2005 FEBRUARY 16 - FEBRUARY 22 NEWS

GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE TO ACHIEVE GOALS OF KYOTO PROTOCOL
The Kyoto Protocol to reduce greenhouse gas emissions took effect on February 16. The Japanese government must introduce effective mechanism by at least determining the total quantity to be reduced.

JAPAN-U.S. SECURITY TREATY WILL BE TURNED INTO GLOBAL MILITARY ALLIANCE
The Japan-U.S. Security Consultative Committee meetings agreed to change the bilateral alliance into a strategic alliance on a global scale.

MAYORS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI DEMAND JAPAN PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN NUCLEAR ABOLITION
The mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki requested Japan and the five nuclear weapons possessing countries to play an active role in the NPT Review Conference in May to discuss international efforts for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

JAPAN-U.S. ALLIANCE

Japan-U.S. Security Treaty will be turned into global military alliance -- Akahata editorial, February 22
* JCP Secretariat Head Ichida criticizes '2-plus-2' talks (February 22, 2005)

U.S. FORCES
* Citizens: U.S. Army 1st Corps Command must not come to Camp Zama (February 19, 2005)
* Liaison association against relocation of U.S. Army 1st Corps Command formed (February 22, 2005)
* U.S. nuclear carrier never welcome at Yokosuka: Kanagawa governor (February 19, 2005)

U.S. Yokota Air Base must be returned to Japan without delay -- Akahata editorial, February 21 (excerpts)

SDF
* JCP opposes allowing SDF official to launch ballistic missiles (February 16, 2005)
* 'We are assigned to guard U.S. carrier': MSDF (February 17, 2005)

ENVIRONMENT
* Government is responsible to achieve goals of Kyoto Protocol (February 16, 2005)
* Citizens start action to cut greenhouse gases (February 17, 2005)
* Resuming U.S. beef imports is dangerous: JCP lawmaker (February 18, 2005)

ARTICLE 9
* A village in Kochi comes together to defend Article 9 (February 21, 2005)

NUCLEAR WEAPONS
* DPJ group calls for new Constitution allowing nuclear armaments (February 18, 2005)
* Mayors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki demand that Japan play an active role in nuclear abolition (February 19, 2005)
* Mayors and citizens discuss how to develop anti-nuclear movement (February 21, 2005)

TAX, INSURANCE, & BUDGET
* Cuts in pension benefits (February 17, 2005)
* Diet action held to defend people's living conditions (February 17, 2005)
* High tuition fees deprive young people of receiving higher education (February 16, 2005)
* JCP publishes a proposal to revise the budget (February 18, 2005)
* JCP opposes plan to impose further burdens on citizens (February 22, 2005)

OKINAWA
* Okinawans protest against governor's U.S. visit for new base construction (February 16, 2005)
* Court rejects claim to U.S. night flight halt, with 2.8 billion yen in lieu (February 18, 2005)

LABOR

Workers have rights to share in corporate profits -- Akahata editorial, February 20 (excerpts)
* Industrial accidents on the increase in Japan (Part Two)

ELECTION
* JCP wins the right to propose bills in a city assembly election (February 21, 2005)

BIKINI DAY
* Bikini Day events toward a world free of nuclear weapons (February 22, 2005)

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