The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 15, 2011)
Govt must advance Futenma issue to lessen Okinawa's base burdens
グアム予算凍結 事態打開へ「普天間」の進展を（12月14日付・読売社説）
It has become even more difficult to implement visible steps that would lessen Okinawa Prefecture's burdens as the host of many U.S. military bases.
目に見える沖縄の米軍基地負担軽減策の実現が危うくなってきた。
The government must recognize that this situation is extremely serious.
極めて深刻な事態と受け止める必要があろう。
The armed services committees of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have agreed on revisions to a bill for the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2012, which includes a freeze on the entire 156 million dollars budget for shifting U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam.
米上下両院の軍事委員会が、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転関連予算１億５６００万ドル（約１２０億円）の全額凍結を含む２０１２会計年度の国防権限法案の修正で合意した。
The revised bill is scheduled to be approved at plenary sessions of both chambers shortly.
修正案は近く両院本会議で可決される。
The Guam relocation budget was earmarked for constructing the headquarters building and family residences, as well as for the relocation of 8,000 marines and their about 9,000 family members from Okinawa Prefecture.
グアム関連予算は、海兵隊員８０００人と家族９０００人の移転に伴い、司令部庁舎や家族住宅などを整備するためのものだ。
The budget has been cut in the past, but this was the first time the entire budget was frozen.
従来、減額されたことはあったが、全額凍結は初めてだ。
===
Guam relocation to face scrapping
The U.S. Congress has been trying to cut massive defense spending. It has been toughening its stance of not approving the Guam relocation budget unless progress is made on the relocation plan of Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, which is considered a "set" with the marines' relocation.
米議会は、巨額の国防費削減に向け、海兵隊移転と「一体の計画」である普天間飛行場の移設が進まない以上、グアム関連予算は認めないとの姿勢を強めていた。
If there is no budget for the program in fiscal 2013, the Guam relocation plan itself likely would face being scrapped.
仮に１３年度も予算がつかなければ、移転計画全体が白紙になりかねない。
If that should happen, the scheduled return of six U.S. military facilities in southern Okinawa Prefecture to Japan's rule--a key element in the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan--would also face a setback.
その場合、在日米軍再編の目玉である沖縄県南部の米軍６施設の返還も頓挫する。
Many people in Okinawa Prefecture want the issue of moving the marines to Guam to be separate from the Futenma station's relocation within the prefecture.
沖縄県には、普天間飛行場の県内移設と切り離して、海兵隊移転だけを実現したいとの声が少なくない。
However, they should recognize such a plan is unrealistic.
だが、それは、もはや非現実的だと認識すべきだろう。
The U.S. government tried to persuade Congress not to freeze the funds because it believed a degree of "tangible progress" would be made if the Japanese government submits an environment impact assessment statement to the prefecture within the year as planned. However, the efforts at persuasion failed.
米政府は、日本政府が年内に普天間飛行場移設の環境影響評価書を沖縄県に提出することを「一定の進展」とみなし、米議会の説得を試みたが、失敗した。
A "far more substantial development" in the Futenma issue will be necessary to convince Congress to revive the Guam relocation budget in fiscal 2013.
１３年度にグアム予算を復活計上させるには、米議会が納得するだけの普天間問題の「より実質的な進展」が必須となる。
There are only two options left for Tokyo and Washington, as well as the Okinawa prefectural government.
日米両政府と沖縄県に残された選択肢は今、二つしかない。
One is to move ahead with the relocation of the Futenma base to the Henoko district in Nago, also in the prefecture, and realize the U.S. marines' relocation to Guam.
一つは、普天間飛行場の名護市辺野古移設を進め、海兵隊のグアム移転を実現する道だ。
When the six U.S. military facilities are returned to Japan's rule, the availability of these vast sites will give momentum to a new revitalization plan for the island prefecture from next fiscal year.
米軍６施設が返還されれば、広大な跡地利用により、来年度からの新たな沖縄振興計画にも弾みがつこう。
The other is to give up both the Futenma relocation to Henoko and the transfer of the marines to Guam.
もう一つは、普天間の辺野古移設も、海兵隊移転も断念する道だ。
In this case, those involved will have to accept that the dangerous situation of the Futenma base, located in the middle of a city, will remain for a long time.
その場合、普天間飛行場の危険な現状が長期間、固定化されることも覚悟せざるを得ない。
===
Govt, Okinawa must see reality
The central and Okinawa prefectural governments must recognize the reality that only two options are left. It is essential that they discuss straightforwardly and seriously how to ensure Japan's security while lessening Okinawa Prefecture's burdens.
政府と沖縄県は、この現実を直視し、日本の安全保障と沖縄の負担軽減をいかに両立させるかについて、率直かつ真剣に話し合うことが重要となる。
Of course, the responsibility for the current situation rests with former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and other officials.
After all, they proposed relocating the Futenma base somewhere outside the prefecture or even outside the country, a suggestion that built up unreasonable expectations among many Okinawa residents--and then eventually betrayed these hopes.
無論、普天間飛行場の「県外・国外移設」を唱え、沖縄に過剰な期待を持たせた末に裏切った経緯を踏まえれば、現在の事態を招いた責任は鳩山元首相らにある。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda has not visited Okinawa Prefecture since he assumed the post.
野田首相は就任後、まだ沖縄を訪問していない。
It is about time he stood up to break the deadlock.
そろそろ自ら事態打開に動く時である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 14, 2011)
（2011年12月14日01時46分 読売新聞）
2011/12/16
2011/12/14
火論：花形の時代＝玉木研二
(Mainichi Japan) December 13, 2011
Remember past enthusiasm for nuclear science as we edge towards non-nuclear future
火論：花形の時代＝玉木研二
＜ｋａ－ｒｏｎ＞
It's been pointed out in many quarters that the field of nuclear power in Japan has been failing to attract the interest of students.
There was a time not so long ago, however, that nuclear energy was at the cutting edge -- the superstar of scientific disciplines.
原子力分野への学生の志望減退が指摘されているが、いうまでもなく往時は最先端をいく花形分野だった。
One can catch a glimpse of this by looking at how nuclear researchers were depicted in the literature and films of the period -- although hints of misgivings are also easily found.
小説や映画に登場する研究者らに、その時代が抱いていたそんなイメージがのぞく。
Take, for example, Yasushi Inoue's novel "Hyoheki" (Ice wall), first serialized in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in 1956 -- the same year the government formed the Japan Atomic Energy Commission and the industrial world entered the nuclear industry in a serious way.
例えば、原子力委員会が設置され、産業界も原子力事業に本格的に参入した１９５６（昭和３１）年、朝日新聞で井上靖の長編「氷壁」の連載が始まった。
"Hyoheki" is primarily the story of a man and a woman stranded in the mountains. However, the novel also depicts a senior researcher for a major company lab as a representation of the era's scientific rationalism.
山岳の遭難事故を軸とした男女の物語だが、現代の科学性、合理性の象徴のような大企業の幹部研究者が出てくる。
When someone tells him that nuclear science "carries all the hopes of humanity" and "contains within it every potentiality," the researcher replies, "I don't think only humanity's bright dreams and possibilities are wrapped up in nuclear science.
彼が、話し相手から原子科学について＜人類の夢がいっぱい詰め込まれているものなんでしょう。あらゆる可能性がその中にはいっている＞と語りかけられて、こう言う場面がある。＜強（あなが）ち原子科学の中に、明るい人類の夢や可能性ばかりが詰まっているとは思えませんな。
It also carries the possibility of humanity's ruin."
そこにはまた、人類の亡（ほろ）びの可能性も詰まっているわけです＞
When Inoue wrote these words, the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a nuclear arms race and conducting above-ground nuclear tests, while at the same time the "peaceful use" of nuclear energy was being trumpeted as possessing "limitless possibility."
当時、米ソの険悪な対立の中で競って軍事目的の核実験が行われ、一方で核エネルギーの「平和利用」と「無限の可能性」が錦の御旗（みはた）とされたころ。
In the cynicism expressed by the researcher Inoue depicted in the novel, one can see the author's own thoughts on nuclear technology seeping through.
研究者の皮肉を含む口ぶりに「危うさ」を感じ取っていた作者の思いがにじんでいるのかもしれない。
In 1959, the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper ran a serialized novel by noted author Fumiko Enchi called "Watakushi mo moeteiru" (I, too, am burning).
５９年、東京新聞に連載を始めた円地文子の「私も燃えている」は、放縦な私生活を送りながら研究には無我夢中になる気鋭の若手原子物理学者が登場する。
In the story, a young, dissolute nuclear physicist lost in his research absorbs a lethal dose of radiation when he makes a mistake during an experiment.
彼は核融合実験のミスで大量の放射線を浴び、命を落とした。
Before dying, the man sums up the novel, saying, "I turned towards that thing all humanity hopes for: the peaceful application of nuclear technology.
And I bet my life on opening that door just a crack."
小説は＜原子力の平和利用という人類のすべてが望む明るい方向へ向けて、一枚の扉を開きかけることに生命を賭けてしまった＞と表現する。
Three years later, in 1962, film studio Toho Co. released a film titled "Gorath" in which nuclear power saves Earth from destruction by a mysterious object hurtling through space.
さらに３年後の６２年、東宝特撮映画「妖星ゴラス」は原子力が人類を救うＳＦだ。地球衝突への軌道を謎の天体が進んでくる。
The entire world's nuclear energy is combined to create a propulsion device at the South Pole and shift Earth out of the way of the object. The nuclear engine, however, alters Earth's orbit.
「全世界の原子力を総結集」して南極に巨大な推進機関を設け噴射、地球の軌道を変えてやり過ごす。
Regardless of the story's plainly ridiculous premise, what can be seen in the film is a spirit true to the era in which it was made, with the countries of the world transcending national interests to save the Earth through nuclear power.
このむちゃと危険は言うまい。冷戦のさなか、世界が国を超え力を合わせて原子力を媒介に地球を助ける発想が、いかにもこの時代らしい。
In the period from the mid-1950s to the mid '60s, the image of nuclear power was forged by anxiety and fear of a nuclear holocaust mixed with sky-high hopes for nuclear technology's peaceful uses.
昭和でいえば３０年代は、漠然とした不安、核戦争の恐怖、そして「平和利用」の夢といったものがないまぜになって、原子力のイメージを形作っていたと思える。
Things have changed a great deal since then. For today's youth, the Fukushima nuclear disaster has spurred the idea of leaving nuclear power behind. However, on this point there is one thing I'd like to say:
時と状況は大きく転じた。福島の事故は若き頭脳の「原子力離れ」に拍車をかけたという。だがあえて言いたい。
Look back on how nuclear science was portrayed in the 1950s and '60s. To resolve the great unknowns lurking in the undiscovered territories of a non-nuclear future, a fresh, vibrant intelligence and way of thinking -- a new superstar -- will be needed.
未知の領域が山積した事態の改善・収拾にこそ、みずみずしい新「花形」の知恵と発想が要る。
Is it asking too much to bring all Japan's top minds together, just like in the movies, to tackle the challenge?
映画のように総結集させようというのは、甘いだろうか。（専門編集委員）
(By Kenji Tamaki, Expert Senior Writer)
毎日新聞 2011年12月13日 東京朝刊
Remember past enthusiasm for nuclear science as we edge towards non-nuclear future
火論：花形の時代＝玉木研二
＜ｋａ－ｒｏｎ＞
It's been pointed out in many quarters that the field of nuclear power in Japan has been failing to attract the interest of students.
There was a time not so long ago, however, that nuclear energy was at the cutting edge -- the superstar of scientific disciplines.
原子力分野への学生の志望減退が指摘されているが、いうまでもなく往時は最先端をいく花形分野だった。
One can catch a glimpse of this by looking at how nuclear researchers were depicted in the literature and films of the period -- although hints of misgivings are also easily found.
小説や映画に登場する研究者らに、その時代が抱いていたそんなイメージがのぞく。
Take, for example, Yasushi Inoue's novel "Hyoheki" (Ice wall), first serialized in the Asahi Shimbun newspaper in 1956 -- the same year the government formed the Japan Atomic Energy Commission and the industrial world entered the nuclear industry in a serious way.
例えば、原子力委員会が設置され、産業界も原子力事業に本格的に参入した１９５６（昭和３１）年、朝日新聞で井上靖の長編「氷壁」の連載が始まった。
"Hyoheki" is primarily the story of a man and a woman stranded in the mountains. However, the novel also depicts a senior researcher for a major company lab as a representation of the era's scientific rationalism.
山岳の遭難事故を軸とした男女の物語だが、現代の科学性、合理性の象徴のような大企業の幹部研究者が出てくる。
When someone tells him that nuclear science "carries all the hopes of humanity" and "contains within it every potentiality," the researcher replies, "I don't think only humanity's bright dreams and possibilities are wrapped up in nuclear science.
彼が、話し相手から原子科学について＜人類の夢がいっぱい詰め込まれているものなんでしょう。あらゆる可能性がその中にはいっている＞と語りかけられて、こう言う場面がある。＜強（あなが）ち原子科学の中に、明るい人類の夢や可能性ばかりが詰まっているとは思えませんな。
It also carries the possibility of humanity's ruin."
そこにはまた、人類の亡（ほろ）びの可能性も詰まっているわけです＞
When Inoue wrote these words, the United States and the Soviet Union were locked in a nuclear arms race and conducting above-ground nuclear tests, while at the same time the "peaceful use" of nuclear energy was being trumpeted as possessing "limitless possibility."
当時、米ソの険悪な対立の中で競って軍事目的の核実験が行われ、一方で核エネルギーの「平和利用」と「無限の可能性」が錦の御旗（みはた）とされたころ。
In the cynicism expressed by the researcher Inoue depicted in the novel, one can see the author's own thoughts on nuclear technology seeping through.
研究者の皮肉を含む口ぶりに「危うさ」を感じ取っていた作者の思いがにじんでいるのかもしれない。
In 1959, the Tokyo Shimbun newspaper ran a serialized novel by noted author Fumiko Enchi called "Watakushi mo moeteiru" (I, too, am burning).
５９年、東京新聞に連載を始めた円地文子の「私も燃えている」は、放縦な私生活を送りながら研究には無我夢中になる気鋭の若手原子物理学者が登場する。
In the story, a young, dissolute nuclear physicist lost in his research absorbs a lethal dose of radiation when he makes a mistake during an experiment.
彼は核融合実験のミスで大量の放射線を浴び、命を落とした。
Before dying, the man sums up the novel, saying, "I turned towards that thing all humanity hopes for: the peaceful application of nuclear technology.
And I bet my life on opening that door just a crack."
小説は＜原子力の平和利用という人類のすべてが望む明るい方向へ向けて、一枚の扉を開きかけることに生命を賭けてしまった＞と表現する。
Three years later, in 1962, film studio Toho Co. released a film titled "Gorath" in which nuclear power saves Earth from destruction by a mysterious object hurtling through space.
さらに３年後の６２年、東宝特撮映画「妖星ゴラス」は原子力が人類を救うＳＦだ。地球衝突への軌道を謎の天体が進んでくる。
The entire world's nuclear energy is combined to create a propulsion device at the South Pole and shift Earth out of the way of the object. The nuclear engine, however, alters Earth's orbit.
「全世界の原子力を総結集」して南極に巨大な推進機関を設け噴射、地球の軌道を変えてやり過ごす。
Regardless of the story's plainly ridiculous premise, what can be seen in the film is a spirit true to the era in which it was made, with the countries of the world transcending national interests to save the Earth through nuclear power.
このむちゃと危険は言うまい。冷戦のさなか、世界が国を超え力を合わせて原子力を媒介に地球を助ける発想が、いかにもこの時代らしい。
In the period from the mid-1950s to the mid '60s, the image of nuclear power was forged by anxiety and fear of a nuclear holocaust mixed with sky-high hopes for nuclear technology's peaceful uses.
昭和でいえば３０年代は、漠然とした不安、核戦争の恐怖、そして「平和利用」の夢といったものがないまぜになって、原子力のイメージを形作っていたと思える。
Things have changed a great deal since then. For today's youth, the Fukushima nuclear disaster has spurred the idea of leaving nuclear power behind. However, on this point there is one thing I'd like to say:
時と状況は大きく転じた。福島の事故は若き頭脳の「原子力離れ」に拍車をかけたという。だがあえて言いたい。
Look back on how nuclear science was portrayed in the 1950s and '60s. To resolve the great unknowns lurking in the undiscovered territories of a non-nuclear future, a fresh, vibrant intelligence and way of thinking -- a new superstar -- will be needed.
未知の領域が山積した事態の改善・収拾にこそ、みずみずしい新「花形」の知恵と発想が要る。
Is it asking too much to bring all Japan's top minds together, just like in the movies, to tackle the challenge?
映画のように総結集させようというのは、甘いだろうか。（専門編集委員）
(By Kenji Tamaki, Expert Senior Writer)
毎日新聞 2011年12月13日 東京朝刊
ＥＵ首脳会議 金融不安の払拭にまだ力不足
専門用語：
fiscal sovereignty 財政主権
（スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 13, 2011)
Europe accord not enough to dispel financial concerns
ＥＵ首脳会議 金融不安の払拭にまだ力不足（12月11日付・読売社説）
European leaders barely managed to reach an agreement to prevent the Greece-triggered sovereign debt crisis from spreading to the rest of the world from Europe.
ギリシャに端を発した欧州発金融危機を食い止めようと、欧州各国の首脳が薄氷の合意にこぎつけた。
However, it does not seem powerful enough to dispel financial concerns.
だが、金融不安払拭には力不足だろう。
Leaders of European Union countries, including the 17 nations that use the euro, such as Germany and France, agreed Friday to conclude a new treaty that will impose stringent fiscal discipline on its members.
ユーロ導入の独仏など１７か国を含む欧州連合（ＥＵ）首脳会議は、厳しい財政規律を課する新条約を締結することで合意した。
The countries taking part in the new treaty will specify the principle of "fiscal balance" in their respective constitutions.
新条約の参加国は「財政均衡」の原則を憲法に明記する。
The principle is designed to automatically impose sanctions on countries whose fiscal deficit exceeds 3 percent of their gross domestic product in a single fiscal year.
単年度の財政赤字が対国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）比３％を突破した国には、自動的に制裁を発動する内容だ。
The measure can be called a praiseworthy step forward, obliging individual countries to take steps to repair their finances based on lessons learned from the lax fiscal management of Greece and some other European countries.
危機をもたらしたギリシャなどの放漫財政を教訓に、財政健全化を各国に義務づける方策は、ひとまず前進と評価できよう。
===
One currency, many policies
The euro's fundamental weakness has lain in the fact that while eurozone countries have introduced the single currency, they have widely different fiscal policies.
通貨は一つだが、財政政策は各国でバラバラだったことが、ユーロの根本的な弱点だった。
If the European countries can sign the new treaty by March as scheduled under the leadership of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European unity will enter a new phase toward fiscal integration, which has been a long-standing issue.
メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領が主導して、予定通りに２０１２年３月までに各国が新条約に署名すれば、懸案の財政統合に向け、欧州統合は新局面に入る。
However, British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose country is not a eurozone member, refused to join the new treaty, from the standpoint of protecting his country's fiscal sovereignty.
だが、新条約案に対し、非ユーロ圏の英国のキャメロン首相だけは、自国の財政主権を守る立場から参加を拒否した。
The divide between the French-German position and that of Britain can be said to have highlighted discord among EU member states.
独仏と英国の対立は、ＥＵ内の不協和音をさらけ出したと言える。
More serious was the fact that the latest summit meeting failed to come up with bold measures to contain the raging crisis.
さらに深刻なのは、今回の首脳会議が、燃えさかる当面の危機を封じ込めるために必要な大胆な策を打ち出せなかったことだ。
Leaders agreed at the meeting to launch the European Stability Mechanism in the middle of next year, one year ahead of the original schedule.
The bailout fund will provide fiscally distressed European countries with financial assistance and has been described as the European version of the International Monetary Fund.
会議は、財政危機国に資金支援する欧州版の国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）とされる「欧州安定メカニズム（ＥＳＭ）」について、予定を１年前倒しして来年半ばに発足させる方針で一致した。
The leaders also agreed on a bailout plan that would extend loans of up to 200 billion euros (about 21 trillion yen) to countries in fiscal crisis through the IMF.
ＩＭＦを通じて、財政危機国に最大２０００億ユーロ（約２１兆円）を貸し出す救済策も決めた。
===
IMF plan may not work
However, there are questions whether the IMF plan will be feasible given that the United States, the largest contributor to the international body, showed reluctance to make additional contributions.
だが、ＩＭＦ活用案には、ＩＭＦ最大出資国である米国が新たな資金拠出に難色を示すなど、実効性に疑問も残る。
The EU leaders also failed, because of Germany's objections, to agree on a common euro bond to be jointly issued by eurozone countries.
ユーロ圏が共同で発行する「ユーロ共通債」も、ドイツの反対で合意できなかった。
Above all, European countries have yet to secure enough funds to tackle the region's fiscal and financial crisis due to the slow progress of the plan to expand the European Financial Stability Facility, whose functions will eventually be taken over by the ESM.
何より、ＥＳＭの母体となる欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）の拡充が進んでおらず、危機対策の資金が十分確保できていない。
For European countries to regain the rest of the world's confidence, it will be essential for them to act quickly to strengthen the EFSF.
欧州がＥＦＳＦ強化に迅速に動くことが信頼回復に不可欠である。
It still remains uncertain how the global stock and exchange markets and credit rating companies will evaluate the conclusions agreed upon at the summit meeting.
世界の株式・為替市場や、格付け会社が、首脳会議の結論をどう評価するのかは不透明だ。
Market players have high expectations that the European Central Bank will support Italy and other distressed eurozone countries through massive purchases of those nations' government bonds. Yet the ECB remains cautious about taking such steps.
市場では、欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）がイタリアなどの国債を大量に買い支えることへの期待があるが、ＥＣＢは慎重姿勢を崩していない。
Germany and France are taking the lead in Europe's precarious attempt to overcome the crisis. They bear a heavy responsibility in this regard.
危機克服への綱渡りを先導する独仏両国の責任は大きい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11, 2011)
（2011年12月11日01時10分 読売新聞）
fiscal sovereignty 財政主権
（スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 13, 2011)
Europe accord not enough to dispel financial concerns
ＥＵ首脳会議 金融不安の払拭にまだ力不足（12月11日付・読売社説）
European leaders barely managed to reach an agreement to prevent the Greece-triggered sovereign debt crisis from spreading to the rest of the world from Europe.
ギリシャに端を発した欧州発金融危機を食い止めようと、欧州各国の首脳が薄氷の合意にこぎつけた。
However, it does not seem powerful enough to dispel financial concerns.
だが、金融不安払拭には力不足だろう。
Leaders of European Union countries, including the 17 nations that use the euro, such as Germany and France, agreed Friday to conclude a new treaty that will impose stringent fiscal discipline on its members.
ユーロ導入の独仏など１７か国を含む欧州連合（ＥＵ）首脳会議は、厳しい財政規律を課する新条約を締結することで合意した。
The countries taking part in the new treaty will specify the principle of "fiscal balance" in their respective constitutions.
新条約の参加国は「財政均衡」の原則を憲法に明記する。
The principle is designed to automatically impose sanctions on countries whose fiscal deficit exceeds 3 percent of their gross domestic product in a single fiscal year.
単年度の財政赤字が対国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）比３％を突破した国には、自動的に制裁を発動する内容だ。
The measure can be called a praiseworthy step forward, obliging individual countries to take steps to repair their finances based on lessons learned from the lax fiscal management of Greece and some other European countries.
危機をもたらしたギリシャなどの放漫財政を教訓に、財政健全化を各国に義務づける方策は、ひとまず前進と評価できよう。
===
One currency, many policies
The euro's fundamental weakness has lain in the fact that while eurozone countries have introduced the single currency, they have widely different fiscal policies.
通貨は一つだが、財政政策は各国でバラバラだったことが、ユーロの根本的な弱点だった。
If the European countries can sign the new treaty by March as scheduled under the leadership of German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy, European unity will enter a new phase toward fiscal integration, which has been a long-standing issue.
メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領が主導して、予定通りに２０１２年３月までに各国が新条約に署名すれば、懸案の財政統合に向け、欧州統合は新局面に入る。
However, British Prime Minister David Cameron, whose country is not a eurozone member, refused to join the new treaty, from the standpoint of protecting his country's fiscal sovereignty.
だが、新条約案に対し、非ユーロ圏の英国のキャメロン首相だけは、自国の財政主権を守る立場から参加を拒否した。
The divide between the French-German position and that of Britain can be said to have highlighted discord among EU member states.
独仏と英国の対立は、ＥＵ内の不協和音をさらけ出したと言える。
More serious was the fact that the latest summit meeting failed to come up with bold measures to contain the raging crisis.
さらに深刻なのは、今回の首脳会議が、燃えさかる当面の危機を封じ込めるために必要な大胆な策を打ち出せなかったことだ。
Leaders agreed at the meeting to launch the European Stability Mechanism in the middle of next year, one year ahead of the original schedule.
The bailout fund will provide fiscally distressed European countries with financial assistance and has been described as the European version of the International Monetary Fund.
会議は、財政危機国に資金支援する欧州版の国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）とされる「欧州安定メカニズム（ＥＳＭ）」について、予定を１年前倒しして来年半ばに発足させる方針で一致した。
The leaders also agreed on a bailout plan that would extend loans of up to 200 billion euros (about 21 trillion yen) to countries in fiscal crisis through the IMF.
ＩＭＦを通じて、財政危機国に最大２０００億ユーロ（約２１兆円）を貸し出す救済策も決めた。
===
IMF plan may not work
However, there are questions whether the IMF plan will be feasible given that the United States, the largest contributor to the international body, showed reluctance to make additional contributions.
だが、ＩＭＦ活用案には、ＩＭＦ最大出資国である米国が新たな資金拠出に難色を示すなど、実効性に疑問も残る。
The EU leaders also failed, because of Germany's objections, to agree on a common euro bond to be jointly issued by eurozone countries.
ユーロ圏が共同で発行する「ユーロ共通債」も、ドイツの反対で合意できなかった。
Above all, European countries have yet to secure enough funds to tackle the region's fiscal and financial crisis due to the slow progress of the plan to expand the European Financial Stability Facility, whose functions will eventually be taken over by the ESM.
何より、ＥＳＭの母体となる欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）の拡充が進んでおらず、危機対策の資金が十分確保できていない。
For European countries to regain the rest of the world's confidence, it will be essential for them to act quickly to strengthen the EFSF.
欧州がＥＦＳＦ強化に迅速に動くことが信頼回復に不可欠である。
It still remains uncertain how the global stock and exchange markets and credit rating companies will evaluate the conclusions agreed upon at the summit meeting.
世界の株式・為替市場や、格付け会社が、首脳会議の結論をどう評価するのかは不透明だ。
Market players have high expectations that the European Central Bank will support Italy and other distressed eurozone countries through massive purchases of those nations' government bonds. Yet the ECB remains cautious about taking such steps.
市場では、欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）がイタリアなどの国債を大量に買い支えることへの期待があるが、ＥＣＢは慎重姿勢を崩していない。
Germany and France are taking the lead in Europe's precarious attempt to overcome the crisis. They bear a heavy responsibility in this regard.
危機克服への綱渡りを先導する独仏両国の責任は大きい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11, 2011)
（2011年12月11日01時10分 読売新聞）
2011/12/13
参院問責決議 防衛相の資質には疑義がある
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 11, 2011)
Defense minister's competence questionable
参院問責決議 防衛相の資質には疑義がある（12月10日付・読売社説）
Questions have been raised about Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa's competence.
一川防衛相の資質には疑義が生じている。
It probably will be unavoidable at some stage to replace him.
いずれかの時点で交代させるのは、やむを得まい。
The House of Councillors passed censure motions against Ichikawa and Kenji Yamaoka, state minister for consumer affairs, at a plenary session Friday with majority support from the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and other opposition parties.
一川防衛相と山岡消費者相に対する問責決議が参院本会議で、自民、公明など野党の賛成多数で可決された。
Unlike a no-confidence motion in the House of Representatives, an upper house censure motion is not legally binding.
問責決議は、衆院の不信任決議と異なり、法的拘束力がない。
It is problematic that for their own interests opposition parties repeatedly present censure motions or refuse to attend Diet deliberations when censured ministers are present. They should refrain from adopting such strategies.
野党が党利党略から、問責決議を乱発したり、問責された閣僚らの出席する国会審議への出席拒否戦術を取ったりすることは問題があり、本来、慎むべきだ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi both made clear they want to keep the two ministers in their posts.
野田首相や民主党の輿石幹事長は防衛相らを続投させる方針を表明している。
They presumably concluded it would be undesirable to allow opposition parties to effectively hold absolute powers over cabinet ministers by passing censure motions against them in the upper house given the current divided Diet.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、参院の問責決議によって、野党が閣僚の生殺与奪権を事実上握るのはよくない、との判断もあるのだろう。
That is fully understandable.
十分に理解できる。
The Defense Ministry faces a number of important issues, such as selection of the next-generation fighter aircraft, an environment impact assessment report for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and the dispatch of a Ground Self-Defense Force unit to South Sudan on a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
防衛省は多くの重要案件を抱えている。次期戦闘機の選定、米軍普天間飛行場移設の環境影響評価書、南スーダンへの部隊派遣などだ。
===
Govt wants to avoid fallout
Therefore, the government and the DPJ apparently want to avoid any fallout that could occur by replacing the defense minister at this stage.
現時点での閣僚交代による悪影響を避けたい事情もあろう。
But we wonder whether Ichikawa is aware of his responsibility.
しかし、一川氏には、その自覚があるのか。
Upon appointment to the post in September, Ichikawa said he was an "amateur" on security issues.
就任時に「安全保障は素人」と述べ、
Last month, he skipped a state banquet at the Imperial Palace to attend a fund-raising party for a DPJ lawmaker, saying, "I thought this was more important."
宮中行事を欠席して参加した民主党議員のパーティーで「こちらの方が大事」と語った。
Ichikawa has supervisory responsibility over the highly controversial comments made by a former chief of the ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau in connection with the Futenma relocation issue.
普天間移設をめぐる前沖縄防衛局長の暴言の監督責任に加え、
The defense minister himself provoked strong resentment from Okinawa Prefecture residents for saying in the Diet that he did not know the details about the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in the prefecture.
１９９５年の沖縄女児暴行事件に関する「詳細には知らない」との発言は、沖縄の強い反発を招いた。
He lacks competence and is unsuitable to be in charge of national defense.
国防の責任者としての能力と適性を欠いており、
It will also be difficult for him to restore a relationship of trust with Okinawa Prefecture.
沖縄との信頼関係の回復も難しい。
Meanwhile, it came to light that Yamaoka had received political donations from and had cozy ties with companies involved in a pyramid scheme before assuming his current post.
山岡消費者相は、就任前のことながら、マルチ商法業界からの献金や親密な関係が判明している。
In this regard, it makes sense for the opposition bloc to argue that Yamaoka is unsuited for the consumer affairs post.
消費者相としてふさわしくないとの野党の主張には一理ある。
===
All-out confrontation seen
If the prime minister does not replace the two ministers, the ordinary Diet session next year will almost certainly see an all-out confrontation between ruling and opposition parties from its outset.
首相が両閣僚を交代させない場合、来年の通常国会は、冒頭から与野党の全面対決となるのが確実だ。
In that event, it will be difficult for the ruling and opposition parties to start negotiations on the consumption tax hike, which the prime minister has expressed his "unwavering resolve" to carry through.
首相が「不退転の決意」を示す消費税率引き上げに関する与野党協議も、開催が困難になる。
Without the cooperation of the opposition parties, it will be impossible to pass bills through the Diet.
野党の協力なしでは法案は成立しない。
The situation surrounding the Noda administration is growing increasingly tough.
野田政権を取り巻く環境は、厳しさを増している。
The extraordinary Diet session that ended Friday failed to produce tangible results.
９日閉会した臨時国会も、成果に乏しかった。
It managed to pass a supplementary budget and bills related to reconstruction of areas affected by the March 11 disaster.
補正予算と復興関連法は成立したが、
But as the Diet session was not extended, deliberations on such important bills as those to cut central government officials' salaries, reform postal services and revise the worker dispatch law have been put off.
会期延長さえなく、国家公務員給与削減、郵政改革、労働者派遣法改正などの重要法案や、
The Diet also postponed a decision to rectify the disparity in the value of votes in lower house elections.
衆院選の「１票の格差」是正が軒並み先送りされた。
Diet management by the government and the ruling parties is primarily to blame for the poor progress.
一義的には政府・与党の国会対策に問題があるにせよ、
However, the opposition parties also bear heavy responsibility in the divided Diet.
ねじれ国会では野党の責任も大きい。
It is time for the ruling and opposition parties to seriously discuss how to put an end to the political imbroglio.
政治の機能不全をどう脱するか、与野党は真剣に話し合うべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2011)
（2011年12月10日01時28分 読売新聞）
Defense minister's competence questionable
参院問責決議 防衛相の資質には疑義がある（12月10日付・読売社説）
Questions have been raised about Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa's competence.
一川防衛相の資質には疑義が生じている。
It probably will be unavoidable at some stage to replace him.
いずれかの時点で交代させるのは、やむを得まい。
The House of Councillors passed censure motions against Ichikawa and Kenji Yamaoka, state minister for consumer affairs, at a plenary session Friday with majority support from the Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and other opposition parties.
一川防衛相と山岡消費者相に対する問責決議が参院本会議で、自民、公明など野党の賛成多数で可決された。
Unlike a no-confidence motion in the House of Representatives, an upper house censure motion is not legally binding.
問責決議は、衆院の不信任決議と異なり、法的拘束力がない。
It is problematic that for their own interests opposition parties repeatedly present censure motions or refuse to attend Diet deliberations when censured ministers are present. They should refrain from adopting such strategies.
野党が党利党略から、問責決議を乱発したり、問責された閣僚らの出席する国会審議への出席拒否戦術を取ったりすることは問題があり、本来、慎むべきだ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Azuma Koshiishi both made clear they want to keep the two ministers in their posts.
野田首相や民主党の輿石幹事長は防衛相らを続投させる方針を表明している。
They presumably concluded it would be undesirable to allow opposition parties to effectively hold absolute powers over cabinet ministers by passing censure motions against them in the upper house given the current divided Diet.
衆参ねじれ国会の下、参院の問責決議によって、野党が閣僚の生殺与奪権を事実上握るのはよくない、との判断もあるのだろう。
That is fully understandable.
十分に理解できる。
The Defense Ministry faces a number of important issues, such as selection of the next-generation fighter aircraft, an environment impact assessment report for the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture and the dispatch of a Ground Self-Defense Force unit to South Sudan on a U.N. peacekeeping mission.
防衛省は多くの重要案件を抱えている。次期戦闘機の選定、米軍普天間飛行場移設の環境影響評価書、南スーダンへの部隊派遣などだ。
===
Govt wants to avoid fallout
Therefore, the government and the DPJ apparently want to avoid any fallout that could occur by replacing the defense minister at this stage.
現時点での閣僚交代による悪影響を避けたい事情もあろう。
But we wonder whether Ichikawa is aware of his responsibility.
しかし、一川氏には、その自覚があるのか。
Upon appointment to the post in September, Ichikawa said he was an "amateur" on security issues.
就任時に「安全保障は素人」と述べ、
Last month, he skipped a state banquet at the Imperial Palace to attend a fund-raising party for a DPJ lawmaker, saying, "I thought this was more important."
宮中行事を欠席して参加した民主党議員のパーティーで「こちらの方が大事」と語った。
Ichikawa has supervisory responsibility over the highly controversial comments made by a former chief of the ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau in connection with the Futenma relocation issue.
普天間移設をめぐる前沖縄防衛局長の暴言の監督責任に加え、
The defense minister himself provoked strong resentment from Okinawa Prefecture residents for saying in the Diet that he did not know the details about the 1995 rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in the prefecture.
１９９５年の沖縄女児暴行事件に関する「詳細には知らない」との発言は、沖縄の強い反発を招いた。
He lacks competence and is unsuitable to be in charge of national defense.
国防の責任者としての能力と適性を欠いており、
It will also be difficult for him to restore a relationship of trust with Okinawa Prefecture.
沖縄との信頼関係の回復も難しい。
Meanwhile, it came to light that Yamaoka had received political donations from and had cozy ties with companies involved in a pyramid scheme before assuming his current post.
山岡消費者相は、就任前のことながら、マルチ商法業界からの献金や親密な関係が判明している。
In this regard, it makes sense for the opposition bloc to argue that Yamaoka is unsuited for the consumer affairs post.
消費者相としてふさわしくないとの野党の主張には一理ある。
===
All-out confrontation seen
If the prime minister does not replace the two ministers, the ordinary Diet session next year will almost certainly see an all-out confrontation between ruling and opposition parties from its outset.
首相が両閣僚を交代させない場合、来年の通常国会は、冒頭から与野党の全面対決となるのが確実だ。
In that event, it will be difficult for the ruling and opposition parties to start negotiations on the consumption tax hike, which the prime minister has expressed his "unwavering resolve" to carry through.
首相が「不退転の決意」を示す消費税率引き上げに関する与野党協議も、開催が困難になる。
Without the cooperation of the opposition parties, it will be impossible to pass bills through the Diet.
野党の協力なしでは法案は成立しない。
The situation surrounding the Noda administration is growing increasingly tough.
野田政権を取り巻く環境は、厳しさを増している。
The extraordinary Diet session that ended Friday failed to produce tangible results.
９日閉会した臨時国会も、成果に乏しかった。
It managed to pass a supplementary budget and bills related to reconstruction of areas affected by the March 11 disaster.
補正予算と復興関連法は成立したが、
But as the Diet session was not extended, deliberations on such important bills as those to cut central government officials' salaries, reform postal services and revise the worker dispatch law have been put off.
会期延長さえなく、国家公務員給与削減、郵政改革、労働者派遣法改正などの重要法案や、
The Diet also postponed a decision to rectify the disparity in the value of votes in lower house elections.
衆院選の「１票の格差」是正が軒並み先送りされた。
Diet management by the government and the ruling parties is primarily to blame for the poor progress.
一義的には政府・与党の国会対策に問題があるにせよ、
However, the opposition parties also bear heavy responsibility in the divided Diet.
ねじれ国会では野党の責任も大きい。
It is time for the ruling and opposition parties to seriously discuss how to put an end to the political imbroglio.
政治の機能不全をどう脱するか、与野党は真剣に話し合うべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2011)
（2011年12月10日01時28分 読売新聞）
2011/12/12
社説：原子力協定承認 拙速にすぎはしないか
(Mainichi Japan) December 10, 2011
Editorial: Japan needs more discussion before exporting atomic energy technology
社説：原子力協定承認 拙速にすぎはしないか
The Diet's approval of atomic energy agreements, which the government has signed with Jordan, Vietnam, Russia and South Korea, has opened the way for exports of nuclear power plants to these countries, but the decision came too hasty and has not been thought through.
The pacts are expected to come into force as early as January.
However, the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant has not been brought under control and the cause of the accident needs to be clarified. The Diet has endorsed the accords without in-depth discussions on how to ensure safety of nuclear power stations.
政府がヨルダン、ベトナム、ロシア、韓国と結んだ原子力協定が、国会で承認された。これにより、協定は来年１月にも発効し、原発輸出が可能になる。
しかし、東京電力福島第１原発の事故はまだ収束していない。原因の究明、検証もこれからだ。安全確保をめぐる十分な議論がないままでの国会承認は、あまりに拙速だといわざるを得ない。
Atomic energy agreements are aimed at preventing exported atomic-energy-related technology and materials from being diverted to military use, and are a prerequisite for exporting nuclear plants.
原子力協定は、原子力関連技術や資材を輸出する際、相手国での軍事転用を防ぐために締結するもので、原発輸出の前提になる。
Japan has already signed such accords with seven countries including the United States, France and China as well as the European Atomic Energy Community.
日本は米、仏、中国、欧州原子力共同体など７カ国１機関と締結済みだ。
Under the agreements, Japan is expected to construct nuclear power plants in Jordan and Vietnam and commission Russia to enrich uranium while exporting parts for nuclear reactors to South Korea.
今回承認を得たヨルダンとベトナムには原発輸出、ロシアにはウラン濃縮の委託、韓国には原子炉部品の輸出を想定している。
During Diet deliberation on the pacts, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said, "If we receive requests for cooperation despite Japan's current situation based on lessons learned from the crisis, we should do whatever we can to contribute to international efforts to enhance the safety of atomic energy."
国会審議で、野田佳彦首相は「日本の現状や反省も踏まえ、なお協力してほしいというなら、できることをすることは国際的な原子力安全の向上に資する」と説明した。
However, one cannot help but wonder how Japan can prove its nuclear technology can contribute to global safety.
しかし、「安全の向上」と胸を張る根拠はあるのか。
True, the Japanese nuclear power industry is quite advanced, but it alone cannot ensure the safety of operations at nuclear power stations.
確かに、国内原発産業の技術力は高い。しかし、それだけで原発を稼働し、運営する際の安全が確保できるわけではない。
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, is highly unlikely to participate in such an international deal even though it had been expected before the crisis to play a leading role in operations at these nuclear power stations abroad.
輸出先で運営を主導すると期待された東電の参画は望めない。
Moreover, even if Japan emphasizes that its nuclear technology is safe without clarifying the cause of the crisis, it cannot win confidence from the international community.
また、事故の原因がはっきりしないままでは、安全性を訴えても説得力はあるまい。
At the same time, the prime minister also emphasized that it is Japan's responsibility to share its experiences learned from the nuclear crisis with the international community.
一方で首相は、「事故の経験や教訓を国際社会と共有するのはわれわれの責務だ」とも強調した。
While this is correct, Japan should put greater emphasis on sharing with the world its knowledge on how to prevent nuclear accidents based on its thorough investigation into the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
もっともだが、共有すべきは、事故の徹底的な検証を前提にした事故防止のための知見であるはずだ。
The Diet had only 10 days to deliberate on the atomic energy pacts.
今回の国会審議は、議案の審議入りから承認までわずか１０日しかなかった。
It failed to carry out thorough discussions on safety measures even though Jordan is an earthquake-prone country and it is reportedly difficult to secure the massive amount of water needed to cool down reactors that are expected to be built in inland areas of the country.
例えば、ヨルダンは地震多発国であり、原発建設予定地が内陸部にあるため大量の冷却水を確保しにくいとされるが、安全対策の議論は生煮えだった。
It has been pointed out by some critics that the government was desperate to ensure the pacts clear the Diet within this year so that Japanese companies will not be put in a disadvantageous position amid international competition for contracts on the construction of nuclear power stations.
政府は、締結相手国での受注競争で日本企業が不利にならないよう、年内承認を急いだとの指摘もある。
However, some members of the ruling coalition voted against the pacts.
しかし、採決では与党内からも反対者が出た。
Deliberations that fail to convince even some ruling coalition legislators can never win confidence from the Japanese public and the international community.
「身内」も納得しない審議では、国民や国際社会の理解も得られまい。
The government is currently negotiating atomic energy agreements with India, South Africa and Turkey.
政府は現在、インド、南アフリカ、トルコとも原子力協定の締結交渉を進めている。
In particular, Japan should exercise prudence in its negotiations with India, which is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty even though it possesses nuclear arms.
核保有国でありながら核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）に加盟していないインドとの交渉は、とりわけ慎重であるべきだ。
To prevent Japan from exporting danger and anxiety to the world while decreasing its reliance on nuclear energy, the executive and legislative branches of the government are urged to hold more in-depth discussions on nuclear energy safety based on its verification of the cause of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
国内で「脱原発依存」を進める一方で、海外に危険や不安を輸出することがあってはならない。
そのために、政府・国会には事故の検証を踏まえ、安全をめぐる議論を深めるよう改めて求める。
毎日新聞 2011年12月10日 東京朝刊
Editorial: Japan needs more discussion before exporting atomic energy technology
社説：原子力協定承認 拙速にすぎはしないか
The Diet's approval of atomic energy agreements, which the government has signed with Jordan, Vietnam, Russia and South Korea, has opened the way for exports of nuclear power plants to these countries, but the decision came too hasty and has not been thought through.
The pacts are expected to come into force as early as January.
However, the crisis at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant has not been brought under control and the cause of the accident needs to be clarified. The Diet has endorsed the accords without in-depth discussions on how to ensure safety of nuclear power stations.
政府がヨルダン、ベトナム、ロシア、韓国と結んだ原子力協定が、国会で承認された。これにより、協定は来年１月にも発効し、原発輸出が可能になる。
しかし、東京電力福島第１原発の事故はまだ収束していない。原因の究明、検証もこれからだ。安全確保をめぐる十分な議論がないままでの国会承認は、あまりに拙速だといわざるを得ない。
Atomic energy agreements are aimed at preventing exported atomic-energy-related technology and materials from being diverted to military use, and are a prerequisite for exporting nuclear plants.
原子力協定は、原子力関連技術や資材を輸出する際、相手国での軍事転用を防ぐために締結するもので、原発輸出の前提になる。
Japan has already signed such accords with seven countries including the United States, France and China as well as the European Atomic Energy Community.
日本は米、仏、中国、欧州原子力共同体など７カ国１機関と締結済みだ。
Under the agreements, Japan is expected to construct nuclear power plants in Jordan and Vietnam and commission Russia to enrich uranium while exporting parts for nuclear reactors to South Korea.
今回承認を得たヨルダンとベトナムには原発輸出、ロシアにはウラン濃縮の委託、韓国には原子炉部品の輸出を想定している。
During Diet deliberation on the pacts, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said, "If we receive requests for cooperation despite Japan's current situation based on lessons learned from the crisis, we should do whatever we can to contribute to international efforts to enhance the safety of atomic energy."
国会審議で、野田佳彦首相は「日本の現状や反省も踏まえ、なお協力してほしいというなら、できることをすることは国際的な原子力安全の向上に資する」と説明した。
However, one cannot help but wonder how Japan can prove its nuclear technology can contribute to global safety.
しかし、「安全の向上」と胸を張る根拠はあるのか。
True, the Japanese nuclear power industry is quite advanced, but it alone cannot ensure the safety of operations at nuclear power stations.
確かに、国内原発産業の技術力は高い。しかし、それだけで原発を稼働し、運営する際の安全が確保できるわけではない。
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, is highly unlikely to participate in such an international deal even though it had been expected before the crisis to play a leading role in operations at these nuclear power stations abroad.
輸出先で運営を主導すると期待された東電の参画は望めない。
Moreover, even if Japan emphasizes that its nuclear technology is safe without clarifying the cause of the crisis, it cannot win confidence from the international community.
また、事故の原因がはっきりしないままでは、安全性を訴えても説得力はあるまい。
At the same time, the prime minister also emphasized that it is Japan's responsibility to share its experiences learned from the nuclear crisis with the international community.
一方で首相は、「事故の経験や教訓を国際社会と共有するのはわれわれの責務だ」とも強調した。
While this is correct, Japan should put greater emphasis on sharing with the world its knowledge on how to prevent nuclear accidents based on its thorough investigation into the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
もっともだが、共有すべきは、事故の徹底的な検証を前提にした事故防止のための知見であるはずだ。
The Diet had only 10 days to deliberate on the atomic energy pacts.
今回の国会審議は、議案の審議入りから承認までわずか１０日しかなかった。
It failed to carry out thorough discussions on safety measures even though Jordan is an earthquake-prone country and it is reportedly difficult to secure the massive amount of water needed to cool down reactors that are expected to be built in inland areas of the country.
例えば、ヨルダンは地震多発国であり、原発建設予定地が内陸部にあるため大量の冷却水を確保しにくいとされるが、安全対策の議論は生煮えだった。
It has been pointed out by some critics that the government was desperate to ensure the pacts clear the Diet within this year so that Japanese companies will not be put in a disadvantageous position amid international competition for contracts on the construction of nuclear power stations.
政府は、締結相手国での受注競争で日本企業が不利にならないよう、年内承認を急いだとの指摘もある。
However, some members of the ruling coalition voted against the pacts.
しかし、採決では与党内からも反対者が出た。
Deliberations that fail to convince even some ruling coalition legislators can never win confidence from the Japanese public and the international community.
「身内」も納得しない審議では、国民や国際社会の理解も得られまい。
The government is currently negotiating atomic energy agreements with India, South Africa and Turkey.
政府は現在、インド、南アフリカ、トルコとも原子力協定の締結交渉を進めている。
In particular, Japan should exercise prudence in its negotiations with India, which is not a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty even though it possesses nuclear arms.
核保有国でありながら核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）に加盟していないインドとの交渉は、とりわけ慎重であるべきだ。
To prevent Japan from exporting danger and anxiety to the world while decreasing its reliance on nuclear energy, the executive and legislative branches of the government are urged to hold more in-depth discussions on nuclear energy safety based on its verification of the cause of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
国内で「脱原発依存」を進める一方で、海外に危険や不安を輸出することがあってはならない。
そのために、政府・国会には事故の検証を踏まえ、安全をめぐる議論を深めるよう改めて求める。
毎日新聞 2011年12月10日 東京朝刊
2011/12/11
防災教育 自ら危機回避できる力育もう
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 10, 2011)
Nurture children's ability to avoid danger on their own
防災教育 自ら危機回避できる力育もう（12月9日付・読売社説）
Japan is one of the nations most frequently hit by natural disasters.
日本は世界有数の自然災害多発国である。
It is imperative that children are taught in their daily lives how to respond effectively when an emergency strikes.
「いざ」という時の対応力を日頃から養う防災教育の充実が欠かせない。
The details of what children should be taught, however, have so far been left up to individual schools.
ところが、どのような教育を行うかについては、これまで学校現場に任せきりだった。
The Great East Japan Earthquake claimed the lives of 550 children, ranging from kindergartners to high school students.
Reflecting on this, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry plans to work out a set of nationwide guidelines spelling out how to make children more capable of avoiding danger by themselves.
東日本大震災では幼稚園から高校まで５５０人の児童・生徒が犠牲になった。
We urge the ministry to responsibly provide specifics in intelligible, concrete terms.
その反省から、文部科学省は、子供が自らの判断で危機を回避する能力を育むことを全国共通の指針にする方針だ。
文科省は責任を持って具体的な教育内容を詰める必要がある。
The example set by children in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, has been a beacon.
注目されているのが、岩手県釜石市の事例だ。
===
'Miracle of Kamaishi'
Although Kamaishi was struck by the catastrophic tsunami on March 11, the great majority of the 3,000 primary and middle school students in the city fled to safety and were physically unhurt.
津波に襲われながら、小中学生３０００人の大半が避難して無事だった。
Many children decided on their own that it would be risky to take shelter at designated evacuation sites, and instead made a beeline for higher ground to escape the oncoming tsunami.
指定された避難場所では危ないと判断し、高台に上って難を逃れた。
For the last seven years, schools in Kamaishi have taught their students the basics of evacuation by inviting experts in disaster management as advisers to speak to the children.
釜石市では７年前から、災害対応の専門家をアドバイザーに迎え、
The golden rules drilled into the children were "Don't trust assumptions about disasters" and "Put yourself first and flee."
「想定を信じない」「自分が率先して逃げる」といった避難の原則を徹底して教えてきた。
The schools also incorporated content about disasters in each subject.
One question in a mathematics class on velocity asked students to think about the speed at which a tsunami would reach the coast.
数学の授業では、速度の計算で津波の到達する速さを考えさせるなど、各教科の指導に災害に関する内容を盛り込んでいる。
The accumulation of these efforts resulted in the students swiftly evacuating in what has widely been referred to as "the miracle of Kamaishi."
こうした積み重ねが、「釜石の奇跡」と呼ばれる迅速な避難行動につながったと言える。
Other ingenious methods have been employed elsewhere.
釜石市以外でも、工夫を凝らした取り組みが見られる。
In some places, children heard from elderly local people who experienced massive earthquakes in the past, while others drew antidisaster maps highlighting vulnerable areas by examining geographical features of their neighborhood.
子供たちが、過去に大地震を体験した地元の古老から聞き取りをする。地域の地形を調べて、危険箇所をまとめた防災マップを作る。
Some school athletic meets included bucket relay races and contests to build makeshift stretchers.
運動会で担架作り競争やバケツリレー競争を行う、などだ。
These antidisaster education activities, however, have been held only in some regions, rather than nationwide.
ただ、これらの実践は一部にとどまり、全国に普及していない。
The education ministry and several local governments have introduced examples of antidisaster education on their websites.
文科省や一部の自治体はホームページで防災教育の事例を紹介しているが、
They should provide more in-depth information online so their expertise can be shared with schools in every corner of the nation.
内容を充実させ、すべての学校でノウハウを共有できるようにすることが急務である。
===
Don't leave kids home alone
Boosting teacher awareness about antidisaster education is also a key task.
教員の意識向上も課題だ。
The ministry is scheduled to hold antidisaster training courses this month and January for 220 supervisors from prefectural boards of education.
文科省は今月と来月、各都道府県で指導役となる教育委員会の指導主事ら２２０人を集め、全国規模の防災研修を実施する。
These supervisors will pass this information on to teachers.
It is of basic importance that every teacher acquire the skills to teach students how to stay safe in a disaster.
すべての教員が指導法を身につけることが基本だ。
It will also become necessary to include antidisaster lessons in university courses for prospective teachers and courses for newly appointed educators.
大学の養成課程や採用後の研修に関連講座を組み入れることも必要になろう。
After the March 11 disaster, many commuters were unable to go home because of disruptions to transportation networks in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
一方、今回の震災では、交通機関が不通になった首都圏で保護者が帰宅困難者となり、
Many children spent hours at home alone after returning from school, waiting for their parents to return.
学校から戻った子供が誰もいない自宅で長時間過ごすケースが相次いだ。
The Tokyo metropolitan government has settled on a policy of, in principle, keeping children at school after a massive disaster until they can be given to their parents.
東京都は震災後、保護者に引き渡すまで原則的に子供を学校に留め置く方針を打ち出した。
We hope parents and schools will together work out the rules governing when children should be picked up following a catastrophe.
災害時に子供を引き渡すルールを、学校と保護者で決めておきたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9, 2011)
（2011年12月9日01時15分 読売新聞）
Nurture children's ability to avoid danger on their own
防災教育 自ら危機回避できる力育もう（12月9日付・読売社説）
Japan is one of the nations most frequently hit by natural disasters.
日本は世界有数の自然災害多発国である。
It is imperative that children are taught in their daily lives how to respond effectively when an emergency strikes.
「いざ」という時の対応力を日頃から養う防災教育の充実が欠かせない。
The details of what children should be taught, however, have so far been left up to individual schools.
ところが、どのような教育を行うかについては、これまで学校現場に任せきりだった。
The Great East Japan Earthquake claimed the lives of 550 children, ranging from kindergartners to high school students.
Reflecting on this, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry plans to work out a set of nationwide guidelines spelling out how to make children more capable of avoiding danger by themselves.
東日本大震災では幼稚園から高校まで５５０人の児童・生徒が犠牲になった。
We urge the ministry to responsibly provide specifics in intelligible, concrete terms.
その反省から、文部科学省は、子供が自らの判断で危機を回避する能力を育むことを全国共通の指針にする方針だ。
文科省は責任を持って具体的な教育内容を詰める必要がある。
The example set by children in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, has been a beacon.
注目されているのが、岩手県釜石市の事例だ。
===
'Miracle of Kamaishi'
Although Kamaishi was struck by the catastrophic tsunami on March 11, the great majority of the 3,000 primary and middle school students in the city fled to safety and were physically unhurt.
津波に襲われながら、小中学生３０００人の大半が避難して無事だった。
Many children decided on their own that it would be risky to take shelter at designated evacuation sites, and instead made a beeline for higher ground to escape the oncoming tsunami.
指定された避難場所では危ないと判断し、高台に上って難を逃れた。
For the last seven years, schools in Kamaishi have taught their students the basics of evacuation by inviting experts in disaster management as advisers to speak to the children.
釜石市では７年前から、災害対応の専門家をアドバイザーに迎え、
The golden rules drilled into the children were "Don't trust assumptions about disasters" and "Put yourself first and flee."
「想定を信じない」「自分が率先して逃げる」といった避難の原則を徹底して教えてきた。
The schools also incorporated content about disasters in each subject.
One question in a mathematics class on velocity asked students to think about the speed at which a tsunami would reach the coast.
数学の授業では、速度の計算で津波の到達する速さを考えさせるなど、各教科の指導に災害に関する内容を盛り込んでいる。
The accumulation of these efforts resulted in the students swiftly evacuating in what has widely been referred to as "the miracle of Kamaishi."
こうした積み重ねが、「釜石の奇跡」と呼ばれる迅速な避難行動につながったと言える。
Other ingenious methods have been employed elsewhere.
釜石市以外でも、工夫を凝らした取り組みが見られる。
In some places, children heard from elderly local people who experienced massive earthquakes in the past, while others drew antidisaster maps highlighting vulnerable areas by examining geographical features of their neighborhood.
子供たちが、過去に大地震を体験した地元の古老から聞き取りをする。地域の地形を調べて、危険箇所をまとめた防災マップを作る。
Some school athletic meets included bucket relay races and contests to build makeshift stretchers.
運動会で担架作り競争やバケツリレー競争を行う、などだ。
These antidisaster education activities, however, have been held only in some regions, rather than nationwide.
ただ、これらの実践は一部にとどまり、全国に普及していない。
The education ministry and several local governments have introduced examples of antidisaster education on their websites.
文科省や一部の自治体はホームページで防災教育の事例を紹介しているが、
They should provide more in-depth information online so their expertise can be shared with schools in every corner of the nation.
内容を充実させ、すべての学校でノウハウを共有できるようにすることが急務である。
===
Don't leave kids home alone
Boosting teacher awareness about antidisaster education is also a key task.
教員の意識向上も課題だ。
The ministry is scheduled to hold antidisaster training courses this month and January for 220 supervisors from prefectural boards of education.
文科省は今月と来月、各都道府県で指導役となる教育委員会の指導主事ら２２０人を集め、全国規模の防災研修を実施する。
These supervisors will pass this information on to teachers.
It is of basic importance that every teacher acquire the skills to teach students how to stay safe in a disaster.
すべての教員が指導法を身につけることが基本だ。
It will also become necessary to include antidisaster lessons in university courses for prospective teachers and courses for newly appointed educators.
大学の養成課程や採用後の研修に関連講座を組み入れることも必要になろう。
After the March 11 disaster, many commuters were unable to go home because of disruptions to transportation networks in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
一方、今回の震災では、交通機関が不通になった首都圏で保護者が帰宅困難者となり、
Many children spent hours at home alone after returning from school, waiting for their parents to return.
学校から戻った子供が誰もいない自宅で長時間過ごすケースが相次いだ。
The Tokyo metropolitan government has settled on a policy of, in principle, keeping children at school after a massive disaster until they can be given to their parents.
東京都は震災後、保護者に引き渡すまで原則的に子供を学校に留め置く方針を打ち出した。
We hope parents and schools will together work out the rules governing when children should be picked up following a catastrophe.
災害時に子供を引き渡すルールを、学校と保護者で決めておきたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 9, 2011)
（2011年12月9日01時15分 読売新聞）
2011/12/10
欧州危機拡大 市場が催促する首脳の抜本策
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 9, 2011)
EU heads must unite to resolve debt crisis
欧州危機拡大 市場が催促する首脳の抜本策（12月8日付・読売社説）
A tense two-day meeting that will determine whether the sovereign debt crisis in Europe can be resolved is finally starting.
欧州危機を収束できるかどうか、いよいよ緊迫の２日間を迎える。
The meeting must devise a sweeping solution that will enable eurozone countries to regain market confidence.
市場の信認を取り戻す抜本策が求められよう。
A summit meeting of European Union members, including 17 eurozone states such as Germany and France, will be held Thursday and Friday in Belgium.
独仏などユーロ圏１７か国を含む欧州連合（ＥＵ）首脳会議が、８、９日にベルギーで開かれる。
The European Central Bank is also to discuss financial policy on Thursday.
欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）も８日、金融政策を話し合う。
The debt crisis has spilled over from Greece with its huge fiscal deficit to Italy, and is now spreading to Spain and France.
欧州危機は、巨額の財政赤字を抱えたギリシャからイタリアに飛び火し、スペイン、フランスに拡大しつつある。
This is a serious situation.
深刻な事態だ。
Before the summit meeting, Standard & Poor's announced it was considering a possible downgrade on the credit ratings of long-term sovereign bonds issued by 15 eurozone countries, including six states such as Germany and France whose bonds are rated AAA.
会議を前に、米格付け会社のスタンダード・アンド・プアーズ（Ｓ＆Ｐ）は、独仏など「トリプルＡ」の６か国を含むユーロ圏１５か国の長期国債格付けを引き下げ方向で見直すと発表した。
In addition, the U.S. rating agency warned it might cut the credit rating of bonds issued by the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which are guaranteed with the creditworthiness of the six states' bonds.
さらに、６か国の保証を裏付けに欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）が発行する債券を格下げする方向も明らかにした。
The agency's announcement appears to illustrate its distrust of the reactions by the political sector, which have always been one step behind.
後手に回る政治の対応に不信を示した形だ。
===
Fiscal rehabilitation needed
Leaders of EU countries should take this seriously as a warning from the market.
欧州首脳らは、市場の警告を真摯(しんし)に受け止める必要がある。
If the summit meeting comes out with half-baked measures to deal with the debt crisis, S&P will go through with the downgrades.
危機収束策が不十分なら、Ｓ＆Ｐは格下げに踏み切る。
This would aggravate the turmoil in financial markets and undermine the functions of the EFSF, which is supporting countries already in trouble from the debt crisis.
金融市場が一段と混乱し、危機国を支援するＥＦＳＦの機能も揺らぐ。
We must watch out for the negative chain reactions that could cause.
負の連鎖に要警戒だ。
A focus of the summit meeting is whether the participating countries can agree on a fiscal rehabilitation plan to stabilize the euro.
首脳会議の焦点は、ユーロを安定させる財政健全化策である。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have agreed on a plan to impose automatic sanctions against countries that exceed a fiscal deficit limit of 3 percent of their gross domestic product.
They will jointly propose revising the EU treaty at the summit meeting to bring this about.
メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領は、財政赤字を対ＧＤＰ（国内総生産）比３％以内に抑えるルールを破った国に自動的に制裁を科す方針で一致し、ＥＵ条約改正を会議に共同提案する。
It is a matter of course to stop free spending policies and enhance fiscal discipline.
放漫財政を食い止め、財政規律を強化するのは当然だ。
We expect the eurozone countries to hammer out a clear policy based on the proposal by Germany and France toward the introduction of mutual surveillance of fiscal policies, which have never been coordinated among these countries.
独仏提案に沿い、欧州各国でバラバラだった財政の相互監視へ、明確な方針を打ち出してもらいたい。
===
Stop spread of crisis
What is needed most are emergency measures to prevent the crisis from spreading any further.
何より必要なのは、危機拡大を防ぐ緊急措置だ。
The eurozone countries decided at the end of October to expand the EFSF, reduce Greece's debts and strengthen the core capital of banks, but none of them has been carried out yet.
ユーロ圏が１０月末に決めたＥＦＳＦ拡大、ギリシャ債務削減、銀行資本増強はいまだに実施されていない。
If these measures are not implemented immediately, they may come too late.
遅きに失する恐れがあろう。
In relation to these measures, the role of the ECB will become more important.
これらの対策と連動し、ＥＣＢの役割がますます重要になる。
In early November, immediately after its new President Mario Draghi, an Italian, assumed office, the bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 1.25 percent for the first time in 2-1/2 years.
ＥＣＢは、イタリア出身のドラギ総裁が就任した直後の１１月初め、２年半ぶりに政策金利を引き下げて年１・２５％とした。
However, there are fears the European economy might slow down and register negative growth if the countries introduce austerity measures.
各国が緊縮財政に取り組むと、欧州景気は減速し、マイナス成長に陥ることが懸念される。
The ECB would win praise if it considers an additional interest rate cut to support the economy.
景気下支えへ、ＥＣＢが追加利下げを検討する姿勢は歓迎されよう。
If the ECB buys up a large number of bonds from Italy and other countries, it will also be an effective measure to prevent the yields of government bonds from soaring and to soothe credit uneasiness in the market.
国債利回りの急騰を抑え、信用不安を沈静化するには、ＥＣＢがイタリアなどの国債を大量に買い支える措置も有効だ。
The rest of the world is watching whether European countries can stand together and act quickly to deal with this crisis.
欧州が結束し、急いで行動することを世界は注視している。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2011)
（2011年12月8日01時30分 読売新聞）
EU heads must unite to resolve debt crisis
欧州危機拡大 市場が催促する首脳の抜本策（12月8日付・読売社説）
A tense two-day meeting that will determine whether the sovereign debt crisis in Europe can be resolved is finally starting.
欧州危機を収束できるかどうか、いよいよ緊迫の２日間を迎える。
The meeting must devise a sweeping solution that will enable eurozone countries to regain market confidence.
市場の信認を取り戻す抜本策が求められよう。
A summit meeting of European Union members, including 17 eurozone states such as Germany and France, will be held Thursday and Friday in Belgium.
独仏などユーロ圏１７か国を含む欧州連合（ＥＵ）首脳会議が、８、９日にベルギーで開かれる。
The European Central Bank is also to discuss financial policy on Thursday.
欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）も８日、金融政策を話し合う。
The debt crisis has spilled over from Greece with its huge fiscal deficit to Italy, and is now spreading to Spain and France.
欧州危機は、巨額の財政赤字を抱えたギリシャからイタリアに飛び火し、スペイン、フランスに拡大しつつある。
This is a serious situation.
深刻な事態だ。
Before the summit meeting, Standard & Poor's announced it was considering a possible downgrade on the credit ratings of long-term sovereign bonds issued by 15 eurozone countries, including six states such as Germany and France whose bonds are rated AAA.
会議を前に、米格付け会社のスタンダード・アンド・プアーズ（Ｓ＆Ｐ）は、独仏など「トリプルＡ」の６か国を含むユーロ圏１５か国の長期国債格付けを引き下げ方向で見直すと発表した。
In addition, the U.S. rating agency warned it might cut the credit rating of bonds issued by the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF), which are guaranteed with the creditworthiness of the six states' bonds.
さらに、６か国の保証を裏付けに欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）が発行する債券を格下げする方向も明らかにした。
The agency's announcement appears to illustrate its distrust of the reactions by the political sector, which have always been one step behind.
後手に回る政治の対応に不信を示した形だ。
===
Fiscal rehabilitation needed
Leaders of EU countries should take this seriously as a warning from the market.
欧州首脳らは、市場の警告を真摯(しんし)に受け止める必要がある。
If the summit meeting comes out with half-baked measures to deal with the debt crisis, S&P will go through with the downgrades.
危機収束策が不十分なら、Ｓ＆Ｐは格下げに踏み切る。
This would aggravate the turmoil in financial markets and undermine the functions of the EFSF, which is supporting countries already in trouble from the debt crisis.
金融市場が一段と混乱し、危機国を支援するＥＦＳＦの機能も揺らぐ。
We must watch out for the negative chain reactions that could cause.
負の連鎖に要警戒だ。
A focus of the summit meeting is whether the participating countries can agree on a fiscal rehabilitation plan to stabilize the euro.
首脳会議の焦点は、ユーロを安定させる財政健全化策である。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy have agreed on a plan to impose automatic sanctions against countries that exceed a fiscal deficit limit of 3 percent of their gross domestic product.
They will jointly propose revising the EU treaty at the summit meeting to bring this about.
メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領は、財政赤字を対ＧＤＰ（国内総生産）比３％以内に抑えるルールを破った国に自動的に制裁を科す方針で一致し、ＥＵ条約改正を会議に共同提案する。
It is a matter of course to stop free spending policies and enhance fiscal discipline.
放漫財政を食い止め、財政規律を強化するのは当然だ。
We expect the eurozone countries to hammer out a clear policy based on the proposal by Germany and France toward the introduction of mutual surveillance of fiscal policies, which have never been coordinated among these countries.
独仏提案に沿い、欧州各国でバラバラだった財政の相互監視へ、明確な方針を打ち出してもらいたい。
===
Stop spread of crisis
What is needed most are emergency measures to prevent the crisis from spreading any further.
何より必要なのは、危機拡大を防ぐ緊急措置だ。
The eurozone countries decided at the end of October to expand the EFSF, reduce Greece's debts and strengthen the core capital of banks, but none of them has been carried out yet.
ユーロ圏が１０月末に決めたＥＦＳＦ拡大、ギリシャ債務削減、銀行資本増強はいまだに実施されていない。
If these measures are not implemented immediately, they may come too late.
遅きに失する恐れがあろう。
In relation to these measures, the role of the ECB will become more important.
これらの対策と連動し、ＥＣＢの役割がますます重要になる。
In early November, immediately after its new President Mario Draghi, an Italian, assumed office, the bank cut its benchmark interest rate to 1.25 percent for the first time in 2-1/2 years.
ＥＣＢは、イタリア出身のドラギ総裁が就任した直後の１１月初め、２年半ぶりに政策金利を引き下げて年１・２５％とした。
However, there are fears the European economy might slow down and register negative growth if the countries introduce austerity measures.
各国が緊縮財政に取り組むと、欧州景気は減速し、マイナス成長に陥ることが懸念される。
The ECB would win praise if it considers an additional interest rate cut to support the economy.
景気下支えへ、ＥＣＢが追加利下げを検討する姿勢は歓迎されよう。
If the ECB buys up a large number of bonds from Italy and other countries, it will also be an effective measure to prevent the yields of government bonds from soaring and to soothe credit uneasiness in the market.
国債利回りの急騰を抑え、信用不安を沈静化するには、ＥＣＢがイタリアなどの国債を大量に買い支える措置も有効だ。
The rest of the world is watching whether European countries can stand together and act quickly to deal with this crisis.
欧州が結束し、急いで行動することを世界は注視している。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2011)
（2011年12月8日01時30分 読売新聞）
登録:
投稿 (Atom)