大震災・大津波で大きなショックを受けている子供たちに焦点を当てた毎日新聞の力作。
社説の中では朝日、読売と一線を画す優れた記事だと思います。
タイに住んでいてテレビで被災地の様子を毎日眺めているだけでこんなに落ち込みます。
被災した子供たちの苦しみは察するにあまりあります。
それでもこの子供たちが明日の日本を背負っていくことだけは間違いないでしょう。
（スラチャイ記）
(Mainichi Japan) March 30, 2011
Japan must not overlook mental health of children in disaster zone
社説：被災した子ども 泣いたっていいんだ
There are many elementary school children making the rounds of disaster evacuation shelters to look for their missing parents.
父や母を求めて避難所を回っている小学生がいる。
Others are searching the rubble of collapsed buildings for mementos such as photos as well as their belongings. がれきの中から思い出の写真やカバンを探す子どもたちもいる。
Some children were seen to smile during their school graduation ceremonies.
卒業式では笑顔も見られた。
People across the country are trying to cheer up these children in quake- and tsunami-hit areas.
「がんばれ」。けなげな姿に全国から声が上がる。
More than 10,000 people have been confirmed dead and some 16,000 others remain missing following the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake.
死者１万人以上、行方不明者１万６０００人以上。
Facing this unbelievable reality, anybody would want to encourage child survivors to help them conquer hardships already experienced and those sure to come.
信じられない現実を前にしたら誰だって励ましたくなる。
どこかに希望を見つけたくなるものだ。
However, children are already doing their best.
しかし、子どもたちは十分にがんばっている。
Even though they do not understand what has happened to them as much as adults and cannot express their feelings, they can also suffer from disaster trauma and become overwhelmed with grief after losing their family members, their homes or both.
現実に起きたことを大人のようには理解できず、気持ちをうまく伝えられなくても、恐怖やショックによるトラウマ反応、家族や自宅をなくした喪失感は子どもの心にも起きる。
Rather than simply urging children to overcome the disaster, what is needed is to look for subtle changes in their emotions and provide appropriate psychological support.
今、必要なのは励ましよりも、小さな変化に周囲が気づき適切なケアをすることだ。
Children who have experienced such a massive disaster tend to complain of insomnia and loss of appetite, act infantile, be frightened by loud sounds, easily lose their temper, have nightmares and refuse activities they enjoyed before the traumatic event.
眠れない、食欲がない、赤ちゃん返りをする、大きな音におびえる、いらいらする、夢にうなされる、好きだったことをしなくなる。
If children begin to show these symptoms, adequate care should be provided to them, such as telling them, "You're all right," and avoiding letting them sleep alone, in order to reassure them.
このような様子が見られたら注意が必要だ。「大丈夫だよ」と声をかける、寝るときは一人にしない、スキンシップを心がけるなど、安心感を与えるための配慮が必要になる。
Some children repeatedly talk about what they saw and experienced in the disaster, but adults around them should understand this as a sign that they are trying hard to accept the shocking reality and patiently listen to what they have to say.
被災体験を繰り返し話す子もいるが、衝撃的な現実をなんとか受け入れようと苦しんでいるサインだと思って辛抱強く聞いてほしい。
Pep talks like, "Never say die" and "There are some other people who are in more difficult situations.
Overcome this hardship," must be avoided.
「弱音を吐くな」「もっと大変な人がいる。負けるな」などの叱咤（しった）激励は禁物だ。
Adults may say these things to children to encourage them, but they can be counterproductive, driving a child into a psychological corner.
こちらは一生懸命に励ましているつもりでも、子どもを追い詰めるだけという場合がある。
Some children are afflicted with survivor's guilt when the rest of their families lost their lives in the disaster.
自分だけ生き残ったことで罪悪感に苦しんでいる子もいる。
They should rather be convinced that they do not have to hide their tears or their feelings.
泣きたいのに我慢したり、つらい気持ちを隠したりする必要はないことを伝えるべきだ。
The Japanese Association of Clinical Psychology and the National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP) have guidelines on their respective websites on dealing with children who have experienced a massive disaster.
被災した子どもへの対処法については日本臨床心理学会や国立精神・神経医療研究センターがホームページで紹介している。
Mental health experts are working in quake-hit areas, but they cannot look after all the children who need their care.
心のケアの専門職が被災地に入っているもののとても足りる状況ではない。
Academic societies specializing in children's mental health are providing telephone and e-mail counseling, and such services should be fully utilized.
関係学会はメールや電話相談も開設しているので積極的に利用してほしい。
Children can initially endure the harsh living conditions at shelters because they maintain a sense of tension after the disaster. If their evacuation is prolonged, however, they may suffer from sudden depression or feel physically ill.
被災直後は気持ちが張っているため休まなくてもがんばり続けられるが、長期化すると急に落ち込んだり体調を崩すことがある。
Minor symptoms that children show immediately after a disaster can be dealt with if adequate care is provided. 被災後の小さな症状は適切な配慮をすれば一過性のものとして回復することが多い。
However, post-traumatic stress disorder should be suspected if children continue to show such symptoms for more than a month.
In that case, expert treatment is required.
しかし、そうした症状が１カ月以上続いたらＰＴＳＤ（心的外傷後ストレス障害）の疑いがあり専門的なケアを受けることが必要だ。
Even children who did not experience the quake could show symptoms such as insomnia if they repeatedly see shocking images of the disaster on TV.
また、衝撃的な映像を繰り返し見ることで直接被災していない子どもにも不眠などの症状が起きる場合がある。
There are reportedly some cases where children who were not hit by the disaster complain they feel anxious and suddenly begin to cry in class.
不安を訴え、教室で突然泣き出した子もいるという。
Close attention should be paid to subtle changes in children's words and deeds so as not to overlook any sign that they are developing psychological problems.
日常の中の異変を見落とさないでほしい。
Efforts to provide mental care for children in quake- and tsunami-devastated areas have come to a crucial stage. これからが正念場だ。
The nation as a whole is urged to protect both the mental and physical health of children.
小さな命をみんなで守りたい。
毎日新聞 2011年3月30日 東京朝刊
2011/03/31
2011/03/30
福島原発事故 全世界が注視する日本の対処
海洋土木技術がどんなに進歩しても大津波の前ではまるでまるで赤子のようだ。
莫大な費用を投じてスーパー堤防を建設しても大自然の猛威の前にはなすすべがない。
福島第一原発の建設位置はAvoid Mapに登録して閉鎖するほうがよい。
大津波でも被害を受けないような高台に建設したほうが安全だ。
１００年に一度の災害だから我慢してそこに住み続けるのか、Avoid Mapに登録して非居住区とするか。
選択するのは今回大きな被害を受けた日本人だ。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 30, 2011)
Japan's crisis will affect N-power worldwide
福島原発事故 全世界が注視する日本の対処（3月29日付・読売社説）
The unfolding crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is, of course, not just a problem for Japan alone.
福島第一原子力発電所の事故は、日本だけの問題ではない。
The future of the peaceful use of nuclear energy around the world rests with how effectively this country can cope with the situation.
その対処の仕方に、世界の原子力平和利用の行方がかかっていると言えよう。
Because of a nearly unimaginable natural disaster--a devastating earthquake and ensuing colossal tsunami--the Fukushima plant's reactors, which were credited as among the world's best in terms of safety, are now in a wretched condition.
巨大地震と大津波という天災が直接的な原因とはいえ、安全性で世界最高水準と評された日本の原発が無残な姿をさらしている。
===
Bright image tarnished
Up until the current crisis, nuclear power was undergoing a positive reevaluation globally as a clean energy source emitting no greenhouse gases, and construction work on new nuclear plants was under way in many parts of the world.
原子力は温室効果ガスを出さないクリーンエネルギーとして見直され、世界各地で原発の新規建設が活発化していた。
The trouble at the Fukushima nuclear power plant has thrown cold water on what was being called a "nuclear energy renaissance."
「原子力ルネサンス」と呼ばれるその動きに、今回の事故は冷水を浴びせた。
In the aftermath of the disaster, the European Union decided to put all nuclear plants within its jurisdiction under review to check their earthquake resistance and other safety arrangements.
欧州連合（ＥＵ）は域内すべての原発について、耐震性能などの安全点検を行うことを決めた。
In Germany, where 17 nuclear plants are in operation, seven that were built in 1980 or earlier have suspended operations for three months.
原発１７基が稼働するドイツは、１９８０年以前に建設した７基を３か月間の運転停止とした。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government previously had decided to extend the lifetime of the existing nuclear reactors, in a reversal of the previous administration's policy. But now the possibility has arisen that Germany may once again reverse its nuclear energy policy.
メルケル独政権は、前政権の「脱原発」政策を転換し、既存の原発の稼働期間を延長する政策を掲げていたが、その方針を再び転換する可能性も出てきた。
In a regional election in the western German state of Saarland on Sunday, the Greens, an ecologically oriented party, made major headway against a backdrop of a surge in antinuclear public opinion.
２７日の地方選挙では、「反原発」の世論を背景に環境政党が躍進した。
At the time of the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear crisis and also after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, misgivings about the safety of nuclear power plants became widespread in the United States and European countries, forcing them to put construction plans for new nuclear power plants on hold.
欧米諸国では、７９年の米スリーマイル島、８６年の旧ソ連・チェルノブイリの両原発事故でも原発の安全性へ不安が広がり、新規建設の停滞を余儀なくされた。
From the standpoint of protecting energy security and fighting global warming, however, nuclear power plants, as long as they are managed safely, are certain to remain an important source of electric power.
だが、エネルギー安全保障や地球温暖化対策の観点からも、原発は安全に管理する限り、電力供給で重要な位置を占め続けよう。
About 30 countries now have nuclear power plants in operation, and about a dozen more have them under construction or on the drawing board.
世界では、約３０か国で原発が稼働中だ。建設中または計画中の国も含めれば四十数か国に上る。
In the United States, which has more nuclear power plants than any other nation, some members of Congress have called for a freeze on the construction of new nuclear power plants.
世界最多の原発を保有する米国では、今回の事故で、新規建設凍結を求める声が議会から出た。
U.S. President Barack Obama, however, has remained committed to his policy of encouraging nuclear power generation, saying Washington needs to "take lessons learned from what's happening in Japan."
しかし、オバマ大統領は、事故から「教訓を学ぶ」とし、原発建設推進の方針堅持を表明している。
France, which has the second largest number of nuclear power facilities, has vowed to go ahead with its construction plans for new facilities. Its sale of reactors to other countries also is continuing as scheduled. South Korea also has kept its posture of encouraging nuclear power generation unchanged.
米国の次に原発の多いフランスは、新規建設も、他国への原発売り込みも続ける方針だ。韓国も原発推進の姿勢を変えていない。
===
N-power still necessary
Many countries, including such emerging economies as China and India, would find it extremely difficult to meet fast-growing demand for energy without making use of nuclear power plants.
中国、インドなどの新興国を含む多くの国は、増大する自国のエネルギー需要を原発なしに満たすことができないのが実情だ。
Under the circumstances, it is imperative for the international community to firmly ensure the safety of nuclear power generation.
原発の安全性を確立することが国際社会にとって急務である。
Should the release of radioactive material from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant continue, the problem could develop into a profoundly grave international issue.
福島第一原発からの放射性物質の放出が長期に及べば、深刻な国際問題になりかねない。
Japan must bring the nuclear crisis under control as quickly as possible by sharing relevant information with other members of the international community and asking for cooperation from nuclear experts from around the world.
日本は情報を各国と共有し、世界中の核専門家の協力を仰いで、迅速に事故を収拾しなければならない。
Making utmost efforts in this regard is the sole way for Japan to maintain international confidence in the viability of nuclear power.
それが、世界の原発推進国の信頼を保つ唯一の道である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2011)
（2011年3月29日01時27分 読売新聞）
莫大な費用を投じてスーパー堤防を建設しても大自然の猛威の前にはなすすべがない。
福島第一原発の建設位置はAvoid Mapに登録して閉鎖するほうがよい。
大津波でも被害を受けないような高台に建設したほうが安全だ。
１００年に一度の災害だから我慢してそこに住み続けるのか、Avoid Mapに登録して非居住区とするか。
選択するのは今回大きな被害を受けた日本人だ。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 30, 2011)
Japan's crisis will affect N-power worldwide
福島原発事故 全世界が注視する日本の対処（3月29日付・読売社説）
The unfolding crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant is, of course, not just a problem for Japan alone.
福島第一原子力発電所の事故は、日本だけの問題ではない。
The future of the peaceful use of nuclear energy around the world rests with how effectively this country can cope with the situation.
その対処の仕方に、世界の原子力平和利用の行方がかかっていると言えよう。
Because of a nearly unimaginable natural disaster--a devastating earthquake and ensuing colossal tsunami--the Fukushima plant's reactors, which were credited as among the world's best in terms of safety, are now in a wretched condition.
巨大地震と大津波という天災が直接的な原因とはいえ、安全性で世界最高水準と評された日本の原発が無残な姿をさらしている。
===
Bright image tarnished
Up until the current crisis, nuclear power was undergoing a positive reevaluation globally as a clean energy source emitting no greenhouse gases, and construction work on new nuclear plants was under way in many parts of the world.
原子力は温室効果ガスを出さないクリーンエネルギーとして見直され、世界各地で原発の新規建設が活発化していた。
The trouble at the Fukushima nuclear power plant has thrown cold water on what was being called a "nuclear energy renaissance."
「原子力ルネサンス」と呼ばれるその動きに、今回の事故は冷水を浴びせた。
In the aftermath of the disaster, the European Union decided to put all nuclear plants within its jurisdiction under review to check their earthquake resistance and other safety arrangements.
欧州連合（ＥＵ）は域内すべての原発について、耐震性能などの安全点検を行うことを決めた。
In Germany, where 17 nuclear plants are in operation, seven that were built in 1980 or earlier have suspended operations for three months.
原発１７基が稼働するドイツは、１９８０年以前に建設した７基を３か月間の運転停止とした。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel's government previously had decided to extend the lifetime of the existing nuclear reactors, in a reversal of the previous administration's policy. But now the possibility has arisen that Germany may once again reverse its nuclear energy policy.
メルケル独政権は、前政権の「脱原発」政策を転換し、既存の原発の稼働期間を延長する政策を掲げていたが、その方針を再び転換する可能性も出てきた。
In a regional election in the western German state of Saarland on Sunday, the Greens, an ecologically oriented party, made major headway against a backdrop of a surge in antinuclear public opinion.
２７日の地方選挙では、「反原発」の世論を背景に環境政党が躍進した。
At the time of the 1979 Three Mile Island nuclear crisis and also after the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, misgivings about the safety of nuclear power plants became widespread in the United States and European countries, forcing them to put construction plans for new nuclear power plants on hold.
欧米諸国では、７９年の米スリーマイル島、８６年の旧ソ連・チェルノブイリの両原発事故でも原発の安全性へ不安が広がり、新規建設の停滞を余儀なくされた。
From the standpoint of protecting energy security and fighting global warming, however, nuclear power plants, as long as they are managed safely, are certain to remain an important source of electric power.
だが、エネルギー安全保障や地球温暖化対策の観点からも、原発は安全に管理する限り、電力供給で重要な位置を占め続けよう。
About 30 countries now have nuclear power plants in operation, and about a dozen more have them under construction or on the drawing board.
世界では、約３０か国で原発が稼働中だ。建設中または計画中の国も含めれば四十数か国に上る。
In the United States, which has more nuclear power plants than any other nation, some members of Congress have called for a freeze on the construction of new nuclear power plants.
世界最多の原発を保有する米国では、今回の事故で、新規建設凍結を求める声が議会から出た。
U.S. President Barack Obama, however, has remained committed to his policy of encouraging nuclear power generation, saying Washington needs to "take lessons learned from what's happening in Japan."
しかし、オバマ大統領は、事故から「教訓を学ぶ」とし、原発建設推進の方針堅持を表明している。
France, which has the second largest number of nuclear power facilities, has vowed to go ahead with its construction plans for new facilities. Its sale of reactors to other countries also is continuing as scheduled. South Korea also has kept its posture of encouraging nuclear power generation unchanged.
米国の次に原発の多いフランスは、新規建設も、他国への原発売り込みも続ける方針だ。韓国も原発推進の姿勢を変えていない。
===
N-power still necessary
Many countries, including such emerging economies as China and India, would find it extremely difficult to meet fast-growing demand for energy without making use of nuclear power plants.
中国、インドなどの新興国を含む多くの国は、増大する自国のエネルギー需要を原発なしに満たすことができないのが実情だ。
Under the circumstances, it is imperative for the international community to firmly ensure the safety of nuclear power generation.
原発の安全性を確立することが国際社会にとって急務である。
Should the release of radioactive material from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant continue, the problem could develop into a profoundly grave international issue.
福島第一原発からの放射性物質の放出が長期に及べば、深刻な国際問題になりかねない。
Japan must bring the nuclear crisis under control as quickly as possible by sharing relevant information with other members of the international community and asking for cooperation from nuclear experts from around the world.
日本は情報を各国と共有し、世界中の核専門家の協力を仰いで、迅速に事故を収拾しなければならない。
Making utmost efforts in this regard is the sole way for Japan to maintain international confidence in the viability of nuclear power.
それが、世界の原発推進国の信頼を保つ唯一の道である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2011)
（2011年3月29日01時27分 読売新聞）
2011/03/29
「復興庁」 (reconstruction agency)
未曾有の大災害、復興庁のような機能性に富んだ機敏な組織を作って被災地の復旧に全力をつくすことが大切。
「復興庁」 (reconstruction agency) 長官には岩手選挙区の小沢一郎さんが適任だと思います。
政治の表舞台で活躍してほしい。
（スラチャイ記）
(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2011
Reconstruction efforts require centralized headquarters, strong local representation
社説：復興への政府体制 機動的な司令塔整備を
Debate is taking place over the government's approach to the reconstruction of areas in eastern Japan that have suffered grave damage from the recent earthquake and tsunami.
東日本大震災で被災した地域の復旧、復興に向け政府の体制を見直す議論が起きている。
One of the ideas that have emerged within the government and ruling party is the establishment of a reconstruction agency.
「復興庁」のような新組織を設けることで各省の行政を統括する構想も政府・与党内に浮上している。
To rebuild the vast number of communities that were wiped out by the massive tsunami on March 11, such an organization must be able to propel various ministries and agencies to come together, as well as conceptualize progress from a mid- to long-term perspective.
巨大津波で広範な地域が大きな被害を受けた被災地の復興には中長期的視点に立つ構想力と同時に、各省を束ねる推進力が必要だ。
It would not be in our best interests to expend more energy than is necessary in creating the organization.
組織づくりそのものに過大なエネルギーを費やすことは得策でない。
What we are aiming for is a flexible control group that is quick on its feet.
機動的な司令塔を目指すべきである。
Currently, government support for disaster victims is being supervised by a special disaster victim support headquarters that spun off from an emergency disaster relief headquarters comprising all Cabinet ministers.
政府の被災者支援は全閣僚による「緊急災害対策本部」から「被災者生活支援特別対策本部」を分離させる形で現在、進んでいる。
More than two weeks have passed since the disaster hit, and the restoration of infrastructure -- such as residential construction, roads, and ports -- and deliberations to draw up a major supplementary budget are expected to shift into high gear.
大震災から半月を経て住宅建設や道路、港湾など社会資本の復旧、大型補正予算編成などに向けた検討も今後、本格化する。
As the scale of reconstruction plans for the latest disaster is expected to far exceed that following the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, their success is contingent upon the government's strong leadership.
復興計画は阪神大震災を大きく上回る規模とみられるだけに、政府が取りまとめを強力に主導できるかが問われる。
The Teito (Imperial Capital) Reconstruction Agency was launched after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake to help rebuild the nation's capital.
１９２３年の関東大震災の際は「帝都復興院」が発足し、首都再建にあたった。
Based on this experience, some government and ruling-party insiders are suggesting the formation of a similar Recovery Agency to oversee wide-ranging administration in the aftermath of this month's devastation.
こうした経験を参考に「復興庁」のような組織を新設し、多分野にわたる行政を統括する案も政府・与党内にはある。
To centralize the reconstruction-related administration, the idea of establishing a central-command type system is a good one.
復興行政をできるだけ一元化するため、司令塔的な体制を整えること自体は賛成だ。
However, there are several points that must be considered in doing so.
だが、いくつか留意すべき点がある。
First, we should avoid launching any organizations that could be redundant, as we've seen repeatedly in the past whenever the government has established new organizations or agencies.
まず、これまで政府が新組織を作る際、再三見られたように、各省に屋上屋を架すような愚は避けるべきだ。
The agency needs to be a simple organization specializing in giving out commands.
司令塔機能に特化した簡素なものとしなければならない。
Most importantly, however, it must have the ability to map out guidelines for reconstruction.
最も重要なのは、復興の指針を決める企画立案機能だ。
Many of the areas affected by the recent disaster have rapidly aging populations and suffer from depopulation. Measures to prevent secondary disasters from tsunami must be implemented, but the affected area is extremely vast.
被災地の多くが高齢化が進む過疎地であり、津波の２次被害への備えも迫られる。被災地域も非常に広範囲にわたる。
A wide-range of information and insight must be gathered in order to simultaneously revitalize communities and prevent future disasters while acknowledging the differences between the latest disaster and the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
防災と地域再生をどう両立させるか、阪神大震災との状況の違いも踏まえつつ復興に取り組めるよう、幅広く知見を集めねばならない。
When the Great Hanshin Earthquake took place in 1995, the government launched the Hanshin-Awaji Restoration Committee, an advisory panel to the prime minister.
９５年の阪神大震災の際、政府は首相の諮問機関「阪神・淡路復興委員会」を発足させ提言活動を行った。
This time, however, we should set up a more powerful consultative body -- comprising senior officials from the ruling party, various experts, as well as members of the business world -- that, along with the secretariat, would have a strong mandate.
今回はさらにそれを強化し、政府・与党首脳部はもとより有識者、経済界も参加した協議機関を設け、事務局とともに強い権限を与えるべきではないか。
Calling on opposition parties to participate, and having implementing agencies and organizations employ liaison committees made up of administrative vice ministers is one way to go about the restoration process.
野党に参加を呼びかけたり、実施機関は各府省の事務次官で構成する連絡会議を活用したりするのもひとつの方法だろう。
Even more important is to avoid departing from the general rule that the major players of the reconstruction process are local communities.
さらに重要なのは、復興計画の主役は自治体という原則を踏み外さないことだ。
Accordingly, to address concerns and implement revitalization plans that defy prefectural boundaries, the involvement of multiple governors and various community members go without saying.
地域の実情に応じ、県境にとらわれない復興計画を策定するため関係県の知事はもとより、地域のさまざまな人たちが参加することは当然だ。
The national government must avoid any anachronistic moves such as forcing its plans onto local communities.
国が上からプランを押しつける時代錯誤は禁物である。
毎日新聞 2011年3月28日 東京朝刊
「復興庁」 (reconstruction agency) 長官には岩手選挙区の小沢一郎さんが適任だと思います。
政治の表舞台で活躍してほしい。
（スラチャイ記）
(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2011
Reconstruction efforts require centralized headquarters, strong local representation
社説：復興への政府体制 機動的な司令塔整備を
Debate is taking place over the government's approach to the reconstruction of areas in eastern Japan that have suffered grave damage from the recent earthquake and tsunami.
東日本大震災で被災した地域の復旧、復興に向け政府の体制を見直す議論が起きている。
One of the ideas that have emerged within the government and ruling party is the establishment of a reconstruction agency.
「復興庁」のような新組織を設けることで各省の行政を統括する構想も政府・与党内に浮上している。
To rebuild the vast number of communities that were wiped out by the massive tsunami on March 11, such an organization must be able to propel various ministries and agencies to come together, as well as conceptualize progress from a mid- to long-term perspective.
巨大津波で広範な地域が大きな被害を受けた被災地の復興には中長期的視点に立つ構想力と同時に、各省を束ねる推進力が必要だ。
It would not be in our best interests to expend more energy than is necessary in creating the organization.
組織づくりそのものに過大なエネルギーを費やすことは得策でない。
What we are aiming for is a flexible control group that is quick on its feet.
機動的な司令塔を目指すべきである。
Currently, government support for disaster victims is being supervised by a special disaster victim support headquarters that spun off from an emergency disaster relief headquarters comprising all Cabinet ministers.
政府の被災者支援は全閣僚による「緊急災害対策本部」から「被災者生活支援特別対策本部」を分離させる形で現在、進んでいる。
More than two weeks have passed since the disaster hit, and the restoration of infrastructure -- such as residential construction, roads, and ports -- and deliberations to draw up a major supplementary budget are expected to shift into high gear.
大震災から半月を経て住宅建設や道路、港湾など社会資本の復旧、大型補正予算編成などに向けた検討も今後、本格化する。
As the scale of reconstruction plans for the latest disaster is expected to far exceed that following the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, their success is contingent upon the government's strong leadership.
復興計画は阪神大震災を大きく上回る規模とみられるだけに、政府が取りまとめを強力に主導できるかが問われる。
The Teito (Imperial Capital) Reconstruction Agency was launched after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake to help rebuild the nation's capital.
１９２３年の関東大震災の際は「帝都復興院」が発足し、首都再建にあたった。
Based on this experience, some government and ruling-party insiders are suggesting the formation of a similar Recovery Agency to oversee wide-ranging administration in the aftermath of this month's devastation.
こうした経験を参考に「復興庁」のような組織を新設し、多分野にわたる行政を統括する案も政府・与党内にはある。
To centralize the reconstruction-related administration, the idea of establishing a central-command type system is a good one.
復興行政をできるだけ一元化するため、司令塔的な体制を整えること自体は賛成だ。
However, there are several points that must be considered in doing so.
だが、いくつか留意すべき点がある。
First, we should avoid launching any organizations that could be redundant, as we've seen repeatedly in the past whenever the government has established new organizations or agencies.
まず、これまで政府が新組織を作る際、再三見られたように、各省に屋上屋を架すような愚は避けるべきだ。
The agency needs to be a simple organization specializing in giving out commands.
司令塔機能に特化した簡素なものとしなければならない。
Most importantly, however, it must have the ability to map out guidelines for reconstruction.
最も重要なのは、復興の指針を決める企画立案機能だ。
Many of the areas affected by the recent disaster have rapidly aging populations and suffer from depopulation. Measures to prevent secondary disasters from tsunami must be implemented, but the affected area is extremely vast.
被災地の多くが高齢化が進む過疎地であり、津波の２次被害への備えも迫られる。被災地域も非常に広範囲にわたる。
A wide-range of information and insight must be gathered in order to simultaneously revitalize communities and prevent future disasters while acknowledging the differences between the latest disaster and the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
防災と地域再生をどう両立させるか、阪神大震災との状況の違いも踏まえつつ復興に取り組めるよう、幅広く知見を集めねばならない。
When the Great Hanshin Earthquake took place in 1995, the government launched the Hanshin-Awaji Restoration Committee, an advisory panel to the prime minister.
９５年の阪神大震災の際、政府は首相の諮問機関「阪神・淡路復興委員会」を発足させ提言活動を行った。
This time, however, we should set up a more powerful consultative body -- comprising senior officials from the ruling party, various experts, as well as members of the business world -- that, along with the secretariat, would have a strong mandate.
今回はさらにそれを強化し、政府・与党首脳部はもとより有識者、経済界も参加した協議機関を設け、事務局とともに強い権限を与えるべきではないか。
Calling on opposition parties to participate, and having implementing agencies and organizations employ liaison committees made up of administrative vice ministers is one way to go about the restoration process.
野党に参加を呼びかけたり、実施機関は各府省の事務次官で構成する連絡会議を活用したりするのもひとつの方法だろう。
Even more important is to avoid departing from the general rule that the major players of the reconstruction process are local communities.
さらに重要なのは、復興計画の主役は自治体という原則を踏み外さないことだ。
Accordingly, to address concerns and implement revitalization plans that defy prefectural boundaries, the involvement of multiple governors and various community members go without saying.
地域の実情に応じ、県境にとらわれない復興計画を策定するため関係県の知事はもとより、地域のさまざまな人たちが参加することは当然だ。
The national government must avoid any anachronistic moves such as forcing its plans onto local communities.
国が上からプランを押しつける時代錯誤は禁物である。
毎日新聞 2011年3月28日 東京朝刊
2011/03/28
Take a break from bad news ひととき心を緩めて
３月１１日の午後、コンケンの自宅で国会中継をみていた。
突然地震警報が発令されて、あーまたかって思っていた。
すぐに国会がグラグラと揺れだして、菅首相が青くなって天井を見つめていた。
すぐに国会中継が中断されたのでカイちゃんをお迎えに小学校まで出かけた。
カイちゃんとセブンイレブンでお買い物をしてから帰宅してびっくり。
お母さんが「あなた、日本が大変なことになっていますよ！」と叫んだのだ。
すぐにタイのニュース番組をみたら、東北地方で大規模な地震が発生、死者は三万人に達する見込み。
タイ語のニュースでもはっきりと聞き取れ、ショックで腰が抜けてしまった。
死者三万人の根拠はCNNのニュースが情報源だった。
地震発生からわずか数時間での発表は多分どんぶり勘定だろうと高をくくっていた。
NHKのこの時点での死者数は数百人にすぎなかった。
時間の経過とともに死者の数はうなぎのぼり、CNNの発表がオーダーで正しかったことが実証された。
多分米国の偵察衛星のデータをCNNがもらっているんだろうなって思った。
あれ以来なんだか気分が落ち着かない。
毎年この時期、二週間ほど家族旅行をするのがスラチャイ家の習慣となってしまっている。
でも、今回ばかりはそのような気分になれなくって家族に迷惑をかけている。
今朝、スラチャイの症状を代弁してくれるような記事を発見したので掲載します。
（スラチャイ記、コンケンの自宅にて）
(Mainichi Japan) March 27, 2011
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Take a break from bad news
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：ひととき心を緩めて ／東京
At the Tokyo hospital I work at, many patients have come in with complaints after the earthquake. "I can't sleep because of the frightening aftershocks," they say, or "I can't ride in elevators," they say, because they are afraid the power will cut while they are inside.
私が勤務する東京の病院にも、震災の影響を受けた患者さんが、大勢やって来る。「余震が怖くて眠れない」「エレベーターに乗れない」という訴えもあるが、災害と直接、関係ない訴えも多い。
However, I also hear complaints that are not directly related to the disaster, like, "For some reason I can't stop crying," "I get irritated without good reason," or "I keep standing up and sitting down and can't relax."
「なぜだか涙が止まらない」「やたらとイライラする」「落ち着かず立ったり座ったりしてしまう」などがそれだ。
Even though they are not in the disaster areas, these people have been exposed to a long shower of images and words about the disaster, which has probably tired their minds and bodies.
この人たちは、直接、被災地にいなくても、長い時間、映像や情報のシャワーを浴び、心身が疲労していると思われる。
I say to these people, "Let's try staying away from television and the Internet for a while and spending some time listening to the music you like, reading the comics you like, making cakes, or doing whatever you did in your free time before all of this."
そういう人には「少しのあいだ、テレビやネットから自分を遠ざけて、好きな音楽を聴いたりマンガを読んだりケーキを作ったり、いつもしていたことをしてみましょう」とすすめている。
One person argued against my recommendation: "But doctor, even if I temporarily spent some time relaxing like that, it doesn't change the fact that the earthquake happened. My mother's hometown was badly damaged. No matter how much I escape into fun things, when I am pulled back into reality nothing will have changed. Wouldn't I become even more depressed?"
私のことばに、こう反論した人がいた。
「でも先生、そうやって一時、穏やかな時間をすごしたとしても、震災が起きたという事実は変わりません。母の故郷の町も大きな被害を受けたんですよ。いくら楽しいことに逃避しても、はっと現実に戻ると何も変わってないわけでしょう。そうなると余計に落ち込むのでは」
Indeed, that is one view.
たしかにそういう考えもあるだろう。
However, I still think that escaping into recreation is good.
しかし、私はそれでも「逃避だっていいじゃない」と思うのだ。
With a disaster this large, obviously people within the disaster area have been hit hardest by far, but even those outside those areas have been emotionally hurt.
これほどの災害になれば、被災地にいる人はもちろん、そうでない人も、心はボロボロに傷つく。
It may take a long time to make a true recovery, and it is necessary to take small rests.
本当の意味で立ち直るには長い時間がかかるかもしれないが、ひととき、“止まり木”のようなところに心を避難させることも必要だ。
Be it 30 minutes or an hour, get away from the reality in front of you and immerse yourself in the world of a video game or a TV series.
３０分でも１時間でも、目の前の現実から逃避して、ゲームやドラマの世界に浸る。
Take your time drinking a cup of tea and say out loud, "Ahh, this is good."
時間をかけてお茶を飲み、「ああ、おいしい」と声に出してみる。
Even if it's only for that time, you can put a stop to feelings of uneasiness and hopelessness.
その間だけでも、不安や絶望の感情にふたをする。
Resting oneself this way, even if it's an escape into a fantasy or virtual world, will give one strength to recover.
そうやって、たとえ幻想やバーチャルの世界を使ってでも、ひととき心を緩め、ほっとする時間を持つことは、必ず回復の力につながっていく。
If people spend 24 hours a day looking at nothing but sadness and struggle, it will wear down their emotional energy, and it could delay their recovery to their normal selves.
２４時間ずっと悲しい、苦しい、ばかりでは、心のエネルギーはどんどんすり減り、回復が遅れてしまう可能性もある。
I believe that having a brief time of fun, even if some might consider it self-deceit, will prepare one to face the future in a positive way.
それよりは、たとえまやかしだったとしても、ひととき楽しい気持ちを味わったほうが、少しだけ前向きな気分で現実に取り組んでいくことができるはずだ。
The reality we are confronted with will not go away any time soon.
目の前の現実は、すぐには変わらない。
Neither, perhaps, will the bad feelings that accompany it.
つらい気持ちも、長く続くかもしれない。
Even so -- no, I should say "because" of that -- we should take a brief escape from reality.
それでも、いやそれだからこそ、ほんのひとときの現実逃避を。
That is my recommendation. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
そうすすめたい。
毎日新聞 2011年3月22日 地方版
作業員被曝―放射線と闘う人の安全を
2011/03/27
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 26
EDITORIAL: Safety of workers fighting the nuclear crisis must be ensured
作業員被曝―放射線と闘う人の安全を
Safety must be ensured for the workers on the front line of the battle to contain the nuclear crisis triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
原発事故の最前線で働く人たちの安全を確保しなくてはならない。
Three workers trying to cool a reactor at the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant were exposed to high levels of radioactivity and rushed to a hospital.
東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所で作業していた３人が、大量の放射線を浴び、病院に運ばれた。
They worked while they were ankle deep in highly radioactive water. Two of them are feared to have suffered radiation burns below their knees.
強い放射能を帯びた水につかりながら作業した。放射線によるやけどを足に負った恐れがある。
The Nos. 1 -- 4 reactors at the Fukushima plant are still in dangerous and volatile conditions. It is imperative to restore the cooling systems for these reactors and their spent fuel pools to stabilize the situation.
第一原発１～４号機の状況はいずれも予断を許さない。このすべてで原子炉や核燃料プールの冷却を復活させ、安定させなければならない。
To achieve that goal, a mountain of tasks must be carried out in areas contaminated with high levels of radioactivity.
そのためには放射線レベルの高い場所での作業が山のように待っている。
Completing the mission will take at least a month, according to one estimate. This is going to be a long, drawn-out battle.
うまくいっても１カ月はかかるとの見通しもある。長期化は避けられない。
People from various companies and organizations are working at the crippled plant, tackling a broad array of tasks according to their skills and expertise.
現場では、技術に応じて様々な所属の人が働いている。
To get the reactors under control, a system needs to be established to limit the risks for these workers.
原発の制御を取り戻すためには、危険を限定して働ける仕組みが必要だ。
The three workers were trying to connect cables in the basement of the building housing a turbine for power generation adjacent to the building containing the No. 3 reactor. According to the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., two of them entered the facility wearing ordinary work shoes because there had been nothing more than puddles of water with low levels of radioactivity on the floor on the previous day.
３人は、３号機の原子炉の建屋に隣接する発電用タービンがある建物の地下で、ケーブルをつなぐ作業をしていた。前日まで地下室は水たまり程度で放射能レベルも低かったため、うち２人は短靴で入ったという。
Their feet were exposed to 2 to 6 sieverts of radioactivity, far above the safety limit of 1 sievert for skin exposure to radiation during such emergency work.
足の被曝（ひばく）は２～６シーベルト。緊急作業時に皮膚に受けてもいい限度（１シーベルト）を大きく超えていた。
The workers' dosemeters attached to the upper body part of their outfits showed radiation amounts totaling about 180 millisieverts, close to the upper limit of 250.
上半身につけた放射線量計でも、被曝線量は約１８０ミリシーベルトと、上限の２５０ミリシーベルトに近かった。
The water in the basement was found to contain 10,000 times the level of radioactivity normally detected in cooling water circulating within a reactor. The figure clearly indicates the seriousness of the situation. In addition, the conditions change constantly.
地下室の水の放射能レベルを調べたところ、ふだん原子炉の中を循環している冷却水の１万倍にも達していた。事態の深刻さがわかる。しかも状況は刻々と変わる。
The harshness and dangerousness of the working conditions at the sites is shocking, which makes it all the more depressing to know that efforts to restore safety to the plant depend on people working under these conditions.
その作業環境の厳しさに驚くとともに、そこで働く人たちに原子炉の安全を託さざるを得ない状況に胸がつまる思いだ。
What is disturbing is the fact that there was no person to monitor the levels of radioactivity at the site when the three workers were doing their jobs.
残念なのは、この現場には放射線量を見張る管理員がいなかったことだ。
Workers engaged in tasks in an area with high radiation levels must take turns at short intervals for the sake of their health.
放射能レベルの高い現場では、短い時間で交代しながらの作業になる。
Monitoring of the radiation levels at such worksites must never be neglected.
線量の監視を怠ってはならない。
Tokyo Electric Power Co. should make every possible effort to ensure the safety of workers.
東電は万全を期してほしい。
It is crucial to secure enough manpower to staff the teams required to carry out the tasks involved over an extended period of time until the nuclear power plant is stabilized.
これから原発を安定させるまでの長い期間に向けて、十分な態勢で作業ができる人員の確保が大切になる。
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has an important role to play in this respect.
そのために原子力安全・保安院の果たす役割は大きい。
The government needs to obtain maximum assistance and cooperation from various organizations, including reinforcements from other electric power companies and manufacturers.
必要ならば他の電力会社やメーカーからさらに応援を求めることもふくめ、政府として最大限の支援を集める必要がある。
Some 700 employees of TEPCO and affiliated companies are currently working at the Fukushima power station. Many of them come from local communities in the quake-hit areas. Some of them have had their houses swept away by the tsunami, while others are worried about missing family members. They are reportedly close to their limits of exhaustion.
第一原発ではいま、東電や関連会社などの約７００人が作業している。地元出身の人も多く、津波で家を流されたり、行方不明の家族を案じたりしながら働き続け、疲労も限界という。
Some of them can only get one or two hours of sleep in a chair a day.
睡眠は椅子に座ったまま１～２時間、という人もいるそうだ。
A system should be created swiftly to ensure that the people engaged in the heroic efforts to defuse this national crisis will receive all the possible support from both the government and the private sector, including from the nuclear power industry, nuclear safety experts and medical institutions.
国家的危機の現場で奮闘する人たちのために、原子力産業や安全確保の専門家、医療部門はもとより、政府、民間をあげて支える態勢を作りたい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 26
EDITORIAL: Safety of workers fighting the nuclear crisis must be ensured
作業員被曝―放射線と闘う人の安全を
Safety must be ensured for the workers on the front line of the battle to contain the nuclear crisis triggered by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
原発事故の最前線で働く人たちの安全を確保しなくてはならない。
Three workers trying to cool a reactor at the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant were exposed to high levels of radioactivity and rushed to a hospital.
東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所で作業していた３人が、大量の放射線を浴び、病院に運ばれた。
They worked while they were ankle deep in highly radioactive water. Two of them are feared to have suffered radiation burns below their knees.
強い放射能を帯びた水につかりながら作業した。放射線によるやけどを足に負った恐れがある。
The Nos. 1 -- 4 reactors at the Fukushima plant are still in dangerous and volatile conditions. It is imperative to restore the cooling systems for these reactors and their spent fuel pools to stabilize the situation.
第一原発１～４号機の状況はいずれも予断を許さない。このすべてで原子炉や核燃料プールの冷却を復活させ、安定させなければならない。
To achieve that goal, a mountain of tasks must be carried out in areas contaminated with high levels of radioactivity.
そのためには放射線レベルの高い場所での作業が山のように待っている。
Completing the mission will take at least a month, according to one estimate. This is going to be a long, drawn-out battle.
うまくいっても１カ月はかかるとの見通しもある。長期化は避けられない。
People from various companies and organizations are working at the crippled plant, tackling a broad array of tasks according to their skills and expertise.
現場では、技術に応じて様々な所属の人が働いている。
To get the reactors under control, a system needs to be established to limit the risks for these workers.
原発の制御を取り戻すためには、危険を限定して働ける仕組みが必要だ。
The three workers were trying to connect cables in the basement of the building housing a turbine for power generation adjacent to the building containing the No. 3 reactor. According to the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., two of them entered the facility wearing ordinary work shoes because there had been nothing more than puddles of water with low levels of radioactivity on the floor on the previous day.
３人は、３号機の原子炉の建屋に隣接する発電用タービンがある建物の地下で、ケーブルをつなぐ作業をしていた。前日まで地下室は水たまり程度で放射能レベルも低かったため、うち２人は短靴で入ったという。
Their feet were exposed to 2 to 6 sieverts of radioactivity, far above the safety limit of 1 sievert for skin exposure to radiation during such emergency work.
足の被曝（ひばく）は２～６シーベルト。緊急作業時に皮膚に受けてもいい限度（１シーベルト）を大きく超えていた。
The workers' dosemeters attached to the upper body part of their outfits showed radiation amounts totaling about 180 millisieverts, close to the upper limit of 250.
上半身につけた放射線量計でも、被曝線量は約１８０ミリシーベルトと、上限の２５０ミリシーベルトに近かった。
The water in the basement was found to contain 10,000 times the level of radioactivity normally detected in cooling water circulating within a reactor. The figure clearly indicates the seriousness of the situation. In addition, the conditions change constantly.
地下室の水の放射能レベルを調べたところ、ふだん原子炉の中を循環している冷却水の１万倍にも達していた。事態の深刻さがわかる。しかも状況は刻々と変わる。
The harshness and dangerousness of the working conditions at the sites is shocking, which makes it all the more depressing to know that efforts to restore safety to the plant depend on people working under these conditions.
その作業環境の厳しさに驚くとともに、そこで働く人たちに原子炉の安全を託さざるを得ない状況に胸がつまる思いだ。
What is disturbing is the fact that there was no person to monitor the levels of radioactivity at the site when the three workers were doing their jobs.
残念なのは、この現場には放射線量を見張る管理員がいなかったことだ。
Workers engaged in tasks in an area with high radiation levels must take turns at short intervals for the sake of their health.
放射能レベルの高い現場では、短い時間で交代しながらの作業になる。
Monitoring of the radiation levels at such worksites must never be neglected.
線量の監視を怠ってはならない。
Tokyo Electric Power Co. should make every possible effort to ensure the safety of workers.
東電は万全を期してほしい。
It is crucial to secure enough manpower to staff the teams required to carry out the tasks involved over an extended period of time until the nuclear power plant is stabilized.
これから原発を安定させるまでの長い期間に向けて、十分な態勢で作業ができる人員の確保が大切になる。
The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has an important role to play in this respect.
そのために原子力安全・保安院の果たす役割は大きい。
The government needs to obtain maximum assistance and cooperation from various organizations, including reinforcements from other electric power companies and manufacturers.
必要ならば他の電力会社やメーカーからさらに応援を求めることもふくめ、政府として最大限の支援を集める必要がある。
Some 700 employees of TEPCO and affiliated companies are currently working at the Fukushima power station. Many of them come from local communities in the quake-hit areas. Some of them have had their houses swept away by the tsunami, while others are worried about missing family members. They are reportedly close to their limits of exhaustion.
第一原発ではいま、東電や関連会社などの約７００人が作業している。地元出身の人も多く、津波で家を流されたり、行方不明の家族を案じたりしながら働き続け、疲労も限界という。
Some of them can only get one or two hours of sleep in a chair a day.
睡眠は椅子に座ったまま１～２時間、という人もいるそうだ。
A system should be created swiftly to ensure that the people engaged in the heroic efforts to defuse this national crisis will receive all the possible support from both the government and the private sector, including from the nuclear power industry, nuclear safety experts and medical institutions.
国家的危機の現場で奮闘する人たちのために、原子力産業や安全確保の専門家、医療部門はもとより、政府、民間をあげて支える態勢を作りたい。
2011/03/27
災害の国際協力 アジア太平洋諸国と連携密に
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 27, 2011)
Strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations
災害の国際協力 アジア太平洋諸国と連携密に（3月26日付・読売社説）
Japan, China and South Korea have decided to enhance their cooperation regarding disaster response and nuclear safety, drawing on the lessons of the March 11 Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake and the subsequent accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.
東日本巨大地震と東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故を踏まえ、日本と中国、韓国の３か国が防災や原子力安全の分野で協力関係を強化することになった。
The three countries agreed on greater cooperation at a meeting of their foreign ministers held March 19 in Kyoto. Details are expected to be decided at working-level talks, and we want discussions to be held as soon as possible.
京都で１９日に行われた日中韓外相会談で合意した。具体的な協力内容は、事務レベルで詰めるという。検討を加速してほしい。
The day after the massive earthquake and tsunami, South Korea dispatched a rescue dog team to disaster-hit areas, and a short time later sent more than 100 rescue workers.
韓国は、震災発生翌日に救助犬チームを、その後まもなく１００人超のレスキュー隊を被災地に派遣した。
A 15-member Chinese rescue team arrived two days after the quake.
中国の救助隊１５人も震災３日目に現地入りした。
Such immediate rescue activities, which take advantage of the three nations' proximity as neighboring countries, will be central to the cooperation among Japan, China and South Korea.
隣国同士という地の利を生かした災害発生直後の救援活動は、３か国の協力の柱となろう。
===
Large donations of fuel
South Korea also provided Japan with 500,000 tons of liquefied natural gas that could be used as fuel to run a thermal power station, while China supplied 20,000 tons of gasoline and other fuels.
物資面では、韓国から火力発電所の燃料となる液化天然ガス５０万トン、中国からガソリンなど燃油２万トンの融通を受けた。
We hope this assistance from Beijing and Seoul will develop into a mutual assistance framework under which Japan would in turn move quickly with rescue and assistance operations if a large-scale disaster hit China or South Korea.
中国や韓国で大規模災害が起きた時は、日本が速やかに救助や支援活動に動く。そうした「共助」の仕組みに、今回の中韓両国の支援をつなげたい。
South Korea also offered boric acid, which can suppress nuclear fission, to help deal with the Fukushima nuclear power station. Seoul has stockpiles of boric acid for use during inspections and repairs at its nuclear power stations, illustrating the usefulness of a three-country system to help each other procure emergency goods at the time of a nuclear accident.
韓国は、原発事故に関連して、核分裂を抑える効果があるホウ酸も提供した。原発の点検・補修用に備蓄していたものだが、事故発生時に緊急物資の調達で協力する仕組みがあれば有益だろう。
In the case of an accident at a nuclear power station in one country, it is most important to disclose and share information quickly at home and abroad.
原発事故の際には、迅速に事故情報を国内外に提供し、共有することが最も大切である。
A groundless rumor spread in China and South Korea immediately after the start of the crisis that radiation from the Fukushima plant would contaminate the air and seawater.
中韓両国でも、今回の事故直後に、大気や海水が放射能で汚染されるとの「風評」が広がった。
A country where a nuclear accident has occurred has a responsibility to provide accurate information. The Foreign Ministry has carried information on the quake and tsunami disaster in English, Chinese and Korean on its Web site, but it may need to provide information in many more languages.
正確な情報の提供は、事故の当事国に課せられた責務だ。外務省はホームページで英語のほか中国語と韓国語で震災情報を掲載するようにしたが、より多くの言語で情報を提供する必要があろう。
===
Dealing with tsunami critical
Tsunami following the March 11 earthquake caused damage on the U.S. west coast, Indonesia and other locations. How to deal with large tsunami is a common issue for countries facing the Pacific Ocean.
今回の津波では、米国の西海岸やインドネシアなどでも被害が生じた。太平洋に面する各国にとって、大規模な津波への対応は共通の課題である。
Disaster relief training exercises were held last week in Indonesia with the participation of more than 25 countries, including Australia, India, Southeast Asian countries and the United States.
インドネシアでは先週、米国や豪州、インド、東南アジア諸国など２５か国以上が参加する災害救援の実動演習が実施された。
Organized jointly by the Japanese and Indonesian governments, the field exercise was conducted on the premise that tsunami had caused huge damage, and included drills on evacuation, helicopter transportation and searching for victims trapped under wreckage.
日本、インドネシア両政府の共催で、津波被害を想定して避難やヘリ輸送、瓦礫(がれき)下の捜索活動などの演習が行われた。
Technical know-how regarding such relief activities will unquestionably be useful in emergencies. These exercises should be made a regular occurrence.
いざという時に必ず役立つノウハウだ。これを機に定例化してはどうか。
Offers of help have reached Japan from 130 countries around the world, including nations in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the United States and other Asian countries. We are very grateful, and Japan will always offer a helping hand to those countries when they are in difficulty.
日本への支援の申し出は、米国やアジア諸国以外にも、欧州、中南米、中東、アフリカの各地から寄せられ、その数は約１３０か国にのぼる。感謝したい。この国々が困っている時は、日本も必ず支援の手を差し伸べたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2011)
（2011年3月26日01時10分 読売新聞）
Strengthen cooperation with Asia-Pacific nations
災害の国際協力 アジア太平洋諸国と連携密に（3月26日付・読売社説）
Japan, China and South Korea have decided to enhance their cooperation regarding disaster response and nuclear safety, drawing on the lessons of the March 11 Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake and the subsequent accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.
東日本巨大地震と東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故を踏まえ、日本と中国、韓国の３か国が防災や原子力安全の分野で協力関係を強化することになった。
The three countries agreed on greater cooperation at a meeting of their foreign ministers held March 19 in Kyoto. Details are expected to be decided at working-level talks, and we want discussions to be held as soon as possible.
京都で１９日に行われた日中韓外相会談で合意した。具体的な協力内容は、事務レベルで詰めるという。検討を加速してほしい。
The day after the massive earthquake and tsunami, South Korea dispatched a rescue dog team to disaster-hit areas, and a short time later sent more than 100 rescue workers.
韓国は、震災発生翌日に救助犬チームを、その後まもなく１００人超のレスキュー隊を被災地に派遣した。
A 15-member Chinese rescue team arrived two days after the quake.
中国の救助隊１５人も震災３日目に現地入りした。
Such immediate rescue activities, which take advantage of the three nations' proximity as neighboring countries, will be central to the cooperation among Japan, China and South Korea.
隣国同士という地の利を生かした災害発生直後の救援活動は、３か国の協力の柱となろう。
===
Large donations of fuel
South Korea also provided Japan with 500,000 tons of liquefied natural gas that could be used as fuel to run a thermal power station, while China supplied 20,000 tons of gasoline and other fuels.
物資面では、韓国から火力発電所の燃料となる液化天然ガス５０万トン、中国からガソリンなど燃油２万トンの融通を受けた。
We hope this assistance from Beijing and Seoul will develop into a mutual assistance framework under which Japan would in turn move quickly with rescue and assistance operations if a large-scale disaster hit China or South Korea.
中国や韓国で大規模災害が起きた時は、日本が速やかに救助や支援活動に動く。そうした「共助」の仕組みに、今回の中韓両国の支援をつなげたい。
South Korea also offered boric acid, which can suppress nuclear fission, to help deal with the Fukushima nuclear power station. Seoul has stockpiles of boric acid for use during inspections and repairs at its nuclear power stations, illustrating the usefulness of a three-country system to help each other procure emergency goods at the time of a nuclear accident.
韓国は、原発事故に関連して、核分裂を抑える効果があるホウ酸も提供した。原発の点検・補修用に備蓄していたものだが、事故発生時に緊急物資の調達で協力する仕組みがあれば有益だろう。
In the case of an accident at a nuclear power station in one country, it is most important to disclose and share information quickly at home and abroad.
原発事故の際には、迅速に事故情報を国内外に提供し、共有することが最も大切である。
A groundless rumor spread in China and South Korea immediately after the start of the crisis that radiation from the Fukushima plant would contaminate the air and seawater.
中韓両国でも、今回の事故直後に、大気や海水が放射能で汚染されるとの「風評」が広がった。
A country where a nuclear accident has occurred has a responsibility to provide accurate information. The Foreign Ministry has carried information on the quake and tsunami disaster in English, Chinese and Korean on its Web site, but it may need to provide information in many more languages.
正確な情報の提供は、事故の当事国に課せられた責務だ。外務省はホームページで英語のほか中国語と韓国語で震災情報を掲載するようにしたが、より多くの言語で情報を提供する必要があろう。
===
Dealing with tsunami critical
Tsunami following the March 11 earthquake caused damage on the U.S. west coast, Indonesia and other locations. How to deal with large tsunami is a common issue for countries facing the Pacific Ocean.
今回の津波では、米国の西海岸やインドネシアなどでも被害が生じた。太平洋に面する各国にとって、大規模な津波への対応は共通の課題である。
Disaster relief training exercises were held last week in Indonesia with the participation of more than 25 countries, including Australia, India, Southeast Asian countries and the United States.
インドネシアでは先週、米国や豪州、インド、東南アジア諸国など２５か国以上が参加する災害救援の実動演習が実施された。
Organized jointly by the Japanese and Indonesian governments, the field exercise was conducted on the premise that tsunami had caused huge damage, and included drills on evacuation, helicopter transportation and searching for victims trapped under wreckage.
日本、インドネシア両政府の共催で、津波被害を想定して避難やヘリ輸送、瓦礫(がれき)下の捜索活動などの演習が行われた。
Technical know-how regarding such relief activities will unquestionably be useful in emergencies. These exercises should be made a regular occurrence.
いざという時に必ず役立つノウハウだ。これを機に定例化してはどうか。
Offers of help have reached Japan from 130 countries around the world, including nations in Europe, Central and South America, the Middle East and Africa, as well as the United States and other Asian countries. We are very grateful, and Japan will always offer a helping hand to those countries when they are in difficulty.
日本への支援の申し出は、米国やアジア諸国以外にも、欧州、中南米、中東、アフリカの各地から寄せられ、その数は約１３０か国にのぼる。感謝したい。この国々が困っている時は、日本も必ず支援の手を差し伸べたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2011)
（2011年3月26日01時10分 読売新聞）
2011/03/26
電力不足 節電に努め長期化に備えよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 25, 2011)
Prepare for lengthy power shortage
電力不足 節電に努め長期化に備えよ（3月24日付・読売社説）
A prolonged energy shortage is unavoidable in areas serviced by Tokyo Electric Power Co., due to the damage caused by the massive earthquake that hit the Tohoku and Kanto regions.
東日本巨大地震による東京電力管内の電力不足は今後、長期化が避けられない。
The government must draw up a power supply plan through in-depth discussions with TEPCO and inform the public about it so as not to cause confusion.
政府は、東電と綿密に打ち合わせて供給計画を作り、混乱が起きないよう国民への周知に努める必要がある。
Industrial circles and ordinary households will be asked to cooperate in efforts to deal with the power outage and save electricity.
産業界や一般家庭も、停電や節電に協力する姿勢が求められよう。
Planned blackouts in areas supplied with power from TEPCO began March 14. There was great confusion at first, partly due to inadequate explanations by TEPCO. Ten days have passed since then and problems remain, but the situation is stabilizing.
東電管内で計画停電が始まったのは１４日だ。当初、説明不足もあって大混乱した。以来、１０日が過ぎ、問題はまだ残るが落ち着きを取り戻しつつある。
TEPCO plans to conclude its planned power outages by the end of April, when supply is expected to meet demand. But a worrisome situation is expected in summer.
東電は、電力需給が見合う４月末で停電を打ち切る予定である。だが、懸念されるのは夏場だ。
The quake severely damaged TEPCO's power plants, including the Fukushima Nos. 1 and 2 nuclear facilities. It can now supply only 37.5 million kilowatts per day, not enough to meet demand.
地震で東電は、福島第一、第二原子力発電所など、発電施設に大打撃を受けた。現在の供給能力は３７５０万キロ・ワットにとどまっており、需要を賄いきれない。
===
TEPCO trying to boost supply
Because of this, TEPCO is working hard to boost its supply capability by resuming operations at its thermal power plant in the Tokyo Bay area, which had been idle. By the end of April, TEPCO is expected to be able to supply about 43 million kilowatts, which should meet demand at least for the time being.
このため、休止中だった東京湾岸の火力発電所を再起動するなど能力増強に懸命だ。４月末には供給能力が４３００万キロ・ワット程度に達し、需要はとりあえず満たされる見通しである。
In summer, however, air conditioners will be turned on en masse, increasing the daily demand for power to 60 million kilowatts in an average year.
しかし、夏には冷房用クーラーが一斉に稼働し、例年、需要は最大６０００万キロ・ワットに増える。
TEPCO hopes to restore its power plants by then, including another thermal facility that was damaged in the quake. But it is expected to secure only about 50 million kilowatts through restoration work, so the problem remains of how to make up for the shortfall.
東電はそれまでに、被災した火力発電所などを復旧させたいとしているが、確保できるのは５０００万キロ・ワット程度とされる。不足分をどう埋め合わせるのか。
The government is studying the possibility of limiting the total amount of power that can be used by businesses, a measure previously implemented during the 1970s oil crises. Reviving the system, designed to regulate how much each company can consume, is inevitable.
政府は、石油危機当時に発動した総量規制の復活を検討中だ。企業ごとに電力使用量を制限する制度で、再発動もやむを得まい。
This method was effective at the time of the crises because the industrial sector accounted for a high percentage of the total power consumed at that time. Now that the amount of power in general use has increased, however, the benefits of this approach will be limited.
ただ、当時は産業用電力の比率が高く有効だった。民生用が増えた現在では効果が限られる。
===
Interchange insufficient
Surplus electricity could be obtained from western Japan. Because this requires converting the frequency, however, this method of power supply is limited to 1 million kilowatts a day.
西日本地区から余剰電力を融通する手法もある。これには周波数を変換する必要があり、１日に１００万キロ・ワットが限界だ。
Needless to say, TEPCO needs to boost its conversion ability, but as it would take quite some time to do this, TEPCO would not be able to finish in time for the increased demand in summer.
変換能力の増強に取り組むのは当然としても、かなり時間がかかるため、夏には間に合わない。
Given these circumstances, another cycle of planned power outages is inevitable. TEPCO must root out problems and make these outages run smoothly.
こうした状況では、再び計画停電の出番となろう。問題点を洗い出し、スムーズに運ぶよう東電は工夫すべきだ。
Apart from the power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, the company needs to examine, in the medium term, restarting nuclear plants whose operations have been suspended.
福島県内の原発は別として、中期的には、停止中の原発の再稼働も検討課題である。
If enough time is spent on repairs and safety inspections, it would be possible to restart operations at TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, where three reactors have been idle due to the impact of the 2007 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, and at Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa nuclear power plant, which stopped operating after the March 11 quake.
中越沖地震の影響で３基が動いていない東電・柏崎刈羽原発や、今回の地震で止まった東北電力・女川原発などは、補修と安全点検に時間をかければ再開可能だ。
It will be difficult, but efforts to win the understanding of local residents will be essential.
ハードルは高いが、地元の理解を得る努力が欠かせまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24, 2011)
（2011年3月24日01時17分 読売新聞）
Prepare for lengthy power shortage
電力不足 節電に努め長期化に備えよ（3月24日付・読売社説）
A prolonged energy shortage is unavoidable in areas serviced by Tokyo Electric Power Co., due to the damage caused by the massive earthquake that hit the Tohoku and Kanto regions.
東日本巨大地震による東京電力管内の電力不足は今後、長期化が避けられない。
The government must draw up a power supply plan through in-depth discussions with TEPCO and inform the public about it so as not to cause confusion.
政府は、東電と綿密に打ち合わせて供給計画を作り、混乱が起きないよう国民への周知に努める必要がある。
Industrial circles and ordinary households will be asked to cooperate in efforts to deal with the power outage and save electricity.
産業界や一般家庭も、停電や節電に協力する姿勢が求められよう。
Planned blackouts in areas supplied with power from TEPCO began March 14. There was great confusion at first, partly due to inadequate explanations by TEPCO. Ten days have passed since then and problems remain, but the situation is stabilizing.
東電管内で計画停電が始まったのは１４日だ。当初、説明不足もあって大混乱した。以来、１０日が過ぎ、問題はまだ残るが落ち着きを取り戻しつつある。
TEPCO plans to conclude its planned power outages by the end of April, when supply is expected to meet demand. But a worrisome situation is expected in summer.
東電は、電力需給が見合う４月末で停電を打ち切る予定である。だが、懸念されるのは夏場だ。
The quake severely damaged TEPCO's power plants, including the Fukushima Nos. 1 and 2 nuclear facilities. It can now supply only 37.5 million kilowatts per day, not enough to meet demand.
地震で東電は、福島第一、第二原子力発電所など、発電施設に大打撃を受けた。現在の供給能力は３７５０万キロ・ワットにとどまっており、需要を賄いきれない。
===
TEPCO trying to boost supply
Because of this, TEPCO is working hard to boost its supply capability by resuming operations at its thermal power plant in the Tokyo Bay area, which had been idle. By the end of April, TEPCO is expected to be able to supply about 43 million kilowatts, which should meet demand at least for the time being.
このため、休止中だった東京湾岸の火力発電所を再起動するなど能力増強に懸命だ。４月末には供給能力が４３００万キロ・ワット程度に達し、需要はとりあえず満たされる見通しである。
In summer, however, air conditioners will be turned on en masse, increasing the daily demand for power to 60 million kilowatts in an average year.
しかし、夏には冷房用クーラーが一斉に稼働し、例年、需要は最大６０００万キロ・ワットに増える。
TEPCO hopes to restore its power plants by then, including another thermal facility that was damaged in the quake. But it is expected to secure only about 50 million kilowatts through restoration work, so the problem remains of how to make up for the shortfall.
東電はそれまでに、被災した火力発電所などを復旧させたいとしているが、確保できるのは５０００万キロ・ワット程度とされる。不足分をどう埋め合わせるのか。
The government is studying the possibility of limiting the total amount of power that can be used by businesses, a measure previously implemented during the 1970s oil crises. Reviving the system, designed to regulate how much each company can consume, is inevitable.
政府は、石油危機当時に発動した総量規制の復活を検討中だ。企業ごとに電力使用量を制限する制度で、再発動もやむを得まい。
This method was effective at the time of the crises because the industrial sector accounted for a high percentage of the total power consumed at that time. Now that the amount of power in general use has increased, however, the benefits of this approach will be limited.
ただ、当時は産業用電力の比率が高く有効だった。民生用が増えた現在では効果が限られる。
===
Interchange insufficient
Surplus electricity could be obtained from western Japan. Because this requires converting the frequency, however, this method of power supply is limited to 1 million kilowatts a day.
西日本地区から余剰電力を融通する手法もある。これには周波数を変換する必要があり、１日に１００万キロ・ワットが限界だ。
Needless to say, TEPCO needs to boost its conversion ability, but as it would take quite some time to do this, TEPCO would not be able to finish in time for the increased demand in summer.
変換能力の増強に取り組むのは当然としても、かなり時間がかかるため、夏には間に合わない。
Given these circumstances, another cycle of planned power outages is inevitable. TEPCO must root out problems and make these outages run smoothly.
こうした状況では、再び計画停電の出番となろう。問題点を洗い出し、スムーズに運ぶよう東電は工夫すべきだ。
Apart from the power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, the company needs to examine, in the medium term, restarting nuclear plants whose operations have been suspended.
福島県内の原発は別として、中期的には、停止中の原発の再稼働も検討課題である。
If enough time is spent on repairs and safety inspections, it would be possible to restart operations at TEPCO's Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, where three reactors have been idle due to the impact of the 2007 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake, and at Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s Onagawa nuclear power plant, which stopped operating after the March 11 quake.
中越沖地震の影響で３基が動いていない東電・柏崎刈羽原発や、今回の地震で止まった東北電力・女川原発などは、補修と安全点検に時間をかければ再開可能だ。
It will be difficult, but efforts to win the understanding of local residents will be essential.
ハードルは高いが、地元の理解を得る努力が欠かせまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 24, 2011)
（2011年3月24日01時17分 読売新聞）
2011/03/25
放射性降下物―長い闘いを覚悟しつつ
2011/03/24
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 23
EDITORIAL: Every effort must be made to contain radiation fallout
放射性降下物―長い闘いを覚悟しつつ
Radioactive fallout from the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is registering levels that are disconcerting not only to residents of Fukushima Prefecture, but also to people in surrounding prefectures.
福島第一原子力発電所の大事故は、地元の福島県内はもちろん、近隣の県に住む人々の前にも、気がかりな数字をいくつも突きつけている。
According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the latest environmental radioactivity readings show high levels of cesium 137 and iodine 131 in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, and Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo. The two areas are about 120 kilometers and more than 200 km from the nuclear plant, respectively.
文部科学省が公表した環境放射能の調査では、この原発から約１２０キロ離れた茨城県ひたちなか市や２００キロ以上の距離にある東京都新宿区で、上空から降ったとみられる放射性のセシウム１３７やヨウ素１３１が、相当量測定されたという。
Some of the readings exceed government-set levels for "radiation controlled areas." That designation is aimed at prevent exposure to dangerous levels of radiation.
これらの値のなかには、国の放射線管理区域の基準値を超えるものもあった。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan suspended shipments of spinach and other vegetables after unacceptable levels of radiation were detected in the farm produce.
菅直人首相が一部の農産物の出荷停止を指示したのも、ホウレンソウなどの品目で規制値を超える放射性物質が見つかったからだ。
Clearly, radioactive substances that were released into the atmosphere from the crippled power plant have mixed with the soil.
原発の外へ漏れ出た放射性物質が大気中を漂い、大地に降っている実態がわかる。
We must not panic at every radiation reading. On the other hand, it would be folly to underestimate the risk. The government has a duty to gather detailed data without delay and take effective steps.
一つひとつの数字を見てパニックに陥るのは禁物だ。だが、甘くみるのはもっといけない。政府は急いで詳しいデータを集め、打つべき手を考えて適切な判断を下さなくてはならない。
One thing to bear firmly in mind is the need to understand the long-term effects of radioactive fallout from the nuclear power plant.
忘れるべきでないのは、原発災害などで漏れる放射能の影響は長い目でとらえる必要があることだ。
Once radiation is released into the atmosphere, there is little that can be done. Some substances remain in the atmosphere for a long time, tainting the soil and still releasing radiation.
いったん環境に放たれた放射性物質は回収が難しい。種類によっては長く大気にとどまり、土壌に残って放射線を出し続ける。
For instance, the half-life of cesium 137 is about 30 years. Health damage can result from exposure to or ingestion of radioactive substances. Even if the levels detected in the environment are within permissible standards, people can still be affected.
セシウム１３７ならば半減期は約３０年だ。それに接したり、体内にとり込んだりすると、悪さをする。環境中の値が基準より低くても、影響がまったくないわけではない。
Symptoms of health damage are not immediately noticed in cases of protracted exposure to radiation in small doses.
しかも、人々が放射線に長い間少しずつさらされる場合、健康被害は時間がたって表れることが多い。
Experts warn that damage to DNA and the risk for cancer ought to be considered in terms of several years to more than a decade.
たとえば、人体のＤＮＡを傷め、がんを起こす可能性は数年から１０年以上の時間尺度で考えなくてはならないといわれている。
When radioactive fallout that cannot be considered negligible spreads far and wide, the risk of people contracting cancer will rise slightly over many years. But there is no need for every citizen to be alarmed, since the increased risk per person remains very low.
微少とはいえない放射性の降下物が広い範囲に散ると、長い年月を経て、人々の発がんの確率がほんのちょっと高まる。その幅はきわめて小さいので、一人ひとりはあまり神経質になることはない。
But looking at society as a whole, we realize that some people will fall victim to cancer through no fault of their own.
だが、社会全体をみると、何人かが本来ならかからなくてもよいがんを発病する計算になる。
Even though the increased risk is only slight, every effort must be made to keep it to a minimum.
だから、この「ちょっと」の上げ幅はできる限り小さくしなくてはならない。
It will be also necessary to provide proper psychological care to people in areas where radioactive fallout has been detected.
降下物が検出された地方の住民が受ける心理的な負担にも気を配る必要がある。
This is the reality we are now faced with.
私たちは、そんな現実と向き合うことになったのである。
The government must take long-term health risks into consideration when deciding evacuation plans and other moves.
政府が、住民の避難などをめぐる決定をするときは、人々にもたらされる長い時間幅のリスクを考慮しなくてはならない。
The most urgent task at present is to avert massive radiation leaks from the damaged nuclear reactors.
いま最も重要なのは、事故炉から大量の放射性物質が出ることを食い止めることだ。
Beyond that lies our country's long battle to minimize the damage to people's health and the environment.
そしてその先には、環境と健康の被害を最小にするための長い闘いが待っている。
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 23
EDITORIAL: Every effort must be made to contain radiation fallout
放射性降下物―長い闘いを覚悟しつつ
Radioactive fallout from the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is registering levels that are disconcerting not only to residents of Fukushima Prefecture, but also to people in surrounding prefectures.
福島第一原子力発電所の大事故は、地元の福島県内はもちろん、近隣の県に住む人々の前にも、気がかりな数字をいくつも突きつけている。
According to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, the latest environmental radioactivity readings show high levels of cesium 137 and iodine 131 in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki Prefecture, and Shinjuku Ward in Tokyo. The two areas are about 120 kilometers and more than 200 km from the nuclear plant, respectively.
文部科学省が公表した環境放射能の調査では、この原発から約１２０キロ離れた茨城県ひたちなか市や２００キロ以上の距離にある東京都新宿区で、上空から降ったとみられる放射性のセシウム１３７やヨウ素１３１が、相当量測定されたという。
Some of the readings exceed government-set levels for "radiation controlled areas." That designation is aimed at prevent exposure to dangerous levels of radiation.
これらの値のなかには、国の放射線管理区域の基準値を超えるものもあった。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan suspended shipments of spinach and other vegetables after unacceptable levels of radiation were detected in the farm produce.
菅直人首相が一部の農産物の出荷停止を指示したのも、ホウレンソウなどの品目で規制値を超える放射性物質が見つかったからだ。
Clearly, radioactive substances that were released into the atmosphere from the crippled power plant have mixed with the soil.
原発の外へ漏れ出た放射性物質が大気中を漂い、大地に降っている実態がわかる。
We must not panic at every radiation reading. On the other hand, it would be folly to underestimate the risk. The government has a duty to gather detailed data without delay and take effective steps.
一つひとつの数字を見てパニックに陥るのは禁物だ。だが、甘くみるのはもっといけない。政府は急いで詳しいデータを集め、打つべき手を考えて適切な判断を下さなくてはならない。
One thing to bear firmly in mind is the need to understand the long-term effects of radioactive fallout from the nuclear power plant.
忘れるべきでないのは、原発災害などで漏れる放射能の影響は長い目でとらえる必要があることだ。
Once radiation is released into the atmosphere, there is little that can be done. Some substances remain in the atmosphere for a long time, tainting the soil and still releasing radiation.
いったん環境に放たれた放射性物質は回収が難しい。種類によっては長く大気にとどまり、土壌に残って放射線を出し続ける。
For instance, the half-life of cesium 137 is about 30 years. Health damage can result from exposure to or ingestion of radioactive substances. Even if the levels detected in the environment are within permissible standards, people can still be affected.
セシウム１３７ならば半減期は約３０年だ。それに接したり、体内にとり込んだりすると、悪さをする。環境中の値が基準より低くても、影響がまったくないわけではない。
Symptoms of health damage are not immediately noticed in cases of protracted exposure to radiation in small doses.
しかも、人々が放射線に長い間少しずつさらされる場合、健康被害は時間がたって表れることが多い。
Experts warn that damage to DNA and the risk for cancer ought to be considered in terms of several years to more than a decade.
たとえば、人体のＤＮＡを傷め、がんを起こす可能性は数年から１０年以上の時間尺度で考えなくてはならないといわれている。
When radioactive fallout that cannot be considered negligible spreads far and wide, the risk of people contracting cancer will rise slightly over many years. But there is no need for every citizen to be alarmed, since the increased risk per person remains very low.
微少とはいえない放射性の降下物が広い範囲に散ると、長い年月を経て、人々の発がんの確率がほんのちょっと高まる。その幅はきわめて小さいので、一人ひとりはあまり神経質になることはない。
But looking at society as a whole, we realize that some people will fall victim to cancer through no fault of their own.
だが、社会全体をみると、何人かが本来ならかからなくてもよいがんを発病する計算になる。
Even though the increased risk is only slight, every effort must be made to keep it to a minimum.
だから、この「ちょっと」の上げ幅はできる限り小さくしなくてはならない。
It will be also necessary to provide proper psychological care to people in areas where radioactive fallout has been detected.
降下物が検出された地方の住民が受ける心理的な負担にも気を配る必要がある。
This is the reality we are now faced with.
私たちは、そんな現実と向き合うことになったのである。
The government must take long-term health risks into consideration when deciding evacuation plans and other moves.
政府が、住民の避難などをめぐる決定をするときは、人々にもたらされる長い時間幅のリスクを考慮しなくてはならない。
The most urgent task at present is to avert massive radiation leaks from the damaged nuclear reactors.
いま最も重要なのは、事故炉から大量の放射性物質が出ることを食い止めることだ。
Beyond that lies our country's long battle to minimize the damage to people's health and the environment.
そしてその先には、環境と健康の被害を最小にするための長い闘いが待っている。
2011/03/24
つなぎ法案 協調維持へバラマキ撤回急げ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 24, 2011)
Handout policies should be sacrificed
つなぎ法案 協調維持へバラマキ撤回急げ（3月23日付・読売社説）
The nation faces a time of emergency in the aftermath of a massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant accidents.
巨大地震と原子力発電所の事故という国家の非常時である。
So it is natural for the ruling and opposition parties to close ranks to pass bills that are necessary to overcome the current crisis.
与野党が協調し、必要な立法措置に取り組むのは当然と言えよう。
A stopgap bill has been submitted to the House of Representatives to extend by three months about 100 tax reduction and exemption measures that are set to expire at the end of this month. Two opposition parties, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, submitted the bill in line with a three-way agreement they reached with the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. It will likely pass the Diet before the end of this month.
今月末で期限が切れる約１００項目の税負担の減免措置について３か月延長する「つなぎ法案」が衆院に提出された。民主、自民、公明３党の合意に基づき自公両党が提出したもので、月内に成立する見通しだ。
A government-proposed bill on tax system reform calls for a cut in income tax deductions and other measures that the LDP and Komeito oppose. But if the bill fails to pass, it will lead to nullification of several measures that the LDP and Komeito do not oppose, including a tax break for home buyers, when the current fiscal year ends on March 31.
政府が提出した税制改正法案には、所得控除の縮小など自公両党が反対する内容が含まれている。ただ、法案が成立しないと、住宅購入時の減税の継続など、自公両党が反対していない措置まで失効してしまう。
===
A tripartite agreement
To avoid this, the three parties agreed to draw up the stopgap bill containing only measures that can be approved by the LDP and Komeito.
これを回避するため、自公両党も賛成できる部分を抜き出したものが、つなぎ法案だ。
The three parties have also agreed to pass a bill to revise the Customs Tariff Law to reduce tariffs on imported products and goods.
３党は、輸入品にかかる税金を割り引く関税定率法改正案も成立させることで合意している。
It is a basic duty of political parties, which are responsible for state politics, to try to avoid situations that would harm people's livelihoods.
国民生活に支障が出る事態を避けるのは、国政を担う政党として最低限の責務である。
But the ruling and opposition parties have yet to iron out their differences concerning the bill for expansion of child-rearing allowances and the bill to enable issuance of deficit-covering government bonds, which are among the budget-related bills.
しかし、予算関連法案のうち、子ども手当法案と、赤字国債の発行を可能にする特例公債法案への対応をめぐっては、依然、与野党の折り合いがついていない。
In regard to the child-rearing allowances, the DPJ has given up its plan to provide an additional 13,000 yen per child from April and now is considering simply continuing the current system under which 13,000 yen a month is given to parents of children up to the third year of middle school.
子ども手当について、民主党は４月からの上乗せは見送る一方、月額１万３０００円を支給する現行制度の継続を検討している。
The LDP is calling for the abolishment of the expanded child-rearing allowance system and restoring the former system, which covered children only up to the sixth grade of primary school and set an income ceiling for eligibility for the allowances.
自民党は、子ども手当を廃止して旧児童手当に戻すよう求めている。
The major opposition party proposed abolition of the expanded child-rearing allowances and nullification of a plan to make highway tolls free as conditions for approval of the bill for issuance of deficit-financing government bonds.
さらに、子ども手当や高速道路無料化などの廃止を特例公債法案に賛成する条件にしている。
===
More concessions needed
Restoration and reconstruction in the aftermath of the enormous earthquake and tsunami are estimated to cost more than 10 trillion yen. The government cannot afford to set aside more than 2 trillion yen for payment of child-rearing allowances.
震災の復旧・復興に必要な財源は１０兆円を超える見込みだ。子ども手当に２兆円を超える巨費を投じる余裕などない。
To ensure passage of the bill for issuance of deficit-covering government bonds, which is indispensable as a means of securing revenue, the government and the DPJ should decide to withdraw their handout policies, including the expanded distribution of child-rearing allowances.
歳入の確保に必須の特例公債法案の成立を期すためにも、政府・民主党は、子ども手当などバラマキ施策の撤回を決断すべきだ。
If the DPJ announces its withdrawal of such policies, it will be able to align views and reach agreement with the LDP and Komeito on reinstatement of tax deductions for parents of children up to the third year of middle school--deductions that were abolished to secure financial resources for the expanded child-rearing allowances.
子ども手当の財源確保のために廃止した年少扶養控除の復活なども、撤回を宣言すれば、自公両党との調整・合意は可能だろう。
Concerning the plan to make all highways toll-free, Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Akihiro Ohata told a news conference Tuesday that fiscal resources for implementation of the plan should instead "be used mainly for reconstruction from the disaster." He is quite right.
高速道路無料化をめぐっては、大畠国土交通相が２２日の記者会見で、実施に必要な財源を「災害復興にあてることを中心に考える」と表明した。当然である。
In addition to the budget and budget-related bills, the Diet will have to deliberate on special bills to carry out disaster-response measures. Therefore, both the ruling and opposition parties are urged to make concessions where necessary.
国会は、予算案や関連法案を成立させる以外にも、震災対応の特別立法を制定する作業が控えている。譲るべきところは譲る姿勢が与野党双方に求められる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23, 2011)
（2011年3月23日01時34分 読売新聞）
Handout policies should be sacrificed
つなぎ法案 協調維持へバラマキ撤回急げ（3月23日付・読売社説）
The nation faces a time of emergency in the aftermath of a massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant accidents.
巨大地震と原子力発電所の事故という国家の非常時である。
So it is natural for the ruling and opposition parties to close ranks to pass bills that are necessary to overcome the current crisis.
与野党が協調し、必要な立法措置に取り組むのは当然と言えよう。
A stopgap bill has been submitted to the House of Representatives to extend by three months about 100 tax reduction and exemption measures that are set to expire at the end of this month. Two opposition parties, the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, submitted the bill in line with a three-way agreement they reached with the ruling Democratic Party of Japan. It will likely pass the Diet before the end of this month.
今月末で期限が切れる約１００項目の税負担の減免措置について３か月延長する「つなぎ法案」が衆院に提出された。民主、自民、公明３党の合意に基づき自公両党が提出したもので、月内に成立する見通しだ。
A government-proposed bill on tax system reform calls for a cut in income tax deductions and other measures that the LDP and Komeito oppose. But if the bill fails to pass, it will lead to nullification of several measures that the LDP and Komeito do not oppose, including a tax break for home buyers, when the current fiscal year ends on March 31.
政府が提出した税制改正法案には、所得控除の縮小など自公両党が反対する内容が含まれている。ただ、法案が成立しないと、住宅購入時の減税の継続など、自公両党が反対していない措置まで失効してしまう。
===
A tripartite agreement
To avoid this, the three parties agreed to draw up the stopgap bill containing only measures that can be approved by the LDP and Komeito.
これを回避するため、自公両党も賛成できる部分を抜き出したものが、つなぎ法案だ。
The three parties have also agreed to pass a bill to revise the Customs Tariff Law to reduce tariffs on imported products and goods.
３党は、輸入品にかかる税金を割り引く関税定率法改正案も成立させることで合意している。
It is a basic duty of political parties, which are responsible for state politics, to try to avoid situations that would harm people's livelihoods.
国民生活に支障が出る事態を避けるのは、国政を担う政党として最低限の責務である。
But the ruling and opposition parties have yet to iron out their differences concerning the bill for expansion of child-rearing allowances and the bill to enable issuance of deficit-covering government bonds, which are among the budget-related bills.
しかし、予算関連法案のうち、子ども手当法案と、赤字国債の発行を可能にする特例公債法案への対応をめぐっては、依然、与野党の折り合いがついていない。
In regard to the child-rearing allowances, the DPJ has given up its plan to provide an additional 13,000 yen per child from April and now is considering simply continuing the current system under which 13,000 yen a month is given to parents of children up to the third year of middle school.
子ども手当について、民主党は４月からの上乗せは見送る一方、月額１万３０００円を支給する現行制度の継続を検討している。
The LDP is calling for the abolishment of the expanded child-rearing allowance system and restoring the former system, which covered children only up to the sixth grade of primary school and set an income ceiling for eligibility for the allowances.
自民党は、子ども手当を廃止して旧児童手当に戻すよう求めている。
The major opposition party proposed abolition of the expanded child-rearing allowances and nullification of a plan to make highway tolls free as conditions for approval of the bill for issuance of deficit-financing government bonds.
さらに、子ども手当や高速道路無料化などの廃止を特例公債法案に賛成する条件にしている。
===
More concessions needed
Restoration and reconstruction in the aftermath of the enormous earthquake and tsunami are estimated to cost more than 10 trillion yen. The government cannot afford to set aside more than 2 trillion yen for payment of child-rearing allowances.
震災の復旧・復興に必要な財源は１０兆円を超える見込みだ。子ども手当に２兆円を超える巨費を投じる余裕などない。
To ensure passage of the bill for issuance of deficit-covering government bonds, which is indispensable as a means of securing revenue, the government and the DPJ should decide to withdraw their handout policies, including the expanded distribution of child-rearing allowances.
歳入の確保に必須の特例公債法案の成立を期すためにも、政府・民主党は、子ども手当などバラマキ施策の撤回を決断すべきだ。
If the DPJ announces its withdrawal of such policies, it will be able to align views and reach agreement with the LDP and Komeito on reinstatement of tax deductions for parents of children up to the third year of middle school--deductions that were abolished to secure financial resources for the expanded child-rearing allowances.
子ども手当の財源確保のために廃止した年少扶養控除の復活なども、撤回を宣言すれば、自公両党との調整・合意は可能だろう。
Concerning the plan to make all highways toll-free, Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Akihiro Ohata told a news conference Tuesday that fiscal resources for implementation of the plan should instead "be used mainly for reconstruction from the disaster." He is quite right.
高速道路無料化をめぐっては、大畠国土交通相が２２日の記者会見で、実施に必要な財源を「災害復興にあてることを中心に考える」と表明した。当然である。
In addition to the budget and budget-related bills, the Diet will have to deliberate on special bills to carry out disaster-response measures. Therefore, both the ruling and opposition parties are urged to make concessions where necessary.
国会は、予算案や関連法案を成立させる以外にも、震災対応の特別立法を制定する作業が控えている。譲るべきところは譲る姿勢が与野党双方に求められる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 23, 2011)
（2011年3月23日01時34分 読売新聞）
2011/03/23
自衛隊派遣 行政と連携し効果的支援を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 23, 2011)
SDF should enhance disaster relief role
自衛隊派遣 行政と連携し効果的支援を（3月22日付・読売社説）
The Self-Defense Forces have mobilized an unprecedented 100,000 personnel to conduct rescue and relief activities in areas hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as to keep the mishaps at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant from developing into a major disaster.
自衛隊が過去最大の１０万人体制で、東日本巨大地震の被災者支援や原子力発電所の事故対策に取り組んでいる。
The SDF can perform painstaking missions, including the dangerous work of spraying water over malfunctioning nuclear reactors, because they are a well-trained, well-equipped organization capable of providing their own food, clothing and shelter. We want the SDF to be involved continually in relief activities that are certain to take a long time.
衣食住を自力で賄う能力と装備を持つ「自己完結型」の訓練された実力組織だからこそ、原発への放水も含め、厳しい任務を遂行できる。自衛隊は、長期に及ぶのが確実な支援活動に引き続き全力を挙げてほしい。
At the time of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, some local governments had a lingering allergy to the SDF. But even so, the SDF made great achievements in saving lives and assisting with reconstruction. Since then, cooperation between the SDF and local governments has become stronger as they worked out disaster-response measures and conducted exercises together.
阪神大震災の当時は、一部の自治体に「自衛隊アレルギー」が残っていた。だが、その大震災での人命救助や復旧支援の実績が転機となり、自衛隊と自治体の協力体制は、防災計画策定や共同訓練を通じて、格段に強まっている。
The immense damage caused by the March 11 earthquake extends over a vast area along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku and Kanto regions. The administrative functions of some local governments have ceased to exist, while the SDF itself has faced difficulty in carrying out relief operations.
今回の地震被害は、甚大なうえ、極めて広範囲に及ぶ。行政機能が壊滅状態の自治体もあり、自衛隊の活動には困難が伴う。
===
SDF ties with local govts
The SDF has mobilized an unprecedented number of personnel, accounting for about 40 percent of its total number. But in our view, this is insufficient. The SDF needs to strengthen cooperation with the relevant local governments to carry out more effective aid activities.
自衛隊の総定員の約４割を被災地に投入する異例の体制でも、十分とは言い切れない。関係自治体との連携を一層深め、より効果的な支援を目指す必要がある。
Regarding the transportation of food and other goods, the SDF should consider leaving what can be done by the private sector in the hands of private organizations while undertaking transportation to evacuation centers that are hard to access due to bad road conditions.
食料などの物資輸送でも、民間に任せられる部分は民間に任せ、自衛隊は、より道路状況の悪い末端の避難所への輸送を担うなど、役割分担に知恵を絞るべきだ。
The SDF has established a joint regional command of its ground, maritime and air forces for the first time. Smoother and more rapid operation can be expected by unifying the chain of command under the commandant of the Ground Self-Defense Force's North Eastern Army based in Sendai.
自衛隊は今回、陸海空３自衛隊の統合部隊を初めて設置した。陸自の東北方面総監に指揮系統を一元化することで、より迅速・円滑な活動が期待できよう。
In the current crisis, SDF reserves have been called up for the first time. Reservists hold regular civilian jobs but train with the SDF for five or 30 days a year. Reservists cannot be expected to function at the same level as full-time SDF members, but it is natural to resort to every possible measure in case of an emergency.
自衛隊ＯＢの予備自衛官も初めて招集された。別に本業を持ち、年間の訓練日数は５～３０日しかない。正規の自衛官と同等の活動は望めないが、非常時にあらゆる手段を尽くすのは当然だ。
Joint relief activities by the SDF and U.S. military forces have been put into high gear.
自衛隊と米軍による共同支援活動も本格化している。
===
U.S. help appreciated
In conducting activities named "Operation Tomodachi," the U.S. military has deployed the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan off the Sanriku coast in Tohoku to serve as an offshore base for search and rescue operations and the transportation of supplies by SDF and U.S. military helicopters. Also, U.S. marines based in Okinawa Prefecture have engaged in work to remove rubble from Sendai Airport.
「トモダチ作戦」と命名された米軍の活動では、原子力空母ロナルド・レーガンが三陸沖に展開し、自衛隊や米軍のヘリによる捜索・救難や物資輸送の拠点となった。在沖縄海兵隊も、仙台空港のがれき除去活動などに従事した。
Among the assistance offered by many countries, U.S. aid stands out in terms of both quality and quantity. We want to express our gratitude for the swift and substantial assistance from our ally.
多くの国が日本を支援する中、米国の支援は質、量ともに突出している。同盟国の迅速かつ大規模な支援に、率直に感謝したい。
Since Japan's change of government in September 2009, some people have been skeptical about the importance of continuing to have U.S. forces stationed in this country. Nevertheless, the U.S. military has been earnestly involved in relief activities in the devastated areas. This is quite clearly the result of a relationship of trust built by the two countries over many years.
一昨年の政権交代以降、在日米軍の駐留意義に疑問を示す向きもあった。それでも、米軍が真剣に被災地支援に取り組んでいるのは、長年築いてきた日米の信頼関係の賜物(たまもの)にほかならない。
The SDF and the U.S. military have developed ties through joint exercises and have closed ranks on various occasions such as antiterrorism and antidisaster activities overseas. We hope that the bilateral cooperation we see now will serve as an important step forward toward deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance.
自衛隊と米軍は従来も、海外でのテロ対策や災害派遣、共同訓練などで連携を重ねてきた。今回の協力を、日米同盟を深化させるための重要な一歩としたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22, 2011)
（2011年3月22日00時51分 読売新聞）
SDF should enhance disaster relief role
自衛隊派遣 行政と連携し効果的支援を（3月22日付・読売社説）
The Self-Defense Forces have mobilized an unprecedented 100,000 personnel to conduct rescue and relief activities in areas hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, as well as to keep the mishaps at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant from developing into a major disaster.
自衛隊が過去最大の１０万人体制で、東日本巨大地震の被災者支援や原子力発電所の事故対策に取り組んでいる。
The SDF can perform painstaking missions, including the dangerous work of spraying water over malfunctioning nuclear reactors, because they are a well-trained, well-equipped organization capable of providing their own food, clothing and shelter. We want the SDF to be involved continually in relief activities that are certain to take a long time.
衣食住を自力で賄う能力と装備を持つ「自己完結型」の訓練された実力組織だからこそ、原発への放水も含め、厳しい任務を遂行できる。自衛隊は、長期に及ぶのが確実な支援活動に引き続き全力を挙げてほしい。
At the time of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, some local governments had a lingering allergy to the SDF. But even so, the SDF made great achievements in saving lives and assisting with reconstruction. Since then, cooperation between the SDF and local governments has become stronger as they worked out disaster-response measures and conducted exercises together.
阪神大震災の当時は、一部の自治体に「自衛隊アレルギー」が残っていた。だが、その大震災での人命救助や復旧支援の実績が転機となり、自衛隊と自治体の協力体制は、防災計画策定や共同訓練を通じて、格段に強まっている。
The immense damage caused by the March 11 earthquake extends over a vast area along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku and Kanto regions. The administrative functions of some local governments have ceased to exist, while the SDF itself has faced difficulty in carrying out relief operations.
今回の地震被害は、甚大なうえ、極めて広範囲に及ぶ。行政機能が壊滅状態の自治体もあり、自衛隊の活動には困難が伴う。
===
SDF ties with local govts
The SDF has mobilized an unprecedented number of personnel, accounting for about 40 percent of its total number. But in our view, this is insufficient. The SDF needs to strengthen cooperation with the relevant local governments to carry out more effective aid activities.
自衛隊の総定員の約４割を被災地に投入する異例の体制でも、十分とは言い切れない。関係自治体との連携を一層深め、より効果的な支援を目指す必要がある。
Regarding the transportation of food and other goods, the SDF should consider leaving what can be done by the private sector in the hands of private organizations while undertaking transportation to evacuation centers that are hard to access due to bad road conditions.
食料などの物資輸送でも、民間に任せられる部分は民間に任せ、自衛隊は、より道路状況の悪い末端の避難所への輸送を担うなど、役割分担に知恵を絞るべきだ。
The SDF has established a joint regional command of its ground, maritime and air forces for the first time. Smoother and more rapid operation can be expected by unifying the chain of command under the commandant of the Ground Self-Defense Force's North Eastern Army based in Sendai.
自衛隊は今回、陸海空３自衛隊の統合部隊を初めて設置した。陸自の東北方面総監に指揮系統を一元化することで、より迅速・円滑な活動が期待できよう。
In the current crisis, SDF reserves have been called up for the first time. Reservists hold regular civilian jobs but train with the SDF for five or 30 days a year. Reservists cannot be expected to function at the same level as full-time SDF members, but it is natural to resort to every possible measure in case of an emergency.
自衛隊ＯＢの予備自衛官も初めて招集された。別に本業を持ち、年間の訓練日数は５～３０日しかない。正規の自衛官と同等の活動は望めないが、非常時にあらゆる手段を尽くすのは当然だ。
Joint relief activities by the SDF and U.S. military forces have been put into high gear.
自衛隊と米軍による共同支援活動も本格化している。
===
U.S. help appreciated
In conducting activities named "Operation Tomodachi," the U.S. military has deployed the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan off the Sanriku coast in Tohoku to serve as an offshore base for search and rescue operations and the transportation of supplies by SDF and U.S. military helicopters. Also, U.S. marines based in Okinawa Prefecture have engaged in work to remove rubble from Sendai Airport.
「トモダチ作戦」と命名された米軍の活動では、原子力空母ロナルド・レーガンが三陸沖に展開し、自衛隊や米軍のヘリによる捜索・救難や物資輸送の拠点となった。在沖縄海兵隊も、仙台空港のがれき除去活動などに従事した。
Among the assistance offered by many countries, U.S. aid stands out in terms of both quality and quantity. We want to express our gratitude for the swift and substantial assistance from our ally.
多くの国が日本を支援する中、米国の支援は質、量ともに突出している。同盟国の迅速かつ大規模な支援に、率直に感謝したい。
Since Japan's change of government in September 2009, some people have been skeptical about the importance of continuing to have U.S. forces stationed in this country. Nevertheless, the U.S. military has been earnestly involved in relief activities in the devastated areas. This is quite clearly the result of a relationship of trust built by the two countries over many years.
一昨年の政権交代以降、在日米軍の駐留意義に疑問を示す向きもあった。それでも、米軍が真剣に被災地支援に取り組んでいるのは、長年築いてきた日米の信頼関係の賜物(たまもの)にほかならない。
The SDF and the U.S. military have developed ties through joint exercises and have closed ranks on various occasions such as antiterrorism and antidisaster activities overseas. We hope that the bilateral cooperation we see now will serve as an important step forward toward deepening the Japan-U.S. alliance.
自衛隊と米軍は従来も、海外でのテロ対策や災害派遣、共同訓練などで連携を重ねてきた。今回の協力を、日米同盟を深化させるための重要な一歩としたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 22, 2011)
（2011年3月22日00時51分 読売新聞）
2011/03/22
放射能漏出 監視を強化し「食」の不安防げ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 22, 2011)
Govt must toughen control of radiation in food
放射能漏出 監視を強化し「食」の不安防げ（3月21日付・読売社説）
All-out efforts are being made to gain control of malfunctioning reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.
東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故は、沈静化を目指して、懸命の作業が進められている。
TEPCO's plant workers, Self-Defense Forces personnel and firefighters are working painstakingly to restore power supply at the plant and spray water into damaged spent nuclear fuel storage pools while taking great care about the amount of radiation they are exposed to.
外部から電源を引き込む工事や使用済み核燃料の貯蔵プールへの放水も、発電所員や自衛隊、消防隊員が、被曝(ひばく)量をにらみつつ続行している。
If electrical power is recovered and the storage pools are filled with enough water, the situation will hopefully turn for the better. We pray anew that their desperate efforts will be successful.
電源が回復し、貯蔵プールに十分な量の水が入れば、状況の好転が期待できる。命がけの努力が実ることを改めて願う。
But spraying water alone will not solve the problem. And even if the power supply is restored, it remains to be seen whether principal equipment in the plant can resume operation.
ただ、放水を続けるだけでは抜本的な対策にならない。電源が回復しても、原発内の主要な機器が復旧するかどうかわからない。
The government must prepare the next steps while analyzing images of the reactors taken from SDF helicopters to determine the degree of damage.
自衛隊ヘリによる上空からの破損状況の撮影データなどをもとに政府は、さらなる手段を、先手を打って検討しておくべきだ。
===
Little risk to health
The fact that radioactive materials have been found in drinking water and agricultural products in the aftermath of accidents at the nuclear plant is increasing public anxiety.
事故で漏出した放射性物質による飲料水や農作物などの汚染も、不安を広げている。
Radioactive substances have been detected in tap water in Tokyo and elsewhere. But their amounts are extremely small, so they pose little health risk. An amount of radioactive iodine slightly exceeding the current limit, which was set temporarily in line with the Food Sanitation Law, was detected Thursday in tap water in Kawamatamachi, Fukushima Prefecture. But the amount subsequently dropped to half the limit.
東京都などで水道水から放射性物質が検出された。ごく微量で健康に影響はない。福島県川俣町では１７日、食品衛生法の暫定規制値をわずかに上回る放射性ヨウ素が水道水から検出された。翌日に規制値の半分に戻った。
In the case of tap water, radioactive materials can be mostly eliminated by normal purification done at water purification plants.
水道水は浄水の過程で、放射性物質をほぼ除去できる。
Random checks of food products conducted by the government showed the amount of radioactive substances in milk and spinach in Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures exceeded the provisional limits.
政府が実施した食品の抜き取り調査で、福島、茨城両県で牛乳やホウレンソウが暫定規制値を上回るなどの例も報告されている。
The detected amounts are far short of levels that could immediately harm health if ingested. According to the government, drinking an average yearly amount of milk that contained the detected level of radiation would be equivalent to the radiation exposure of one computed tomography (CT) scan.
摂取しても直ちに健康に影響するほどの量ではない。政府は、この牛乳について、１年間摂取しても、被曝する放射線量は「コンピューター断層撮影法」（ＣＴ）１回分と説明している。
===
Calm response urged
Therefore, a calm reaction is called for.
冷静に対応しよう。
Moreover, the two products in question have not appeared on the market because both prefectures called on producers to voluntarily refrain from shipping their products.
しかも両県は、これらの食品について出荷自粛を求めており、市場には出回っていない。
The government should cooperate with prefectural governments to ensure thorough checks and quick public disclosure will be conducted. New regulatory measures such as the halting of shipments and recall of goods already shipped must be studied so measures can be implemented promptly when radiation exceeding limits is found in food.
こうした検査と迅速な情報公開を、政府は都道府県と協力して徹底することが求められる。規制値以上の食品が見つかった際に即応できるよう、出荷停止や回収などの新たな規制も検討課題だ。
To help prevent damage caused by rumors, the government and prefectural governments must carefully and repeatedly explain that thorough checks can ensure our food remains safe to eat.
風評被害を防ぐために、政府や都道府県は、検査の徹底で安全が確保できることを、国民に繰り返し、丁寧に説明すべきだ。
Because the government did not assume a serious nuclear accident, it has not established standards to regulate radiation levels in food.
これまで政府は、食品の放射能汚染を規制する基準を設けていなかった。重大な原発事故を想定していなかったためだ。
After the accidents at the Fukushima plant, the government temporarily adopted guidelines proposed by an international organization. But it is necessary to study whether the international food safety standards can fit Japanese dietary habits, thereby avoiding excessive regulations.
今回は国際機関が提案した指針を暫定的に採用したが、日本人の食生活の実態に適しているかを検討し、過剰な規制も防ぎたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2011)
（2011年3月21日00時54分 読売新聞）
Govt must toughen control of radiation in food
放射能漏出 監視を強化し「食」の不安防げ（3月21日付・読売社説）
All-out efforts are being made to gain control of malfunctioning reactors at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture.
東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故は、沈静化を目指して、懸命の作業が進められている。
TEPCO's plant workers, Self-Defense Forces personnel and firefighters are working painstakingly to restore power supply at the plant and spray water into damaged spent nuclear fuel storage pools while taking great care about the amount of radiation they are exposed to.
外部から電源を引き込む工事や使用済み核燃料の貯蔵プールへの放水も、発電所員や自衛隊、消防隊員が、被曝(ひばく)量をにらみつつ続行している。
If electrical power is recovered and the storage pools are filled with enough water, the situation will hopefully turn for the better. We pray anew that their desperate efforts will be successful.
電源が回復し、貯蔵プールに十分な量の水が入れば、状況の好転が期待できる。命がけの努力が実ることを改めて願う。
But spraying water alone will not solve the problem. And even if the power supply is restored, it remains to be seen whether principal equipment in the plant can resume operation.
ただ、放水を続けるだけでは抜本的な対策にならない。電源が回復しても、原発内の主要な機器が復旧するかどうかわからない。
The government must prepare the next steps while analyzing images of the reactors taken from SDF helicopters to determine the degree of damage.
自衛隊ヘリによる上空からの破損状況の撮影データなどをもとに政府は、さらなる手段を、先手を打って検討しておくべきだ。
===
Little risk to health
The fact that radioactive materials have been found in drinking water and agricultural products in the aftermath of accidents at the nuclear plant is increasing public anxiety.
事故で漏出した放射性物質による飲料水や農作物などの汚染も、不安を広げている。
Radioactive substances have been detected in tap water in Tokyo and elsewhere. But their amounts are extremely small, so they pose little health risk. An amount of radioactive iodine slightly exceeding the current limit, which was set temporarily in line with the Food Sanitation Law, was detected Thursday in tap water in Kawamatamachi, Fukushima Prefecture. But the amount subsequently dropped to half the limit.
東京都などで水道水から放射性物質が検出された。ごく微量で健康に影響はない。福島県川俣町では１７日、食品衛生法の暫定規制値をわずかに上回る放射性ヨウ素が水道水から検出された。翌日に規制値の半分に戻った。
In the case of tap water, radioactive materials can be mostly eliminated by normal purification done at water purification plants.
水道水は浄水の過程で、放射性物質をほぼ除去できる。
Random checks of food products conducted by the government showed the amount of radioactive substances in milk and spinach in Fukushima and Ibaraki prefectures exceeded the provisional limits.
政府が実施した食品の抜き取り調査で、福島、茨城両県で牛乳やホウレンソウが暫定規制値を上回るなどの例も報告されている。
The detected amounts are far short of levels that could immediately harm health if ingested. According to the government, drinking an average yearly amount of milk that contained the detected level of radiation would be equivalent to the radiation exposure of one computed tomography (CT) scan.
摂取しても直ちに健康に影響するほどの量ではない。政府は、この牛乳について、１年間摂取しても、被曝する放射線量は「コンピューター断層撮影法」（ＣＴ）１回分と説明している。
===
Calm response urged
Therefore, a calm reaction is called for.
冷静に対応しよう。
Moreover, the two products in question have not appeared on the market because both prefectures called on producers to voluntarily refrain from shipping their products.
しかも両県は、これらの食品について出荷自粛を求めており、市場には出回っていない。
The government should cooperate with prefectural governments to ensure thorough checks and quick public disclosure will be conducted. New regulatory measures such as the halting of shipments and recall of goods already shipped must be studied so measures can be implemented promptly when radiation exceeding limits is found in food.
こうした検査と迅速な情報公開を、政府は都道府県と協力して徹底することが求められる。規制値以上の食品が見つかった際に即応できるよう、出荷停止や回収などの新たな規制も検討課題だ。
To help prevent damage caused by rumors, the government and prefectural governments must carefully and repeatedly explain that thorough checks can ensure our food remains safe to eat.
風評被害を防ぐために、政府や都道府県は、検査の徹底で安全が確保できることを、国民に繰り返し、丁寧に説明すべきだ。
Because the government did not assume a serious nuclear accident, it has not established standards to regulate radiation levels in food.
これまで政府は、食品の放射能汚染を規制する基準を設けていなかった。重大な原発事故を想定していなかったためだ。
After the accidents at the Fukushima plant, the government temporarily adopted guidelines proposed by an international organization. But it is necessary to study whether the international food safety standards can fit Japanese dietary habits, thereby avoiding excessive regulations.
今回は国際機関が提案した指針を暫定的に採用したが、日本人の食生活の実態に適しているかを検討し、過剰な規制も防ぎたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 21, 2011)
（2011年3月21日00時54分 読売新聞）
2011/03/21
官邸の危機管理 「複合事態」克服へ司令塔作れ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 21, 2011)
Multiple crises call for clear command structure
官邸の危機管理 「複合事態」克服へ司令塔作れ（3月20日付・読売社説）
The government's measures to deal with the disasters caused by the March 11 earthquake have lagged from the beginning. The Prime Minister's Office must rebuild its crisis management system as soon as possible.
政府の震災対応が後手後手に回っている。首相官邸の危機管理体制の立て直しが急務だ。
Extensive physical damage is not the only characteristic of the Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake. The multiple disaster situation includes a wide variety of problems, such as the nuclear plant accident, the urgent need to rescue disaster victims and support their livelihoods, paralysis of the commodity distribution system, a shortage of electricity, the yen's appreciation, and falling stock prices.
東日本巨大地震の特徴は、被害が広域なことだけではない。原子力発電所の事故、被災者の救助と生活支援、物流、電力不足、円高・株安など、危機が多岐にわたる「複合事態」になっていることだ。
The government has to tackle these problems concurrently. Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano are taking all the work upon themselves, but they are too busy dealing with the nuclear accident to handle other issues and have become trapped in a vicious cycle.
政府は、これらの課題に同時並行で取り組む必要がある。だが、菅首相や枝野官房長官が、全部の課題を抱え込みながら、原発事故対策に追われ、他の課題に手が回らない悪循環に陥っている。
The prime minister shows strong interest in measures to deal with the nuclear accident since he studied science at university and feels that he has considerable knowledge about nuclear issues. But he has not made any major achievements. Meanwhile, Edano has his hands full with press conferences, which are held very frequently, and has been failing to play his original role as a senior coordinator for measures to deal with earthquake disasters.
菅首相は、理系出身で原子力問題に詳しいとの自負もあり、原発対策に強い関心を示すが、具体的な成果は出ていない。枝野長官も、頻繁な記者会見への対応に精いっぱいで、震災対策を総合調整する本来の役割を果たせていない。
===
Govt must meet basic needs
Of course, it is very important to prevent a large-scale diffusion of nuclear material from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. But at the same time, the government should not neglect delivering food and medicine to disaster victims and must work to minimize the adverse effects of electricity shortages on economic and civic activities.
原発からの放射性物質の大規模拡散を防ぐのは無論、重要だ。一方で、被災者に食料や医薬品を届け、電力不足による経済・市民活動への悪影響を抑えることも、おろそかにすべきではない。
The government's crisis management should be rebuilt as a system headed by the prime minister, with a commanding officer appointed for each problem and a clear chain of command established.
体制を立て直すには、課題ごとに司令塔を作り、指揮系統を明確にしたうえで、首相が統括する体制を確立することが肝要だ。
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, now acting president of the Democratic Party of Japan, was appointed deputy chief cabinet secretary and put in charge of supporting the livelihood of disaster victims. This unusual appointment suggests that the government acknowledged flaws in its current crisis management system, though it came a bit too late.
民主党代表代行の仙谷由人前官房長官を官房副長官に任命し、被災者の生活支援担当にした異例の人事は、遅ればせながら、体制の不備を認めたものと言える。
The Kan administration proposed a plan to appoint three additional ministers and invited Sadakazu Tanigaki, president of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, to join its Cabinet. This aimed to create a national salvation Cabinet by forming a grand coalition with the major opposition party. We well understand this attempt because the present time of emergency is rightly considered a national crisis.
菅政権は、閣僚を３人増員する案を示すとともに、自民党の谷垣総裁に入閣を要請した。大連立による「救国内閣」を作るのが狙いだろう。国難と言うべき非常時だけに、十分理解できる。
The LDP has taken the increase of ministers under consideration, but refused the request for Tanigaki to join the Cabinet. The party said the government made the request "too suddenly." However, we expect the LDP not to act on partisan interests but to cooperate with the government as much as possible.
自民党は、閣僚増員には賛成する方向だが、谷垣氏の入閣は「あまりにも唐突」として拒否した。党利党略に走らず、最大限の協力をするよう求めたい。
===
Involve the experts
Meanwhile, the Kan Cabinet should stop clinging to its principle of leadership by politicians, which already has come to exist in name only. Politicians and bureaucrats must unite to overcome the current crises.
菅政権は、形ばかりの「政治主導」に固執するのもやめるべきだ。今の危機克服には政治家と官僚が一丸となることが欠かせない。
It is important for the prime minister and other ministers to listen calmly to the opinions of bureaucrats and experts first and then concentrate on bringing out the best in the gigantic bureaucratic organization. They must avoid by all means a situation in which the pretext of leadership by politicians discourages bureaucrats from taking the initiative in their work.
首相や閣僚は、まず官僚や専門家の意見に冷静に耳を傾け、巨大な官僚組織の能力を最大限引き出すことに心を砕くことが大切だ。官僚が「政治主導」を言い訳に積極的に仕事をしない状況こそ、避けねばならない。
Kan made a high-profile visit to the head office of Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the troubled nuclear plant, and State Minister in Charge of Government Revitalization Renho was told to serve concurrently as state minister in charge of a campaign to save energy. But such mere performances are no longer wanted.
首相が自ら東京電力本店に乗り込んだり、蓮舫行政刷新相に節電啓発担当を兼務させたりといったパフォーマンスはもう不要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20, 2011)
（2011年3月20日01時30分 読売新聞）
Multiple crises call for clear command structure
官邸の危機管理 「複合事態」克服へ司令塔作れ（3月20日付・読売社説）
The government's measures to deal with the disasters caused by the March 11 earthquake have lagged from the beginning. The Prime Minister's Office must rebuild its crisis management system as soon as possible.
政府の震災対応が後手後手に回っている。首相官邸の危機管理体制の立て直しが急務だ。
Extensive physical damage is not the only characteristic of the Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake. The multiple disaster situation includes a wide variety of problems, such as the nuclear plant accident, the urgent need to rescue disaster victims and support their livelihoods, paralysis of the commodity distribution system, a shortage of electricity, the yen's appreciation, and falling stock prices.
東日本巨大地震の特徴は、被害が広域なことだけではない。原子力発電所の事故、被災者の救助と生活支援、物流、電力不足、円高・株安など、危機が多岐にわたる「複合事態」になっていることだ。
The government has to tackle these problems concurrently. Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano are taking all the work upon themselves, but they are too busy dealing with the nuclear accident to handle other issues and have become trapped in a vicious cycle.
政府は、これらの課題に同時並行で取り組む必要がある。だが、菅首相や枝野官房長官が、全部の課題を抱え込みながら、原発事故対策に追われ、他の課題に手が回らない悪循環に陥っている。
The prime minister shows strong interest in measures to deal with the nuclear accident since he studied science at university and feels that he has considerable knowledge about nuclear issues. But he has not made any major achievements. Meanwhile, Edano has his hands full with press conferences, which are held very frequently, and has been failing to play his original role as a senior coordinator for measures to deal with earthquake disasters.
菅首相は、理系出身で原子力問題に詳しいとの自負もあり、原発対策に強い関心を示すが、具体的な成果は出ていない。枝野長官も、頻繁な記者会見への対応に精いっぱいで、震災対策を総合調整する本来の役割を果たせていない。
===
Govt must meet basic needs
Of course, it is very important to prevent a large-scale diffusion of nuclear material from the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. But at the same time, the government should not neglect delivering food and medicine to disaster victims and must work to minimize the adverse effects of electricity shortages on economic and civic activities.
原発からの放射性物質の大規模拡散を防ぐのは無論、重要だ。一方で、被災者に食料や医薬品を届け、電力不足による経済・市民活動への悪影響を抑えることも、おろそかにすべきではない。
The government's crisis management should be rebuilt as a system headed by the prime minister, with a commanding officer appointed for each problem and a clear chain of command established.
体制を立て直すには、課題ごとに司令塔を作り、指揮系統を明確にしたうえで、首相が統括する体制を確立することが肝要だ。
Former Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, now acting president of the Democratic Party of Japan, was appointed deputy chief cabinet secretary and put in charge of supporting the livelihood of disaster victims. This unusual appointment suggests that the government acknowledged flaws in its current crisis management system, though it came a bit too late.
民主党代表代行の仙谷由人前官房長官を官房副長官に任命し、被災者の生活支援担当にした異例の人事は、遅ればせながら、体制の不備を認めたものと言える。
The Kan administration proposed a plan to appoint three additional ministers and invited Sadakazu Tanigaki, president of the opposition Liberal Democratic Party, to join its Cabinet. This aimed to create a national salvation Cabinet by forming a grand coalition with the major opposition party. We well understand this attempt because the present time of emergency is rightly considered a national crisis.
菅政権は、閣僚を３人増員する案を示すとともに、自民党の谷垣総裁に入閣を要請した。大連立による「救国内閣」を作るのが狙いだろう。国難と言うべき非常時だけに、十分理解できる。
The LDP has taken the increase of ministers under consideration, but refused the request for Tanigaki to join the Cabinet. The party said the government made the request "too suddenly." However, we expect the LDP not to act on partisan interests but to cooperate with the government as much as possible.
自民党は、閣僚増員には賛成する方向だが、谷垣氏の入閣は「あまりにも唐突」として拒否した。党利党略に走らず、最大限の協力をするよう求めたい。
===
Involve the experts
Meanwhile, the Kan Cabinet should stop clinging to its principle of leadership by politicians, which already has come to exist in name only. Politicians and bureaucrats must unite to overcome the current crises.
菅政権は、形ばかりの「政治主導」に固執するのもやめるべきだ。今の危機克服には政治家と官僚が一丸となることが欠かせない。
It is important for the prime minister and other ministers to listen calmly to the opinions of bureaucrats and experts first and then concentrate on bringing out the best in the gigantic bureaucratic organization. They must avoid by all means a situation in which the pretext of leadership by politicians discourages bureaucrats from taking the initiative in their work.
首相や閣僚は、まず官僚や専門家の意見に冷静に耳を傾け、巨大な官僚組織の能力を最大限引き出すことに心を砕くことが大切だ。官僚が「政治主導」を言い訳に積極的に仕事をしない状況こそ、避けねばならない。
Kan made a high-profile visit to the head office of Tokyo Electric Power Co., operator of the troubled nuclear plant, and State Minister in Charge of Government Revitalization Renho was told to serve concurrently as state minister in charge of a campaign to save energy. But such mere performances are no longer wanted.
首相が自ら東京電力本店に乗り込んだり、蓮舫行政刷新相に節電啓発担当を兼務させたりといったパフォーマンスはもう不要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 20, 2011)
（2011年3月20日01時30分 読売新聞）
2011/03/20
原発との闘い―最前線の挑戦を信じる
今朝、朝日新聞の社説（日本語）を開いてびっくり。
有料となっている。月額５００円。
英語版は一日遅れなので明日の朝刊を見てみないとわからない。
朝日新聞の社説は今日で最後になる見込みです。
読売、毎日の社説は無料で読めます。
朝日の教材がなくなると痛いですね＾＾。
今後、他の教材を探します。
英語学習初心者のためにVOAの掲載など考えております。
あちらがダメなら、こちらを使う！
（スラチャイ記）
2011/03/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 18
EDITORIAL: The battle being waged at the Fukushima nuclear power plant
原発との闘い―最前線の挑戦を信じる
Helicopters operated by members of the Self-Defense Forces dumped tons of water on the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday. Riot police of the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo and SDF personnel also deployed water cannon from the ground in an attempt to cool the No. 3 reactor.
福島第一原子力発電所に、自衛隊員が操縦するヘリコプターが何度も、水をまいた。地上からは警視庁の機動隊員と自衛隊員が放水を試みた。
The immediate area is seriously contaminated with leaked radioactive substances. The workers all wore protective gear and measured radiation exposure levels as they went about their tasks.
原発のまわりは、漏れ出た放射性物質でひどく汚染されている。いずれも重い防護服に身を包み、被曝（ひばく）量を測りながらの、決死の作業だ。
Footage of the operation, aired on television, was watched by many people with bated breath.
きのう朝から夜にかけて、原発の冷却に向けての作業を、多くの国民がかたずをのんで見守った。
One week has passed since the mega-quake struck northeastern Japan.
(地震発生から１週間が経過した）
Workers of Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, and its business partners and firefighters have been working day and night to fight a disaster that has no precedent.
東京電力や協力会社の作業員、消防隊も、地震の発生以来、不眠不休で経験のない災厄に挑んできた。
Countless people perished in quake-triggered tsunami and some were injured in explosions at the plant. Many workers are also engaged in efforts to recover the ability to generate electricity at the plant.
津波やこれまでの爆発で、行方不明やけがをした人もいる。さらに、第一原発の制御を取り戻すため、多くの作業員が電源の復旧作業に取り組んでいる。
We pray their efforts bear fruit quickly and that those brave souls who are literally staking their lives to fix the radiation leak are exposed to the minimum risk to their health.
事態が少しでも好転してほしい。
そして、まさしく生命をかけてこの難局に立ち向かう人びとの被害が、最小限に抑えられるように――。
努力が結実することを願う。
In a catastrophic event such as this, who has to work in such a dangerous environment? Our society, which has avoided in-depth discussion on this issue, is now facing this grave question.
ひとたび重大な原発事故が起きたとき、だれが、危険をおかして作業にあたるのか。これまで突っ込んだ議論を避けてきた私たちの社会は、いま、この重い課題に直面している。
Japan is neither a dictatorship nor the militaristic state that it once was. Each and every life is precious and irreplaceable. No one can has the right to rank one person's life as more valuable than another's.
軍国主義時代の日本や独裁国家ではない。一人ひとりの生命がかけがえがなく、いとおしい。そこに順位や優劣をつけることはできない。
At the same time, the mission at hand is not work that anyone can do. It can only be handled by highly trained professionals--people whose job is to make and provide electric power and those who have specialized knowledge and technology; SDF personnel who have the required equipment and entered service taking the oath that they are prepared to take risks when necessary; and police officers, whose mission is also to maintain public safety.
一方で、誰もが立ち向かえる仕事ではない。電気をつくり、供給することを業務とし、専門の知識と技術をもつ人。一定の装備をもち、「事に臨んでは危険を顧みず」と宣誓して入隊する自衛官。同じく公共の安全の維持を責務とする警察官。
Of course, for SDF personnel and police, it is work they never thought they would be required to do. However, since the crisis has escalated to this point, we have no choice but to believe in their sense of mission and ability and hope for the best.
もちろん自衛隊や警察にとっては、およそ想定していなかった仕事だ。しかし、事態がここまで進んだいま、私たちは、そうした人たちの使命感と能力を信じ、期待するしかない。
This risky work will likely continue for many days to come. Difficult decisions will probably have to be made along the way.
危険な作業はこれから長く続く。この先も、苦渋の選択が求められる場面が何度もあるだろう。
Those who are in the position to make decisions and issue commands must do so on the basis of appropriate information. The same can be said of politicians who must take final responsibility.
その判断をし、指揮・命令する立場にある人は、適切な情報に基づいた確たる覚悟が求められる。最終責任を負う政治家も同様である。
They must gather much wisdom, take into account all sorts of factors, devise multiple backup measures and procure supplies before reaching their decisions.
多くの知恵を結集して様々な場合を想定し、三重四重の対応策を考え、物資を調達し、決断する。
If they make a misstep, get rattled or try to shift the blame on others, not only those doing the actual work but their families and also the public will not have any faith in their ability to resolve the crisis.
ここを誤り、右往左往し、あるいは責任を転嫁するような振る舞いをすれば、作業にあたる人やその家族はもちろん、国民は何も信じられなくなる。
While showing gratitude from the bottom of our hearts to those who are at the frontline of this disaster, we must keep supporting their activities both spiritually and materially.
私たちは、最前線でこの災禍と闘う人たちに心から感謝しつつ、物心の両面でその活動を支え続けなければならない。
As ones who use electricity and have been enjoying life's comforts as a result, we wish to join hands in a spirit of solidarity.
電気を使い、快適な生活を享受してきた者として、そしてこの社会をともに築き、担ってきた者として、連帯の心を結び合いたい。
有料となっている。月額５００円。
英語版は一日遅れなので明日の朝刊を見てみないとわからない。
朝日新聞の社説は今日で最後になる見込みです。
読売、毎日の社説は無料で読めます。
朝日の教材がなくなると痛いですね＾＾。
今後、他の教材を探します。
英語学習初心者のためにVOAの掲載など考えております。
あちらがダメなら、こちらを使う！
（スラチャイ記）
2011/03/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 18
EDITORIAL: The battle being waged at the Fukushima nuclear power plant
原発との闘い―最前線の挑戦を信じる
Helicopters operated by members of the Self-Defense Forces dumped tons of water on the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday. Riot police of the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo and SDF personnel also deployed water cannon from the ground in an attempt to cool the No. 3 reactor.
福島第一原子力発電所に、自衛隊員が操縦するヘリコプターが何度も、水をまいた。地上からは警視庁の機動隊員と自衛隊員が放水を試みた。
The immediate area is seriously contaminated with leaked radioactive substances. The workers all wore protective gear and measured radiation exposure levels as they went about their tasks.
原発のまわりは、漏れ出た放射性物質でひどく汚染されている。いずれも重い防護服に身を包み、被曝（ひばく）量を測りながらの、決死の作業だ。
Footage of the operation, aired on television, was watched by many people with bated breath.
きのう朝から夜にかけて、原発の冷却に向けての作業を、多くの国民がかたずをのんで見守った。
One week has passed since the mega-quake struck northeastern Japan.
(地震発生から１週間が経過した）
Workers of Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, and its business partners and firefighters have been working day and night to fight a disaster that has no precedent.
東京電力や協力会社の作業員、消防隊も、地震の発生以来、不眠不休で経験のない災厄に挑んできた。
Countless people perished in quake-triggered tsunami and some were injured in explosions at the plant. Many workers are also engaged in efforts to recover the ability to generate electricity at the plant.
津波やこれまでの爆発で、行方不明やけがをした人もいる。さらに、第一原発の制御を取り戻すため、多くの作業員が電源の復旧作業に取り組んでいる。
We pray their efforts bear fruit quickly and that those brave souls who are literally staking their lives to fix the radiation leak are exposed to the minimum risk to their health.
事態が少しでも好転してほしい。
そして、まさしく生命をかけてこの難局に立ち向かう人びとの被害が、最小限に抑えられるように――。
努力が結実することを願う。
In a catastrophic event such as this, who has to work in such a dangerous environment? Our society, which has avoided in-depth discussion on this issue, is now facing this grave question.
ひとたび重大な原発事故が起きたとき、だれが、危険をおかして作業にあたるのか。これまで突っ込んだ議論を避けてきた私たちの社会は、いま、この重い課題に直面している。
Japan is neither a dictatorship nor the militaristic state that it once was. Each and every life is precious and irreplaceable. No one can has the right to rank one person's life as more valuable than another's.
軍国主義時代の日本や独裁国家ではない。一人ひとりの生命がかけがえがなく、いとおしい。そこに順位や優劣をつけることはできない。
At the same time, the mission at hand is not work that anyone can do. It can only be handled by highly trained professionals--people whose job is to make and provide electric power and those who have specialized knowledge and technology; SDF personnel who have the required equipment and entered service taking the oath that they are prepared to take risks when necessary; and police officers, whose mission is also to maintain public safety.
一方で、誰もが立ち向かえる仕事ではない。電気をつくり、供給することを業務とし、専門の知識と技術をもつ人。一定の装備をもち、「事に臨んでは危険を顧みず」と宣誓して入隊する自衛官。同じく公共の安全の維持を責務とする警察官。
Of course, for SDF personnel and police, it is work they never thought they would be required to do. However, since the crisis has escalated to this point, we have no choice but to believe in their sense of mission and ability and hope for the best.
もちろん自衛隊や警察にとっては、およそ想定していなかった仕事だ。しかし、事態がここまで進んだいま、私たちは、そうした人たちの使命感と能力を信じ、期待するしかない。
This risky work will likely continue for many days to come. Difficult decisions will probably have to be made along the way.
危険な作業はこれから長く続く。この先も、苦渋の選択が求められる場面が何度もあるだろう。
Those who are in the position to make decisions and issue commands must do so on the basis of appropriate information. The same can be said of politicians who must take final responsibility.
その判断をし、指揮・命令する立場にある人は、適切な情報に基づいた確たる覚悟が求められる。最終責任を負う政治家も同様である。
They must gather much wisdom, take into account all sorts of factors, devise multiple backup measures and procure supplies before reaching their decisions.
多くの知恵を結集して様々な場合を想定し、三重四重の対応策を考え、物資を調達し、決断する。
If they make a misstep, get rattled or try to shift the blame on others, not only those doing the actual work but their families and also the public will not have any faith in their ability to resolve the crisis.
ここを誤り、右往左往し、あるいは責任を転嫁するような振る舞いをすれば、作業にあたる人やその家族はもちろん、国民は何も信じられなくなる。
While showing gratitude from the bottom of our hearts to those who are at the frontline of this disaster, we must keep supporting their activities both spiritually and materially.
私たちは、最前線でこの災禍と闘う人たちに心から感謝しつつ、物心の両面でその活動を支え続けなければならない。
As ones who use electricity and have been enjoying life's comforts as a result, we wish to join hands in a spirit of solidarity.
電気を使い、快適な生活を享受してきた者として、そしてこの社会をともに築き、担ってきた者として、連帯の心を結び合いたい。
2011/03/19
福島第一原発 あらゆる冷却手段を活用せよ
Do whatever it takes to cool N-reactors
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 19, 2011)
福島第一原発 あらゆる冷却手段を活用せよ（3月18日付・読売社説）
Herculean efforts are being made at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to prevent leaks of radioactive material from spreading.
福島第一原子力発電所では、放射能拡散を防ぐための懸命な作業が続けられている。
Self-Defense Forces helicopters on Thursday dumped seawater on one reactor at the plant, while water cannon trucks also blasted water at the reactor's spent fuel rod pool to cool it down. Efforts to restore power at the plant are continuing.
自衛隊の輸送ヘリから海水が投下された。地上から放水も始まった。電力を回復させる作業も続けられている。
We hope the SDF officials, police officers and power plant workers involved in the highly dangerous task of cooling the damaged nuclear reactors and spent fuel rods will safely accomplish their mission.
危険な作業に取り組む自衛官や警察官、発電所員らの安全を確保しながら、何としても原子炉や使用済み核燃料の冷却を成功させてもらいたい。
The plant has six nuclear reactors. The nuclear cores at the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 reactors are not being cooled sufficiently.
現場では敷地内にある６基の原子炉のうち、１号機から３号機で炉心の冷却が不十分なままだ。
Meanwhile, cooling functions at the storage pools for spent fuel rods at reactors Nos. 3 and 4 have failed, raising fears that this fuel might overheat.
加えて、３、４号機では、使用済み核燃料の貯蔵プールの冷却機能が止まり、冷却水減少による核燃料の過熱が心配されている。
In the worst-case scenario, the nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel would break down, possibly causing leakage of radioactive materials. The situation remains critical.
最悪の場合、原子炉や核燃料が壊れ、放射性物質が漏出しかねない。依然として、危機的な状況が続いている。
===
Daunting task
Using helicopters to dump seawater on the reactor was a desperate attempt to cool the storage pool.
海水投下は、貯蔵プールの冷却を目指した苦肉の策だ。
The helicopters can only carry a limited amount of water; they would have to make more than 100 flyovers to fill the 12-meter-deep storage pool.
投下できる水量は限られ、深さ約１２メートルの貯蔵プールを満たすには１００回以上の飛行が必要とされる。
The helicopter crews also risk being exposed to high levels of radiation when they fly over the reactors.
搭乗員らが、使用済み核燃料の真上を飛行する際に大量の放射線を浴びる危険性もある。
The water cannon trucks of the Metropolitan Police Department and the SDF will only have a limited effect. But by using various means at their disposal, the authorities are trying to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
警視庁や自衛隊の放水車による放水も、効果は限定的だが、いくつもの手段を使うことで事態の悪化を食い止めようとしている。
Despite the incredible efforts being made, they do not appear to be turning the situation around.
現場は最大限の努力を続けているが、手詰まり感は否めない。
The government has sought advice from nuclear power experts in dealing with the worsening problem. However, we think it might have to tap the expertise of specialists in other fields and the industrial sector to help bring the situation under control.
政府は原子力の専門家の意見を聞きながら対応を検討してきた。今後はもう少し広く、他の分野の専門家や産業界の知恵を借り、終息を目指すべきだろう。
For instance, mobile water-spraying equipment used to fight fires at industrial complexes could be utilized to shoot water at the storage pool. These devices can spray large volumes of seawater higher and farther than the methods deployed so far.
例えば、貯蔵プールへの注水には、コンビナート火災消火のため各地に配備されている移動式の放水装置を使えないだろうか。より高く、より遠くへ、大量の海水を飛ばせる。
===
Evacuees need more help
As the serious situation drags on, criticism of the government's response is rising.
事態の長期化に伴い、政府の対応に批判も高まっている。
Residents living within a 20-kilometer radius of the plant were ordered to evacuate, while people living between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers away were urged to stay indoors.
このトラブルで、原発周辺の半径２０キロ以内の住民には避難、２０～３０キロの住民には屋内退避が指示された。
Many Fukushima residents have fled the prefecture in the past few days, and finding places that can accommodate these evacuees has become a pressing task.
福島県外へ退避する人たちも多く、受け入れ先が課題だ。
Food and heating fuel are piling up but not reaching people directly affected by the quake.
深刻なのは、関係住民への暖房用燃料や食料の提供が滞っていることだ。
Some patients who were evacuated from hospitals near the nuclear plant have died due to a lack of medicine, and other causes, at facilities where they were taking shelter.
原発近隣の病院から避難した患者が、避難先施設で医薬品不足などから死亡した例もある。
The prefecture is running out of daily necessities because some truck drivers are hesitant to transport goods to the stricken region.
福島県内への物資輸送をためらう運転手もおり、県内では生活必需品も枯渇している。
Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato has called on the government, which issued the evacuation orders, to come up with measures to care for people who have left and those who are afraid to venture out their homes.
知事は、避難を指示した政府に早急な改善策を求めている。
Everything must be done to prevent these people from falling victim to secondary disasters.
二次災害を何としても防ぎたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2011)
（2011年3月18日01時26分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 19, 2011)
福島第一原発 あらゆる冷却手段を活用せよ（3月18日付・読売社説）
Herculean efforts are being made at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to prevent leaks of radioactive material from spreading.
福島第一原子力発電所では、放射能拡散を防ぐための懸命な作業が続けられている。
Self-Defense Forces helicopters on Thursday dumped seawater on one reactor at the plant, while water cannon trucks also blasted water at the reactor's spent fuel rod pool to cool it down. Efforts to restore power at the plant are continuing.
自衛隊の輸送ヘリから海水が投下された。地上から放水も始まった。電力を回復させる作業も続けられている。
We hope the SDF officials, police officers and power plant workers involved in the highly dangerous task of cooling the damaged nuclear reactors and spent fuel rods will safely accomplish their mission.
危険な作業に取り組む自衛官や警察官、発電所員らの安全を確保しながら、何としても原子炉や使用済み核燃料の冷却を成功させてもらいたい。
The plant has six nuclear reactors. The nuclear cores at the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 reactors are not being cooled sufficiently.
現場では敷地内にある６基の原子炉のうち、１号機から３号機で炉心の冷却が不十分なままだ。
Meanwhile, cooling functions at the storage pools for spent fuel rods at reactors Nos. 3 and 4 have failed, raising fears that this fuel might overheat.
加えて、３、４号機では、使用済み核燃料の貯蔵プールの冷却機能が止まり、冷却水減少による核燃料の過熱が心配されている。
In the worst-case scenario, the nuclear reactors and nuclear fuel would break down, possibly causing leakage of radioactive materials. The situation remains critical.
最悪の場合、原子炉や核燃料が壊れ、放射性物質が漏出しかねない。依然として、危機的な状況が続いている。
===
Daunting task
Using helicopters to dump seawater on the reactor was a desperate attempt to cool the storage pool.
海水投下は、貯蔵プールの冷却を目指した苦肉の策だ。
The helicopters can only carry a limited amount of water; they would have to make more than 100 flyovers to fill the 12-meter-deep storage pool.
投下できる水量は限られ、深さ約１２メートルの貯蔵プールを満たすには１００回以上の飛行が必要とされる。
The helicopter crews also risk being exposed to high levels of radiation when they fly over the reactors.
搭乗員らが、使用済み核燃料の真上を飛行する際に大量の放射線を浴びる危険性もある。
The water cannon trucks of the Metropolitan Police Department and the SDF will only have a limited effect. But by using various means at their disposal, the authorities are trying to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
警視庁や自衛隊の放水車による放水も、効果は限定的だが、いくつもの手段を使うことで事態の悪化を食い止めようとしている。
Despite the incredible efforts being made, they do not appear to be turning the situation around.
現場は最大限の努力を続けているが、手詰まり感は否めない。
The government has sought advice from nuclear power experts in dealing with the worsening problem. However, we think it might have to tap the expertise of specialists in other fields and the industrial sector to help bring the situation under control.
政府は原子力の専門家の意見を聞きながら対応を検討してきた。今後はもう少し広く、他の分野の専門家や産業界の知恵を借り、終息を目指すべきだろう。
For instance, mobile water-spraying equipment used to fight fires at industrial complexes could be utilized to shoot water at the storage pool. These devices can spray large volumes of seawater higher and farther than the methods deployed so far.
例えば、貯蔵プールへの注水には、コンビナート火災消火のため各地に配備されている移動式の放水装置を使えないだろうか。より高く、より遠くへ、大量の海水を飛ばせる。
===
Evacuees need more help
As the serious situation drags on, criticism of the government's response is rising.
事態の長期化に伴い、政府の対応に批判も高まっている。
Residents living within a 20-kilometer radius of the plant were ordered to evacuate, while people living between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers away were urged to stay indoors.
このトラブルで、原発周辺の半径２０キロ以内の住民には避難、２０～３０キロの住民には屋内退避が指示された。
Many Fukushima residents have fled the prefecture in the past few days, and finding places that can accommodate these evacuees has become a pressing task.
福島県外へ退避する人たちも多く、受け入れ先が課題だ。
Food and heating fuel are piling up but not reaching people directly affected by the quake.
深刻なのは、関係住民への暖房用燃料や食料の提供が滞っていることだ。
Some patients who were evacuated from hospitals near the nuclear plant have died due to a lack of medicine, and other causes, at facilities where they were taking shelter.
原発近隣の病院から避難した患者が、避難先施設で医薬品不足などから死亡した例もある。
The prefecture is running out of daily necessities because some truck drivers are hesitant to transport goods to the stricken region.
福島県内への物資輸送をためらう運転手もおり、県内では生活必需品も枯渇している。
Fukushima Gov. Yuhei Sato has called on the government, which issued the evacuation orders, to come up with measures to care for people who have left and those who are afraid to venture out their homes.
知事は、避難を指示した政府に早急な改善策を求めている。
Everything must be done to prevent these people from falling victim to secondary disasters.
二次災害を何としても防ぎたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 18, 2011)
（2011年3月18日01時26分 読売新聞）
2011/03/18
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 16
EDITORIAL: We must stand strong to overcome this catastrophe
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を
We are facing an unprecedented national crisis. In order to overcome it, we have no choice but to create firm bonds of trust between the government and the people, as well as between companies and the people.
これは未曽有の国家的危機である。乗り切るためには、政府と国民、企業と市民、それぞれの「信頼」という綱を、しっかり結び続けるしかない。
The disaster at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is becoming increasingly serious.
東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所の状態が深刻の度を増している。
Following hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, the No. 2 reactor exploded and a fire occurred at the No. 4 reactor.
１号機と３号機で水素爆発が起きたのに続き、２号機では爆発が、４号機では火災があった。
The suppression pool linked to the containment vessel that covers the No. 2 reactor has likely broken. There is a danger that highly radioactive substances could leak into the outside air.
２号機は、原子炉を覆う格納容器につながる圧力抑制室が壊れたようだ。強い放射能を帯びた物質が外に出るおそれがある。
Support their dangerous mission
■危険な作業支えよう
The No. 4 reactor was undergoing a regular inspection when the earthquake hit on March 11. There are also suspicions that the spent fuel rods in the suppression pool part of the reactor have broken because they were not sufficiently cooled.
４号機は１１日の地震のときには定期検査中だった。プールで保管中の使用済みの核燃料の冷却が不十分となり、燃料棒が壊れた疑いもある。
Four nuclear reactors in a single plant are still unstable and appear to be leaking radioactive substances. This is an extremely serious situation.
ひとつの発電所内にある四つの原子炉がいずれもまだ安定せず、放射性物質が漏れているらしい。極めて厳しい状況といえる。
The most important thing is to prevent large quantities of radioactive substances from spreading outside.
放射性物質が大量に、広範囲に外に出ることを何とかして食い止める。これが最も大切だ。
Under demanding and challenging conditions, desperate efforts to cool the reactors continue. We want to do everything we can to support those efforts so that this difficult and extremely dangerous work can progress as smoothly as possible.
厳しい条件の下、原子炉を冷却するための努力が懸命に続けられている。困難かつ危険を伴う作業ができるだけうまく進むよう、全力を挙げて支えてゆきたい。
At one point, workers had to be evacuated because a high level of radioactivity was detected inside the plant. While work needs to move forward, safety must also be ensured.
発電所内で高い放射線量が検出され、作業員が退避する事態もあった。安全を守りながら進める必要がある。
Yet lacking a power source with the limited capacity of pumps or other equipment, it is difficult to find an effective way to bring the situation under control. We need to gather knowledge and strength.
電源が得られず、ポンプなどの能力にも限りがあり、なかなか決め手となる方法が見いだせないのが現状だ。知恵と力を結集してほしい。
In response to the accident of the No. 2 reactor, Prime Minister Naoto Kan once again called on residents who live within a radius of 20 kilometers of the plant to evacuate and those who live between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors. People are becoming increasingly anxious about how long the situation will continue.
２号機の事故を受け、菅直人首相は改めて半径２０キロ以内からの住民避難を呼びかけるとともに、２０～３０キロの範囲の人たちに屋内退避を求めた。いつまで続くのか、不安が広がる。
As many as 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate from the vicinity of the plant. They will be forced to put up with the inconvenience of staying at evacuation sites. To support them, the cooperation of local governments and residents will be indispensable.
原発周辺から集団避難を求められたのは約２０万人にも及ぶ。不便を強いられる避難先での生活を支えるため、受け入れ先の自治体、地元住民の協力が欠かせない。
Trust the public and disclose information
■国民信じ情報開示を
Kan is the only person who can guide the nation to overcome this crisis. We urge him to give first priority to protecting citizens' lives and act in unison with TEPCO to deal with the difficult situation.
危機にあたって陣頭指揮をとるべきは、菅首相をおいて他にいない。国民の生命を守ることを最優先に、東電と一体となって難局に臨んでほしい。
The prime minister visited TEPCO's head office Tuesday and told officials: "You are the only ones (who can do this job). You have to brace yourselves." From the perspective of citizens, his words also apply to the government and the prime minister himself.
首相はきのう東電本店に乗り込み、「あなたたちしかいない。覚悟を決めてください」と叱咤（しった）した。国民から見れば、その言葉はそのまま政府、そして首相自身にも当てはまる。
Many citizens and government officials have begun to distrust TEPCO because of the way it has dealt with the situation and the delay in releasing information. What is important at this juncture is for all those concerned to come together to overcome the crisis.
情報伝達の遅れなど、これまでの東電の対応に不信感を募らせる国民や政府関係者は多い。ここは、あらゆる当事者が心をひとつにして、危機を乗り切ることが肝心だ。
First, the government and TEPCO need to closely share information and unify their chain of command. Why not seek the opinions of foreign specialists such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States, both of which have pledged their cooperation?
まずは政府と東電が密接に情報を共有し、指揮命令系統を一本化する必要がある。すでに協力を表明している国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）や米国など、海外の専門家の知見も広く求めたらどうだろう。
The important thing at this juncture is to promptly and adequately disclose information.
いま重要なことは、迅速で十分な情報の開示だ。
Until now, at every turn, the government and TEPCO have stressed that everything is under control. We can well understand the need to prevent the public panicking.
政府や東電はこれまで、ことあるごとに大丈夫だ、と強調してきた。国民がパニックに陥らないよう細心の注意を払う必要はよくわかる。
However, if the government causes the public to suspect that it is hiding something, it could breed public anxiety. Crisis management depends on the public's trust in the government.
しかし、「政府は何かを隠しているのでは」との疑念を招けば、かえって国民の不安をあおりかねない。危機管理がうまくいくかどうかは、政府に対する国民の信頼にかかっている。
The government needs to have faith in the public and properly release information.
国民を信じてきちんと情報を提供しなければならない。
What is actually happening? What developments are expected? What about preparations and what action should be taken?
何が起きているのか、これからどんなことが想定されるのか、備えはどうなっているか、どう行動すべきか。
While doing its best to bring the situation under control, the government should simultaneously prepare for a worsening of the situation. If additional measures such as further evacuation become necessary, it must give prompt and appropriate instructions.
政府は事態の収拾に最善を尽くしつつ、さらに悪化した時をも想定して、対応策の準備を同時に進める責任がある。状況の変化に応じ、さらなる避難などが必要であれば、的確な指示を出すことだ。
Resilience of Japanese society
■日本社会の復元力を
The Japanese economy is also about to enter unknown terrain, having been dealt a double blow of an unprecedented nuclear accident, a mega-earthquake and calamitous tsunami.
日本経済もまた、大震災に加え、原発ショックに襲われ、未知の次元に陥りつつある。
At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, major stocks of electric power and electronic companies were sold one after another. The Nikkei average recorded the third-highest drop rate in history.
東京証券取引所では電力、電機など主力株が軒並み売り込まれた。日経平均株価は、史上３番目の下落率を記録した。
In the face of these unpredictable and turbulent developments that occurred one after the other, both businesses and the people are shrinking back in fear. We must not allow ourselves to fall into a vicious cycle.
次々と見舞う想定外の事態に、企業や人々は心理的に萎縮している。悪循環を抑えなければならない。
In order to stop the financial market contracting, the Bank of Japan has provided a total of 41.8 trillion yen ($518 billion) in funds, the largest amount ever. Every possible measure should be taken so that the economy does not fall into further confusion.
日本銀行は金融市場の収縮を阻止するために計４１．８兆円という史上最大の資金を供給する。経済がこれ以上混乱しないよう、あらゆる手をうつべきである。
Our patience, resilience and ability to solve problems are being tested. Let us act calmly. The world is watching us.
私たちの忍耐力、問題解決能力、復元力が試されている。冷静に行動しよう。世界もそれを見守っている。
We were prepared both mentally and materially against earthquakes to an extent. If we regard blackouts as an energy crisis, then we can say that we have already weathered one of those too, with the oil shocks. But this is the first time for Japan to face the ordeal of preventing radioactive leakage from a damaged nuclear power plant.
地震には物心両面でそれなりの備えがあった。停電をエネルギー危機ととらえれば、石油ショックを乗り切った経験もある。だが、壊れた原発からの放射能放出という事態は、日本にとって初めての試練だ。
Japanese industries were based on an interdependent supply system of advanced information, distribution, personnel and financial networks. When struck from the outside, they complemented each other and prepared to help each other to rebuild themselves.
日本の産業は情報、物流、人流、金融が高度に組織され、相互依存の供給体制を構築してきた。外から打撃を受けたときは、全体で補い合い、助け合って復旧に努める覚悟だった。
Now is the time for citizens to put up with inconvenience to give first priority to the provision of supplies to the stricken areas. The lives of people who survived a massive tsunami are still hanging in the balance.
今は国民が我慢を引き受け、被災地への物資供給を優先させるときだ。押し寄せる水から逃げのびた人が、なお生命の危険にさらされている。
With the government at the helm, desperate attempts to stop further damage continue. We must do everything we can to avoid the worst case scenario from occurring.
政府を先頭にして、打撃をくいとめようと懸命の努力が続く。最悪の事態を、なんとか回避したい。
EDITORIAL: We must stand strong to overcome this catastrophe
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を
We are facing an unprecedented national crisis. In order to overcome it, we have no choice but to create firm bonds of trust between the government and the people, as well as between companies and the people.
これは未曽有の国家的危機である。乗り切るためには、政府と国民、企業と市民、それぞれの「信頼」という綱を、しっかり結び続けるしかない。
The disaster at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is becoming increasingly serious.
東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所の状態が深刻の度を増している。
Following hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, the No. 2 reactor exploded and a fire occurred at the No. 4 reactor.
１号機と３号機で水素爆発が起きたのに続き、２号機では爆発が、４号機では火災があった。
The suppression pool linked to the containment vessel that covers the No. 2 reactor has likely broken. There is a danger that highly radioactive substances could leak into the outside air.
２号機は、原子炉を覆う格納容器につながる圧力抑制室が壊れたようだ。強い放射能を帯びた物質が外に出るおそれがある。
Support their dangerous mission
■危険な作業支えよう
The No. 4 reactor was undergoing a regular inspection when the earthquake hit on March 11. There are also suspicions that the spent fuel rods in the suppression pool part of the reactor have broken because they were not sufficiently cooled.
４号機は１１日の地震のときには定期検査中だった。プールで保管中の使用済みの核燃料の冷却が不十分となり、燃料棒が壊れた疑いもある。
Four nuclear reactors in a single plant are still unstable and appear to be leaking radioactive substances. This is an extremely serious situation.
ひとつの発電所内にある四つの原子炉がいずれもまだ安定せず、放射性物質が漏れているらしい。極めて厳しい状況といえる。
The most important thing is to prevent large quantities of radioactive substances from spreading outside.
放射性物質が大量に、広範囲に外に出ることを何とかして食い止める。これが最も大切だ。
Under demanding and challenging conditions, desperate efforts to cool the reactors continue. We want to do everything we can to support those efforts so that this difficult and extremely dangerous work can progress as smoothly as possible.
厳しい条件の下、原子炉を冷却するための努力が懸命に続けられている。困難かつ危険を伴う作業ができるだけうまく進むよう、全力を挙げて支えてゆきたい。
At one point, workers had to be evacuated because a high level of radioactivity was detected inside the plant. While work needs to move forward, safety must also be ensured.
発電所内で高い放射線量が検出され、作業員が退避する事態もあった。安全を守りながら進める必要がある。
Yet lacking a power source with the limited capacity of pumps or other equipment, it is difficult to find an effective way to bring the situation under control. We need to gather knowledge and strength.
電源が得られず、ポンプなどの能力にも限りがあり、なかなか決め手となる方法が見いだせないのが現状だ。知恵と力を結集してほしい。
In response to the accident of the No. 2 reactor, Prime Minister Naoto Kan once again called on residents who live within a radius of 20 kilometers of the plant to evacuate and those who live between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors. People are becoming increasingly anxious about how long the situation will continue.
２号機の事故を受け、菅直人首相は改めて半径２０キロ以内からの住民避難を呼びかけるとともに、２０～３０キロの範囲の人たちに屋内退避を求めた。いつまで続くのか、不安が広がる。
As many as 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate from the vicinity of the plant. They will be forced to put up with the inconvenience of staying at evacuation sites. To support them, the cooperation of local governments and residents will be indispensable.
原発周辺から集団避難を求められたのは約２０万人にも及ぶ。不便を強いられる避難先での生活を支えるため、受け入れ先の自治体、地元住民の協力が欠かせない。
Trust the public and disclose information
■国民信じ情報開示を
Kan is the only person who can guide the nation to overcome this crisis. We urge him to give first priority to protecting citizens' lives and act in unison with TEPCO to deal with the difficult situation.
危機にあたって陣頭指揮をとるべきは、菅首相をおいて他にいない。国民の生命を守ることを最優先に、東電と一体となって難局に臨んでほしい。
The prime minister visited TEPCO's head office Tuesday and told officials: "You are the only ones (who can do this job). You have to brace yourselves." From the perspective of citizens, his words also apply to the government and the prime minister himself.
首相はきのう東電本店に乗り込み、「あなたたちしかいない。覚悟を決めてください」と叱咤（しった）した。国民から見れば、その言葉はそのまま政府、そして首相自身にも当てはまる。
Many citizens and government officials have begun to distrust TEPCO because of the way it has dealt with the situation and the delay in releasing information. What is important at this juncture is for all those concerned to come together to overcome the crisis.
情報伝達の遅れなど、これまでの東電の対応に不信感を募らせる国民や政府関係者は多い。ここは、あらゆる当事者が心をひとつにして、危機を乗り切ることが肝心だ。
First, the government and TEPCO need to closely share information and unify their chain of command. Why not seek the opinions of foreign specialists such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States, both of which have pledged their cooperation?
まずは政府と東電が密接に情報を共有し、指揮命令系統を一本化する必要がある。すでに協力を表明している国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）や米国など、海外の専門家の知見も広く求めたらどうだろう。
The important thing at this juncture is to promptly and adequately disclose information.
いま重要なことは、迅速で十分な情報の開示だ。
Until now, at every turn, the government and TEPCO have stressed that everything is under control. We can well understand the need to prevent the public panicking.
政府や東電はこれまで、ことあるごとに大丈夫だ、と強調してきた。国民がパニックに陥らないよう細心の注意を払う必要はよくわかる。
However, if the government causes the public to suspect that it is hiding something, it could breed public anxiety. Crisis management depends on the public's trust in the government.
しかし、「政府は何かを隠しているのでは」との疑念を招けば、かえって国民の不安をあおりかねない。危機管理がうまくいくかどうかは、政府に対する国民の信頼にかかっている。
The government needs to have faith in the public and properly release information.
国民を信じてきちんと情報を提供しなければならない。
What is actually happening? What developments are expected? What about preparations and what action should be taken?
何が起きているのか、これからどんなことが想定されるのか、備えはどうなっているか、どう行動すべきか。
While doing its best to bring the situation under control, the government should simultaneously prepare for a worsening of the situation. If additional measures such as further evacuation become necessary, it must give prompt and appropriate instructions.
政府は事態の収拾に最善を尽くしつつ、さらに悪化した時をも想定して、対応策の準備を同時に進める責任がある。状況の変化に応じ、さらなる避難などが必要であれば、的確な指示を出すことだ。
Resilience of Japanese society
■日本社会の復元力を
The Japanese economy is also about to enter unknown terrain, having been dealt a double blow of an unprecedented nuclear accident, a mega-earthquake and calamitous tsunami.
日本経済もまた、大震災に加え、原発ショックに襲われ、未知の次元に陥りつつある。
At the Tokyo Stock Exchange, major stocks of electric power and electronic companies were sold one after another. The Nikkei average recorded the third-highest drop rate in history.
東京証券取引所では電力、電機など主力株が軒並み売り込まれた。日経平均株価は、史上３番目の下落率を記録した。
In the face of these unpredictable and turbulent developments that occurred one after the other, both businesses and the people are shrinking back in fear. We must not allow ourselves to fall into a vicious cycle.
次々と見舞う想定外の事態に、企業や人々は心理的に萎縮している。悪循環を抑えなければならない。
In order to stop the financial market contracting, the Bank of Japan has provided a total of 41.8 trillion yen ($518 billion) in funds, the largest amount ever. Every possible measure should be taken so that the economy does not fall into further confusion.
日本銀行は金融市場の収縮を阻止するために計４１．８兆円という史上最大の資金を供給する。経済がこれ以上混乱しないよう、あらゆる手をうつべきである。
Our patience, resilience and ability to solve problems are being tested. Let us act calmly. The world is watching us.
私たちの忍耐力、問題解決能力、復元力が試されている。冷静に行動しよう。世界もそれを見守っている。
We were prepared both mentally and materially against earthquakes to an extent. If we regard blackouts as an energy crisis, then we can say that we have already weathered one of those too, with the oil shocks. But this is the first time for Japan to face the ordeal of preventing radioactive leakage from a damaged nuclear power plant.
地震には物心両面でそれなりの備えがあった。停電をエネルギー危機ととらえれば、石油ショックを乗り切った経験もある。だが、壊れた原発からの放射能放出という事態は、日本にとって初めての試練だ。
Japanese industries were based on an interdependent supply system of advanced information, distribution, personnel and financial networks. When struck from the outside, they complemented each other and prepared to help each other to rebuild themselves.
日本の産業は情報、物流、人流、金融が高度に組織され、相互依存の供給体制を構築してきた。外から打撃を受けたときは、全体で補い合い、助け合って復旧に努める覚悟だった。
Now is the time for citizens to put up with inconvenience to give first priority to the provision of supplies to the stricken areas. The lives of people who survived a massive tsunami are still hanging in the balance.
今は国民が我慢を引き受け、被災地への物資供給を優先させるときだ。押し寄せる水から逃げのびた人が、なお生命の危険にさらされている。
With the government at the helm, desperate attempts to stop further damage continue. We must do everything we can to avoid the worst case scenario from occurring.
政府を先頭にして、打撃をくいとめようと懸命の努力が続く。最悪の事態を、なんとか回避したい。
2011/03/17
The nation must join hands to overcome the crisis
今朝は４時起床、NHK、TBS、BBSをみる。
日本では大きな動きなし。
世界ではバーレーン、リビア、イスラエル・パレスチナ情勢をチェック。
福島原発が気になるが、とりあえず英字新聞を掲載する。
昨日の天皇陛下のお言葉がまだ残っている。
苦しみを国民皆（みな）で分かち合って…。
陛下は夜、電気を消してローソクで過ごされている。
銀座のバーなどは明かりを落とすべし。
（スラチャイ）
2011/03/16
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 15
EDITORIAL: The nation must join hands to overcome the crisis
計画停電―我慢と共助のときだ
Rescue workers are continuing their search for survivors of the gigantic earthquake and tsunami that destroyed wide areas in northeastern Japan on Friday.
太平洋沿いの被災地で救出活動が続く。
Hundreds of bodies are found daily in the affected areas, making increasingly clear the grim reality of the catastrophic damage inflicted by the mega-quake.
数十、数百と遺体が見つかり、つらい現実を突きつけられる。
For many survivors, a new, tough life in evacuation centers has begun.
厳しい避難所生活も始まっている。
It is essential now for the entire nation to share a commitment to the long-term efforts for mutual aid and support needed to overcome the crisis.
長丁場の助け合いへの決意を、国民全体で共有することが欠かせない。
Vast swaths of the nation have been hit by the disaster.
被災は列島の広範囲に及んでいる。
As the new week began Monday, great confusion broke out in the Kanto region early in the morning.
週明けの関東圏は、早朝から混乱に見舞われた。
After Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced a plan to introduce rolling power cuts throughout its area of service in response to a severe power shortage caused by the quake, Japan Railway and other train service operators hastily decided to cut down their operations.
震災で電力不足に陥った東京電力が地域ごとの「計画停電」を発表し、ＪＲをはじめ鉄道各社があわてて運休や間引き運転を決めた。
Many people living in Tokyo and its vicinity awoke Monday to find their commuter trains had been canceled. Stations on the limited number of lines where trains were in service were crowded with commuters.
朝起きてみたら通勤の足がなくなっていた、という人たちも少なくなかった。限られた運行路線では各駅がごったがえした。
Still, at many stations people patiently waited in lines for trains.
Then, they endured the ordeal of riding jam-packed trains without complaining.
それでも多くの駅では人々が辛抱強く列をなし、黙って満員電車に揺られた。
The orderly behavior of Tokyo commuters reflected their awareness of how survivors in the quake-hit areas are desperately searching for relatives amid piles of rubble, many of them without enough clothes or fuel to keep warm.
Commuters in the capital exercised self-control as they perceived their problems were nothing compared with the tremendous hardships the quake survivors are enduring.
がれきの中で十分な暖もなく、一生懸命に家族をさがす被災地の人たちを思えばこそ、「この程度のことで」と自制する気持ちが整然とした行動につながったようだ。
It became abundantly clear immediately after the earthquake struck that there would be serious power shortages.
電力が足りなくなることは、大震災の当初から明らかだった。
Probably, the vast majority of residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area do not have any problem with accepting the effects on their daily lives of the rolling blackouts and power conservation if it helps efforts to deal with the situation.
計画停電や節電による生活への影響を甘受してでも協力したいと考える人は少なくないはずだ。
But plans for power cuts must be crafted and executed carefully to minimize their impact.
だからといって、やぶから棒なやり方ではいけない。
It is necessary to announce exactly when and where the power supply will be stopped so that households and businesses in the targeted areas can adequately prepare themselves.
地域と時間を前もって知らせ、家庭や企業に準備を促すことが必要だ。
Doing so would help prevent confusion and lead to a larger saving on electricity.
そのほうが混乱を防げるだけでなく、節電の効果も上がるだろう。
What is especially worrisome about a power outage is its effects on people who need respirators or other electric-powered medical devices.
停電でとりわけ心配なのは、人工呼吸器など医療機器を必要とする人たちだ。
A prolonged power outage could be life threatening for home-bound as well as hospitalized patients.
入院患者に限らず、在宅療養している人たちにとっても、停電が長引けば命にかかわりかねない。
Explaining the confusion in the implementation of the power cuts, TEPCO said it made every effort to avoid outages up until the last moment.
混乱を生んだ理由について、東電側は「停電を避けようと最後まで調整したため」と説明した。
But not many people would get upset when a planned suspension of the power supply in their area has been canceled.
だが、計画停電をあらかじめ知らせておいた地域で結果的に停電がなかったとしても、それで怒る人は多くないはずだ。
The company should put priority on ensuring that its plans for power cuts are made known in advance to people in the areas to be affected.
事前の周知を優先したい。
It is certain that TEPCO's service region will face a chronic power shortage for the foreseeable future.
東電管内では当面、恒常的な電力不足が続くことに変わりはない。
It goes without saying that companies, governments and households should all do everything they can to save electricity.
企業も役所も家庭も、みんなで節電に取り組むべきであることは論をまたない。
But on Monday night most commercial facilities in the high-end Ginza shopping district in central Tokyo were brightly lit with neon.
都心部の銀座では夜になっても商業施設の照明やネオンが目立った。
There is still much room for power conservation. The government should urge companies and schools to take bolder measures to save electricity, such as halting operations, to see how much conservation can be achieved.
まだまだ節電の余地はある。政府は、企業や学校などに思い切った休業や節電を呼びかけ、どこまで成果が上がるかをまず試してみてはどうか。
A variety of measures should be combined to lower use of electricity during peak demand hours.
ピーク時の消費電力を下げるためには、さまざまな手法を駆使しなくてはならない。
In the aftermath of an unprecedented natural disaster, Japanese are ready to face inconveniences and tests of endurance.
未曽有の災害のただ中で、私たちには不便さや我慢を引き受ける覚悟がある。
The government should respond to the people's sacrifice by demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting their lives and property and reducing the confusion threatening their well-being.
だからこそ政府に求めたいのは、国民の生命と財産を守り抜き、かけがえのない生活を混乱から救い出すことである。
We hope the government will swiftly develop a clear policy for dealing with the situation so that it can capitalize on the people's great ability to help each other.
明確な指針を早く決め、国民の共助の力を大きく引き出してほしい。
日本では大きな動きなし。
世界ではバーレーン、リビア、イスラエル・パレスチナ情勢をチェック。
福島原発が気になるが、とりあえず英字新聞を掲載する。
昨日の天皇陛下のお言葉がまだ残っている。
苦しみを国民皆（みな）で分かち合って…。
陛下は夜、電気を消してローソクで過ごされている。
銀座のバーなどは明かりを落とすべし。
（スラチャイ）
2011/03/16
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 15
EDITORIAL: The nation must join hands to overcome the crisis
計画停電―我慢と共助のときだ
Rescue workers are continuing their search for survivors of the gigantic earthquake and tsunami that destroyed wide areas in northeastern Japan on Friday.
太平洋沿いの被災地で救出活動が続く。
Hundreds of bodies are found daily in the affected areas, making increasingly clear the grim reality of the catastrophic damage inflicted by the mega-quake.
数十、数百と遺体が見つかり、つらい現実を突きつけられる。
For many survivors, a new, tough life in evacuation centers has begun.
厳しい避難所生活も始まっている。
It is essential now for the entire nation to share a commitment to the long-term efforts for mutual aid and support needed to overcome the crisis.
長丁場の助け合いへの決意を、国民全体で共有することが欠かせない。
Vast swaths of the nation have been hit by the disaster.
被災は列島の広範囲に及んでいる。
As the new week began Monday, great confusion broke out in the Kanto region early in the morning.
週明けの関東圏は、早朝から混乱に見舞われた。
After Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced a plan to introduce rolling power cuts throughout its area of service in response to a severe power shortage caused by the quake, Japan Railway and other train service operators hastily decided to cut down their operations.
震災で電力不足に陥った東京電力が地域ごとの「計画停電」を発表し、ＪＲをはじめ鉄道各社があわてて運休や間引き運転を決めた。
Many people living in Tokyo and its vicinity awoke Monday to find their commuter trains had been canceled. Stations on the limited number of lines where trains were in service were crowded with commuters.
朝起きてみたら通勤の足がなくなっていた、という人たちも少なくなかった。限られた運行路線では各駅がごったがえした。
Still, at many stations people patiently waited in lines for trains.
Then, they endured the ordeal of riding jam-packed trains without complaining.
それでも多くの駅では人々が辛抱強く列をなし、黙って満員電車に揺られた。
The orderly behavior of Tokyo commuters reflected their awareness of how survivors in the quake-hit areas are desperately searching for relatives amid piles of rubble, many of them without enough clothes or fuel to keep warm.
Commuters in the capital exercised self-control as they perceived their problems were nothing compared with the tremendous hardships the quake survivors are enduring.
がれきの中で十分な暖もなく、一生懸命に家族をさがす被災地の人たちを思えばこそ、「この程度のことで」と自制する気持ちが整然とした行動につながったようだ。
It became abundantly clear immediately after the earthquake struck that there would be serious power shortages.
電力が足りなくなることは、大震災の当初から明らかだった。
Probably, the vast majority of residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area do not have any problem with accepting the effects on their daily lives of the rolling blackouts and power conservation if it helps efforts to deal with the situation.
計画停電や節電による生活への影響を甘受してでも協力したいと考える人は少なくないはずだ。
But plans for power cuts must be crafted and executed carefully to minimize their impact.
だからといって、やぶから棒なやり方ではいけない。
It is necessary to announce exactly when and where the power supply will be stopped so that households and businesses in the targeted areas can adequately prepare themselves.
地域と時間を前もって知らせ、家庭や企業に準備を促すことが必要だ。
Doing so would help prevent confusion and lead to a larger saving on electricity.
そのほうが混乱を防げるだけでなく、節電の効果も上がるだろう。
What is especially worrisome about a power outage is its effects on people who need respirators or other electric-powered medical devices.
停電でとりわけ心配なのは、人工呼吸器など医療機器を必要とする人たちだ。
A prolonged power outage could be life threatening for home-bound as well as hospitalized patients.
入院患者に限らず、在宅療養している人たちにとっても、停電が長引けば命にかかわりかねない。
Explaining the confusion in the implementation of the power cuts, TEPCO said it made every effort to avoid outages up until the last moment.
混乱を生んだ理由について、東電側は「停電を避けようと最後まで調整したため」と説明した。
But not many people would get upset when a planned suspension of the power supply in their area has been canceled.
だが、計画停電をあらかじめ知らせておいた地域で結果的に停電がなかったとしても、それで怒る人は多くないはずだ。
The company should put priority on ensuring that its plans for power cuts are made known in advance to people in the areas to be affected.
事前の周知を優先したい。
It is certain that TEPCO's service region will face a chronic power shortage for the foreseeable future.
東電管内では当面、恒常的な電力不足が続くことに変わりはない。
It goes without saying that companies, governments and households should all do everything they can to save electricity.
企業も役所も家庭も、みんなで節電に取り組むべきであることは論をまたない。
But on Monday night most commercial facilities in the high-end Ginza shopping district in central Tokyo were brightly lit with neon.
都心部の銀座では夜になっても商業施設の照明やネオンが目立った。
There is still much room for power conservation. The government should urge companies and schools to take bolder measures to save electricity, such as halting operations, to see how much conservation can be achieved.
まだまだ節電の余地はある。政府は、企業や学校などに思い切った休業や節電を呼びかけ、どこまで成果が上がるかをまず試してみてはどうか。
A variety of measures should be combined to lower use of electricity during peak demand hours.
ピーク時の消費電力を下げるためには、さまざまな手法を駆使しなくてはならない。
In the aftermath of an unprecedented natural disaster, Japanese are ready to face inconveniences and tests of endurance.
未曽有の災害のただ中で、私たちには不便さや我慢を引き受ける覚悟がある。
The government should respond to the people's sacrifice by demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting their lives and property and reducing the confusion threatening their well-being.
だからこそ政府に求めたいのは、国民の生命と財産を守り抜き、かけがえのない生活を混乱から救い出すことである。
We hope the government will swiftly develop a clear policy for dealing with the situation so that it can capitalize on the people's great ability to help each other.
明確な指針を早く決め、国民の共助の力を大きく引き出してほしい。
2011/03/16
2011/03/15
Ensure disaster victims have daily necessities
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 15, 2011)
Ensure disaster victims have daily necessities
救助と支援 被災者へ十分な生活物資を（3月14日付・読売社説）
Thousands of people are still waiting for rescue in the cold. Two days have passed since a large earthquake and tsunami hit the Tohoku and Kanto regions along the Pacific coast Friday afternoon. Rescue operations must proceed as quickly as possible.
今も寒さの中で、大勢の人たちが救助を待っている。大地震の発生から２日が過ぎた。救出を急がなくてはならない。
Police and firefighters from across the country have been mobilized, and the government will increase the number of Self-Defense Forces personnel dispatched for rescue operations to 100,000.
全国から警察や消防職員らが駆けつけた。政府は自衛隊の派遣を１０万人に拡大する。
Rescue teams from the United States, South Korea and Singapore, among others, went to disaster-stricken areas after arriving in Japan one after the other.
米国、韓国、シンガポールなど外国からの救助隊も続々と到着し被災地に入った。
Successful rescues have been reported from various parts of the devastated areas, including evacuations by helicopter of people stranded on a building's roof and a 60-year-old man rescued by a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel after two days adrift at sea.
建物屋上で孤立していた人たちがヘリで救出されたり、沖合１５キロで漂流していた男性が２日ぶりに自衛艦に助けられるなど、救助の知らせが各地から入っている。
The death toll from the disaster is likely to top 10,000 in Miyagi Prefecture alone. Any and all means should be used to rescue as many people as possible.
犠牲者は宮城県だけで１万人を超える、との見通しもある。だが今は、一人でも多くの救出に全力を尽くすべき時だ。
We hope the authorities concerned will provide sufficient food, medicine and other necessities to people who remain stranded at their homes or who have evacuated to public facilities.
自宅や公共施設などに残っている人たちへは、十分な食料や薬などを届けてほしい。
Hundreds of thousands of people are huddled together in evacuation centers throughout the area.
各地の避難所でも、計３０万人以上が身を寄せ合っている。
===
Food needs acute
Food equivalent to 1 million meals a day is estimated to be needed at evacuation centers alone, and there is said to be a shortage of bread and rice at such places. Not a small number of evacuation centers are finding it difficult to secure enough water, as water trucks have not yet arrived.
避難所だけで１日１００万食近い食料が要る計算だ。パン、おにぎりなどが十分に届いていないという。給水車が未到着で、水の確保にも困る所が少なくない。
Emergency meal preparation service is being provided by community associations, but their powers are limited. A system for transporting daily commodities to the affected areas promptly and preferentially is urgently needed.
自治会組織の炊き出し支援なども行われているが、限界がある。食料や衣類など、生活物資を迅速かつ優先的に被災地へ送る態勢を確保しなければならない。
In addition, lifelines to areas that normally cover more than 1.5 million households in the Tohoku region and elsewhere have been cut off, as power outages continued Sunday night. Water and gas supply has also been suspended in various areas. We hope such services will be restored as quickly as possible.
ライフラインも寸断された。１３日夜も、東北地方などで１５０万戸以上が停電している。水道、ガスも各地でストップしている。復旧を急いでもらいたい。
Due to accidents at its nuclear power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Sunday it would implement planned power outages from Monday in which it would suspend electricity supply to areas under its network in turns.
原発事故の影響で、東京電力は管内の各地域で順番に電気を止める計画停電を実施する。
In implementing the plan, care should be taken so patients who are recuperating at medical institutions or at home using medical equipment are not adversely affected.
医療機関や、自宅で医療機器を用いて療養中の患者らに悪影響が出ないようにする必要がある。
===
Volunteers key to recovery
From this point forward, volunteer efforts will grow in importance in the damaged areas. After the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and the 2004 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, various relief offered by volunteers through visits to evacuation centers and households proved incredibly helpful.
これからは被災地でのボランティア活動が重要になってくる。阪神大震災や新潟県中越地震でも、避難所や各戸を回っての様々な支援活動が、大きな力となった。
The government has appointed Kiyomi Tsujimoto--a House of Representatives member who has experience with a nonprofit organization--as adviser to the prime minister in charge of coordination of disaster volunteer activities. We want the government to unify the channels for volunteer work so aid can be dispatched efficiently to the stricken areas in line with their needs.
政府は、災害ボランティアの総合調整をする首相補佐官に、ＮＰＯ出身の辻元清美衆院議員を任命した。窓口を一本化し、被災地のニーズに合った計画的な派遣体制を作ることが求められる。
A great number of people certainly want to rush to the damaged areas, and campaigns to collect relief donations have already started.
一刻も早く駆けつけたいという人が全国に大勢いるだろう。被災地に義援金を送る運動も一斉に始まった。
After this great disaster, reconstructing a state of normalcy will most certainly be a long battle. All of us must pull together to support the recovery of the affected areas.
大災害から立ち直り、復興に至るまでの闘いが、長期戦になることは間違いない。国民全員で被災地を支えていくことが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14, 2011)
（2011年3月14日01時05分 読売新聞）
Ensure disaster victims have daily necessities
救助と支援 被災者へ十分な生活物資を（3月14日付・読売社説）
Thousands of people are still waiting for rescue in the cold. Two days have passed since a large earthquake and tsunami hit the Tohoku and Kanto regions along the Pacific coast Friday afternoon. Rescue operations must proceed as quickly as possible.
今も寒さの中で、大勢の人たちが救助を待っている。大地震の発生から２日が過ぎた。救出を急がなくてはならない。
Police and firefighters from across the country have been mobilized, and the government will increase the number of Self-Defense Forces personnel dispatched for rescue operations to 100,000.
全国から警察や消防職員らが駆けつけた。政府は自衛隊の派遣を１０万人に拡大する。
Rescue teams from the United States, South Korea and Singapore, among others, went to disaster-stricken areas after arriving in Japan one after the other.
米国、韓国、シンガポールなど外国からの救助隊も続々と到着し被災地に入った。
Successful rescues have been reported from various parts of the devastated areas, including evacuations by helicopter of people stranded on a building's roof and a 60-year-old man rescued by a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel after two days adrift at sea.
建物屋上で孤立していた人たちがヘリで救出されたり、沖合１５キロで漂流していた男性が２日ぶりに自衛艦に助けられるなど、救助の知らせが各地から入っている。
The death toll from the disaster is likely to top 10,000 in Miyagi Prefecture alone. Any and all means should be used to rescue as many people as possible.
犠牲者は宮城県だけで１万人を超える、との見通しもある。だが今は、一人でも多くの救出に全力を尽くすべき時だ。
We hope the authorities concerned will provide sufficient food, medicine and other necessities to people who remain stranded at their homes or who have evacuated to public facilities.
自宅や公共施設などに残っている人たちへは、十分な食料や薬などを届けてほしい。
Hundreds of thousands of people are huddled together in evacuation centers throughout the area.
各地の避難所でも、計３０万人以上が身を寄せ合っている。
===
Food needs acute
Food equivalent to 1 million meals a day is estimated to be needed at evacuation centers alone, and there is said to be a shortage of bread and rice at such places. Not a small number of evacuation centers are finding it difficult to secure enough water, as water trucks have not yet arrived.
避難所だけで１日１００万食近い食料が要る計算だ。パン、おにぎりなどが十分に届いていないという。給水車が未到着で、水の確保にも困る所が少なくない。
Emergency meal preparation service is being provided by community associations, but their powers are limited. A system for transporting daily commodities to the affected areas promptly and preferentially is urgently needed.
自治会組織の炊き出し支援なども行われているが、限界がある。食料や衣類など、生活物資を迅速かつ優先的に被災地へ送る態勢を確保しなければならない。
In addition, lifelines to areas that normally cover more than 1.5 million households in the Tohoku region and elsewhere have been cut off, as power outages continued Sunday night. Water and gas supply has also been suspended in various areas. We hope such services will be restored as quickly as possible.
ライフラインも寸断された。１３日夜も、東北地方などで１５０万戸以上が停電している。水道、ガスも各地でストップしている。復旧を急いでもらいたい。
Due to accidents at its nuclear power plants in Fukushima Prefecture, Tokyo Electric Power Co. said Sunday it would implement planned power outages from Monday in which it would suspend electricity supply to areas under its network in turns.
原発事故の影響で、東京電力は管内の各地域で順番に電気を止める計画停電を実施する。
In implementing the plan, care should be taken so patients who are recuperating at medical institutions or at home using medical equipment are not adversely affected.
医療機関や、自宅で医療機器を用いて療養中の患者らに悪影響が出ないようにする必要がある。
===
Volunteers key to recovery
From this point forward, volunteer efforts will grow in importance in the damaged areas. After the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and the 2004 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake, various relief offered by volunteers through visits to evacuation centers and households proved incredibly helpful.
これからは被災地でのボランティア活動が重要になってくる。阪神大震災や新潟県中越地震でも、避難所や各戸を回っての様々な支援活動が、大きな力となった。
The government has appointed Kiyomi Tsujimoto--a House of Representatives member who has experience with a nonprofit organization--as adviser to the prime minister in charge of coordination of disaster volunteer activities. We want the government to unify the channels for volunteer work so aid can be dispatched efficiently to the stricken areas in line with their needs.
政府は、災害ボランティアの総合調整をする首相補佐官に、ＮＰＯ出身の辻元清美衆院議員を任命した。窓口を一本化し、被災地のニーズに合った計画的な派遣体制を作ることが求められる。
A great number of people certainly want to rush to the damaged areas, and campaigns to collect relief donations have already started.
一刻も早く駆けつけたいという人が全国に大勢いるだろう。被災地に義援金を送る運動も一斉に始まった。
After this great disaster, reconstructing a state of normalcy will most certainly be a long battle. All of us must pull together to support the recovery of the affected areas.
大災害から立ち直り、復興に至るまでの闘いが、長期戦になることは間違いない。国民全員で被災地を支えていくことが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 14, 2011)
（2011年3月14日01時05分 読売新聞）
2011/03/14
Make no mistakes handling N-accident
昨日は朝からNHKで情報収集。
原発メルトダウン関連です。
今作業中の自衛官は、放射線量が1200マイクロシーベルトを超えてる事実はつたわっているか？
ブログ友から質問が届きました。
スラチャイの返信です。
このレベルは胃のレントゲン撮影を３回くらい受けたときのレベルだと言ってました。
午後１時過ぎにこのレベルに達しましたが現在では２００くらいで安定している。
自衛隊に伝わっているかどうかは報道されていません。
３号機、なぜこうなったのか？
推測ですが、あくまで最後まで真水にこだわり、機器を守ろうとした。
ポンプの故障を理由にあげているが、これはウソ。
ポンプはこの場面で故障しません。
海水に切り替えるのに躊躇した。
真水がなくなって炉心部の温度があがる限界まで我慢した。
その結果、外部に放出される放射線量がふえた。
最終的にここであきらめて海水を注入した。
それで現在炉心部の温度は下がって、放射線量も減ってきた。
これで間違いないと思います。
スラチャイは現場で数々のポンプを使ってきました。
スラチャイの目はごまかせません＾＾。
1200マイクロシーベルトは軽いというニュアンスの報道はウソ。
胃のレントゲンは瞬時。
瞬時*３回を1200マイクロシーベルト環境に長時間居るのと同じように報道している。
なぜ被爆者が２２人も出たのか？
時間のなせる技だと思います。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 14, 2011)
Make no mistakes handling N-accident
東日本巨大地震 原発事故の対応を誤るな（3月13日付・読売社説）
◆政府と各党は救援・復興策を急げ◆
The horrible damage caused by the massive earthquake that struck a wide area of eastern Japan on Friday has gradually become clear.
東日本巨大地震の、すさまじい被災状況が次々明らかになってきた。
Coastal cities and towns in three prefectures in the Tohoku region--Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima--have been devastated.
壊滅的な被害を受けたのは、岩手、宮城、福島など東北各県の太平洋岸の街だ。
Large tsunamis struck only minutes to several dozen minutes after the Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake occurred, washing away houses and automobiles. The tsunamis even swept ships and boats inland.
地震の数分から数十分後に大津波に襲われ、住宅など建物のほか自動車、船舶までが内陸に押し上げられた。
Many fires also were reported. In Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, the center of the city was almost completely destroyed.
火災も発生し、宮城県気仙沼市は、中心部がほぼ全滅した。
In Minami-Sanrikucho, about 10,000 of the town's total 17,300 residents were missing.
南三陸町では約１万人が行方不明になっている。
===
Safety must come first
◆大切な安全優先の原則◆
In a shocking development, the cooling system for the No. 1 reactor at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant malfunctioned, causing an explosion that destroyed the outer wall of the reactor building. Many people must have felt shivers of terror as they watched the scene on TV news programs Saturday.
中でも懸念されていた東京電力福島第一原子力発電所１号機のトラブルは、爆発で外壁が崩れる衝撃的展開をみせた。その光景を映し出したテレビ映像に、戦慄を覚えた人は多かったことだろう。
For safety reasons, reactors at nuclear power plants are part of a three-layer structure. The innermost part, the reactor, is inside a container, which is itself housed in a reactor building.
原発は、安全確保のため、三重の構造をしている。最も内側は原子炉で、それを格納容器が覆い、外側に原子炉建屋がある。
It was this outermost part, the reactor building, that was damaged in the explosion.
爆発したのは最も外側の建屋部分だ。
The explosion was believed to have been caused by gas that leaked from the container, but the container was unharmed and continues to serve its purpose, according to TEPCO.
格納容器から漏れたガスが原因だが、格納容器は無事で機能も維持できているという。
However, the cooling system at the No. 1 reactor had not been functioning immediately after the great earthquake. The level of the cooling water decreased dramatically, exposing nuclear fuel rods and probably causing part of the fuel assembly to melt. It was the first serious nuclear incident in this country.
ただ、１号機では地震直後から冷却機能が作動していない。冷却水も減り、核燃料が水上に露出して熱で溶融したらしい。国内初の深刻なトラブルだ。
To deal with the situation, TEPCO decided to inject seawater into the reactor to completely cool it down. TEPCO had been reluctant to do so, because the salt and other substances in the water would made it difficult to operate the reactor in the future.
爆発という異常事態に、東電は、原発のすぐ近くにある海水を炉内に注入し、完全に冷却することを決断した。塩分などを含む海水の利用は運転再開を困難にするため東電はためらってきた。
We believe this decision could have been made much earlier, given the importance of safety first.
安全最優先の原則に照らせば、もっと早く決断することもあり得たのではないか。
===
Crisis management
◆問われる危機管理能力◆
Although the amount was small, radioactive substances were leaked outside the power station, heightening the general public's fears of nuclear contamination. Residents around the power station were forced to evacuate their homes and put to great inconvenience.
微量とは言え、放射性物質が外部に漏れるなど、国民は不安にさらされた。原発周辺の住民も、避難を強いられ、不便な生活を続けている。
We also question how the government has provided important information to citizens.
政府の情報提供のあり方も問われている。
The explosion took place shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano did not officially admit there had been an explosion until about two hours later at a press conference. His announcement that there had been no large leak of radioactive substances and that the explosion did not take place in the reactor container came more than five hours after the explosion.
爆発は、１２日の午後３時半過ぎに発生した。枝野官房長官が記者会見して爆発を公式に認めたのは約２時間後だ。放射性物質の大量漏れはなく、格納容器の爆発でもなかったことを発表したのは５時間余り後だった。
Were these announcements too late? Edano did not mention any important information in his first news conference Saturday, such as the amount of radioactive substances released from the reactor or information about who should evacuate.
これでは、遅すぎるのではないか。しかも、最初の記者会見で枝野長官は、放射能の放出量や避難情報を含め、重大な情報には全く言及しなかった。
TEPCO and the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry should closely cooperate to resolve the problems at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant's No. 1 reactor.
東京電力と経済産業省の原子力安全・保安院は、連携して福島第一原発１号機のトラブルに対処しなければならない。
Even if the scale of this earthquake was beyond the assumed maximum level in terms of quake resistance, lax crisis management should be severely questioned.
今回の地震が想定以上だったとしても、危機管理の甘さは厳しく問われるべきだ。
Nuclear power generation has become the fundamental source of energy in this country. However, the shock wave of the explosion may shake that position to its foundation.
原子力発電は日本の基幹的な電力源となってきた。だが、爆発の衝撃は、その位置づけを足元から揺るがしかねない。
===
Improve accident prevention
The Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania in 1979 caused no significant radioactive contamination outside the facility. However, the partial core meltdown fueled public opinion against nuclear power generation in the United States. No power plants have been built in that nation since the accident.
１９７９年の米スリーマイル島原発事故では、放射能による外部への影響はなかったが、炉心が溶融する異常事態に、原発への逆風が吹いた。この事故以降、米国では原発の新設が止まった。
The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union released large amounts of radioactive substances in that nation and others. More than 30 people were killed, many of them exposed to a considerable amount of radiation when extinguishing fires at the plant, for instance.
Many people developed thyroid cancer after the accident, which also fueled the anti-nuclear power movement, particularly in Europe.
旧ソ連のチェルノブイリ原発で８６年に起きた事故では、原子炉から大量の放射能が世界中に放出された。事故の際の消火活動などで３０人以上が犠牲となったほか、放射能で甲状腺がんになる患者が続出し、欧州を中心に、反原発運動が盛り上がりを見せた。
The government must reinforce its system for preventing accidents at nuclear power plants. If the government makes mistakes in handling such accidents, the utilization of nuclear power stations at home and abroad will be jeopardized.
原発事故を防ぐ体制を強化すべきだ。対応を誤れば、国内外の原発活用が危うくなる。
===
Save stranded survivors
◆孤立住民救出に全力を◆
The number of people killed and missing has been increasing steadily. Many people are still stranded at school facilities, on the roofs of buildings or under debris waiting to be rescued.
死者・行方不明者数も増え続けている。なお大勢の人が学校施設やビルの屋上、あるいはがれきの下などで救助を待っている。
Self-Defense Forces personnel, firefighters and police officers have already begun full-scale rescue and relief operations. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he would mobilize many personnel from SDF garrisons all over the country. His administration announced the dispatch of 50,000 SDF members to quake- and tsunami-hit areas.
自衛隊や消防などが本格的な救助・救援活動を開始した。菅首相は全国の駐屯地から総動員態勢で臨むとし、５万人の自衛官を被災地へ送り込む方針だ。
What evacuees want most is information about the safety of their families and friends. We would like police, as well as central and local authorities, to do their best to reunite people as soon as possible.
避難住民が求めているのは、家族や友人らの安否情報だ。一刻も早く再会できるよう、警察や行政は手を尽くしてほしい。
This is one of the most serious emergencies since World War II, and all the nation's resources must be mobilized for disaster relief.
戦後最大級の非常時に、国の総力を挙げて災害対策に注力する必要がある。
During talks with Kan, all opposition party leaders pledged again to fully cooperate with the government. They even proposed suspending the current Diet session and delaying some of the unified local elections scheduled for April.
与野党党首会談で野党各党は、改めて全面協力する考えを示し、国会の当面休会や統一地方選の一部延期などを提案した。
What is most urgently needed is compilation of a large-scale supplementary budget to help quake-hit areas recover.
最も急がれるのは、災害から復興するための大規模な補正予算の編成である。
The reserve fund for the fiscal 2010 budget only has about 200 billion yen left, not enough for sufficient recovery measures.
２０１０年度予算の予備費は、２０００億円ほどしか残っていない。これでは本格的な対策を実施するのに全く足りない。
Both the ruling and opposition parties should compile a concrete proposal for the supplementary budget, including how to secure revenue.
与野党は財源の確保を含め、補正予算の具体案を早急にまとめなければならない。
They should pass the budget at the Diet as soon as possible and then turn to implementing the measures.
国会でできるだけ早く議決し、実施に移すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2011)
（2011年3月13日01時12分 読売新聞）
原発メルトダウン関連です。
今作業中の自衛官は、放射線量が1200マイクロシーベルトを超えてる事実はつたわっているか？
ブログ友から質問が届きました。
スラチャイの返信です。
このレベルは胃のレントゲン撮影を３回くらい受けたときのレベルだと言ってました。
午後１時過ぎにこのレベルに達しましたが現在では２００くらいで安定している。
自衛隊に伝わっているかどうかは報道されていません。
３号機、なぜこうなったのか？
推測ですが、あくまで最後まで真水にこだわり、機器を守ろうとした。
ポンプの故障を理由にあげているが、これはウソ。
ポンプはこの場面で故障しません。
海水に切り替えるのに躊躇した。
真水がなくなって炉心部の温度があがる限界まで我慢した。
その結果、外部に放出される放射線量がふえた。
最終的にここであきらめて海水を注入した。
それで現在炉心部の温度は下がって、放射線量も減ってきた。
これで間違いないと思います。
スラチャイは現場で数々のポンプを使ってきました。
スラチャイの目はごまかせません＾＾。
1200マイクロシーベルトは軽いというニュアンスの報道はウソ。
胃のレントゲンは瞬時。
瞬時*３回を1200マイクロシーベルト環境に長時間居るのと同じように報道している。
なぜ被爆者が２２人も出たのか？
時間のなせる技だと思います。
（スラチャイ記）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 14, 2011)
Make no mistakes handling N-accident
東日本巨大地震 原発事故の対応を誤るな（3月13日付・読売社説）
◆政府と各党は救援・復興策を急げ◆
The horrible damage caused by the massive earthquake that struck a wide area of eastern Japan on Friday has gradually become clear.
東日本巨大地震の、すさまじい被災状況が次々明らかになってきた。
Coastal cities and towns in three prefectures in the Tohoku region--Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima--have been devastated.
壊滅的な被害を受けたのは、岩手、宮城、福島など東北各県の太平洋岸の街だ。
Large tsunamis struck only minutes to several dozen minutes after the Tohoku Pacific Offshore Earthquake occurred, washing away houses and automobiles. The tsunamis even swept ships and boats inland.
地震の数分から数十分後に大津波に襲われ、住宅など建物のほか自動車、船舶までが内陸に押し上げられた。
Many fires also were reported. In Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, the center of the city was almost completely destroyed.
火災も発生し、宮城県気仙沼市は、中心部がほぼ全滅した。
In Minami-Sanrikucho, about 10,000 of the town's total 17,300 residents were missing.
南三陸町では約１万人が行方不明になっている。
===
Safety must come first
◆大切な安全優先の原則◆
In a shocking development, the cooling system for the No. 1 reactor at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant malfunctioned, causing an explosion that destroyed the outer wall of the reactor building. Many people must have felt shivers of terror as they watched the scene on TV news programs Saturday.
中でも懸念されていた東京電力福島第一原子力発電所１号機のトラブルは、爆発で外壁が崩れる衝撃的展開をみせた。その光景を映し出したテレビ映像に、戦慄を覚えた人は多かったことだろう。
For safety reasons, reactors at nuclear power plants are part of a three-layer structure. The innermost part, the reactor, is inside a container, which is itself housed in a reactor building.
原発は、安全確保のため、三重の構造をしている。最も内側は原子炉で、それを格納容器が覆い、外側に原子炉建屋がある。
It was this outermost part, the reactor building, that was damaged in the explosion.
爆発したのは最も外側の建屋部分だ。
The explosion was believed to have been caused by gas that leaked from the container, but the container was unharmed and continues to serve its purpose, according to TEPCO.
格納容器から漏れたガスが原因だが、格納容器は無事で機能も維持できているという。
However, the cooling system at the No. 1 reactor had not been functioning immediately after the great earthquake. The level of the cooling water decreased dramatically, exposing nuclear fuel rods and probably causing part of the fuel assembly to melt. It was the first serious nuclear incident in this country.
ただ、１号機では地震直後から冷却機能が作動していない。冷却水も減り、核燃料が水上に露出して熱で溶融したらしい。国内初の深刻なトラブルだ。
To deal with the situation, TEPCO decided to inject seawater into the reactor to completely cool it down. TEPCO had been reluctant to do so, because the salt and other substances in the water would made it difficult to operate the reactor in the future.
爆発という異常事態に、東電は、原発のすぐ近くにある海水を炉内に注入し、完全に冷却することを決断した。塩分などを含む海水の利用は運転再開を困難にするため東電はためらってきた。
We believe this decision could have been made much earlier, given the importance of safety first.
安全最優先の原則に照らせば、もっと早く決断することもあり得たのではないか。
===
Crisis management
◆問われる危機管理能力◆
Although the amount was small, radioactive substances were leaked outside the power station, heightening the general public's fears of nuclear contamination. Residents around the power station were forced to evacuate their homes and put to great inconvenience.
微量とは言え、放射性物質が外部に漏れるなど、国民は不安にさらされた。原発周辺の住民も、避難を強いられ、不便な生活を続けている。
We also question how the government has provided important information to citizens.
政府の情報提供のあり方も問われている。
The explosion took place shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday, but Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano did not officially admit there had been an explosion until about two hours later at a press conference. His announcement that there had been no large leak of radioactive substances and that the explosion did not take place in the reactor container came more than five hours after the explosion.
爆発は、１２日の午後３時半過ぎに発生した。枝野官房長官が記者会見して爆発を公式に認めたのは約２時間後だ。放射性物質の大量漏れはなく、格納容器の爆発でもなかったことを発表したのは５時間余り後だった。
Were these announcements too late? Edano did not mention any important information in his first news conference Saturday, such as the amount of radioactive substances released from the reactor or information about who should evacuate.
これでは、遅すぎるのではないか。しかも、最初の記者会見で枝野長官は、放射能の放出量や避難情報を含め、重大な情報には全く言及しなかった。
TEPCO and the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry should closely cooperate to resolve the problems at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant's No. 1 reactor.
東京電力と経済産業省の原子力安全・保安院は、連携して福島第一原発１号機のトラブルに対処しなければならない。
Even if the scale of this earthquake was beyond the assumed maximum level in terms of quake resistance, lax crisis management should be severely questioned.
今回の地震が想定以上だったとしても、危機管理の甘さは厳しく問われるべきだ。
Nuclear power generation has become the fundamental source of energy in this country. However, the shock wave of the explosion may shake that position to its foundation.
原子力発電は日本の基幹的な電力源となってきた。だが、爆発の衝撃は、その位置づけを足元から揺るがしかねない。
===
Improve accident prevention
The Three Mile Island nuclear accident in Pennsylvania in 1979 caused no significant radioactive contamination outside the facility. However, the partial core meltdown fueled public opinion against nuclear power generation in the United States. No power plants have been built in that nation since the accident.
１９７９年の米スリーマイル島原発事故では、放射能による外部への影響はなかったが、炉心が溶融する異常事態に、原発への逆風が吹いた。この事故以降、米国では原発の新設が止まった。
The 1986 accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union released large amounts of radioactive substances in that nation and others. More than 30 people were killed, many of them exposed to a considerable amount of radiation when extinguishing fires at the plant, for instance.
Many people developed thyroid cancer after the accident, which also fueled the anti-nuclear power movement, particularly in Europe.
旧ソ連のチェルノブイリ原発で８６年に起きた事故では、原子炉から大量の放射能が世界中に放出された。事故の際の消火活動などで３０人以上が犠牲となったほか、放射能で甲状腺がんになる患者が続出し、欧州を中心に、反原発運動が盛り上がりを見せた。
The government must reinforce its system for preventing accidents at nuclear power plants. If the government makes mistakes in handling such accidents, the utilization of nuclear power stations at home and abroad will be jeopardized.
原発事故を防ぐ体制を強化すべきだ。対応を誤れば、国内外の原発活用が危うくなる。
===
Save stranded survivors
◆孤立住民救出に全力を◆
The number of people killed and missing has been increasing steadily. Many people are still stranded at school facilities, on the roofs of buildings or under debris waiting to be rescued.
死者・行方不明者数も増え続けている。なお大勢の人が学校施設やビルの屋上、あるいはがれきの下などで救助を待っている。
Self-Defense Forces personnel, firefighters and police officers have already begun full-scale rescue and relief operations. Prime Minister Naoto Kan said he would mobilize many personnel from SDF garrisons all over the country. His administration announced the dispatch of 50,000 SDF members to quake- and tsunami-hit areas.
自衛隊や消防などが本格的な救助・救援活動を開始した。菅首相は全国の駐屯地から総動員態勢で臨むとし、５万人の自衛官を被災地へ送り込む方針だ。
What evacuees want most is information about the safety of their families and friends. We would like police, as well as central and local authorities, to do their best to reunite people as soon as possible.
避難住民が求めているのは、家族や友人らの安否情報だ。一刻も早く再会できるよう、警察や行政は手を尽くしてほしい。
This is one of the most serious emergencies since World War II, and all the nation's resources must be mobilized for disaster relief.
戦後最大級の非常時に、国の総力を挙げて災害対策に注力する必要がある。
During talks with Kan, all opposition party leaders pledged again to fully cooperate with the government. They even proposed suspending the current Diet session and delaying some of the unified local elections scheduled for April.
与野党党首会談で野党各党は、改めて全面協力する考えを示し、国会の当面休会や統一地方選の一部延期などを提案した。
What is most urgently needed is compilation of a large-scale supplementary budget to help quake-hit areas recover.
最も急がれるのは、災害から復興するための大規模な補正予算の編成である。
The reserve fund for the fiscal 2010 budget only has about 200 billion yen left, not enough for sufficient recovery measures.
２０１０年度予算の予備費は、２０００億円ほどしか残っていない。これでは本格的な対策を実施するのに全く足りない。
Both the ruling and opposition parties should compile a concrete proposal for the supplementary budget, including how to secure revenue.
与野党は財源の確保を含め、補正予算の具体案を早急にまとめなければならない。
They should pass the budget at the Diet as soon as possible and then turn to implementing the measures.
国会でできるだけ早く議決し、実施に移すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2011)
（2011年3月13日01時12分 読売新聞）
登録:
投稿 (Atom)