2006 JULY 26 - AUGUST 1 NEWS

JCP SHII IN IWAKUNI CALLS FOR NATIONAL UNITY TO FOIL U.S. MILITARY REALIGMNET IN JAPAN
If the Iwakuni base functions are further strengthened, Shii warned, it will be the largest U.S. air base outside the U.S., and the base will have two strike forces, the Marine Corps and the aircraft carrier strike group. [MORE]

GOVERNMENT DECIDES TO RESUME U.S. BEEF IMPORTS
JCP Koike Akira stressed that the government's decision must not be condoned, because it is nothing but a refusal to fulfill its responsibility to protect food safety by bowing to the U.S. demand. [MORE]

ZENROREN ENDS ITS CONVENTION
New President Ban'nai Mitsuo said that Zenroren will make efforts to narrow the social gaps, reduce the poverty rate, revive local economies, increase Zenroren's social status, and take active part in international solidarity with foreign unions. [MORE]

MILITARY
- Unannounced SDF drill scares crew of a fishing boat on Japan Sea (July 27, 2006)
- JCP Shii in Iwakuni calls for national unity to foil U.S. military realignment in Japan (August 1, 2006)
- Air SDF operations in Iraq expanded to cover Baghdad (August 1, 2006)
- U.S. F-15s take off before dawn in Okinawa causing extreme noise pollution (August 1, 2006)

LIVING CONDITIONS
- Last 10 yen coin to call JCP saves couple (July 23, 2006)
- Man commits suicide in protest against rejection of his application for welfare benefit (July 26, 2006)

- OECD report shows Koizumi's 'structural reform' has increased social disparity -- Akahata editorial (July 26, 2006)
- JCP website simulation of tax hikes becomes big hit (July 30, 2006)

U.S. BEEF
- Government decides to resume U.S. beef imports (July 28, 2006)
- U.S. meat facilities repeatedly fail to remove risky parts (July 28, 2006)

WTO

- Food sovereignty be established as international rule for trade -- Akahata editorial (July 29, 2006)

NORTH KOREA

- North Korea must sincerely respond to call of Asia for peace -- Akahata editorial (July 30, 2006)

LABOR
- Zenroren ends its Convention upon electing new leadership (July 29, 2006)
- JCP Chair Shii speaks at Zenroren Convention (July 27, 2006)

EDUCATION
- Rightist textbook adopted for use by public junior high school in Tokyo (July 28, 2006)

POLITICS
- LDP's draft Constitution calls for state intervention in political parties (July 26, 2006)

JCP
- JCP Nishiguchi meets with South African Embassy counsellor (July 27, 2006)