Relief of pollution victims also a corporate responsibility: victims

Victims of air pollution and other environmental destruction took part in a national day of action on June 1 and 2, calling for pollution to be eliminated and for relief measures to be established.

The first National Day of Pollution Victims' Action was held in June 1976 in opposition to government setbacks in its anti-pollution efforts.

In the 29th Day of Action this year, participants made representations to government ministries and corporations responsible for pollution and contamination.

On June 1, after making representations to the Environment Ministry, about 1,000 participants marched through the government office district, chanting anti-pollution slogans and opposition to the Iraq war, which is the worst form of environmental destruction.

In the evening, 1,300 people attended a rally at Hibiya Public Hall in Tokyo. The meeting adopted a resolution calling for concerted action aimed at handing down a livable environment to future generations without further damage.

As part of the concerted action, pollution victims made representations to the Japan Business Federation (JBF or Nippon Keidanren) and auto makers to request that a system be established on corporate responsibility to relieve victims.

The petitioners visited Toyota Motor corporation and urged the defendant in the air pollution lawsuit in Tokyo to respond to the victims' requests, because Toyota President Okuda Hiroshi heads the business circle JBF. They also called on the car maker to develop devices to reduce nitrogen oxide and floating particles in the exhaust.

After the petition, Nishi Junji, leader of the plaintiffs in the air pollution lawsuit in Tokyo said to 400 people gathered in front of the Toyota main office, "Corporate response has changed due to our action." (end)