2005 APRIL 27- MAY 10 NEWS

5,000,000 SIGNATURES CALLING FOR NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION SUBMITTED TO U.N.
The Japan Gensuikyo delegation urged the nuclear weapons states to set out to implement their obligation to abolish nuclear weapons, and called on all governments to act to conclude an international treaty totally banning and eliminating nuclear weapons.

NO U.S. BASE STRENGTHENING ON THE PRETEXT OF MILITARY 'TRANSFORMATION'
What the U.S. is doing in the name of military "transformation" is to strengthen the "strike force" capability of the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines, along with the strengthening of the command function that controls the four forces.

DAY OF REMEMBRANCE AND RECONCILIATION IS BASIS OF POSTWAR PEACE
'Remembrance' means for every country to strengthen its determination to not launch wars of aggression by remembering the misery caused by fascism and militarism.

CONSTITUTION
* People listen to Constitution's global wisdom for peace (May 3-4, 2005)
* JCP Chair Shii calls for fully defending pacifist Constitution (May 4, 2005)
* Rally held to block revision of Fundamental Law of Education (May 8, 2005)

U.S. FORCES
'Sympathy budget'
* In 27 years, facilities worth 2 trillion yen given to U.S. forces in Japan (April 27, 2005)

U.S. Army 1st Corps
* Mayors, assembly members, and citizens opposed to deployment of U.S. Army 1st corps HQ to Japan (May 4, 2005)
* 1,700 attend a JCP-sponsored symposium against U.S. base (May 8, 2005)
* Shii: No U.S. base strengthening on the pretext of military 'transformation' (May 9, 2005)

Okinawa
* Mayor and citizens protest deployment of additional U.S. war helicopters to Okinawa (May 10, 2005)

NUCLEAR WEAPONS ABOLITION
Nuclear-weapon-free zones
* Regional denuclearization is conducive to a nuclear-free world: Japan Gensuikyo Secretary General Takakusagi (April 30, 2005)

NPT Review Conference
* Japanese peace activists take part in pre-NPT events (May 3, 2005)
* Gensuikyo calls for states' efforts for nuclear weapons abolition (May 1,4, 2005)
* Gensuikyo activists take part in anti-nuclear discussions (May 2-4, 2005)
* Japan Gensuikyo submits 5,000,000 anti-nuclear signatures to NPT Review Conference (May 7, 2005)
* Hiroshima and Nagasaki mayors call for nuclear weapons abolition (May 3, 5, 2005)

Peace March 2005
* Anti-nuclear peace march starts (May 7, 2005)

WW II

Day of Remembrance and Reconciliation is basis of postwar peace -- Akahata editorial, May 8, 2005
* JCP Shii attends receptions marking victory over fascism (May 10, 2005)

ASIA

Calls for peace prevail in Asia since Vietnam was liberated -- Akahata editorial, April 30, 2005

LABOR
* May Day: workers resolve to increase efforts to defend Constitution and jobs (May 2, 2005)
* Two Nestle workers win overall victory in court (May 10, 2005)

SOCIAL SERVICES
* Lower House approves adverse revision of nursing care insurance law (April 28, 2005)

POSTAL PRIVATIZATION
* Postal privatization bills submitted to Diet (April 28, 2005)

BSE
* Food panel to ease BSE test to meet U.S. requests (May 7, 2005)

FREE SPEECH
* Police arrest of handbill distributors was aimed at suppressing opposition to constitutional revision (April 27, 2005)

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