 'Scientists' Article 9 Association' established Fushimi Kohji, the former Science Council of Japan chair, and 19 other academics established the Scientists' and Scholars' Article 9 Association to help promote the Article 9 Association's Appeal. The inaugural meeting held on March 13 in Tokyo was attended by about 110 scientists and scholars, including Fushimi, Honma Shin, Ferris University president, and Teruoka Itsuko, professor emeritus at Saitama University. Fushimi, 96, in his speech touched upon the Science Council of Japan's appeal of January 22, 1949, which expressed Japanese scientists' pledge to contribute to Japan's peaceful reconstruction and secure the constitutional freedoms of thought, belief, study, and speech. Emphasizing the need to put into practice the essence of the 1949 appeal, Fushimi said, "In its 60 postwar years, Japan has not gone to war. This is unparalleled in its history after the 1868 Meiji Restoration and a valuable national experience. We must join forces to resist any move that threatens peace." Saying, "Let's put a stone like 'igo' everyday," Teruoka called for taking one action a day in defense of the Constitution. Okudaira Yasuhiro, one of the 9 founders of the Article 9 Association, lectured on "Issues concerning the Constitution." About 200 scientists and academics have joined the scientists' association. The scientists' association has decided to collect more than 10,000 signatures in support of the "Article 9 Association" Appeal on their website. (end) |