(Mainichi Japan) April 25, 2011
How did Japan's nuclear industry become so arrogant?
記者の目：「原子力ムラ」の閉鎖的体質＝日野行介（大阪社会部）
◇事故の背景に、批判拒む傲慢さ
What has stood out at the countless press conferences by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) of Japan that I've attended in covering the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant, is the rampant use of cliches such as "unanticipated state of affairs" and "unprecedented natural disaster."
東京電力福島第１原発の事故の取材応援で、東電や経済産業省原子力安全・保安院、内閣府原子力安全委員会の記者会見に何度も出席した。そこで強く疑問に感じたのは、「想定外の事態」や「未曽有の天災」という決まり文句を盾に、決して非を認めようとしない専門家たちの無反省ぶりだ。
The excuses made by the organizations involved go to show that so-called nuclear power experts have no intention to self reflect or admit their shortcomings.
It was this self-righteousness -- evidenced over the years in the industry's suppression of unfavorable warnings and criticisms, as well as in their imposition of the claim that the safety of nuclear energy was self evident -- that lay down the groundwork for the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant.
これまで不都合な警告や批判を封じ込め、「安全」を自明のものとして押し付けてきた業界の独善的体質が今回の事故の背景にあると思える。
◇言葉は丁寧だが決して非認めず
At press conferences, TEPCO officials repeatedly express their "deep apologies" for the trouble caused to the Japanese people. However, as soon as reporters' questions turn to the actual safety of nuclear power stations -- about which they had long boasted a multilayered safety system referred to as "defense in depth" -- they begin to act coolly. Their speech may feign civility, but they never admit to any wrongdoing and merely keep insisting the righteousness of their own claims. When particularly unflattering questions are posed to them, some TEPCO executives glower at the reporters who dared to ask and give only a brusque response.
「大変なご心配をおかけして申し訳ありません」。東電の記者会見は必ずと言っていいほど謝罪の言葉が出る。だが、「多重防護」を誇ってきたはずの原発の安全性自体に疑問が及ぶと、会見する幹部の態度は途端に硬くなる。言葉は丁寧だが、非は決して認めず、自分たちの言い分だけを強調する。都合の悪い質問には、記者をにらみつけながら木で鼻をくくったような対応をする幹部もいる。
Video footage of these press conferences, accessible via television broadcasts and the Internet, combined with disappointment with the government for its mishandling of the disaster, has fed the public's skepticism about the reliability and honesty of industry and political leaders.
こうした会見の模様はテレビやインターネット動画でそのまま報道され、政府の対応への不信とも相まって、国民は「本当に大丈夫なのか」「うそをついているのではないか」と疑念を募らせている。
Between 2002 and 2005, I was posted to the Fukui Prefecture city of Tsuruga, which hosts 15 nuclear reactors along Wakasa Bay. The area is dubbed Genpatsu Ginza (Nuclear Ginza) -- after the upscale Tokyo shopping district that is home to many shops and department stores -- for the its abundance of nuclear power plants, and a lot of the bureau's important reporting has concerned the nuclear power plants.
私は０２年から３年間、若狭湾に原発１５基が林立する福井県敦賀市に勤務した。「原発銀座」と称される地域で、取材の最重要テーマが原発だった。
The many nuclear power engineers and researchers I met while based in Tsuruga did not leave a good impression on me. They generally did not provide sufficient answers to questions that could put them and nuclear energy in a negative light, and were arrogant enough to turn a deaf ear to any criticism that may be aimed at them.
取材で接した原子力の技術者・研究者たちの印象は決して芳しいものではない。都合の悪い問いにまともに答えず、批判的な意見に耳を貸さない尊大ぶりが印象に残った。
When the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court handed down a ruling in January 2003 nullifying permission that had previously been given for the construction of the prototype Monju fast breeder reactor (FBR), electrical power companies and researchers involved in the power industry were up in arms. At a debate about the court ruling, a university professor who was a proponent of nuclear energy employed his knowledge of specialized terminology to talk down an opposition-party Diet member. Later on, I witnessed the professor and some cronies smirk in the corner of the room as they muttered, "Take that, you amateurs."
高速増殖原型炉「もんじゅ」（敦賀市）の設置許可を無効とした名古屋高裁金沢支部判決（０３年１月）の際には、電力会社や研究者が業界を挙げて判決を攻撃した。判決に関する討論会で、推進派の大学教授が専門用語を駆使して野党の国会議員をやり込めた後、会場の片隅で「素人のくせに」と仲間内で笑い合っているのを見た。
Several years ago, a regional television broadcaster that featured a researcher critical of nuclear energy in a documentary drew strong protest from a local utility firm, which argued that the show was based on a misunderstanding of nuclear energy. Although the program did not directly criticize the utility firm, the broadcaster was unable to ignore the claims of the company, one of its major sponsors. It was made to promise to dispatch reporters to nuclear power plants on a regular basis.
ある地方テレビ局が数年前、原子力に批判的な研究者をドキュメンタリー番組で取り上げたところ、地元電力会社が「原子力を理解していない」と猛烈に抗議した。番組はこの電力会社を直接批判する内容ではなかったが、テレビ局は広告主の抗議を無視できず、記者による定期的な原発見学を約束した。
An executive at the power company whom I interviewed about the case said, "An understanding of how safe nuclear power stations are was lacking. What we wanted was repentance (from the broadcaster)." TEPCO officials that I've recently been observing at press conferences remind me of that pompous power company executive.
この件について取材した私に、電力会社の役員は「（原発が）いかに安全か理解していない。『反省しろ』ということだ」と言い放った。その傲慢な態度は、今回の事故を巡る会見で見た東電幹部と重なり合う。
◇官民にまたがる狭い人脈社会
So how did the industry become what it is now?
なぜ、こんな体質が醸成されるのだろうか。
Tetsunari Iida, a former nuclear engineer who currently heads the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, says that the industry is dominated by a closely-knit nuclear establishment. Those who graduate from universities and graduate from schools with degrees in nuclear power engineering go on to work at power companies, energy-related manufacturers, or municipalities that host nuclear power stations. Everything comes down to personal networks, and who the graduating students go on to work for is largely influenced by the connections and interests of the students' professors. Regardless of whether the employers are public or private organizations, the newly inducted engineers are raised to become full-fledged members of the nuclear establishment.
原子力の技術者だった飯田哲也・環境エネルギー政策研究所長は、業界の実態を「原子力村（ムラ）」と名付けた。大学や大学院で原子力を学んだ学生は、電力会社やメーカーに就職したり、国や立地自治体の技官になる。就職先は担当教官の意向で決まることが多い人脈社会で、彼らは官民に分かれても「ムラ」の一員として育っていく。
Accidents involving nuclear power plants are widely covered by the press, and are subject to intense criticism from citizens' groups. Because the nuclear establishment takes on a victim mentality when subjected to such pressure, it one-sidedly labels criticism from opponents as "opinions of mere laypersons," further reinforcing its self-righteous opinion of itself as the experts.
原発関係の事故はメディアで大きく報じられる。市民団体などの批判にさらされることも多い。“被害者意識”から、彼らは批判を「素人の意見」だと一方的に決めつけ、独善的な専門家意識を強めていくのだろう。
Nuclear safety regulation in Japan is ostensibly covered under a "double-check" system, but in practice, the system has not functioned sufficiently. Since both those in a position to be checked and those in a position to do the checking come from the same establishment, they are motivated to take action that will protect their common interests. As for NISA, there's a fundamental structural problem in that it is but an arm of METI, the government ministry in charge of promoting nuclear power generation.
原発の安全規制は、保安院と原子力安全委員会による「ダブルチェック」体制とされる。しかし現実には十分機能していない。チェックする方も、される方も、同じ「ムラ」の構成員なので、業界全体の利益を守ろうという意識が働く。保安院に至っては、原発を推進する経産省に属するという構造的問題を抱えている。
A comparison of the agencies overseeing nuclear energy in Japan and the U.S., respectively, is also telling. While the U.S. agency is called the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), its Japanese counterpart is called the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA). The conclusion we can reach from this is that by focusing so much on promoting the "safety" of nuclear energy, "regulation" and "supervision" have been left on the back burner.
組織の名称にしても、米国は「原子力規制委員会（ＮＲＣ）」なのに、日本の機関には「規制」ではなく「安全」が使われている。「原子力は安全」という宣伝を優先するあまり、規制や監視という視点が欠落していたとしか思えない。
The ongoing disaster in Fukushima has finally built momentum behind a discussion to split NISA from METI. There is no question that such a measure is necessary, but mere reshuffling cannot change the fundamental nature of those involved.
今回の事故を受け、保安院を経産省から分離する組織改革がようやく検討される見通しとなった。必要なことだとは思うが、組織いじりだけでは専門家たちの体質を変えていくことはできない。
We are guilty of having relegated -- up until now -- the issue of nuclear energy as a world away, and a field best left to "experts" in the nuclear establishment. But the still unfolding crisis has made us painfully aware how closely linked nuclear energy is to our lives, from concerns over radiation exposure to power shortages. We no longer have the choice to remain apathetic. (By Kosuke Hino, Osaka City News Department)
これまで私たちは原子力の問題を「専門家の世界だから」と、直視することを避け、「ムラ」に委ねすぎてきた。だが今回の事故で、放射能への不安から電力不足問題に至るまで、原子力が一人一人の生活に密接にかかわることが明白になった。もう無関心は許されない。
毎日新聞 2011年4月21日 東京朝刊
2011/04/26
2011/04/25
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災前の自分に戻る
(Mainichi Japan) April 24, 2011
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Returning to our pre-earthquake selves
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災前の自分に戻る ／東京
Since the earthquake, I have called for people to live their lives like they did before the disaster as much as possible. I recently thought about how I myself have done on that front.
震災以来、「なるべくいつも通りの生活を」と呼びかけてきたが、私自身、どうだろうとふと考えてみた。
Thinking about it, I realized a few things. One is that when I've gone to bookstores recently, I haven't been buying novels or medical books like usual. Instead I end up buying nothing but magazines related to the earthquake or the nuclear plant disaster. Another thing I realized was that, even though I've been telling people to "distract themselves for even a little while with a movie or music," I myself haven't set foot in a movie theater.
そういえば、本屋さんに寄ってもなかなか小説や医学の専門書を手に取る気にならず、気がつけば地震や原発について書かれた雑誌ばかり買っている。「映画や音楽でひとときでも気をまぎらわせて」と言っているのに、映画館にも行っていない。
And, I realized that when my job at the hospital is over and I get myself ready to write an article like this, I end up writing about the earthquake disaster even if I didn't plan on it. It all showed me that my life is not back to its predisaster ways.
病院での仕事が終わってこうして原稿を書こうとすると、つい震災のことを書いてしまう。「なんだ、私もまだ平常通りの生活に戻ってないじゃないか」とちょっと反省した。
Last week I had a chance to go to Sendai, one month having passed since the earthquake. I met a friend from my high-school years who is now working as a researcher. She said that since the earthquake, she has been busy checking on the safety of her students and getting her lab equipment back in order. Keeping a cheerful mood, she said she was borrowing the bath of her friend's house because the gas line at her own house was still out.
先週、震災から１カ月を経た仙台に行く機会があり、現地の大学で研究生活を送る高校の同級生に会った。彼女は学生の安否確認やめちゃめちゃになった実験設備の修復に追われている、と言う。「ガスもまだ復旧してないから、お風呂は友だちの家で借りてるんだけどね」と明るく笑う彼女に、私は尋ねてみた。
I asked her, "Has your life completely changed because of the earthquake? These days, how much of your time is spent dealing with things like the aftermath of the earthquake and preparing for aftershocks? Around 80 percent or so?"
「震災で生活も一変しちゃった？ 今って、地震の後始末や余震への対応が毎日の何割くらいを占めてるの？ ８割くらいがそんな感じ？」
"Hmm," she thought for a second, tilting her head. Then came an unexpected answer: "Maybe around 20 percent."
すると、「うーん」と一瞬、首をひねった彼女から返ってきた答えは、意外なものだった。「２割くらいかな」
She said that, yes, there were lots of earthquake-related things to take care of, but she was also going to international academic conferences and running experiments, just as usual. Her life had not been completely turned upside-down.
たしかに震災に関した用事も多いが、その一方でいつも通り、国際学会に出かけたり実験をしたりもしているという。そうか、すべてが変わってしまったわけじゃないんだ、と私は納得した。
Just because the earthquake happened doesn't mean that we no longer like the food we once did, that the job we took pride in is now meaningless, or that a person with a kind, humor-loving personality must change. Thinking back to who we were before the earthquake, we can try to slowly get back into the things we were interested in, and restart the things we had begun. By doing so, we should be able to feel how our pre- and post-earthquake selves are a continuation of the same existence, and our feelings should change for the better.
これまで好きだった食べものが、震災が起きたからといってきらいになるわけじゃない。やっていた仕事が、突然、無意味なものに変わるわけじゃない。やさしい、ユーモアが好き、といった性格の特徴も同じはず。「震災の前の私はどうだっけ」と思い出して、そのときにハマっていたもの、手がけていたものを、できればまた少しずつ始めてみる。そうして「自分や心は震災前も後も連続しているんだ」と確認するだけで、気分はずいぶん違うのではないだろうか。
For my part, I've recently started to read a book I bought before the earthquake but had been leaving untouched since. It has been as interesting as I hoped, and it made me feel that my pre-disaster self had returned.
私も、震災前に「読もう」と思って買ったままになっている本を読み始めた。それは期待通りの面白さで、３月以前の自分が戻ってくるような気がした。
Aftershocks will continue for some time, and many people will continue to be occupied with the results of the disaster, but I would like people to try saying to themselves, "Be it last year or this year, the person called 'me' is the same." (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
余震も続きまだまだ落ち着かない生活を送る人も多いが、「私という人間は、去年も今年もちっとも変わってないんだ」とつぶやいてみてほしい。
毎日新聞 2011年4月19日 地方版
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Returning to our pre-earthquake selves
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災前の自分に戻る ／東京
Since the earthquake, I have called for people to live their lives like they did before the disaster as much as possible. I recently thought about how I myself have done on that front.
震災以来、「なるべくいつも通りの生活を」と呼びかけてきたが、私自身、どうだろうとふと考えてみた。
Thinking about it, I realized a few things. One is that when I've gone to bookstores recently, I haven't been buying novels or medical books like usual. Instead I end up buying nothing but magazines related to the earthquake or the nuclear plant disaster. Another thing I realized was that, even though I've been telling people to "distract themselves for even a little while with a movie or music," I myself haven't set foot in a movie theater.
そういえば、本屋さんに寄ってもなかなか小説や医学の専門書を手に取る気にならず、気がつけば地震や原発について書かれた雑誌ばかり買っている。「映画や音楽でひとときでも気をまぎらわせて」と言っているのに、映画館にも行っていない。
And, I realized that when my job at the hospital is over and I get myself ready to write an article like this, I end up writing about the earthquake disaster even if I didn't plan on it. It all showed me that my life is not back to its predisaster ways.
病院での仕事が終わってこうして原稿を書こうとすると、つい震災のことを書いてしまう。「なんだ、私もまだ平常通りの生活に戻ってないじゃないか」とちょっと反省した。
Last week I had a chance to go to Sendai, one month having passed since the earthquake. I met a friend from my high-school years who is now working as a researcher. She said that since the earthquake, she has been busy checking on the safety of her students and getting her lab equipment back in order. Keeping a cheerful mood, she said she was borrowing the bath of her friend's house because the gas line at her own house was still out.
先週、震災から１カ月を経た仙台に行く機会があり、現地の大学で研究生活を送る高校の同級生に会った。彼女は学生の安否確認やめちゃめちゃになった実験設備の修復に追われている、と言う。「ガスもまだ復旧してないから、お風呂は友だちの家で借りてるんだけどね」と明るく笑う彼女に、私は尋ねてみた。
I asked her, "Has your life completely changed because of the earthquake? These days, how much of your time is spent dealing with things like the aftermath of the earthquake and preparing for aftershocks? Around 80 percent or so?"
「震災で生活も一変しちゃった？ 今って、地震の後始末や余震への対応が毎日の何割くらいを占めてるの？ ８割くらいがそんな感じ？」
"Hmm," she thought for a second, tilting her head. Then came an unexpected answer: "Maybe around 20 percent."
すると、「うーん」と一瞬、首をひねった彼女から返ってきた答えは、意外なものだった。「２割くらいかな」
She said that, yes, there were lots of earthquake-related things to take care of, but she was also going to international academic conferences and running experiments, just as usual. Her life had not been completely turned upside-down.
たしかに震災に関した用事も多いが、その一方でいつも通り、国際学会に出かけたり実験をしたりもしているという。そうか、すべてが変わってしまったわけじゃないんだ、と私は納得した。
Just because the earthquake happened doesn't mean that we no longer like the food we once did, that the job we took pride in is now meaningless, or that a person with a kind, humor-loving personality must change. Thinking back to who we were before the earthquake, we can try to slowly get back into the things we were interested in, and restart the things we had begun. By doing so, we should be able to feel how our pre- and post-earthquake selves are a continuation of the same existence, and our feelings should change for the better.
これまで好きだった食べものが、震災が起きたからといってきらいになるわけじゃない。やっていた仕事が、突然、無意味なものに変わるわけじゃない。やさしい、ユーモアが好き、といった性格の特徴も同じはず。「震災の前の私はどうだっけ」と思い出して、そのときにハマっていたもの、手がけていたものを、できればまた少しずつ始めてみる。そうして「自分や心は震災前も後も連続しているんだ」と確認するだけで、気分はずいぶん違うのではないだろうか。
For my part, I've recently started to read a book I bought before the earthquake but had been leaving untouched since. It has been as interesting as I hoped, and it made me feel that my pre-disaster self had returned.
私も、震災前に「読もう」と思って買ったままになっている本を読み始めた。それは期待通りの面白さで、３月以前の自分が戻ってくるような気がした。
Aftershocks will continue for some time, and many people will continue to be occupied with the results of the disaster, but I would like people to try saying to themselves, "Be it last year or this year, the person called 'me' is the same." (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
余震も続きまだまだ落ち着かない生活を送る人も多いが、「私という人間は、去年も今年もちっとも変わってないんだ」とつぶやいてみてほしい。
毎日新聞 2011年4月19日 地方版
2011/04/24
義援金の支給 善意を早く被災者の手元に
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 24, 2011)
Quickly pass donations to disaster victims
義援金の支給 善意を早く被災者の手元に（4月23日付・読売社説）
Huge amounts of money have been donated at home and abroad to survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
東日本大震災の被災者に対して、国内や海外から、多くの義援金が寄せられている。
The Japanese Red Cross Society and the Central Community Chest for Japan have collected about 170 billion yen combined, and municipal governments in disaster-stricken areas have directly received donations of more than 20 billion yen.
これまで、日本赤十字社と中央共同募金会に合わせて約１７００億円、被災した自治体にも直接、２００億円以上が集まった。
In the about 40 days since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the money donated has reached about the same amount as that given after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. The nuclear power plant crisis that has compounded the quake disaster has apparently stirred up feelings of sympathy in many people in Japan and overseas and convinced them to open their wallets.
発生から４０日余りで、阪神大震災で寄せられた義援金とほぼ同じ金額に達した。原子力発電所事故を併発した今回の震災に、内外の多くの人が心からの支援の気持ちを寄託したということだろう。
This money, however, has yet to reach disaster victims.
ところが、このお金が、まだ被災者の手元に渡っていない。
Thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters without any belongings, having lost everything in the tsunami. They urgently need money just to get by. We hope the donated cash will reach them as soon as possible.
津波によって何もかも流され、着のみ着のまま避難所にいる人も多い。当座のお金にも困っているはずだ。一刻も早く義援金を配ってもらいたい。
On April 8, the secretariat of the committee in charge of distributing donations, which has been established in the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, decided on distribution details of the first batch of donations. Families will receive 350,000 yen for each person who was killed in the disaster or remains missing, and owners of houses that were destroyed will receive 350,000 yen and people whose homes have been severely damaged will get 180,000 yen.
今回、義援金配分割合決定委員会の事務局は厚生労働省が務め、今月８日に第１次配分の基準額を決めた。亡くなった人の遺族や行方不明の人の家族に３５万円、家の被害は全壊が３５万円、半壊が１８万円――などだ。
===
Distribution too slow
The donations will be distributed based of these criteria. Prefectural governments will add some money of their own before handing the cash to disaster victims through city, town and village governments.
これをもとに被災各県に配分され、県が独自に金額を上乗せするといった手続きを経て、市町村から被災者に渡される。
The reality, however, is that some disaster-struck municipalities have only just started offering application procedures for receiving donations.
だが、ようやく一部自治体で申請手続きが始まったというのが現状である。
After the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the amount of the first distribution of donations was decided 12 days after the disaster, with people whose homes were destroyed receiving 100,000 yen in the initial payouts. Compared with this, decisions on donation distribution criteria and the payment process to victims of last month's quake and tsunami have been pointedly slow. Many people who generously made donations also probably feel frustrated by this situation.
阪神大震災では発生から１２日後に第１次配分額が決まり、家が全半壊した人などにまず１０万円が支給された。それに比べると配分基準の決定も支給も遅い。義援金を託した人の方も、もどかしさを感じているのではないか。
The immense devastation wrought by the disaster has made it all but impossible for many disaster-hit municipalities to accurately assess the damage to individual households. Administrative functions of some city, town and village governments have been so badly eroded that they are unable to address the task of distributing donations.
今回は、被害があまりにも甚大で、世帯ごとの被災状況をまだつかみきれない、という自治体が少なくない。役場の行政機能が大きく損なわれ、義援金の支給まで手が回らない市町村もある。
To alleviate this situation, the central government, prefectural governments outside the disaster zone and other entities should send personnel to lend a hand with clerical work needed to pass donations to disaster survivors.
この面での事務作業にも、国や県、他地域の自治体から応援要員が必要だ。
===
Make payments uniform
We think a uniform provisional payment should be given to people with damaged homes, rather than wasting time worrying over whether a house should be categorized as "destroyed" or "partially damaged."
家屋は全壊か半壊かといった厳格な認定はおいて、暫定的な一律支給も検討すべきではないか。
A closer examination of the degree of damage can wait until the second round of donation distributions.
被害の程度については、第２次以降の配分時までに確定すればいい。
Cash will be very helpful to disaster victims. These initial payments should be made flexibly and swiftly.
とりあえずの金額だけでも被災者は助かるだろう。柔軟なやり方で支給を急ぐべきだ。
Given the staggering death toll and number of people still unaccounted for, as well as the scale of property damage, much more money will need to be collected.
犠牲者の数や被害の大きさを考えれば、より多くの義援金を集める必要がある。
First of all, the initial batch of donations must be distributed without a hitch to people who desperately need it. This will be a springboard for the next round of support and financial aid.
まずは、被災者に最初の義援金を役立ててもらいたい。それが次の支援の原動力になる。
It also will be a message of acknowledgement from Japan to people around the world who have sent their goodwill to disaster victims.
善意を寄せてくれた世界の人たちへ、日本からの感謝のメッセージにもなろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23, 2011)
（2011年4月23日01時26分 読売新聞）
Quickly pass donations to disaster victims
義援金の支給 善意を早く被災者の手元に（4月23日付・読売社説）
Huge amounts of money have been donated at home and abroad to survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake.
東日本大震災の被災者に対して、国内や海外から、多くの義援金が寄せられている。
The Japanese Red Cross Society and the Central Community Chest for Japan have collected about 170 billion yen combined, and municipal governments in disaster-stricken areas have directly received donations of more than 20 billion yen.
これまで、日本赤十字社と中央共同募金会に合わせて約１７００億円、被災した自治体にも直接、２００億円以上が集まった。
In the about 40 days since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the money donated has reached about the same amount as that given after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. The nuclear power plant crisis that has compounded the quake disaster has apparently stirred up feelings of sympathy in many people in Japan and overseas and convinced them to open their wallets.
発生から４０日余りで、阪神大震災で寄せられた義援金とほぼ同じ金額に達した。原子力発電所事故を併発した今回の震災に、内外の多くの人が心からの支援の気持ちを寄託したということだろう。
This money, however, has yet to reach disaster victims.
ところが、このお金が、まだ被災者の手元に渡っていない。
Thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters without any belongings, having lost everything in the tsunami. They urgently need money just to get by. We hope the donated cash will reach them as soon as possible.
津波によって何もかも流され、着のみ着のまま避難所にいる人も多い。当座のお金にも困っているはずだ。一刻も早く義援金を配ってもらいたい。
On April 8, the secretariat of the committee in charge of distributing donations, which has been established in the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, decided on distribution details of the first batch of donations. Families will receive 350,000 yen for each person who was killed in the disaster or remains missing, and owners of houses that were destroyed will receive 350,000 yen and people whose homes have been severely damaged will get 180,000 yen.
今回、義援金配分割合決定委員会の事務局は厚生労働省が務め、今月８日に第１次配分の基準額を決めた。亡くなった人の遺族や行方不明の人の家族に３５万円、家の被害は全壊が３５万円、半壊が１８万円――などだ。
===
Distribution too slow
The donations will be distributed based of these criteria. Prefectural governments will add some money of their own before handing the cash to disaster victims through city, town and village governments.
これをもとに被災各県に配分され、県が独自に金額を上乗せするといった手続きを経て、市町村から被災者に渡される。
The reality, however, is that some disaster-struck municipalities have only just started offering application procedures for receiving donations.
だが、ようやく一部自治体で申請手続きが始まったというのが現状である。
After the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the amount of the first distribution of donations was decided 12 days after the disaster, with people whose homes were destroyed receiving 100,000 yen in the initial payouts. Compared with this, decisions on donation distribution criteria and the payment process to victims of last month's quake and tsunami have been pointedly slow. Many people who generously made donations also probably feel frustrated by this situation.
阪神大震災では発生から１２日後に第１次配分額が決まり、家が全半壊した人などにまず１０万円が支給された。それに比べると配分基準の決定も支給も遅い。義援金を託した人の方も、もどかしさを感じているのではないか。
The immense devastation wrought by the disaster has made it all but impossible for many disaster-hit municipalities to accurately assess the damage to individual households. Administrative functions of some city, town and village governments have been so badly eroded that they are unable to address the task of distributing donations.
今回は、被害があまりにも甚大で、世帯ごとの被災状況をまだつかみきれない、という自治体が少なくない。役場の行政機能が大きく損なわれ、義援金の支給まで手が回らない市町村もある。
To alleviate this situation, the central government, prefectural governments outside the disaster zone and other entities should send personnel to lend a hand with clerical work needed to pass donations to disaster survivors.
この面での事務作業にも、国や県、他地域の自治体から応援要員が必要だ。
===
Make payments uniform
We think a uniform provisional payment should be given to people with damaged homes, rather than wasting time worrying over whether a house should be categorized as "destroyed" or "partially damaged."
家屋は全壊か半壊かといった厳格な認定はおいて、暫定的な一律支給も検討すべきではないか。
A closer examination of the degree of damage can wait until the second round of donation distributions.
被害の程度については、第２次以降の配分時までに確定すればいい。
Cash will be very helpful to disaster victims. These initial payments should be made flexibly and swiftly.
とりあえずの金額だけでも被災者は助かるだろう。柔軟なやり方で支給を急ぐべきだ。
Given the staggering death toll and number of people still unaccounted for, as well as the scale of property damage, much more money will need to be collected.
犠牲者の数や被害の大きさを考えれば、より多くの義援金を集める必要がある。
First of all, the initial batch of donations must be distributed without a hitch to people who desperately need it. This will be a springboard for the next round of support and financial aid.
まずは、被災者に最初の義援金を役立ててもらいたい。それが次の支援の原動力になる。
It also will be a message of acknowledgement from Japan to people around the world who have sent their goodwill to disaster victims.
善意を寄せてくれた世界の人たちへ、日本からの感謝のメッセージにもなろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23, 2011)
（2011年4月23日01時26分 読売新聞）
2011/04/23
３・１１後の外交 萎縮せず国際的役割を果たせ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 23, 2011)
Japan should fulfill global responsibility
３・１１後の外交 萎縮せず国際的役割を果たせ（4月22日付・読売社説）
What foreign policy should Japan conduct in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake?
東日本大震災を踏まえて、日本はどんな外交を展開すべきか。
We think the government should engage actively with the international community without becoming inward-looking. This will strengthen the nation's vitality and advance reconstruction.
内向き姿勢に陥らず、国際社会に積極的に関与することが、国家の活力を高め、復興を進めるうえでも重要となろう。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan held talks with visiting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday. They agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in areas of energy and disaster relief activities. Japan must use such occasions to clearly express its determination toward reconstruction and revitalization.
菅首相が２１日、来日したギラード豪首相と会談し、エネルギーや災害救援の分野で日豪協力を強化することで一致した。こうした場で、日本は復興・再生への決意を明確に発信することが肝要だ。
The foreign ministers of Japan and of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Indonesia on April 9. Indonesia proposed to fellow ASEAN members the idea of holding the special meeting with Japan, saying it was the ASEAN nations' turn to demonstrate solidarity with Japan because it has supported them for many years.
今月９日にはインドネシアで、日本と東南アジア諸国連合の特別外相会議が開かれた。インドネシアが「長年支援してくれた日本に我々が連帯を示す番だ」と開催を呼びかけ、実現したものだ。
Since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, more than 170 countries and international organizations have offered to help Japan, and many have already provided assistance. All of this is because Japan has developed cooperative ties with them and supported them in the past.
震災後、１７０以上の国や国際機関が日本支援を表明・実施しているのは、日本が各国と連携し、援助してきたからこそだ。
===
Keep a global perspective
Reconstruction of areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami will require a huge amount of money and manpower. But Japan must not become so preoccupied with domestic concerns that it ignores its role in the international community and fails to look at things from a global viewpoint.
被災地の復興には、膨大な資金と人手を要するだろう。だが、国内だけに気をとられ、国際的な視点と役割を忘れてはなるまい。
First, the government should minimize reduction of official development assistance.
まず、政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）の削減は極力避けたい。
The government initially considered cutting appropriations for ODA, which were set at 572.7 billion yen in total in the initial budget for fiscal 2011, by 20 percent to free up funds for the first supplementary budget aimed at recovery and reconstruction after the earthquake and tsunami.
政府は、復旧・復興対策の第１次補正予算の財源として、５７２７億円のＯＤＡの２割減を検討した。
The idea of cutting money in an area of least resistance seemed like a simple idea. But many voices were raised against it, forcing the government to downsize the reduction to 10 percent.
削りやすい分野を削るという安易な発想だったが、異論が噴出し、削減幅を１割減に抑えた。
The nation's ODA budget has been decreasing for 12 straight years and is now at only half of its peak. Japan's world ranking in terms of ODA budget also declined from first place to fifth. During that period, Japan's international influence has declined as emerging economies rise.
日本のＯＤＡ予算は１２年連続で減少し、今はピーク時の半分だ。かつての世界１位から５位に転落した。この間、新興国の台頭もあり、日本の発言力は低下した。
The nation has to continue international contributions matching its position as the third largest economic power in the world to maintain its international influence.
国際社会での影響力を維持するには、世界３位の経済大国に見合う貢献を続ける必要がある。
Meanwhile, the government should not postpone a decision on whether to participate in negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade treaty with the other Asian and Pacific countries. Though the Kan administration said it would make a decision on TPP in June, all the negotiating work in Japan and abroad has been suspended in the wake of the disaster.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加問題も、先送りすべきではない。菅政権は６月に結論を出すとしていたが、震災後は国内外の調整作業が止まっている。
Nine countries, including the United States and Australia, are aiming to conclude TPP negotiations in November. We hope Japan will proceed steadily with domestic agricultural reforms and negotiations with concerned countries so that it would not be left behind.
１１月の妥結を目指す米豪など９か国に日本が取り残されないように、国内農業改革や関係国との交渉を着実に進めたい。
===
Let SDF help elsewhere
It is also significant for the nation to maintain engagement with U.N. peacekeeping operations. Self-Defense Forces' performance in dealing with the disaster has been remarkable.
The government should not limit the activities of the SDF to Japan. It should positively consider sending SDF units to Southern Sudan after independence and to other parts of the world to participate in PKOs.
国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）への関与も大切だ。大震災で自衛隊は大きな実績を上げたが、国内活動だけにとどまらず、南部スーダン独立後のＰＫＯなどへの参加を前向きに検討すべきだ。
Cooperation in disaster preparedness and response as well as measures to secure the safety of nuclear power plants will be important agenda items in diplomacy among major countries this year. Attention will focus particularly on Japan's actions in response to its disasters.
今年の主要国の外交では、防災協力と原子力発電所の安全確保が重要議題となる。特に、被災国の日本の行動は注目されよう。
Japan should learn various lessons from its own experiences with the earthquake, tsunami and the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Then, it should lead discussions among major nations by making concrete proposals on what form international cooperation should take. That would be one way to return the favor for their assistance to Japan.
震災や原発事故の体験から様々な教訓をくみ取って、あるべき国際協力について具体的に提言し、議論をリードする。それが、各国の支援への恩返しともなる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2011)
（2011年4月22日01時23分 読売新聞）
Japan should fulfill global responsibility
３・１１後の外交 萎縮せず国際的役割を果たせ（4月22日付・読売社説）
What foreign policy should Japan conduct in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake?
東日本大震災を踏まえて、日本はどんな外交を展開すべきか。
We think the government should engage actively with the international community without becoming inward-looking. This will strengthen the nation's vitality and advance reconstruction.
内向き姿勢に陥らず、国際社会に積極的に関与することが、国家の活力を高め、復興を進めるうえでも重要となろう。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan held talks with visiting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday. They agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in areas of energy and disaster relief activities. Japan must use such occasions to clearly express its determination toward reconstruction and revitalization.
菅首相が２１日、来日したギラード豪首相と会談し、エネルギーや災害救援の分野で日豪協力を強化することで一致した。こうした場で、日本は復興・再生への決意を明確に発信することが肝要だ。
The foreign ministers of Japan and of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Indonesia on April 9. Indonesia proposed to fellow ASEAN members the idea of holding the special meeting with Japan, saying it was the ASEAN nations' turn to demonstrate solidarity with Japan because it has supported them for many years.
今月９日にはインドネシアで、日本と東南アジア諸国連合の特別外相会議が開かれた。インドネシアが「長年支援してくれた日本に我々が連帯を示す番だ」と開催を呼びかけ、実現したものだ。
Since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, more than 170 countries and international organizations have offered to help Japan, and many have already provided assistance. All of this is because Japan has developed cooperative ties with them and supported them in the past.
震災後、１７０以上の国や国際機関が日本支援を表明・実施しているのは、日本が各国と連携し、援助してきたからこそだ。
===
Keep a global perspective
Reconstruction of areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami will require a huge amount of money and manpower. But Japan must not become so preoccupied with domestic concerns that it ignores its role in the international community and fails to look at things from a global viewpoint.
被災地の復興には、膨大な資金と人手を要するだろう。だが、国内だけに気をとられ、国際的な視点と役割を忘れてはなるまい。
First, the government should minimize reduction of official development assistance.
まず、政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）の削減は極力避けたい。
The government initially considered cutting appropriations for ODA, which were set at 572.7 billion yen in total in the initial budget for fiscal 2011, by 20 percent to free up funds for the first supplementary budget aimed at recovery and reconstruction after the earthquake and tsunami.
政府は、復旧・復興対策の第１次補正予算の財源として、５７２７億円のＯＤＡの２割減を検討した。
The idea of cutting money in an area of least resistance seemed like a simple idea. But many voices were raised against it, forcing the government to downsize the reduction to 10 percent.
削りやすい分野を削るという安易な発想だったが、異論が噴出し、削減幅を１割減に抑えた。
The nation's ODA budget has been decreasing for 12 straight years and is now at only half of its peak. Japan's world ranking in terms of ODA budget also declined from first place to fifth. During that period, Japan's international influence has declined as emerging economies rise.
日本のＯＤＡ予算は１２年連続で減少し、今はピーク時の半分だ。かつての世界１位から５位に転落した。この間、新興国の台頭もあり、日本の発言力は低下した。
The nation has to continue international contributions matching its position as the third largest economic power in the world to maintain its international influence.
国際社会での影響力を維持するには、世界３位の経済大国に見合う貢献を続ける必要がある。
Meanwhile, the government should not postpone a decision on whether to participate in negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade treaty with the other Asian and Pacific countries. Though the Kan administration said it would make a decision on TPP in June, all the negotiating work in Japan and abroad has been suspended in the wake of the disaster.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加問題も、先送りすべきではない。菅政権は６月に結論を出すとしていたが、震災後は国内外の調整作業が止まっている。
Nine countries, including the United States and Australia, are aiming to conclude TPP negotiations in November. We hope Japan will proceed steadily with domestic agricultural reforms and negotiations with concerned countries so that it would not be left behind.
１１月の妥結を目指す米豪など９か国に日本が取り残されないように、国内農業改革や関係国との交渉を着実に進めたい。
===
Let SDF help elsewhere
It is also significant for the nation to maintain engagement with U.N. peacekeeping operations. Self-Defense Forces' performance in dealing with the disaster has been remarkable.
The government should not limit the activities of the SDF to Japan. It should positively consider sending SDF units to Southern Sudan after independence and to other parts of the world to participate in PKOs.
国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）への関与も大切だ。大震災で自衛隊は大きな実績を上げたが、国内活動だけにとどまらず、南部スーダン独立後のＰＫＯなどへの参加を前向きに検討すべきだ。
Cooperation in disaster preparedness and response as well as measures to secure the safety of nuclear power plants will be important agenda items in diplomacy among major countries this year. Attention will focus particularly on Japan's actions in response to its disasters.
今年の主要国の外交では、防災協力と原子力発電所の安全確保が重要議題となる。特に、被災国の日本の行動は注目されよう。
Japan should learn various lessons from its own experiences with the earthquake, tsunami and the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Then, it should lead discussions among major nations by making concrete proposals on what form international cooperation should take. That would be one way to return the favor for their assistance to Japan.
震災や原発事故の体験から様々な教訓をくみ取って、あるべき国際協力について具体的に提言し、議論をリードする。それが、各国の支援への恩返しともなる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2011)
（2011年4月22日01時23分 読売新聞）
2011/04/22
原発作業員 工程表に「人」の支援も
(Mainichi Japan) April 21, 2011
TEPCO should incorporate measures to support workers in nuke plant roadmap
社説：原発作業員 工程表に「人」の支援も
The Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, hit hard by a massive tsunami generated by the March 11 earthquake, has managed to avoid catastrophe thanks to the efforts of workers who are trying hard to place the power station under control.
福島第１原発がなんとか事態の悪化を免れているのは、現場で必死の作業をしている人々のおかげだ。
More than 40 days have passed since the plant was hit by the disaster, and workers' fatigue and stress have certainly reached an alarming level.
事故発生から４０日を過ぎ、彼らの疲れもストレスも、ぎりぎりのところまで高まっているに違いない。
It is expected to take six to nine months before the plant can be placed under control, according to a roadmap released earlier this week by its operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO).
東電が今週公表した工程表では、原発が一定の安定を保つ「冷温停止」までに６～９カ月かかるという。
However, it is feared that the work will actually take far longer.
しかし、実際にはもっと長期間かかる可能性が高い。
Photos taken by remote-controlled robots illustrate severe conditions in the buildings housing the crippled reactors.
ロボットを使った建屋の撮影などでも厳しい環境が改めて明らかになっている。
Many of the workers are crying out for help.
こうした状況の中で一歩ずつ歩みを進めていくには、現場で作業する人々への支援がなにより大事だ。
しかし、現場から聞こえてくるのは胸の痛むような実態だ。
It is extremely important for TEPCO and the government to step up support for employees who are working hard under such severe conditions.
東京電力や政府は、もっと強力な支援体制作りを急がなくてはいけない。
A doctor who inspected TEPCO employees working at the plant has revealed that they are forced to sleep at a gymnasium attached to the Fukushima No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant after working at the No. 1 plant.
東電社員を現場で診察した産業医によると、福島第１で作業を終えた人は第２原発の体育館で雑魚寝している。
They cannot take a bath everyday and eat mostly canned and instant food.
入浴できる日も限られ、食事は缶詰やレトルトが中心だという。
Furthermore, many of them have been evacuated from their home situated in disaster-hit areas or had their residences damaged, and are mentally distressed.
自らが被災者の人も多く、精神的にも厳しい状況に置かれている。
TEPCO subcontract workers are also engaged in efforts to place the crippled plant under control.
現場では下請け会社の人々も働く。
The company should ensure that all its workers have proper food and can take a bath on a daily basis, and that they can receive mental care.
すべての人に、食事や入浴といった基本的生活に加え、心理面のケアを提供してほしい。
A system should be created to allow workers to receive treatment from mental health specialists.
誰もが産業医の診察を受けられる体制も必要だ。
The severity of the labor that the workers are engaged in while being dressed in sealed-up protective gear is beyond imagination.
目張りした防護服に身を包んでの作業の厳しさも並大抵ではない。
The rainy season will begin in June, which will be followed by summer.
これから梅雨に入り、その後には夏がくる。
An urgent task is to consider how work can be carried out in a suitable manner that reflects the climate and seasons.
気候に合わせた作業の在り方の検討も急を要する。
It is the job of TEPCO management as well as its task force to implement measures to improve the working environment for the workers.
こうした体制作りは、東電本社や対策本部の仕事だ。
They must promptly take action before the workers start making demands.
現場からの要求を待つのではなく、先回りして手を打っていかなくてはいけない。
The lack of management's understanding of the working environment at the plant could lead to a blunder or a delay in the work.
現場に対する想像力の欠如は、作業のミスや停滞につながる。
Even after TEPCO manages to place the plant under control, it does not mean an end to the work.
原発を冷温停止に持ち込めても、作業は終わらない。
It will take many years to decontaminate the facility and remove radioactive substances and fuel from the plant.
施設の除染や放射性廃棄物の撤去、燃料の取り出しなどに長い年月がかかる。
Similar work lasted for 14 years following the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant crisis that occurred in the United States in 1979.
７９年に米国で起きたスリーマイル島原発事故では、こうした作業が終わるまでに１４年かかった。
It is anticipated the work at the Fukushima plant will take longer.
福島第１ではさらに長くかかるだろう。
Considering the need to secure help from skilled workers, it is necessary to monitor the level of radiation exposure.
長期にわたって熟練した作業員の力を借りる必要があることを思えば、放射線管理も注意深く行わなくてはいけない。
It must be ensured that all workers carry dosimeters.
被ばく量を測る線量計が個人個人に行きわたらないようなことがあってはならない。
If the work is prolonged, the power supplier will be forced to suspend workers at the plant one after another to prevent them from being exposed to radiation in excess of the legal limit, causing a serious shortage of personnel. 作業が長引けば、被ばく量が限度を超える人が続出し、人手が足りなくなることもありうる。
To avoid such a situation, TEPCO must work out a plan on personnel management from a long-term perspective. そうしたことがないよう、長期的視点で計画を立てるべきだ。
It may also have to train new workers.
新たに人材を育成する必要もあるかもしれない。
TEPCO's roadmap only mentions equipment at the plant.
工程表には設備のことしか書かれていない。
However, it is human resources that will place the plant under control.
しかし、事故を収束させるのは人だ。
Therefore, measures to extend support for workers should be incorporated in the roadmap.
作業員の支援は工程表に盛り込んでしかるべきだ。
毎日新聞 2011年4月21日 東京朝刊
TEPCO should incorporate measures to support workers in nuke plant roadmap
社説：原発作業員 工程表に「人」の支援も
The Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, hit hard by a massive tsunami generated by the March 11 earthquake, has managed to avoid catastrophe thanks to the efforts of workers who are trying hard to place the power station under control.
福島第１原発がなんとか事態の悪化を免れているのは、現場で必死の作業をしている人々のおかげだ。
More than 40 days have passed since the plant was hit by the disaster, and workers' fatigue and stress have certainly reached an alarming level.
事故発生から４０日を過ぎ、彼らの疲れもストレスも、ぎりぎりのところまで高まっているに違いない。
It is expected to take six to nine months before the plant can be placed under control, according to a roadmap released earlier this week by its operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO).
東電が今週公表した工程表では、原発が一定の安定を保つ「冷温停止」までに６～９カ月かかるという。
However, it is feared that the work will actually take far longer.
しかし、実際にはもっと長期間かかる可能性が高い。
Photos taken by remote-controlled robots illustrate severe conditions in the buildings housing the crippled reactors.
ロボットを使った建屋の撮影などでも厳しい環境が改めて明らかになっている。
Many of the workers are crying out for help.
こうした状況の中で一歩ずつ歩みを進めていくには、現場で作業する人々への支援がなにより大事だ。
しかし、現場から聞こえてくるのは胸の痛むような実態だ。
It is extremely important for TEPCO and the government to step up support for employees who are working hard under such severe conditions.
東京電力や政府は、もっと強力な支援体制作りを急がなくてはいけない。
A doctor who inspected TEPCO employees working at the plant has revealed that they are forced to sleep at a gymnasium attached to the Fukushima No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant after working at the No. 1 plant.
東電社員を現場で診察した産業医によると、福島第１で作業を終えた人は第２原発の体育館で雑魚寝している。
They cannot take a bath everyday and eat mostly canned and instant food.
入浴できる日も限られ、食事は缶詰やレトルトが中心だという。
Furthermore, many of them have been evacuated from their home situated in disaster-hit areas or had their residences damaged, and are mentally distressed.
自らが被災者の人も多く、精神的にも厳しい状況に置かれている。
TEPCO subcontract workers are also engaged in efforts to place the crippled plant under control.
現場では下請け会社の人々も働く。
The company should ensure that all its workers have proper food and can take a bath on a daily basis, and that they can receive mental care.
すべての人に、食事や入浴といった基本的生活に加え、心理面のケアを提供してほしい。
A system should be created to allow workers to receive treatment from mental health specialists.
誰もが産業医の診察を受けられる体制も必要だ。
The severity of the labor that the workers are engaged in while being dressed in sealed-up protective gear is beyond imagination.
目張りした防護服に身を包んでの作業の厳しさも並大抵ではない。
The rainy season will begin in June, which will be followed by summer.
これから梅雨に入り、その後には夏がくる。
An urgent task is to consider how work can be carried out in a suitable manner that reflects the climate and seasons.
気候に合わせた作業の在り方の検討も急を要する。
It is the job of TEPCO management as well as its task force to implement measures to improve the working environment for the workers.
こうした体制作りは、東電本社や対策本部の仕事だ。
They must promptly take action before the workers start making demands.
現場からの要求を待つのではなく、先回りして手を打っていかなくてはいけない。
The lack of management's understanding of the working environment at the plant could lead to a blunder or a delay in the work.
現場に対する想像力の欠如は、作業のミスや停滞につながる。
Even after TEPCO manages to place the plant under control, it does not mean an end to the work.
原発を冷温停止に持ち込めても、作業は終わらない。
It will take many years to decontaminate the facility and remove radioactive substances and fuel from the plant.
施設の除染や放射性廃棄物の撤去、燃料の取り出しなどに長い年月がかかる。
Similar work lasted for 14 years following the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant crisis that occurred in the United States in 1979.
７９年に米国で起きたスリーマイル島原発事故では、こうした作業が終わるまでに１４年かかった。
It is anticipated the work at the Fukushima plant will take longer.
福島第１ではさらに長くかかるだろう。
Considering the need to secure help from skilled workers, it is necessary to monitor the level of radiation exposure.
長期にわたって熟練した作業員の力を借りる必要があることを思えば、放射線管理も注意深く行わなくてはいけない。
It must be ensured that all workers carry dosimeters.
被ばく量を測る線量計が個人個人に行きわたらないようなことがあってはならない。
If the work is prolonged, the power supplier will be forced to suspend workers at the plant one after another to prevent them from being exposed to radiation in excess of the legal limit, causing a serious shortage of personnel. 作業が長引けば、被ばく量が限度を超える人が続出し、人手が足りなくなることもありうる。
To avoid such a situation, TEPCO must work out a plan on personnel management from a long-term perspective. そうしたことがないよう、長期的視点で計画を立てるべきだ。
It may also have to train new workers.
新たに人材を育成する必要もあるかもしれない。
TEPCO's roadmap only mentions equipment at the plant.
工程表には設備のことしか書かれていない。
However, it is human resources that will place the plant under control.
しかし、事故を収束させるのは人だ。
Therefore, measures to extend support for workers should be incorporated in the roadmap.
作業員の支援は工程表に盛り込んでしかるべきだ。
毎日新聞 2011年4月21日 東京朝刊
2011/04/21
原発工程表―これ以上悪くせず前へ
2011/04/20
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 19
EDITORIAL: TEPCO must prepare for additional risks in taming Fukushima crisis
原発工程表―これ以上悪くせず前へ
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has set a specific time frame for its long battle to end the nuclear crisis. The company on April 17 unveiled a road map for stabilizing the dangerous situation at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
「長い闘い」の長さが、数字で見えてきた。福島第一原発の事故収束をめぐって、東京電力が発表した工程表である。
In the first stage of the plan, which will take about three months, measures will be taken to ensure stable and safe cooling of the damaged reactors and spent fuel pools.
３カ月くらいかけて、事故炉や燃料プールを安定して冷却できるようにする。
In the second stage, steps will be made to bring the reactors to a stable state of cold shutdown in a process expected to require three to six months to complete.
その後３～６カ月ほどで、炉を冷温停止状態に落ち着かせる。
It will take even longer to rebuild the lives of people living in areas around the ravaged nuclear power plant.
TEPCO admitted for the first time that it will take as many as six to nine months just to put the sources of radioactivity under control, which is a prerequisite for Fukushima evacuees to return home and restart their lives.
原発周辺の人々の生活再建はさらに長い闘いになるが、その前提である放射能源の制圧だけでも６～９カ月かかることを、東電は初めて認めた。
The continuous pouring of water on the reactors and the pools have prevented the No. 1 to No. 4 units at the plant from running out of control.
福島第一の１～４号機は今、炉やプールに水を注ぎ続けることで小康が保たれている。
If this makeshift measure fails, the risk of a massive release of radioactive materials will grow sharply, forcing the government to reconsider again its policy concerning the evacuation of residents in the surrounding areas.
これが破綻（はたん）したら、放射性物質のさらなる大量放出の恐れが高まり、周辺地域の避難のあり方を再び見直すことにもなろう。
That would place far severer strains on the residents than the already heavy burdens they are bearing now.
そうなれば、住民が背負う重荷は今の比ではない。
The utility needs to execute its plan for containing the crisis under such circumstances. What is the most important is to prevent the situation from becoming any worse.
こうしたなかでの収束作戦である。なによりも強く求められているのは、これ以上悪い状態にしない、ということだ。
First and foremost, the company needs to be properly prepared for unpredictable events that may occur.
まず備えるべきは、不測の出来事だ。
The biggest fear is a possible disruption in external power supply that causes the water injection to stop, which happened after a recent huge aftershock.
とりわけ怖いのは、先日の大きな余震のときのように外部電源が途絶え、注水が止まることである。
TEPCO's blueprint refers to such risks as aftershocks and lightning strikes, indicating that the company is trying to figure out ways to enhance the external power supply system. This should be done swiftly.
工程表も余震や落雷などのリスクに触れ、外部電源系の補強を考えているようだ。この対策は急務といえよう。
Easing this emergency requires working on reactors and fuel pools that cannot be inspected from up close due to high levels of radiation.
事故収束に向けた作業は、近づいて中をのぞくことのできない炉やプールを相手にする。
It is certain that the fix-it plan will have to be reviewed after each step is taken.
工程を一歩進めるごとに見直しを迫られるのは必至だ。
The company must not be so focused on carrying out the scheduled plan that it overlooks a big problem.
期限にばかり気をとられて急ぐあまり、大きな問題点を見逃すことがあってはならない。
The road map raises concerns about whether the number of workers needed to carry through the lengthy process can be secured.
工程表を見て気にかかるのは長丁場に必要な人力だ。
The plan requires a raft of tough and risky tasks, like sealing the container vessel of the No. 2 reactor and reinforcing the structure supporting the fuel pool for the No. 4 reactor. We wonder how many workers will be needed to perform these jobs.
２号機格納容器の密閉や、４号機の燃料プール周辺の補強など難しい作業が列挙されているが、それらにどれだけの作業員がかかわるのだろうか。
Workers will face the risk of being exposed to high levels of radiation.
現場は、放射線を浴びる危険が大きい。
At the entrance to the building housing the No. 1 reactor, for instance, a level of radiation recently detected was so high that working for just an hour at the location would expose the worker to more radiation than the upper limit.
１号機建屋の入り口では、作業員が１時間いるだけで被曝（ひばく）線量限度を超える放射線が測定された。
TEPCO's plan duly acknowledges the risk by pointing out the concern that long-term work at places with high levels of radiation may be required.
工程表にも「放射線レベルの高い場所で、作業が長期化する恐れ」が明記されている。
Workers must be replaced regularly before they are exposed to excessive amounts of radiation.
同じ人にずっと働いてもらうわけにはいかない。
In addition, all of the damaged No. 1 to No. 4 reactor buildings are releasing radiation. That means the measures prescribed must be taken simultaneously at all the four buildings.
さらに、放射能源を封じなくてはならないのは１～４号機のすべてで、これらの作業を同時に進めなくてはならない。
The manpower that can be provided by TEPCO, the reactor makers and their affiliates may be far from enough to carry out all these tasks.
東電や原子炉メーカー、関連会社の人たちだけでは、とても追いつかないかもしれない。
Two key challenges in the mission are how to secure a sufficient number of workers, including reinforcements, and how to protect the health of these workers.
応援を含め、要員をどうやって確保するか。一線で働く人たちの健康をどう守っていくか。
The government is also taking on a heavy responsibility by accepting TEPCO's road map to safety at the crippled nuclear power plant.
政府も、この工程表を受け入れる以上は責任が重い。
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 19
EDITORIAL: TEPCO must prepare for additional risks in taming Fukushima crisis
原発工程表―これ以上悪くせず前へ
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has set a specific time frame for its long battle to end the nuclear crisis. The company on April 17 unveiled a road map for stabilizing the dangerous situation at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
「長い闘い」の長さが、数字で見えてきた。福島第一原発の事故収束をめぐって、東京電力が発表した工程表である。
In the first stage of the plan, which will take about three months, measures will be taken to ensure stable and safe cooling of the damaged reactors and spent fuel pools.
３カ月くらいかけて、事故炉や燃料プールを安定して冷却できるようにする。
In the second stage, steps will be made to bring the reactors to a stable state of cold shutdown in a process expected to require three to six months to complete.
その後３～６カ月ほどで、炉を冷温停止状態に落ち着かせる。
It will take even longer to rebuild the lives of people living in areas around the ravaged nuclear power plant.
TEPCO admitted for the first time that it will take as many as six to nine months just to put the sources of radioactivity under control, which is a prerequisite for Fukushima evacuees to return home and restart their lives.
原発周辺の人々の生活再建はさらに長い闘いになるが、その前提である放射能源の制圧だけでも６～９カ月かかることを、東電は初めて認めた。
The continuous pouring of water on the reactors and the pools have prevented the No. 1 to No. 4 units at the plant from running out of control.
福島第一の１～４号機は今、炉やプールに水を注ぎ続けることで小康が保たれている。
If this makeshift measure fails, the risk of a massive release of radioactive materials will grow sharply, forcing the government to reconsider again its policy concerning the evacuation of residents in the surrounding areas.
これが破綻（はたん）したら、放射性物質のさらなる大量放出の恐れが高まり、周辺地域の避難のあり方を再び見直すことにもなろう。
That would place far severer strains on the residents than the already heavy burdens they are bearing now.
そうなれば、住民が背負う重荷は今の比ではない。
The utility needs to execute its plan for containing the crisis under such circumstances. What is the most important is to prevent the situation from becoming any worse.
こうしたなかでの収束作戦である。なによりも強く求められているのは、これ以上悪い状態にしない、ということだ。
First and foremost, the company needs to be properly prepared for unpredictable events that may occur.
まず備えるべきは、不測の出来事だ。
The biggest fear is a possible disruption in external power supply that causes the water injection to stop, which happened after a recent huge aftershock.
とりわけ怖いのは、先日の大きな余震のときのように外部電源が途絶え、注水が止まることである。
TEPCO's blueprint refers to such risks as aftershocks and lightning strikes, indicating that the company is trying to figure out ways to enhance the external power supply system. This should be done swiftly.
工程表も余震や落雷などのリスクに触れ、外部電源系の補強を考えているようだ。この対策は急務といえよう。
Easing this emergency requires working on reactors and fuel pools that cannot be inspected from up close due to high levels of radiation.
事故収束に向けた作業は、近づいて中をのぞくことのできない炉やプールを相手にする。
It is certain that the fix-it plan will have to be reviewed after each step is taken.
工程を一歩進めるごとに見直しを迫られるのは必至だ。
The company must not be so focused on carrying out the scheduled plan that it overlooks a big problem.
期限にばかり気をとられて急ぐあまり、大きな問題点を見逃すことがあってはならない。
The road map raises concerns about whether the number of workers needed to carry through the lengthy process can be secured.
工程表を見て気にかかるのは長丁場に必要な人力だ。
The plan requires a raft of tough and risky tasks, like sealing the container vessel of the No. 2 reactor and reinforcing the structure supporting the fuel pool for the No. 4 reactor. We wonder how many workers will be needed to perform these jobs.
２号機格納容器の密閉や、４号機の燃料プール周辺の補強など難しい作業が列挙されているが、それらにどれだけの作業員がかかわるのだろうか。
Workers will face the risk of being exposed to high levels of radiation.
現場は、放射線を浴びる危険が大きい。
At the entrance to the building housing the No. 1 reactor, for instance, a level of radiation recently detected was so high that working for just an hour at the location would expose the worker to more radiation than the upper limit.
１号機建屋の入り口では、作業員が１時間いるだけで被曝（ひばく）線量限度を超える放射線が測定された。
TEPCO's plan duly acknowledges the risk by pointing out the concern that long-term work at places with high levels of radiation may be required.
工程表にも「放射線レベルの高い場所で、作業が長期化する恐れ」が明記されている。
Workers must be replaced regularly before they are exposed to excessive amounts of radiation.
同じ人にずっと働いてもらうわけにはいかない。
In addition, all of the damaged No. 1 to No. 4 reactor buildings are releasing radiation. That means the measures prescribed must be taken simultaneously at all the four buildings.
さらに、放射能源を封じなくてはならないのは１～４号機のすべてで、これらの作業を同時に進めなくてはならない。
The manpower that can be provided by TEPCO, the reactor makers and their affiliates may be far from enough to carry out all these tasks.
東電や原子炉メーカー、関連会社の人たちだけでは、とても追いつかないかもしれない。
Two key challenges in the mission are how to secure a sufficient number of workers, including reinforcements, and how to protect the health of these workers.
応援を含め、要員をどうやって確保するか。一線で働く人たちの健康をどう守っていくか。
The government is also taking on a heavy responsibility by accepting TEPCO's road map to safety at the crippled nuclear power plant.
政府も、この工程表を受け入れる以上は責任が重い。
2011/04/18
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災から１カ月
香山リカさんは精神科医師としては心が優しすぎるなって感じました。
（スラチャイ記）
(Mainichi Japan) April 17, 2011
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Emotions on the one-month anniversary of the earthquake
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災から１カ月 ／東京
More than one month has now passed since the devastating earthquake and tsunami.
震災から１カ月。
We have all spent the time since then in our own ways, but there may be those who recently found themselves vividly remembering that day one month ago, once again being assaulted by fear or sadness.
それぞれの人が、それぞれのすごし方をしたはずだ。
中には、１カ月前のあの日のことが生々しく思い出され、恐怖、悲しみが再び襲ってきた、という人もいるのではないだろうか。
There may even be those who have become physically ill, even as they were just getting their lives back on track.
生活がやっと元のリズムに戻りつつあったのに、また体調が悪くなったという人もいるかもしれない。
A person's emotional state becoming highly unsettled on the weekly, monthly, or yearly anniversary of some big event is a known phenomenon in psychiatry, and it in itself is neither a disease nor is it abnormal.
大きなできごとから１週間、１カ月、１年など節目節目のときに、感情が激しく揺れてしまう。これは、精神医学の世界で「記念日反応」と呼ばれる現象で、それ自体は異常でも病気でもない。
One cause of it can be emphasis placed on such anniversaries by television programs and newspapers.
テレビや新聞が「あれから１カ月」と強調するのも、この反応の引き金になることがある。
However, as much as one tells oneself that "this is not abnormal," the emotional disturbance itself can be very hard to bear, and some people may take a further emotional hit by seeing a reversal in themselves after they thought they had made progress in recovering.
ただ、いくら「異常ではないのだ」と思っても、それ自体はとてもつらく、「少しは立ち直ったはずだったのに」と感情の揺り戻しにショックを受ける人もいるだろう。
In the case of the recent disasters, the continuing aftershocks and developments at the nuclear power plant may have aggravated this anniversary phenomenon.
とくに、繰り返す余震や原発事故への不安が、１カ月目の心の反応をよりシビアなものにしているおそれがある。
Preventing the occurrence of this anniversary reaction might not be possible.
この記念日反応自体が起こらないようにするのは、正直言ってむずかしい。
However, just knowing of its existence should take away some of the emotional burden of those experiencing it.
ただ、そういうものがあると知っておくだけでも、心は少しラクになるはずだ。
If you find yourself thinking, "Lately, I feel somehow anxious, and I'm often crying," you can then think, "Ah wait, this may be my reaction to the one-month anniversary.
It can happen to anyone, and it's OK," and it may become easier to let those bad feelings pass.
「最近、なんだかまた心がざわつくな。涙もよくこぼれるし。そうか、これが１カ月目あたりの記念日反応なのか」と思うと、「誰でもなることなんだから、だいじょうぶ」とやり過ごしやすくなるのではないか。
Furthermore, if one intentionally makes oneself aware of anniversaries and then passes them with an activity like offering a silent prayer, then I think one can reduce the feelings of uneasiness.
また節目の時を自分であえて「あれから半年か」などと意識して、静かに祈りの時をすごすなどすれば、えたいの知れない感情による動揺を減らせると思う。
Thinking about it, after a disaster this huge, it is only natural that the path to recovery will not be a simple and straight one.
考えてみれば、これだけの大災害なのだから、立ち直りの道のりが一直線でないのも、あたり前。
It is extremely normal that people would feel anxiety during anniversary periods, going from having somewhat positive attitudes back to gloomy ones, and from having energy to losing it.
節目の時期に気持ちが揺れるのは、ごく自然のことだ。少し前向きになったかと思うとまた落ち込み、やる気があふれてきたはずなのに突然、無気力になる。
Even if there are ups and downs, as long as the end result is recovery, there is no problem.
山あり谷ありでだんだん、元気になっていけばそれでいいのだ。
No one should feel bad about themselves if they experience stalls or setbacks on their road to recovery.
復興の歩みの中で、停滞したりまた心が逆戻りしたりすることを、後ろめたく思わないでほしい。
In fact, I worry about those who have made themselves consistently positive and optimistic since the disaster, and whether built up exhaustion won't at some point overcome them, coming out all at once.
むしろ、発生直後から一貫して前向きで元気いっぱい、という人のほうが、いつかその疲れが一気に出るのでは、と心配だ。
Amidst all of this, I don't expect that anyone can completely be their normal selves, and it's no mystery if something happens to our emotional states.
こんな中、誰もがいつもの自分でなんかいられるはずがない。
Without being surprised or caught off-guard by any changes we find in ourselves, we should move forward, doing what we can, while not trying to do the impossible.
心にも何が起きても不思議ではない。驚かずうろたえず、自分の変化を受けとめながら、できることをできる分だけやっていく。できないときには無理をしない。
There is nothing wrong with such a path to recovery, even if it's a bit of a zigzag. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
そんなジグザグの歩みでいいはずだ。
毎日新聞 2011年4月12日 地方版
（スラチャイ記）
(Mainichi Japan) April 17, 2011
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Emotions on the one-month anniversary of the earthquake
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災から１カ月 ／東京
More than one month has now passed since the devastating earthquake and tsunami.
震災から１カ月。
We have all spent the time since then in our own ways, but there may be those who recently found themselves vividly remembering that day one month ago, once again being assaulted by fear or sadness.
それぞれの人が、それぞれのすごし方をしたはずだ。
中には、１カ月前のあの日のことが生々しく思い出され、恐怖、悲しみが再び襲ってきた、という人もいるのではないだろうか。
There may even be those who have become physically ill, even as they were just getting their lives back on track.
生活がやっと元のリズムに戻りつつあったのに、また体調が悪くなったという人もいるかもしれない。
A person's emotional state becoming highly unsettled on the weekly, monthly, or yearly anniversary of some big event is a known phenomenon in psychiatry, and it in itself is neither a disease nor is it abnormal.
大きなできごとから１週間、１カ月、１年など節目節目のときに、感情が激しく揺れてしまう。これは、精神医学の世界で「記念日反応」と呼ばれる現象で、それ自体は異常でも病気でもない。
One cause of it can be emphasis placed on such anniversaries by television programs and newspapers.
テレビや新聞が「あれから１カ月」と強調するのも、この反応の引き金になることがある。
However, as much as one tells oneself that "this is not abnormal," the emotional disturbance itself can be very hard to bear, and some people may take a further emotional hit by seeing a reversal in themselves after they thought they had made progress in recovering.
ただ、いくら「異常ではないのだ」と思っても、それ自体はとてもつらく、「少しは立ち直ったはずだったのに」と感情の揺り戻しにショックを受ける人もいるだろう。
In the case of the recent disasters, the continuing aftershocks and developments at the nuclear power plant may have aggravated this anniversary phenomenon.
とくに、繰り返す余震や原発事故への不安が、１カ月目の心の反応をよりシビアなものにしているおそれがある。
Preventing the occurrence of this anniversary reaction might not be possible.
この記念日反応自体が起こらないようにするのは、正直言ってむずかしい。
However, just knowing of its existence should take away some of the emotional burden of those experiencing it.
ただ、そういうものがあると知っておくだけでも、心は少しラクになるはずだ。
If you find yourself thinking, "Lately, I feel somehow anxious, and I'm often crying," you can then think, "Ah wait, this may be my reaction to the one-month anniversary.
It can happen to anyone, and it's OK," and it may become easier to let those bad feelings pass.
「最近、なんだかまた心がざわつくな。涙もよくこぼれるし。そうか、これが１カ月目あたりの記念日反応なのか」と思うと、「誰でもなることなんだから、だいじょうぶ」とやり過ごしやすくなるのではないか。
Furthermore, if one intentionally makes oneself aware of anniversaries and then passes them with an activity like offering a silent prayer, then I think one can reduce the feelings of uneasiness.
また節目の時を自分であえて「あれから半年か」などと意識して、静かに祈りの時をすごすなどすれば、えたいの知れない感情による動揺を減らせると思う。
Thinking about it, after a disaster this huge, it is only natural that the path to recovery will not be a simple and straight one.
考えてみれば、これだけの大災害なのだから、立ち直りの道のりが一直線でないのも、あたり前。
It is extremely normal that people would feel anxiety during anniversary periods, going from having somewhat positive attitudes back to gloomy ones, and from having energy to losing it.
節目の時期に気持ちが揺れるのは、ごく自然のことだ。少し前向きになったかと思うとまた落ち込み、やる気があふれてきたはずなのに突然、無気力になる。
Even if there are ups and downs, as long as the end result is recovery, there is no problem.
山あり谷ありでだんだん、元気になっていけばそれでいいのだ。
No one should feel bad about themselves if they experience stalls or setbacks on their road to recovery.
復興の歩みの中で、停滞したりまた心が逆戻りしたりすることを、後ろめたく思わないでほしい。
In fact, I worry about those who have made themselves consistently positive and optimistic since the disaster, and whether built up exhaustion won't at some point overcome them, coming out all at once.
むしろ、発生直後から一貫して前向きで元気いっぱい、という人のほうが、いつかその疲れが一気に出るのでは、と心配だ。
Amidst all of this, I don't expect that anyone can completely be their normal selves, and it's no mystery if something happens to our emotional states.
こんな中、誰もがいつもの自分でなんかいられるはずがない。
Without being surprised or caught off-guard by any changes we find in ourselves, we should move forward, doing what we can, while not trying to do the impossible.
心にも何が起きても不思議ではない。驚かずうろたえず、自分の変化を受けとめながら、できることをできる分だけやっていく。できないときには無理をしない。
There is nothing wrong with such a path to recovery, even if it's a bit of a zigzag. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
そんなジグザグの歩みでいいはずだ。
毎日新聞 2011年4月12日 地方版
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