Japan Press Weekly

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2008 August 27 - September 2 [PEACE]

Committee of Seven for World Peace calls for public to prevent use of space for military purposes

The Committee of Seven for World Peace on August 26 issued an appeal calling on the public to monitor the law to promote the use of space for military purposes.

The Fundamental Law on Space comes into force on August 27. It was forcibly enacted in May by the Liberal Democratic, Komei, and Democratic parties with the aim of lifting restrictions on Japan’s space development only for non-military purposes.

The appeal criticized the Diet for discussing only for four hours before the vote, stating, “It showed no willingness to be responsible for the public welfare now and in the future.”

Raising concerns that the law will lead to an indefinite increase in military expenditures, it expressed opposition to “the promotion of research and development focusing on national security as well as the strengthening of the arms industry.”

The appeal called on citizens to “strictly monitor the implementation of the law so that it will not deviate from the constitutional principle of peace.”

The Committee of Seven for World Peace was founded in 1955 by prominent scientists, including Nobel Prize winner Yukawa Hideki. The seven-member committee is a panel of intellectuals advocating the defense of peace and the peace Constitution of Japan as well as the abolition of nuclear weapons.