる膨らんだ。

One participant in the July 29 rally, a 60-year-old, self-employed woman from the city of Shimanto, Kochi Prefecture, expressed her indignation at Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's remarks at the news conference to announce his decision to reactivate the two reactors.
 「大包囲」に来た高知県四万十市の自営業の女性(60)は、再稼働を表明した野田首相の記者会見に憤る。

"I can't forgive him for saying he had decided (to restart the reactors) for the people's sense of security," the woman said. "He should have been honest and said (his decision had been) for money."
「国民の安心のために決断したという言葉が許せない。正直に金もうけのためといえばいいのに」

Most of the protesters who were interviewed by The Asahi Shimbun shared the feeling that the government and electric utilities, which are in a rush to restart reactors, are hiding the truth.
 再稼働を急ぐ政府や電力会社は「本当のこと」を語っていない――。話を聞いた参加者にほぼ共通する思いだ。

First of all, they find it hard to believe the claim that nuclear power plants in Japan are basically safe.
 まず、「安全だ」という説明が信じられない。

That's hardly surprising. The causes of the accident have yet to be fully identified, while it is suspected that the Oi plant in Fukui Prefecture, operated by Kansai Electric Power Co., could be sitting atop an active fault.
 当然だろう。事故原因も判然とせず、大飯では活断層の存在も疑われている。

We wonder how many Japanese are willing to accept Noda's assertion that the nation is equipped with a reliable system to prevent a recurrence of nuclear accidents.
首相が「事故を防止できる体制は整っている」と力んでも、真に受ける人がどれほどいるのか。

The protesters are also suspicious of the claim that there will be a serious power shortage unless reactors are reactivated.
 「電気が足りなくなる」という説明にも疑問の目を向ける。

They say that there was a sufficient power supply last winter and that no shortage is emerging this summer despite repeated warnings about a power crunch.
 足りない、足りないと言いながら、昨冬もこの夏も余裕があるではないか。

They suspect that the real motive behind the hasty move to restart reactors is to protect the financial health of the electric utilities, which are suffering from higher fuel costs due to increased thermal power generation.
再稼働の本当の理由は、電力会社の経営を守るためではないのか。

Some of the protesters accept that nuclear power generation can only be phased out through a time-consuming process.
 参加者の中には、原発ゼロを実現するにはある程度時間がかかると考える人もいる。

If Noda had clearly committed his administration to weaning Japan from dependence on atomic energy and mapped out a plan to decommission reactors over time, starting with the most dangerous ones, his efforts to reopen reactors might not have stirred such a huge wave of public outrage.
 もし首相が「脱原発」の立場を明確にし、危険度の高い原発から順次廃炉にする行程を示していたら、ここまで怒りが燃え広がることはなかったのではないか。

DEEP-ROOTED DISTRUST OF ESTABLISHMENT
■根強い体制不信

But the Noda administration's actions concerning nuclear power generation are not the only problem.
 ただ、問題は野田政権のふるまいだけにとどまらない。

At the root of the protest movement is strong distrust of the way indirect democracy is practiced in this country.
抗議の根っこにあるのは、間接民主主義のあり方に対する強い不信感である。

One of the protesters, a 77-year-old woman from the city of Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture, said: "Democracy is supposed to be politics based on people's opinions. Politics that ignores people's voices is nothing more than fascism."
 兵庫県姫路市の女性(77)は「民主主義は民の声を聴く政治のはず。声が届かないのはファッショだ」と語った。

This viewpoint has been expressed time and again at the protest rallies.
 こんな声は抗議の場のあちこちで聴かれる。

Indirect democracy should allow voters to realize the policies they favor through their elected representatives, or legislators. Many Japanese seem to feel that the nation's system of indirect democracy is not functioning properly in that their voices are rarely heeded by policymakers.
 有権者が、選挙で選んだ自分たちの代表(議員)を通じて政策を実現する。その間接民主主義の回路が機能せず、自分たちの声が政治に届かない。

This sense of frustration appears to have been driving people into actions that seem closer to direct democracy.
 そんないらだちが、人々を直接民主主義的な行動に駆り立てているのではないか。

The Fukushima nuclear disaster was clearly the last straw.
 そして、これを決定づけたのが原発事故だった。

Many Japanese believe it was not a natural disaster but the result of human error due to failures by the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operated the plant.
 これは天災ではなく、電力会社や政府による人災だ。

They criticize the government and TEPCO for not immediately disclosing the facts of core meltdowns nor information about the release of radioactive materials from the plant into the environment.
メルトダウンの事実も、放射性物質の飛散情報もすぐに公表しなかった。

They don't trust news organizations either, which they believe base their reports mostly on information provided by the government.
そんな政府の情報をもとに報道するメディアも信用できない――。

People are not just distrustful of politics. They are also critical of newspapers and TV networks, which they regard as part of the establishment.
 政治不信にとどまらず、新聞やテレビまで「体制側」とみなして批判の目を向ける。それほど不信の根は深い。

COMPLEMENTARY ROLES OF POLICYMAKERS AND PEOPLE
■補完しあう関係築け

The trend toward direct democracy will only accelerate in coming years.
 直接民主主義の流れは、今後も強まるだろう。

Large-scale political movements like the one against the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty have not been seen in Japan for decades. This was most likely because Japan was preoccupied with rapid economic growth.
 安保闘争のような大規模な政治行動は、高度経済成長とともに70年代以降、影を潜めた。

But Japan has entered an era of economic decline. We are now in danger of losing the wealth and even the safety we have long taken for granted.
 いまは右肩下がりの時代。手にしていたはずの豊かさも、安全までも、ポロポロとこぼれ落ちる。

Politicians have to be held accountable for policy problems in various areas. This is an essential part of the democratic process.
さまざまなテーマで、政治の責任を追及する声がやむことはあるまい。

But no good would come from political confrontation between the establishment and the people, separated by the wall of the prime minister’s office and alienated from each other by mutual distrust.
 そんなとき、官邸の壁を隔て、「体制」と「民衆」が相互不信に凝り固まって対峙(たいじ)していては何も生まれない。

Direct democracy is an effective means to ensure that people's voices are reflected in policymaking during periods between elections.
 直接民主主義は、選挙と選挙の間の民意を映す方法としては有効だ。

It is the job of political parties and politicians to incorporate their views into actual policies.
しかし、その声を政策に落とし込むのはあくまでも政党や政治家の役割である。

There is a communication breakdown between policymakers and the people. This needs to be quickly addressed by establishing a mutually complementary relationship.
 国民との間の詰まったパイプを修繕し、新しい回路をつくることで相互補完の関係を築く。

One of the leaders of the coalition organizing protest rallies says the movement has prodded some lawmakers into action as the scale of public opposition to nuclear power is plain for all to see.
 一連の抗議行動を呼びかけた市民グループのリーダーの一人は「大規模な抗議行動で、数を可視化することで議員が動き出した」と語る。

As the wave of protests swelled, lawmakers of both the ruling and opposition camps started joining the rallies.
 抗議の人波が膨れあがるのにあわせて、与野党の議員が行動に加わるようになった。

A group of local assembly members have formed a new environmentalist party, Midori no To (Greens Japan), under the banner of immediate abolition of all nuclear power plants.
地方議員らが「原発の即時全廃」を掲げて「緑の党」を立ち上げた。

Some of these moves among politicians are probably attempts to garner votes in the next national election by jumping on the anti-nuclear bandwagon.
But there is no denying that people's voices are beginning to influence politics.
 中には選挙目当ての便乗組もいるだろうが、人々の声が政治を動かしつつあるのは確かだ。

The organizers of the protest rallies are asking for meetings with top officials at the prime minister's office.
 抗議行動の主催者らは、官邸側に面会を申し入れているという。

We think Noda should invite protesters in all age groups to his office for a discussion.
この際、老壮青の参加者も招き入れて、首相みずから話し合ってはどうか。

That would be a good start for fresh efforts to change "negative democracy," driven by distrust, into "positive democracy" based on trust and dialogue.
 それを手始めに、不信に動かされる「負の民主主義」を、信頼と対話に基づく「正の民主主義」に鍛え直していくのだ。
# by kiyoshimat | 2012-08-02 07:52 | 英字新聞
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 31, 2012)
Strategy needed to discuss northern territories with Russia
日露外相会談 戦略を持って交渉を継続せよ(7月30日付・読売社説)

Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, agreed during their meeting held in Sochi, a resort in southern Russia, to continue talks on the disputed northern territories between their top leaders, foreign ministers and vice foreign ministers.
 ロシア南部の保養地ソチで行われた玄葉外相とラブロフ露外相との会談は、北方領土問題について、次官級、外相、首脳のレベルでそれぞれ交渉していく方針で一致した。

Japan and Russia have not yet developed an environment in which they can make progress on the territorial issue. Priority should be given to building a relationship of mutual trust between the leaders of the two countries through various discussions.
 日本とロシアが領土問題を前進させる環境は、まだ整っていない。様々な協議を通じて首脳間の信頼関係を構築することが先決だ。

At the meeting, Gemba again expressed his regret over Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev's second visit to Kunashiri Island, one of the islands in the northern territories, earlier this month. It is also reasonable that Gemba told Lavrov that both countries need to pay due consideration to public sentiment in holding territorial talks.
 外相会談で、玄葉氏はメドベージェフ首相が今月初旬、北方領土の国後島を視察したことに改めて遺憾の意を示した。双方が国民感情に配慮しながら協議する必要があると述べたのも当然だろう。

Lavrov said Russia would continue discussions with Japan calmly and unemotionally, but added Russian leaders would continue to visit the northern territories.
 ラブロフ氏は「落ち着いた雰囲気で感情的にならずに」議論を続けるとしながらも、露要人の領土訪問は今後も続くと述べた。

===

Overcome difference of views

However, there is a critical problem.
 だが、これは極めて問題だ。

We cannot allow Moscow to ignore Tokyo's intention and enhance its effective control over the northern territories based only on its own logic.
 ロシア側が、日本政府の意向を無視し、自国の論理だけで北方領土の実効支配を強めることは容認できない。

It is questionable how deeply Moscow understands the seriousness of Japan's protest. Russia might be taking unfair advantage of the current instability in the Japanese government.
 日本の抗議の意思がどこまでロシア側に伝わっているのか疑問である。日本の政権基盤が不安定で、ロシア側から足元を見られているのかもしれない。

"Japan would like to solve [the territorial issue with Russia] based on agreements and documents between the two countries, and on the principles of law and justice," Gemba said.
 玄葉氏は領土問題で「両国間の諸合意、諸文書、法と正義の原則に基づき解決したい」と強調した。

However, there are differences in the interpretation of basic ideas such as "the principles of law and justice" between Japan and Russia. Tokyo must find solutions to overcome such differences.
ただ、日露間では「法と正義の原則」など、基本的な考え方が異なっている。それをどう克服するか、打開策を探る必要がある。

Gemba also held talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Putin highly praised the current economic development situation between Japan and Russia.
"We must think about what we can and should do," he said, expressing hope for further development of economic cooperation between the two countries.
 玄葉氏はプーチン大統領とも会談した。プーチン氏は日露間の経済発展の現状を高く評価し、「何ができるか、何をすべきかを考えないといけない」と述べ、日露の協力拡大に期待を表明した。

===

Japan-Russia ties important

In fact, economic relations between Japan and Russia have been deepening. It is notable that an increasing number of Japanese companies have engaged in oil and natural gas development projects in Sakhalin and in the auto industry in other parts of Russia. Japan's trade with Russia reached a record 30.7 billion dollars in 2011.  実際、日露間の経済関係は深まっている。サハリンの石油・天然ガス開発プロジェクトや自動車分野などで、日本企業の進出が目立つ。2011年の貿易額は過去最高の約307億ドルとなった。

Enhanced relations would benefit both nations. The relationship may become more significant in dealing jointly with North Korea's nuclear development, China, which has been increasing its economic and military strength, and other international issues.
 日露関係の強化は、双方にメリットがある。経済だけではなく、北朝鮮の核問題や、経済・軍事力を高める中国に対処するためにも、重要性を増すだろう。

"We would like to continue [territorial] negotiations [with Japan] to seek a mutually acceptable solution," Putin was quoted as telling Gemba.
 プーチン氏は玄葉氏に「相互に受け入れ可能な解決策を探るべく、交渉を継続したい」との意向を示した。

Though his true intention is not clear, Putin seems to have expressed his willingness to settle the territorial dispute.
真意は不明だが、領土問題解決に意欲を見せている。

How should the government deal with Putin's administration, which places importance on the Asia-Pacific region, to find a clue to solve the territorial issue? Tokyo must rethink its Russia strategy.
 日本政府は、アジア太平洋地域を重視するプーチン政権に、どう向き合い、領土問題解決への糸口を見いだすか。対露戦略を練り直さなければならない。

The government should use every resource available in Japan to deal with Russia, including the dispatch of former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori, who has a good relationship with Putin, to Russia.
 プーチン氏と親交のある森元首相を特派するなど、“オールジャパン”で対応すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 30, 2012)
(2012年7月30日01時48分 読売新聞)
# by kiyoshimat | 2012-08-01 07:14 | 英字新聞

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