英字新聞

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2012年07月

香山リカのココロの万華鏡:いじめは誰にでも起きる /東京

July 29, 2012(Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Bullying could happen to anyone
香山リカのココロの万華鏡:いじめは誰にでも起きる /東京

The backlash against the problem of bullying has spread further.
 いじめ問題の波紋がさらに広がっている。

Following a recent publication of my column here, in which I wrote: "Why are those who are being bullied not seeking help? This is a problem that requires further thought," I was criticized for "trying to say that the victims who aren't seeking help are to blame."
 このコラムで「なぜ『いじめられてる』とSOSを出せないか。もう一度、考えてみたい」と書いたら、「サインを出せない被害者が悪いと言いたいのか」と批判の声が上がった。

Needless to say, that is not the case. What I was really trying to say is that there are cases when, being in the swirl of all of this turmoil, some people are just unable to call for help, because they cannot fully realize what is happening to them.
 もちろんそうではない。私がいちばん言いたかったのは、「その渦中にあるときには自分の身に何が起きているのか、はっきりわからず、SOSの声も上げられない場合がある」ということだ。

As a matter of fact, I have witnessed this situation at my consultation room a couple of times now.
診察室でも何度もそういう経験をした。

Among these cases was a parent who brought their junior high school-aged daughter to me, saying she had been unwilling to go to school.
After talking with the girl, I came to realize that she had been a victim of malicious bullying.
 あるとき「不登校ぎみなんです」と保護者に連れられて診察室に来た女子中学生といろいろと話しているうちに、その子は学校で陰湿ないじめ被害にあっていることがわかったことがあった。

However, when I told her that I think her problem was not her refusal to go to school, but the bullying itself, telling her she was correct not to go to school, she shook her head in denial, saying she disagrees with my opinion.
私は「不登校じゃなくていじめじゃないの。学校に行かないのは正解だよ」と言ったのだが、女子生徒は「えっ、そうなんですか。違うと思います」と首を横に振るばかりだった。

I wonder, could this be some sort of refusal to accept that one is being bullied?
「いじめられている、なんて思いたくない」ということなのだろう。

There are other cases, in which although bullied children gather courage to tell their parents and schools that they have been bullied, the adults themselves refuse to accept the reality.
 中には、子どもが勇気を出していじめを認め、保護者や学校に申し出ても、今度はおとなたちが「まさか、いじめだなんて」と現実を見ようとしない場合もある。

I wonder if this is what happened at the school in Otsu, where a boy committed suicide after being bullied by classmates.
今回の大津市の問題もこれに当たるのだろうか。

Many adults think that for bullying to occur, there should be other fundamental problems happening at the institution.
そういったおとなたちは「いじめ事件が起きるのは、日ごろから何か問題があるからだ」と思っていて、

Many people refuse to accept that bullying is actually happening, on the grounds that theirs is "a proper institution, that has nothing to do with badly handled households or schools."
「ウチはしっかりやっている。そういったダメな家庭、学校とは違う」と思い込みたいために、「これはいじめなんかじゃない」と言ってしまうのだ。

We all need to acknowledge that, unfortunately, with the current school system and society, bullying could happen anywhere.
 まず、誰もが認めなければならないのは、残念ながらいまの社会、いまの学校では、どんなところでもいじめの問題はすぐに起きる、ということだ。

Therefore, people who have fallen victim to bullying or schools where such incidents have occurred do not need to think that there is something wrong with them or the institution.
そして、いじめが起きたからといって、「私が悪いんだ」「ウチはダメな学校になってしまった」などと考える必要はない。

Children who are being bullied should try to stay away from the place where that is happening, or in other words -- the school.
被害を受けてしまったら、本人はいじめが起きる場、つまり学校から逃げる。

Such children's parents should welcome them at home, while school officials should share the responsibility for the incident and deal with it together, instead of putting it all on the child's homeroom teacher or other single individuals.
保護者は逃げてきた子どもを、家でしっかり受けとめる。学校はそのクラスの担任教員などひとりにすべての責任を押しつけることはしないで、みんなで問題を共有して対処する。

Nobody should try to turn a blind eye to bullying or attempt to hide the truth from the public.
いじめから目をそらしたり、外に対して隠そうとしたりしてはいけない。

In order to protect children from being bullied, you should not think of it as something atypical.
 いじめから子どもを守るためにも、いじめを特殊なものと見ないで。

You should think of it as something that could happen anywhere and to anyone.
どこにでも誰にでも起きるものだと考えて。

I would like to repeat that one more time.
もう一度、そう繰り返したい。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞 2012年07月24日 地方版

ロンドン五輪 数多くの感動を味わいたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 29, 2012)
Nation craves moving drama at London Olympics
ロンドン五輪 数多くの感動を味わいたい(7月28日付・読売社説)

The London Olympics have opened. What kind of drama will the athletes, who have come from all over the world, show us? We hope we will enjoy the quadrennial sporting festival.
 ロンドン五輪が開幕した。世界のアスリートたちは、どのようなドラマを見せてくれるのか。4年に1度のスポーツの祭典を堪能したい。

A total of 204 countries and territories will take part in this Summer Olympics. This is the first time female athletes have been included in every Olympic team, and also the first Games in which women will compete in all events.
 今回の夏季五輪には、204の国・地域が参加する。そのすべてから女子選手が出場する初の五輪だ。全競技で女子種目が実施される初めての大会でもある。

London has become the first city to host the Olympics three times--first in 1908 and again in 1948.
 ロンドンで五輪が開催されるのは、1908年、48年に続き3度目となる。

The British government has been cautious about security this time. The Olympic Village is surrounded by an electrified fence about five meters high, and surface-to-air missiles have been deployed in London's downtown areas.
 今回、英国政府が神経をとがらせているのは、テロ対策だ。選手村は、高圧電流が流れる高さ約5メートルのフェンスに取り囲まれている。ロンドン市街には地対空ミサイルも配備されている。

We hope the British government will implement the best possible security measures until the Games end on Aug. 12.
 8月12日の大会終了まで、万全の警備体制を敷いてほしい。

===

Limited budget

Europe is now in the middle of a financial crisis, and Britain is no exception, being forced to stage a "frugal Olympics" amid austerity measures.
 欧州は金融危機の中にある。英国も例外ではなく、超緊縮財政下での「倹約五輪」となった。

The cost of holding the Games, reportedly about 1.13 trillion yen, is said to be only a quarter of what China spent for the previous Beijing Olympics, which were apparently aimed at raising the latter's national prestige.
日本円にして約1兆1300億円とされる大会経費は、中国の国威発揚の場となった前回北京五輪の4分の1とも言われる。

Britain used concrete made from industrial waste to build the main Olympic stadium, and plans to transform the Olympic Village into a private housing complex after the Games.
 メーンスタジアムの建設には、産業廃棄物などが原料のコンクリートを利用した。選手村は大会終了後、民間の集合住宅として生まれ変わる予定だ。

The London Olympics feature cost-saving, care for the environment and effective use of facilities.
 経費抑制、環境への配慮、施設の有効活用――。これらがロンドン五輪らしさを示している。

As for Japan, this year marks the 100th anniversary of its Olympic debut at the Stockholm Games in 1912.
 日本にとっては、五輪に初めて参加した1912年のストックホルム大会から、ちょうど100年の節目を迎えた。

A total of 293 Japanese athletes are competing at the current London Games, and the Japanese team has set a target of finishing fifth or higher in the gold medal standings.
 今回、出場する日本選手は293人。選手団の目標は、国別の金メダル数で5位以内になることだ。

Japan won nine gold medals in the Beijing Olympics, finishing eighth. To secure the fifth spot, more than 15 golds will probably be needed.
北京五輪での金メダルは9個で、8位だった。5位になるには15個以上が目安となるだろう。

===

Test of Japan govt measures

In recent years, the Japanese government has selected events in which the nation has a higher probability of winning medals and allocated more subsidies to them. The London Olympics could serve as a test of such steps to boost the nation's competitiveness.
 政府は近年、メダル有望種目に的を絞って、強化費を重点配分する事業に力を入れている。政府主導の強化策が奏功するかどうかも問われる五輪と言える。

If Japanese Olympians produce good results in the opening events such as swimming, judo and gymnastics, that could lift the spirits of the whole team.
 大会序盤の競泳や柔道、体操などで好成績を挙げれば、日本選手団全体が勢いに乗る。

Kosuke Kitajima is notable as he will aim for his third consecutive Olympic golds in the men's 100- and 200-meter breaststroke. We hope he will swim his way into Olympic history.
 特に、競泳平泳ぎの北島康介選手は、100メートルと200メートルで五輪3連覇の偉業に挑む。五輪史に名を刻む泳ぎを期待したい。

People in Japan are already excited about the Olympics after the men's and women's Japanese soccer teams won their opening games. The vigorous performances of the Japanese athletes encourage us as we root for them.
 男女サッカーの白星発進で、国内は早くも沸き立っている。日本選手の活躍は、応援する私たちを元気づけてくれる。

The more impressive the athletes' performances, the more people will be interested in the Olympics. Such public interest is certain to become a tailwind for promoting the campaign to bring the 2020 Games to Tokyo.
 感動を呼ぶシーンが多いほど、五輪への関心も高まるだろう。2020年東京五輪の招致活動を盛り上げていくうえでも、追い風となるに違いない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 28, 2012)
(2012年7月28日05時15分  読売新聞)

北朝鮮新体制 「先軍政治」から転換できるか

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 28, 2012)
Can Pyongyang change its 'military-first' doctrine?
北朝鮮新体制 「先軍政治」から転換できるか(7月27日付・読売社説)

Speculation is rife in the wake of the dismissal of the chief of North Korea's General Staff, who was widely seen as a mentor of that country's young leader, the ruling Workers' Party First Secretary Kim Jong Un.
 北朝鮮の若い指導者、金正恩・党第1書記の後見役と目されていた軍総参謀長の解任が、様々な臆測を呼んでいる。

A little more than three months since it launched its new leadership, uncertainty is heightening over Pyongyang's future course, meaning we must remain vigilant.
 新体制が本格的に始動して3か月余りたった北朝鮮の行方には不確実さが増しており、警戒が怠れない。

Two years ago, in the days of the late General Secretary Kim Jong Il, the now dismissed army chief was promoted to the post of vice chairman of the Central Military Commission of the party's political bureau, or politburo, along with Kim Jong Un. The man was at the top of North Korea's military elite, concurrently serving as a member of the standing committee of the politburo.
 解任された総参謀長は、金正日総書記時代の2年前、正恩氏と一緒に党中央軍事委員会副委員長に抜擢(ばってき)され、政治局常務委員も務める軍のトップエリートだった。

In Kim Jong Il's funeral procession, the man walked in a leading position along with Kim Jong Un, and was seen a key figure supporting the new leader.
 総書記の葬儀では、正恩氏とともに霊きゅう車の先頭を歩き、新体制で正恩氏を支える軍部の要と見られていた。

The meeting of the politburo that decided on his removal from all duties said the decision was "due to his illness," but some analysts believe there may have been a power struggle behind the decision.
 すべての職務からの解任を決めた政治局会議は、「病気のため」と説明しているが、背景に権力闘争の存在を指摘する声もある。

===

New leadership style eyed?

Kim Jong Un, who earlier became a four-star general, obtained the post of "marshal of the republic" immediately after the removal of the chief of the General Staff. Kim Jong Un's acquisition of the topmost military position is thought to be a move to demonstrate that he has now a complete grip on the military both in name and substance, presumably in a bid to display the stability of his regime.
 大将だった金正恩氏は、総参謀長の解任直後に「共和国元帥」に昇格した。名実ともに軍部を掌握したことを示し、政権の安定ぶりを誇示する狙いがあろう。

No other remarkable developments have been reported recently in the North Korean military, but Japan, together with the United States and South Korea, must continue to watch Pyongyang's moves.
 北朝鮮の軍に目立った動きは伝えられていないものの、日本は米韓両国と連携し、今後の動向を注視しなければならない。

While pledging to dedicate himself unconditionally to his father's teachings, Kim Jong Un has shown signs of a new style of governance different from that of his father in a number of ways.
 金正恩氏は、父親の「遺訓」を無条件で貫徹するとしながらも、目新しい統治スタイルを随所で示している。

In one high-profile example of this, North Korean media have disclosed that a young woman seen accompanying Kim Jong Un on various occasions is his wife.
 北朝鮮メディアが、正恩氏に随行していた若い女性を「夫人」と紹介し、結婚していた事実を明らかにしたのはその一例だ。

He also authorized the TV broadcast of a performance by an all-female band, some of its members in miniskirts, during which an ersatz Mickey Mouse character made an appearance.
 ミニスカートの女性楽団の公演を放映させ、ミッキーマウスに似たキャラクターが登場した。

Such gestures appear designed to emphasize differences from his father, who preferred an authoritarian and mysterious pattern of behavior. There might even be hints that he favors North Korea opening up a bit to the international community.
 権威主義的で神秘性を好んだ父親との違いを強調しようとしているかのように見える。孤立ではなく、国際社会と交流を深めたい意欲すら、うかがえる。

However, the question is whether these changes may lead eventually to a change from Pyongyang's traditional "songun," or military-first, doctrine.
 問題は、こうした変化が果たして軍事最優先の「先軍政治」の転換につながるのかどうかだ。

As Kim Jong Un himself stressed in a speech, North Korea's most urgent task is "solving food problems of the people."
 正恩氏が演説で強調した通り、最優先課題は「人民の食糧問題の解決」だ。

===

Signs of economic reform

The task is to rebuild the North Korean economy in a way Kim Jong Un has pledged will mean people "no longer have to tighten their belts" and endure hunger.
空腹を我慢するために「ベルトを締めあげずにすむよう」経済を立て直すことにある。

He has issued instructions for steps to expand acreage of farmland and increase farming productivity. He has criticized the disorderly development and export of mineral resources that have been carried out in the name of "earning foreign currency." Apparently in connection with this, the new North Korean leader has come out with a policy of placing the management of his country's natural resources under the direct and integrated control of his Cabinet.
 正恩氏は耕地面積の拡大や生産性向上を指示した。「外貨稼ぎ」の名の下に行われている地下資源の無秩序な開発・輸出を批判し、資源を内閣が一元的に管理する方針を表明した。

These could be signs of Kim Jong Un's resolve to embark on sweeping reforms of his country's economy.
経済の抜本的改革に乗り出す予告とも受け取れる。

The reality North Korea faces is that sanctions imposed by the international community, which North Korea brought on itself because of its nuclear weapons and missile development programs, have narrowed its options for economic reconstruction.
 だが、核とミサイルの開発によって国際社会からの経済制裁を招き、経済再建の選択肢を自ら狭めてきたのが、北朝鮮の現実だ。

It seems that a transformation of North Korea's "military-first" politics into "politics placing top priority on the economy" would be extremely hard to realize.
 先軍政治から「経済最優先」への転換は容易ではあるまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 27, 2012)
(2012年7月27日01時27分  読売新聞)

南シナ海緊張 中国の強硬姿勢に深まる憂慮

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 27, 2012)
China's hard-line stance cause for grave concern
南シナ海緊張 中国の強硬姿勢に深まる憂慮(7月26日付・読売社説)

We urge China to restrain itself from taking unilateral action and to work to alleviate tension through dialogue with Vietnam and other neighboring countries.
 中国は一方的な行動を自制し、ベトナムなどと対話を通じて緊張緩和に努めてもらいたい。

China has created the city of "Sansha" to administer the Spratly Islands, the Paracel Islands and Macclesfield Bank in the South China Sea. Vietnam and the Philippines, which are vying for sovereignty over those island chains with China, immediately voiced strong opposition.
 中国が、南シナ海の南沙、西沙、中沙の3諸島を管轄する「三沙市」を設置した。これらの諸島を巡って中国と領有権を争っているベトナムやフィリピンは直ちに強く反発した。

The three island chains were previously administered by a liaison office of Hainan Province in southern China, which is located on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands. China apparently aims to strengthen its effective control over the island chains by upgrading them to a city.
 3諸島はこれまで、中国南部の海南省が西沙諸島の永興島に置く連絡事務所が管轄していた。市への格上げは、実効支配を強化する狙いがあろう。

China set up administrative organizations in Sansha, including a People's Congress, or city council, in which the mayor was elected. China said it plans to promote tourism, the fisheries industry and natural resource development in the South China Sea with Sansha as a foothold.
 市の人民代表大会(市議会)を設置して市長も選出し、行政組織の体裁を整えた。三沙市を拠点に、南シナ海の観光・水産業、資源開発を推進する方針という。

===

Responsibility lies with China

China's establishment of Sansha is a countermeasure against Vietnam's enactment of the Maritime Law, which stipulates its sovereignty over the Spratly Islands and the Paracel Islands. However, the initial cause of the trouble was that China unilaterally claimed sovereignty over the three island chains and other islets under the Law on the Territorial Sea and the Contiguous Zone 20 years ago.
 中国の三沙市設置は、ベトナムが南沙、西沙両諸島の領有を明記する海洋法を制定したことへの対抗措置だ。だが、そもそも、中国が20年前に領海法で3諸島などの領有を勝手に定めたことにトラブルの原因があった。

Even more serious is that China decided to establish in Sansha a "security area" in which the Chinese military will be in charge of defending key strongpoints. Small units are already stationed to protect runways and other facilities, but the establishment of the security area is considered preparation for full-scale military action in the South China Sea.
 さらに深刻なのは、中国軍が重要拠点の防衛に当たる「警備区」を、この三沙にも置くと決めたことだ。滑走路などを守る小規模な部隊は既に駐留しているが、南シナ海での本格的な軍事行動に備える態勢作りと言える。

China's attempt to use its military strength, which is far superior to that of Vietnam and other neighbors, to make the South China Sea "China's Sea" could trigger armed conflict. The situation is grave.
 中国がベトナムなどに比べて圧倒的な軍事力を背景に、南シナ海を「中国の海」にしようとすることは、軍事的な衝突を引き起こしかねない。憂慮すべき事態だ。

China also unilaterally announced a plan to invite bids for natural resource development in waters that Vietnam claims are inside its exclusive economic zone. Beijing sent 30 fishing boats accompanied by fishery patrol ships to waters around the Spratly Islands and other islets. These actions could cause tension in the South China Sea.
 中国は、ベトナムが排他的経済水域(EEZ)と主張する海域でも、一方的に資源開発の入札計画を発表した。南沙諸島などの周辺海域に漁船30隻を漁業監視船とともに送り込んだ。いずれも、南シナ海に緊張をもたらす行為だ。

===

Stability crucial

The stability of the South China Sea is crucial for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. It is also conducive to Japan's national interests from the viewpoint of securing the safety of its sea lanes.
 南シナ海の安定は、東南アジア諸国連合(ASEAN)にとって欠かせない。海上交通路(シーレーン)の安全確保の観点から、日本の国益にも資する。

In concert with Vietnam and the Philippines, which are threatened by China, Japan needs to strengthen cooperation such as fostering human resources in the field of maritime security and offering patrol vessels to those countries.
 日本は、中国の脅威にさらされているベトナムやフィリピンと連携して、海上安全保障分野での人材育成や巡視船供与などの協力を強める必要がある。

In the East China Sea, meanwhile, the situation surrounding the Senkaku Islands has been increasingly harsh.
 東シナ海では、尖閣諸島をめぐる情勢が厳しさを増す一方だ。

Recently, Chinese fishery patrol ships intruded into Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands on two consecutive days. As in the South China Sea, China has been blatantly escalating moves to expand its maritime interests.
 最近、中国の漁業監視船は2日連続で尖閣諸島近くの領海を侵犯した。南シナ海同様に、海洋権益を拡大しようとする中国の動きは露骨にエスカレートしている。

China is conducting activities to make its presence felt with many fishing boats in the South China Sea. The possibility that Beijing may do the same thing in the East China Sea cannot be ruled out. Japan must heighten its vigilance against China over the Senkaku Islands.
 中国が南シナ海で展開している多数の漁船による示威活動を東シナ海で行う可能性も排除できない。日本は、尖閣諸島の警戒体制を強めねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 26, 2012)
(2012年7月26日01時47分  読売新聞)

エネルギー選択 付け焼き刃の議論で決めるな

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 26, 2012)
Don't decide energy option through ad hoc discussions
エネルギー選択 付け焼き刃の議論で決めるな(7月25日付・読売社説)

The basic policy on energy, which will determine the nation's future, should not be decided through ad hoc "national debates."
 国の将来を左右する重要なエネルギーの基本政策は、付け焼き刃の「国民的議論」で決めるべきものではない。

The government presented three options on the ratio of nuclear power in the nation's mix of power sources for the year 2030, namely zero, 15 percent, or 20 percent to 25 percent. It is carrying out procedures to seek public opinions regarding which option would be most desirable.
 政府は2030年の電源に占める原子力発電の比率を、「0%」「15%」「20~25%」とする3案を示し、どの選択肢が望ましいか、国民に意見を求める手続きを進めている。

Among such procedures are hearings where randomly selected members of the public express their opinions. Eleven such hearings have been or will be held through Aug. 4 at 11 locations nationwide.
 その一つが、抽選で選ばれた国民による意見聴取会だ。8月4日までに全国の計11会場で開く。

It is reasonable for the government to seek a wide sample of public opinions, but it cannot be overlooked that the hearings have caused trouble.
 国民に幅広く意見を求めるのは妥当だが、意見聴取会が混乱を招いている事態は看過できない。

At hearings on July 15 and 16, employees of electric power companies, who identified their employers by name, called for the continued use of nuclear power. Both times, this caused a fierce backlash from other participants who support moving away from dependence on nuclear energy.
 7月15~16日の聴取会で、電力会社の社員が社名を明かしたうえで原発の利用継続を主張したところ、脱原発を求める出席者から強い批判を浴びた。

The government then hastily decided not to allow employees of power companies and affiliated businesses to express opinions at such hearings. At hearings held Sunday at two locations, the government kept four people working in the industry from expressing their views.
 すると政府は急きょ、電力会社と関連会社の社員に意見表明を認めない方針を決め、22日に開かれた2か所の聴取会では、電力関係者4人に発言を辞退させた。

===

Why have a gag rule?

We are concerned that prohibiting people in the power industry from expressing their views on energy policy is a form of suppression of free speech. The government needs to convincingly explain why it changed the rules in the middle of the process.
 電力関係者というだけでエネルギー政策に関する意見表明を封じるのは、言論の自由を抑圧することにならないか。政府は、途中でルールを変更した理由をきちんと説明する必要がある。

To avoid unproductive black-and-white arguments over pro- or anti-nuclear power positions, we consider it vitally important for members of society to express opinions from various points of view and calmly discuss them.
 原発推進と脱原発という不毛な「二項対立」を避けるには、多様な意見を出し合い、冷静に話し合うことが肝心なはずだ。

It is also distressing to observe the bad manners displayed by some participants at those hearings, such as excessive booing by those seeking an end to nuclear power.
 意見聴取会で脱原発派が激しいヤジを飛ばすなど、マナー違反が散見されるのも残念である。

We also cannot eliminate our concerns over a "deliberative poll," a new method of public survey and discussions the government plans to conduct on Aug. 4 and 5.
 8月4~5日に実施する新手法の「討論型世論調査」に関する懸念も拭えない。

Among about 3,000 people nationwide who responded in an opinion survey on the energy options, 200 to 300 who wished to participate in a two-day discussion meeting will do so. After the meeting, the government will again conduct an opinion survey on the participants.
 エネルギー選択に関する世論調査に答えた全国の約3000人から希望者200~300人が参加して2日間の討論会を開き、終了後に再び意見を調べる。

===

An opinion experiment

We understand the purpose of such a measure--to deepen public understanding of the issue through discussions and observe how public opinions change. But public views could be influenced in certain directions, depending on the content of materials used for discussions and how such an event is held. The government should consider such a method as a mere experimental project--it must not directly reflect the results derived from the event in shaping its policies.
 討論を通じて理解を深め、意見の変化を見るという趣旨はわかるが、討論の資料や運営によって考えが誘導される恐れはないだろうか。政府は実験的な取り組みにとどめ、結果をストレートに政策判断へ反映させてはならない。

In the first place, all three policy options the government presented are based on the assumption that the ratio of renewable energy sources, including hydroelectric power, will be raised from the current 10 percent or so to 25 percent to 35 percent. People in business circles and others have vocally opposed such scenarios as unattainable.
 そもそも、政府の示した3選択肢はいずれも、水力を含めて現在約10%の再生可能エネルギー比率を25~35%に引き上げる想定だ。経済界などでは、とても達成できないとする声が強い。

As long as current circumstances remain unchanged, none of the three policy choices represent a realistic composition of power sources to ensure a stable power supply.
 このままでは、どの選択肢を採用しても、電力を安定供給できる現実的な電源構成となるまい。

To hammer out a mid- to long-term energy policy in which impacts on the economy and the environment are taken into account, the government should reconsider the suitability of the three options.
 経済や環境への影響を考慮した中長期のエネルギー政策を打ち出すためにも、政府は3選択肢の妥当性を再検討すべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 25, 2012)
(2012年7月25日01時42分  読売新聞)

政府事故調報告 原発の安全向上に教訓生かせ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 25, 2012)
Use lessons of Fukushima to improve N-plant safety
政府事故調報告 原発の安全向上に教訓生かせ(7月24日付・読売社説)

 ◆「想定外」に備える危機対策を

Based on lessons learned from the results of investigations into the unprecedented nuclear power plant crisis, the government and electric power companies must work on measures to prevent future nuclear accidents.
 未曽有の原子力発電所事故の調査結果を教訓とし、政府と電力会社は、再発防止に取り組まねばならない。

The government's Nuclear Incident Investigation and Verification Committee, responsible for looking into the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, released its final report on Monday.
 東京電力福島第一原発事故に関する政府の事故調査・検証委員会が最終報告書をまとめ、公表した。

Investigation commissions of the Diet and TEPCO as well as a private independent investigation panel have already released their respective reports on the crisis. With these four reports, clarification of the cause of the crisis and how it developed as well as identification of problems in the responses to it by the government and TEPCO have come to an end for the moment.
 国会と東電の各事故調と民間の独立検証委員会が、それぞれ報告書を発表済みだ。四つの報告書が出そろい、事故の原因や経緯、政府や東電の問題点などの解明は一区切りがついた。

However, it will take more time to uncover the full scope of the crisis. It is necessary from now on to review crisis countermeasures to secure the safety of nuclear power plants while continuing a probe into the Fukushima disaster.
 だが、事故の全容解明にはまだ時間を要するだろう。今後も調査を継続しながら、危機対策を練り直し、原発の安全性を確保していく必要がある。

===

Report denies quake damage
 ◆地震による損傷を否定

The government committee's investigation was characterized by detailed analysis of the technological aspects of the crisis based on a massive amount of data. This is because committee chairman Yotaro Hatamura, who advocates the "study of failure," placed importance on clarifying the truth of the crisis rather than finding out who is to blame.
 政府事故調は、膨大なデータに基づき事故の技術的な側面を詳細に分析した点が特徴だ。「失敗学」を提唱している畑村洋太郎委員長が、責任追及よりも事実の解明に重点を置いたからだ。

The final report of the government's committee criticizes reports by other investigation panels, saying much of their content is based on obvious misinterpretation of facts.
 最終報告書は、他の事故調による報告書について、「明らかな事実誤認を前提としているものが多い」と批判している。

For example, the Diet's Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission emphasized the possibility that the March 11, 2011, Great East Japan Earthquake may have destroyed important reactor functions. However, the government's committee rejected the possibility that the earthquake damaged the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant's Nos. 1 to 3 reactors in a way that would have impaired the containment of radiation.
 例えば、国会事故調は地震で原子炉の重要機能が壊れた可能性を強調したが、政府事故調は、地震で福島第一原発1~3号機に「(放射能の)閉じ込め機能を損なうような損傷が生じた可能性は否定される」と、反論した。

The reactors' operation data show that important equipment was functioning normally until the tsunami hit the plant. The analysis by the government's committee, which identified the tsunami, not the earthquake, as the main cause of the crisis, is persuasive.
 原子炉の運転データからは、原発の重要機器が津波襲来まで正常に機能していたことが分かっている。地震ではなく、津波が事故の主因とした政府事故調の分析には説得力がある。

Since the outbreak of the nuclear crisis, the government has been working on measures against tsunami at nuclear power plants throughout the country. To reactivate idled reactors, we hope the government will explain the appropriateness of these measures to the public to ease their anxiety.
 政府は、事故後、全国の原発で津波対策に取り組んできた。再稼働に向け、この対策が適切であることを国民に説明し、不安感の軽減につなげてもらいたい。

It is also important that the final report of the government's committee suggested the possibility that core meltdowns could have been prevented if TEPCO had appropriately responded to the situation after the tsunami hit the plant.
 東電が津波発生後に適切に対応していれば、炉心溶融(メルトダウン)を防げた可能性がある、と示唆した点も重要だ。

The report concluded that the reactors' core could have been cooled before meltdown if measures had been immediately taken to lower pressure in the reactors before the situation worsened.
 事態が悪化する前に、現場が速やかに原子炉内の圧力を下げる措置を取っていれば、溶融前に炉心の冷却ができたと断じている。

===

Crisis response flawed

The report harshly evaluated TEPCO's ability--or lack thereof to respond to crises.
 東電の危機対応力の欠如に厳しい評価を下したと言える。

Meanwhile, as other investigation commissions have done, the government committee had tough words about the then government's bungled handling of the crisis.
 一方、他の事故調と同様、政府事故調が辛口の評価をしているのが、当時の政府の不手際だ。

 ◆不備だった官邸の対応

Regarding the crisis response by the Prime Minister's Office, the report says, "The lack of information, and its uneven distribution, made it inevitable for the office to make decisions without sufficient basis."
 首相官邸の対応について、「情報の不足と偏在が生じ、十分な情報がないままに意思決定せざるを得なかった」とした。

Then Prime Minister Naoto Kan and his Cabinet ministers failed to adequately utilize a crisis control center set up in the basement of the Prime Minister's Office, where senior officials of relevant government offices were gathered. As a result, data from the System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information (SPEEDI) was not used in giving evacuation guidance to residents.
 菅首相や閣僚が、各府省幹部らが集まる官邸地下の「危機管理センター」を十分に活用しなかったためだ。その結果、放射性物質拡散予測システム「SPEEDI」を住民の避難誘導に利用することは検討もされなかった。

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government failed to make effective use of the bureaucratic machine due to its erroneous implementation of what it calls "politician-led politics." The government is largely to blame for having confounded the situation.
 民主党政権が、誤った「政治主導」で官僚組織を使いこなせず、事態を混乱させた責任は重い。

Kan, who prided himself on being more familiar with nuclear matters than other Cabinet members, "didn't try to tackle the crisis systematically," the report says. The report criticizes Kan for his intervention in frontline crisis control operations, including his visit to the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant the day after it was crippled by the March 11 disaster.
 最終報告書によると、原子力に「土地鑑」があると自負していた菅氏は「組織的に事態収拾に当たろうとしなかった」という。事故直後の原発視察を始めとする現場介入も、「弊害の方が大きい」と批判した。

The Prime Minister's Office asked the government offices concerned and TEPCO to have prior consultations with it concerning the content of information to be published, thereby causing delays in providing information to the public on meltdown and other problems at the nuclear reactors.
 官邸が各府省や東電に対して、広報内容の事前連絡を求めたため、メルトダウンなど原発の状況に関する国民への情報提供も遅れた。

It is natural that the panel pointed these problems out in its final report. Efforts must be made to improve the way information is handled in times of crisis.
 こうした問題を指摘したのは当然である。危機的状況での情報発信の改善が求められよう。

===

Obsession with safety myth
 ◆今後も事故究明続けよ

As a reason for the failure to prevent the accident, the final report says, "TEPCO and the government were obsessed with the myth that nuclear plants are safe," and criticizes such a stance as a fundamental problem. The report also points out that the government, due to its fiscal constraints, "set aside disasters with a lower probability of occurrence" from a list of those subject to strengthened countermeasures.
 事故を防げなかった理由について、最終報告書は「東電も国も安全神話にとらわれていた」ことが根源的な問題、と批判した。政府が財源難から「発生確率の低い事象を除外」したとも指摘した。

In addition, the March 11 catastrophe was a complex disaster in which the nuclear crisis and natural disaster occurred simultaneously. It is essential to work out adequate precautionary measures to deal with a crisis that is anticipated to inflict serious damage even if the probability of its occurrence is slight.
 しかも、今回は、原発事故と自然災害が同時に起きる「複合災害」だった。発生確率が低くても甚大な被害が予想される危機への十分な備えは欠かせない。

The new nuclear regulatory commission to be established by the government must put priority on measures to be taken in ordinary times, such as formulating disaster-management programs and conducting disaster-response drills, on the assumption that a serious accident will happen.
 新たに発足する政府の原子力規制委員会は、深刻な事故を想定した防災計画の策定や防災訓練の実施といった平時からの準備に重点を置く必要がある。

The Fukushima nuclear crisis has attracted global interest. The decommissioning of reactors, which will go on for a long time, and efforts to help disaster victims put their lives back together must be demonstrated, both at home and abroad.
 国際的にも、事故への関心は高い。長期にわたる廃炉作業や被災者の生活再建の状況を国内外に示さねばならない。

In his personal impressions attached to the end of the report, Hatamura listed lessons from the disaster, including, "Simply creating the framework of a system does not mean it will work," and "Changes must be dealt with flexibly."
 畑村委員長は、締めくくりの所感で「形を作っただけでは機能しない」「変化に柔軟に対応する」など、教訓を列挙した。

In addition to the importance of organizational reform, he stressed the need for members of an organization to be aware that there could be oversight in human thinking and prepare for events beyond their assumptions.
 組織を改編するだけでなく、その構成員が、人間の考えには欠落があることを自覚し、「想定外」に備える重要性を訴えている。

All those involved in the nuclear power field must take these words to heart.
 原子力に携わる全関係者は、肝に銘じるべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 24, 2012)
(2012年7月24日01時37分  読売新聞)

駆けつけ警護 PKOの実効高める法改正を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 24, 2012)
Revise law to improve Japan peacekeeping operations
駆けつけ警護 PKOの実効高める法改正を(7月23日付・読売社説)

The government should step up efforts to deal with issues left unresolved since the enactment of the nation's U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law 20 years ago.
 国連平和維持活動(PKO)協力法の制定以来、20年持ち越された重要課題の解決に向けて努力を重ねることが大切だ。

The Foreign and Defense ministries and the Cabinet Office have jointly compiled a bill to revise the PKO law. A major feature of the bill is a provision to allow the Self-Defense Forces to dispatch its members to rescue civilians in remote locations.
 内閣、外務、防衛の3府省がPKO協力法改正案をまとめた。自衛隊が、離れた場所にいる民間人らを助ける「駆けつけ警護」を可能にすることが柱だ。

Since several members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan are cautious about the revision, submission of the bill to the current Diet session may be difficult. However, we expect the Cabinet to approve it as soon as possible.
 民主党内には慎重論があり、今国会への改正案提出は困難視されているが、できるだけ早期に閣議決定してもらいたい。

Under the current PKO law, SDF members engaged in a U.N. peacekeeping operation are not allowed to use weapons except in self-defense and to avert imminent danger. Therefore, even if civilians caught in the middle of a riot, for instance, ask the SDF to rescue them, SDF members may not be able to do so.
 現行法では、PKOに従事中の自衛官は、正当防衛などの目的でしか武器を使えない。このため、暴動などに巻き込まれた民間人から救援要請を受けても、現場に駆けて救出することができない。

If SDF members use weapons against "an actor equivalent to a state," such as an armed insurgent, it may constitute "an exercise of force against other nations," which is prohibited by the Constitution, the Cabinet Legislation Bureau says.
 武装勢力など「国に準じる組織」に対して武器を使った場合、憲法の禁じる「他国への武力行使」に当たる恐れがある、との見解を内閣法制局が示しているからだ。

===

Legalize rescue dispatch

However, is it feasible for the SDF to turn down a rescue request made by civilians--Japanese nationals in particular--because it might violate the Constitution? Such a situation could occur at any time.
 だが、自衛隊が民間人、特に日本人からの救援要請を受けた際、「憲法に抵触する恐れがある」として断ることが、実際にできるだろうか。そうした事態は、いつ発生してもおかしくない。

In such a case, SDF members may rush to a scene to rescue civilians but will not use weapons unless their own lives are threatened. The law, which forces SDF commanders to make a difficult decision, must be revised.
 結局、とりあえず救援要請のあった場所に向かい、自分の身が危うくなったら、武器を使う――。そんな厳しい、ぎりぎりの決断を部隊指揮官に迫るような法律は、やはり改正する必要がある。

When the SDF began participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations, public opinion was divided. In the beginning, it might have made sense to place tight restrictions on the SDF's use of weapons.
 自衛隊がPKOに参加し始めた初期の段階では、国内世論の賛否が分かれていた。自衛官の武器使用を抑制的にすることにも一定の意味があったかもしれない。

Today, however, an overwhelming majority of Japanese support SDF participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations. Not only has this become a normal role for the SDF, but it has been upgraded to one of its primary missions.
 だが、今や、自衛隊のPKO参加は圧倒的多数の国民に支持されて定着し、自衛隊の本来任務に格上げされている。

We think it is reasonable to review restrictions on the use of weapons to improve the effectiveness of SDF activities, while taking the experience and needs of members actually involved in the activities into consideration.
様々な経験や現場のニーズを踏まえ、活動の実効性を高めるよう、武器使用のあり方を見直すのは当然だ。

===

New condition nonsensical

The bill stipulates that SDF members would be allowed to use weapons only to support and supplement security efforts by a host state.
 3府省の案は、「受け入れ国の治安維持を支援・補完する」ための武器使用は容認するという。

However, the Cabinet Legislation Bureau has urged that a condition be added so an SDF rescue mission would be limited to a situation where an attack by a state or an actor equivalent to a state is not expected.
 しかし、内閣法制局は、駆けつけ警護を「国や国に準じる組織の攻撃が想定されない」場合に限定する条件を追加するよう求めており、調整が難航している。

This condition makes coordination of views more difficult. We have doubts about the opinions of the bureau.
 内閣法制局の主張は疑問だ。

Japan is the only country that interprets the use of weapons during peacekeeping operations based on a U.N. resolution as an exercise of military force. This contradicts conventional wisdom of the international community. If the Cabinet Legislation Bureau's condition is added to the envisaged revision, it could restrict SDF activities even more.
 国連決議に基づくPKOでの武器使用が「武力行使」に当たる恐れがあるとの解釈は、日本だけで、世界の常識から外れている。この条件を追加すれば、自衛隊の活動が今よりも制約されかねない。

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is positive about making SDF rescue missions legally possible. We hope the prime minister will tackle this issue based on the realities of places where peacekeeping operations are needed.
 野田首相は、駆けつけ警護を可能にすることに前向きだ。PKOの現場の実情を踏まえ、この問題に取り組んでほしい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 23, 2012)
(2012年7月23日01時45分  読売新聞)

シリア情勢 アサド政権がほころび始めた

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 23, 2012)
Assad regime appears to be fraying from within
シリア情勢 アサド政権がほころび始めた(7月22日付・読売社説)

The civil war in Syria continues to intensify.
 内戦は激しくなるばかりだ。

The fact that the U.N. Security Council is dysfunctional and has been unable to work out effective measures to end the civil war is profoundly serious.
それを食い止める有効策を打ち出せない国連安全保障理事会の機能不全は深刻である。

In the heart of Damascus, the national security headquarters was attacked by a suicide bomber on Wednesday. The attack killed senior government officials in a meeting, including the defense minister, the chief of the National Security Bureau and the deputy defense minister, President Bashar Assad's brother-in-law.
 シリアの首都ダマスカスの中心部で、治安機関施設が爆破され、会議中だった国防相や国家治安局長、アサド大統領の義兄である国防次官らが死亡した。

An anti-Assad regime group, the Free Syrian Army, claimed responsibility for the attack.
反体制派「自由シリア軍」が、犯行声明を出した。

Although security in Damascus had been relatively stable until recently, attacks by rebel forces in the capital have been occurring one after another since the middle of this month.
 比較的治安が安定していたダマスカスだが、今月中旬から反体制派による攻撃が相次いでいた。

The fact that the inner core of the Assad government has been hit directly in the uprising in spite of the regime's heavy security measures is of grave significance.
 厳戒をかいくぐって体制の中枢が直撃された意味は重大だ。

===

No ceasefire in sight

A stream of defections has begun among the country's elites, such as the ambassador to Iraq and a brigadier general of an elite military unit. In addition, a large number of Syrian residents are fleeing abroad.
 駐イラク大使や精鋭部隊の准将などエリートの離反が始まった。多数の住民が国外に脱出している。

In combination, the armed uprising against the Assad regime and deepening isolation of Damascus seem to have made Assad's hold on power increasingly tenuous.
反体制派の武装蜂起と国際的な孤立で、アサド体制は内部からほころび始めたのではないか。

The forces loyal to the government, whose firepower is superior to that of the rebels, have embarked on fierce retaliatory strikes in Damascus and many other parts of the country.
 火力で優勢な政府軍は、ダマスカスなど各地で報復に乗り出した。

Both the government and antigovernment forces are bent on escalating the hostilities, and there are no signs of a ceasefire in sight.
政府軍と反体制派の双方が攻撃をエスカレートさせており、停戦の機運はまったく見えない。

Blame for the deterioration of the security conditions in Syria to this extent should be primarily placed on the Assad government. This is because the government, after expressing its intention to accept a six-point peace plan drawn up by joint U.N.-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan, has failed to carry it out.
 治安がここまで悪化したのは、アサド政権の責任が大きい。国連とアラブ連盟の特使を務めるアナン前国連事務総長が示した停戦調停案を受け入れると表明しながら、実行しなかったからだ。

Prior to the expiration on Friday of the mandate of the U.N. observer mission in Syria, it is quite natural that the United States and European countries presented a resolution to the Security Council on Thursday, warning the Assad regime of additional economic sanctions. The resolution, however, was vetoed by Russia and China.
 国連の停戦監視団の任期切れを前に、安保理で米欧が、アサド政権に経済制裁を警告する決議案を出したのは当然である。だが、ロシアと中国が拒否権を行使して廃案となった。

This is the third double veto by Moscow and Beijing of a Security Council resolution addressing the Syrian crisis since last year.
 対シリア決議案で両国の拒否権行使は昨年から3度目だ。

The vetoes are part of a pattern of Russia acting in defense of Syria--with which Moscow has strong military ties--and China following along.
軍事的に深いつながりを持つロシアがアサド政権をかばい、中国が同調する図式が今回も繰り返された。

Russia should stop trying to help prolong the Assad government, but instead exercise its influence to end the bloodshed.
 ロシアは、アサド政権の延命に固執せず、流血停止に向けて影響力を行使すべきである。

===

Spillover to wider region feared

It is regrettable that the Security Council has ended up adopting a resolution simply extending the U.N. observer force's mandate for 30 days.
 安保理が決めたのは結局、停戦監視団の任期の30日間延長だけ、というのは残念だ。

Given that no ceasefire has been effected, the U.N. observer mission will be limited to such activities as on-the-spot inspections in the event of another massacre of residents of Syria.
停戦が実現していない中で、監視団ができることは、住民虐殺が起きた場合の現地調査などに限られよう。

In a meeting held in June between permanent members of the Security Council--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--and countries neighboring Syria, an agreement was reached on establishment of a provisional government comprising Syrian government members and members of the rebel forces. All countries concerned should increase pressure on Syria to materialize the agreement.
 米露中英仏の安保理常任理事国とシリア周辺国が6月に開催した関係国会合では、シリアの政府関係者と反体制派の双方が参加する暫定政府樹立で合意している。実現に向けて、関係国はシリア側への働きかけを強めるべきだ。

Japan has dispatched transport troops of the Self-Defense Forces on a U.N.-sponsored peacekeeping mission for the purpose of disengaging Syrian and Israeli forces in the Golan Heights.
 日本は、ゴラン高原でシリア軍とイスラエル軍の引き離しにあたる国連平和維持活動(PKO)に自衛隊の輸送部隊を派遣している。

Further aggravation of the Syrian situation could destabilize the entire Middle East region.
シリア情勢のこれ以上の悪化は中東地域の不安定化につながる。

Japan, too, should keep a close watch on how things develop.
日本も注視する必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 22, 2012)
(2012年7月22日02時01分  読売新聞)

金利不正操作 市場の信頼回復へ改革を急げ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 22, 2012)
Reform urged to regain trust of market amid Libor scandal
金利不正操作 市場の信頼回復へ改革を急げ(7月21日付・読売社説)

Distrust in financial markets has been heightened recently by suspected rigging in Britain of the world's most highly cited benchmark interest rate. Financial authorities must dig up the whole truth of the rate manipulation scandal to work out thorough measures to prevent a recurrence of the problem.
 国際的な基準金利の不正操作が英国で発覚し、市場への不信感が高まっている。金融当局は真相を解明して再発防止策を徹底すべきである。

We refer, of course, to the rate-fixing scandal involving the London Interbank Offered Rate, better known as Libor.
 LIBOR(ライボー)と呼ばれる「ロンドン銀行間取引金利」を巡る不正事件のことだ。

Libor is calculated on the basis of unregulated estimates of rates that major commercial banks operating in London--from Europe, the United States and elsewhere--submit to the British Bankers' Association, regarding costs the banks incur when borrowing from each other.
 LIBORは、ロンドン市場で取引する欧米などの大手銀行が英銀行協会に自己申告する調達金利をもとに算出される。

Libor is widely used as a benchmark in connection with rates for corporate loans, derivatives contracts and many other financial deals around the world. Financial transactions tied to Libor are said to be worth an estimated 360 trillion dollars globally.
 企業向け融資や金融派生商品などの指標に幅広く使われ、これらの金融取引の規模は、世界で約360兆ドルに上るという。

Such an important benchmark rate has been revealed to have been distorted by false submissions from Barclays, one of Britain's top banking groups. Barclays has paid a huge fine over the irregularities, and its false reporting was a clear betrayal of investors' trust.
 それほど重要な基準金利が英大手バークレイズの虚偽申告で歪(ゆが)められていた。バークレイズは巨額の罰金を支払ったが、投資家の信頼を裏切る背信行為である。

The wrongdoing is said to have been conducted from 2005 to 2009.
 不正は2005~09年にかけて行われた。

===

Not altered single-handedly

It seems the bank initially submitted artificially high rates to manipulate Libor levels upward to shore up its own profits.
当初は金利を高めに申告してLIBORを高く誘導し、利益を稼いだようだ。

But from around 2008, Barclays submitted deliberately low rates, in the midst of the 2007-2009 financial crisis marked by the collapse of U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers. The manipulation was apparently a bid to bolster its bottom line by giving the impression that the bank could borrow money more cheaply and was thus healthier than it really was, so as to maintain its credibility even while being shaken by the crisis.
リーマン・ショックの08年前後からは、逆に低い金利を申告し、危機で揺らぐ自行の信用維持を狙ったらしい。

No one banking institution can single-handedly alter the calculations behind the Libor rate. There have been suspicions that banks other than Barclays may have conspired to rig Libor submissions. Suspicion has also arisen that an executive of the Bank of England, Britain's central bank, may have pressured Barclays to engage in the rate manipulation.
 だが、単独ではLIBORを操作しにくい。他行も談合していた疑いがある。英中央銀行幹部がバークレイズに不正操作を促していたとの疑惑も浮上している。

Under the circumstances, it is only natural that Britain's financial regulatory authorities have embarked on full-scale investigations into the matter, questioning a number of U.S. and European financial institutions. The regulatory authorities should plunge their investigative scalpel into the dark side of the financial world.
 英金融監督当局が、複数の欧米金融機関の本格調査に乗り出したのは当然だ。金融界の暗部にメスを入れるべきだ。

The conduct of not only British regulators but also of financial regulatory authorities of the United States has been brought into question.
 英国だけでなく、米国の金融当局の姿勢も問われている。

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, while heading the New York Federal Reserve Bank in 2008, obtained information concerning Libor manipulation and offered the head of Britain's central bank a proposal on how to "eliminate the incentive to misreport." Authorities in both Britain and the United States, however, eventually left the problem unaddressed. Their response to the problem was inadequate.
 ガイトナー米財務長官はニューヨーク連邦準備銀行総裁だった08年に問題を把握し、英中央銀行総裁に改善策を提言した。だが、英米当局とも結局は放置した。対応は不適切だったのではないか。

===

Collective suits looming

Taking such things into account, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, in testimony to a U.S. congressional committee earlier this week, stated the Libor system should be considered "structurally flawed."
 こうした経緯を踏まえ、米連邦準備制度理事会(FRB)のバーナンキ議長は今週、米議会公聴会で、「LIBORには構造的な欠陥がある」と述べた。

To ascertain whether submissions by banks are proper, stronger supervision is a must.
 銀行各行の申告が正しいかどうか、監査の強化は不可欠だ。

Steps that must urgently be taken include increasing the number of banks making Libor submissions to enhance the transparency and trustworthiness of the critical benchmark.
金利を提示する銀行数を増やすなど、LIBORの透明性と信頼性を高める改革が急務である。

It is possible that false Libor reports by banks other than Barclays may be exposed and collective lawsuits may be filed by investors and others over losses they suffered because of the Libor manipulation. We hope that market upheaval due to the scandal can be prevented from spreading.
 今後、他行の不正が発覚したり、不利益を被ったという投資家などが金融機関に集団訴訟を起こしたりする可能性もある。市場の動揺が拡大しないよう望みたい。

For Japan, this is no fire on the other side of the river.
 日本にとっても対岸の火事ではない。

The Japanese Bankers Association has decided to beef up its inspections of submissions from banks for the Tokyo Interbank Offered Rate, or Tibor, which has become known as the Japanese version of Libor.
日本版LIBORとして、公表している東京銀行間取引金利(TIBOR)について、全国銀行協会が点検を強化する方針を決めた。

Ceaseless efforts by the association and its member banks are essential for dispelling investors' mistrust over the benchmark rates.
投資家の不信を払拭する不断の努力が欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 21, 2012)
(2012年7月21日01時20分  読売新聞)

核燃料の処分―国の責任で新戦略を

--The Asahi Shimbun, July 20
EDITORIAL: New strategy needed for disposal of spent nuclear fuel
核燃料の処分―国の責任で新戦略を

To build a safe society that does not rely on nuclear power, it is necessary for the government not only to lower the ratio of nuclear power to overall electricity generation but also to show clearly that Japan will withdraw from the “nuclear fuel cycle” program.
 原発に依存しない安心な社会をつくっていく。そのためには、発電全体での原発比率を下げるだけでなく、核燃料サイクルからの明確な撤退方針を示すことが必要だ。

The Energy and Environmental Council comprising related Cabinet members is set to decide the direction of Japan’s future energy policy at the end of August. As the ratio of dependence on nuclear energy in 2030, it is studying three scenarios of zero percent, 15 percent and 20 to 25 percent.
 関係閣僚による「エネルギー・環境会議」は8月末、今後のエネルギー政策の方向性を決める。2030年での原発依存比率は、0%、15%、20~25%の選択肢を検討している。

The council will also decide disposal methods for spent nuclear fuel at the same time. Storage and disposal of spent nuclear fuel are problems that stand in the way even when nuclear power plants are closed down. Japan is now at a major crossroads.
 その際、使用済み燃料の処分方法も決める。原発を止めても立ちはだかる使用済み燃料の保管・処分問題をどうするか。日本は今、大きな岐路に立つ。

The nuclear fuel cycle program, in which all spent nuclear fuel is reprocessed to extract plutonium and use it as fuel, has been the core of Japanese nuclear power policy.
 使用済み燃料をすべて再処理し、プルトニウムをとり出して燃料として使う。この全量再処理・核燃料サイクルが日本の原子力政策の要となってきた。

The council presented the view that if Japan were to completely abolish nuclear power by adopting the “zero percent” case, it should not reprocess the spent nuclear fuel but bury it underground. In the remaining two cases, the methods of burying it and reprocessing it are both possible, according to the council. However, it should not make such half-baked conclusions but clearly shift gears from reprocessing it to burying it.
 エネルギー・環境会議は、原発ゼロなら全量を再処理せず、地下に埋設する直接処分が妥当で、あとの二つの場合は直接処分と再処理の両方があり得るとの見方を示している。だが、中途半端な結論にせず、再処理路線から直接処分の方向へ、明確にかじを切るべきだ。

From now, it is unlikely that Japan would build more nuclear power plants, meaning consumption of uranium fuel will drop. Under such circumstances, it is unreasonable to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and use relatively expensive plutonium.
 今後の日本では、原発を増やすことは考えにくい。ウラン燃料の使用量が減るのに、わざわざ再処理して割高のプルトニウムを使うのは合理的でない。

If Japan aims at massive use of plutonium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons, even though it does not pay, it may prompt other countries to follow its example and reprocess spent nuclear fuel. If that happens, it would have a negative impact on global efforts toward nuclear nonproliferation.
 日本が、経済的に見合わないのに、核兵器の材料ともなるプルトニウムの大規模利用をめざせば、それをまねて再処理に動く国が続出しかねない。そうなれば世界の核不拡散体制にも悪影響を与える。

That is all the more why we believe it would be wiser not to reprocess spent nuclear fuel but to bury it underground after keeping it in temporary storage facilities for several decades.
 だからこそ、使用済み燃料を再処理せず、数十年の間、中間貯蔵したあと直接処分するのが、得策と考える。

If we choose to bury it, however, spent nuclear fuel, which is supposedly a “valuable resource,” will suddenly become “worthless garbage.” As a result, the method, in which a private company handles spent nuclear fuel as a business, will hit a wall.
 ただ、この直接処分路線を選ぶと、「価値ある資源」だった使用済み燃料は一転して「価値のないごみ」になる。その結果、民間企業がビジネスとして使用済み燃料を扱う方式はいずれ、壁にぶつかるだろう。

To avoid that, it is indispensable for the government to come to the fore and present a mid- to long-term strategy.
 そこで、国が前面にたって中長期的な戦略をたてることが不可欠だ。

The government needs to advance the construction of temporary storage facilities for spent nuclear fuel, carry out research and development for burying it and find sites for the final disposal. It also needs to consider the nationalization of those projects. In Europe as well as the United States, instead of leaving the handling of spent nuclear fuel in the hands of private companies, governments are taking the initiative.
 使用済み燃料の中間貯蔵施設の建設、最終処分の研究開発、最終処分地探しなどを、事業の国有化も含めて、国が責任を持って進めていくことだ。欧米諸国も、使用済み燃料の扱いを民間企業にあずけず、国が前面に出て取り組んでいる。

Many difficult problems need to be resolved, such as providing alternative pump-priming measures to Aomori Prefecture, which hosts nuclear fuel cycle facilities, and finding new businesses for Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd., which has been reprocessing spent nuclear fuel. They are all serious problems that weigh heavily and can only be shouldered by the government as Japan follows the path to a nuclear-free country.
 核燃料サイクル施設がある青森県での代替の振興策や、再処理ビジネスをしてきた日本原燃の業務転換など、難題は多い。だが、いずれも、脱原発依存への途上で、国しか担いきれない重い任務である。

プロフィール

srachai

自己紹介・リンク

妻はタイ人、娘ばかり3人も!

PIC_0014.JPG

■近況

2009年の9月15日に脳梗塞を発症、右手が少し不自由になりました。
MRAで脳梗塞の部位を特定でき、素早い処置をとれたので大事に至りませんでした。
快復にむけてリハビリ中です。
(2011/01/01更新)

■自己紹介・リンク

[ はじめに ]
タイのスラチャイです。
英語学習に王道はありません。
毎日毎日の地道な努力の積み重ねが必要です。
スラチャイはNHKのラジオ英語会話で現在の英語力を身につけました。
一日僅か15分の学習でも数年間継続すれば相当な学習効果が期待できます。

[ 名前 ]
松井 清 (スラチャイ)

[ 略歴 ]
・福岡県出身
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[ 座右の銘 ]
Slow and steady wins the race.
遅くとも着実な者が勝利する
(NHK基礎英語芹沢栄先生)

[ 学習の手引き ]
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・ネイティブ発音付辞書活用
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・翻訳和文で専門用語確認

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seesaaサイト内リンク一覧:
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06 聞き直すとき
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09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
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12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
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24 その他

基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、音声付き)
サイト外HPリンク一覧:
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08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
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13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
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16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他

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