Kurashi - News From Japan

I'm not sure why these issues keep coming back again and again. Why all kinds of scientific papers are being published without proper guidance and control and peer review. Seems to me it points to some more fundamental problem. I blogged about the South Korean cloning scandal ( Dr. Hwang ) and now we see the same thing happen again in Japan? This time it is another claim that genetically engineered stem cells can cure all kinds of genetic diseases. Did these people not learn a thing? Sorry, we do not believe you. You use genetically modified animals for your studies: mice that have been transmogrified to develop cancer more easily and rapidly for your research purposes. Most people are kept in the dark about their suffering, but you push on, funded by tax payers - and then you don't even take sufficient care to NOT fake images and make claims, just to get published? And you patent your methods, clearly in order to make profits, rather than create benefits for societ...

I like rivers, and moreover, I like people who care about rivers... Kiso River and the entire system that forms the Kiso Valley in Nagano, Gifu and then all the way down to Aiichi prefectures - such a treasure. Earlier this year, I went to Magome and visited the small towns like Tsugamo that remain intact since the Edo era. I hope you can stay there and enjoy the tranquility of ancient Japan. Just a couple of hours from some of the busiest cities on Earth, such rural places remain to inspire and educate. These towns do a lot better than some of the "shutter towns" in more urban settings. Why? Because of tourism? I don't think so. The secret is in the appreciation of the values that have been a cornerstone of life here, for a long time . Kiso Valley is located north east of Nagoya, a couple of hours by train, in Nagano-ken. In the old days, when voyagers were taking weeks to travel from Edo (Tokyo) to Kyoto, and all the way to Nagasaki, one of the main roads...

...Here is one place that will let you get started. PARC in Nerima is a Free School that has some land and people that can lend you a hand. They do it the Japanese way, but hey, that's why we are here, right? All organic or at least no pesticides, and the rest is up to you! Shiroishi-sensei's family has been growing veggies here in Oizumicho, Nerima for 300 years or so. Groups meet on Saturdays at 10 AM and get basic training before heading out to their own plots. You get to grow your choice of some 30 different veggies during the four seasons during the one year course. They also offer optional rice planting for those so inclined. Sign up now for next year! PARC (Pacific Asia Reseach Center) Freedom School was founded in 1982. More details here (J) and they are also looking for volunteers to translate and help out as interns . PARC is a non-profit organization committed in international social and economic justice. Since 1973, we have been working with a va...

Japan's Environment Ministry has released its annual report and notes that "the release of radioactive materials following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear accident remains Japan's biggest environmental problem, " according to NHK World . Little surprise there, but good to note that it is put squarely on the agenda and not swept under the carpet... Image from NHK The report says building intermediate storage facilities for contaminated soil and other waste is essential to speed up the decontamination work and promote reconstruction. The government plans to build such facilities near the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. The report also says determining amounts of radiation exposure is important for managing the health of residents. The report points to the need to provide better information to alleviate their concerns. It notes Fukushima Prefecture's efforts to train personnel for health consultations. The white paper also calls for rapidly moving ah...

So much happening here, do explore. If you care about this issue, do share. These videos are from Kagoshima prefecture in southern Japan, lots of people showing up to protest against the restart of the nuclear reactor in Sendai, Kagoshima. The name of the parade is, Sayonara Genpatsu Kagoshima Parade! Far well Nuclear Power!!! Then there are also the protests from the other side, I have no idea how they are funded.

Sendai in Kagoshima in southern Japan is in the spotlight. As all Japan's 50 nuclear reactors here are still off line, the government and the powerful industrial agencies are doing their best to find one nuclear plant that they can get re-started. The government will argue that summer heat "need" these power plants to go online. We heard that in the summer of 2011 and in 2012 and in 2013.... They will also try to keep quiet the fact that 120 million Japanese are doing OK without a single nuclear power plant. So, we managed to reduce our electricity consumption, and turned down a few lights. We showed that it can be done. The pressure is on Sendai, a very rural town in southwestern Kagoshima. Of course there is concern about the volcanoes, Sakurajima and Aso, and the general earthquake activity. Glad to see so many people turn out to protest against the restart. People in rural places like Sendai, Kagoshima will need to know that you care. Where ever you are. C...