October 1, 2016
Aiming to join hands with citizens to strengthen a movement to oppose military research and development by universities and private institutions, scientists on September 30 established a network.
On the same day, representatives of scientists’ and citizens’ groups which initiated the creation of the network held a press conference in Tokyo.
Nagoya University Professor Emeritus Ikeuchi Satoru stressed that by the end of the year, two major events regarding military-academia cooperation will take place: the Science Council of Japan’s inner panel will formulate its opinion on this matter; and the Defense Ministry’s request to drastically increase the budget to subsidize military-related research by universities will be finalized. “It’s high time to unite with citizens and strengthen our movement to oppose military-academia cooperation,” Ikeuchi pointed out.
Noda Ryuzaburo, professor emeritus of Okayama University, reported that his group collected signatures calling for the SCJ to not open the door to military research and sent the collected signatures to the council.
President of the Japanese Medical and Dental Practitioners for Improvement of Medical Care Sumie Kenyu said that allowing military research by universities and institutions will lead to R&D for preemptive attakcs.
Ikeuchi and Noda together with Nishiyama Katsuo, professor emeritus of Shiga University of Medical Science, became co-heads of the newly established network.
As of September 30, 17 organizations, including the Japan Scientists’ Association and the Japan Federation of Private University Teachers’ and Employees’ Unions, and more than 120 individuals participated in the network.
Network members later on the same day held a protest action in front of the SCJ office building in Tokyo to demand that the SCJ not lift its ban on military-related research.
Past related articles:
> Defense Ministry to boost subsidies for military research projects [September 7, 2016]
> Science Council divided over military research [May 22, 2016]
On the same day, representatives of scientists’ and citizens’ groups which initiated the creation of the network held a press conference in Tokyo.
Nagoya University Professor Emeritus Ikeuchi Satoru stressed that by the end of the year, two major events regarding military-academia cooperation will take place: the Science Council of Japan’s inner panel will formulate its opinion on this matter; and the Defense Ministry’s request to drastically increase the budget to subsidize military-related research by universities will be finalized. “It’s high time to unite with citizens and strengthen our movement to oppose military-academia cooperation,” Ikeuchi pointed out.
Noda Ryuzaburo, professor emeritus of Okayama University, reported that his group collected signatures calling for the SCJ to not open the door to military research and sent the collected signatures to the council.
President of the Japanese Medical and Dental Practitioners for Improvement of Medical Care Sumie Kenyu said that allowing military research by universities and institutions will lead to R&D for preemptive attakcs.
Ikeuchi and Noda together with Nishiyama Katsuo, professor emeritus of Shiga University of Medical Science, became co-heads of the newly established network.
As of September 30, 17 organizations, including the Japan Scientists’ Association and the Japan Federation of Private University Teachers’ and Employees’ Unions, and more than 120 individuals participated in the network.
Network members later on the same day held a protest action in front of the SCJ office building in Tokyo to demand that the SCJ not lift its ban on military-related research.
Past related articles:
> Defense Ministry to boost subsidies for military research projects [September 7, 2016]
> Science Council divided over military research [May 22, 2016]
