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Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

2006 APRIL 12 - APRIL 18 NEWS

JCP CHAIR: RULING PARTIESﾕ PROPOSAL WILL UNDERMINE EDUCATION LAWﾕS DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLES
JCP Chair Shii Kazuo said, 'The ruling parties are calling for the adverse revision of the basic education law in order to change the aim of education to one of bringing up people as members of a ﾔwar-fighting Japanﾕ in line with the adverse revision of the Constitution.' [MORE]

DONﾕT CUT INSURANCE-COVERED MEDICAL SERVICES
The implementation of the 'mixed-medical services' scheme to expand out-of-insurance treatments is nothing other than a plan to destroy the public health insurance system that covers all needed medical services. [MORE]

WORKERS AT TOYOTAﾕS MAIN SUPPLIER ARE WITHOUT HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
'I feel insecure about working without health insurance coverage,' said a woman temp working for a Toyota group's core company. Okuda Hiroshi, Toyota Motor Corp. chair and the chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren), called for increasing contingent jobs and for no corporate burdens for costs of social insurance. [MORE]

MILITARY REALIGNMENT
* Okinawans criticize Nago mayor for breaking promise (April 12, 2006)
* Omitama City opposes U.S. military relocation (April 12, 2006)
* Ginowan mayor opposes new base plan (April 13, 2006)
* Nagoﾕs new U.S. air base with ﾔVﾕ-shaped runways will cause major noise pollution (April 14, 2006)

Government explanation is not convincing -- Akahata editorial (excerpts), April 15, 2006
* Ginowan City residents continue to suffer 10 years after Japan-U.S. agreement on ﾔreturnﾕ of Futenma base (April 16, 2006)
* Okinawans against new U.S. base explain their view to foreign press (April 18, 2006)

IRAQ WAR
* Government considering expanding Air SDF mission in Iraq (April 18, 2006)

EDUCATION
* LDP and Komei agree to include ﾔpatriotismﾕ in education law (April 13, 2006)
* JCP chair: Ruling partiesﾕ proposal will undermine education lawﾕs democratic principles (April 14, 2006)
* Cut budget for U.S. forces to install air conditioners at schools: JCP (April 18, 2006)

HEALTH AND INSURANCE
* Unable to pay for their beds and meals, 519 people had to leave nursing homes (April 12, 2006)
Donﾕt cut insurance-covered medical services! -- Akahata editorial (excerpts) April 14, 2006
* Heavier burdens dissuade patientsﾕ visit to doctors (April 15, 2006)
* PCB-tainted cooking oil victims call for overall relief (April 17, 2006)
* Month-long sit-in against adverse revision of medical insurance begins (April 18, 2006)

PETITION AND PROTEST
* 350,000 signatures submitted to the Diet (April 13, 2006)
* 2,000 rally against adverse revisions of public services (April 15, 2006)

CONSTITUTION
* Removal of Article 9 may increase tension in Asia: Australian professor (April 12, 2006)

TAX HIKE
* Nippon Keidanren calls for a 10 percent consumption tax rate (April 14, 2006)

LABOR
* Supreme Court refuses to order firm to give insurance benefits to families of deceased workers (April 12, 2006)
* Heavy workload caused workerﾕs suicide: court (April 13, 2006)
* Workers at Toyotaﾕs main supplier are without health insurance coverage (Sunday Edition, April 16, 2006)

LOAN SHARK
* Major non-bank money lender ordered to suspend operations (April 15, 2006)

JCP
* JCP Vice Chair Ogata attends dinner for Venezuelan delegation (April 12, 2006)