Recently the NHK News reported the following:
法務省は、日本が活力を維持するためには、研究開発などに携わる外国人を積極的に受け入れるべきだとして、永住資格を得られるまでの期間を半分程度に短縮することを検討するなどとした、外国人の出入国に関する新しい基本計画をまとめました。
これは、千葉法務大臣が閣議のあとの記者会見で発表したものです。それによりますと、少子高齢化で本格的な人口減少時代が到来するなか、日本が活力を維持し持続的に発展するためには、アジア地域を中心に積極的に外国人を受け入れていくべきだとしています。具体的には、▽企業で研究開発に当たる技術者をはじめ、▽専門知識を持つ研究者や学者などの入国を促すため、資格や研究実績などの一定の基準を満たせば、永住資格を得られるまでの期間を、現在の平均１０年から半分程度に短縮することなどを検討するとしています。また、医療分野で働く人材を確保するため、現在、働く期間が制限されている歯科医師と看護師について、医師と同じように制限を撤廃することを検討するとしています。その一方で、計画では、治安を守るため、▽出入国審査の厳格化などの水際対策や、▽不法滞在している外国人の摘発などを強化することも盛り込んでいます。法務省は、この計画をもとに必要な法律の改正案をまとめ、早ければ来年の通常国会に提出したいとしています。
In order to maintain Japan's vitality, the Ministry of Justice brought in a review assuming that it should actively accept foreigners who were involved in the research and development etc, and to shorten to half the period that was needed for them to obtain the permanent residency status, the Ministry was seeking a new basic plan that was related to the acceptance of foreigners' entering and leaving the country.
This was what had been announced by Minister of Justice Chiba at the press conference after the Cabinet Council. According to it, when the age of population decrease came to Japan due to declining birth rate and growing number of elderly people, it should actively accept foreigners around Asian region so as to to maintain vitality which Japan would depend on in order to continue its development. Concretely, it started with those who undertook the research and development in enterprises, also, in order to attract researchers and scholars with professional knowledge to enter the country, a review would be made to shorten to half the period needed to obtain permanent residency status, from the present on average ten years if their qualification and research performance and had met the specified standards. Moreover, for the purpose of securing talent who worked in the health care sector, it would consider removing the limitation on the working period imposed on dentists and nurses who were now under restriction just like doctors. On the other hand, in the plan, for the purpose of defending public peace, it included strategy on applying severe examination over leaving/entering country and on strengthening the prosecution of foreigners who had over stayed unlawfully. The Ministry of Justice was making the assumption that it would submit to the Diet as early as in next year's regular session the amendment bill that was needed to put the plans into law.
Out of practical needs, now Japan is opening up its door a little bit wider to foreigners who want to stay in Japan.
2010年3月28日 星期日
我的工具書 (XIV)
"KENKYUSHA'S FURIGANA ENGLISH-JAPANESE DICTIONARY" 和我較早前介紹的 "Kodansha's Furigana English-Japanese Dictionary" 是很相似, 兩者都是為懂得英語的人士而設計的日文字典. 它是我每天都用到的工具書之一. 它最的主要功能是由英語單字找出同義的日文. 所有列出的漢字都附上日本讀音. 如果你懂得英文, 就可以很方便地使用它. 它只有一種檢字方法, 就是用英文A - Z排列. 這字典是由日本研究社株式會社於1990年出版, 有980頁, 共收集了49,000 個資料, 囊括了多數日本人常用的字.
2010年3月25日 星期四
中國毒餃子案新發展
Recently Mainichi News reported the following:
中国製冷凍ギョーザ中毒事件の容疑者逮捕で、警察庁は２７日、中国警察当局から受けた連絡として、呂月庭容疑者の容疑の罪名は、殺人未遂に相当する罪名ではなく、毒物を食品などに混入するという意味の「危険物質投与罪」であると明らかにした。警察庁は早期に幹部を派遣し、日本での中毒症状の被害を立件できるよう中国警察当局と協議する方針。
容疑内容の詳細は不明だが、呂容疑者が有機リン系殺虫剤メタミドホスを混入させたのは中国国内である疑いが濃厚だ。犯罪行為の現場が日本国内であれば、代理処罰を要請するケースも考えられるが、今回は該当しない。 そのため、千葉と兵庫で起きた中毒症状の被害の刑事責任を追及するためには、中国警察当局が中国で発生した中毒事件と日本の被害を一括して捜査し、殺人未遂罪を適用するのが最も近道とみられる。 その場合、千葉、兵庫両県警による共同捜査本部が国内の被害者から取った調書を提供するなどして、中国側の捜査に協力することになる見通しだ。
On the 27, the National Police Agency clarified that they were contacted by the Chinese police authorities saying that a suspect in connection with the poisoning of frozen dumpling made in China was arrested, the arrested suspect [Lu yueting] was accused of “Hazardous material administering crime” which had the meaning of mixing poison with food, and not a crime that was corresponded to attempted murder. The National Police Agency had the policy of conferring with the Chinese police authorities, so as to send out officers at an early stage to build up a case in Japan over the damage caused by the poisoning. Although details on the content of the case was not clear, there were strong doubts in China that it was organic phosphorus related insecticide methamidophos that had been administered by the suspect. Although it was thought that if the crime scene was in Japan, this case would demand punishment representation, but that was not applicable in the current situation. Therefore in order to pursue the criminal damage caused by toxic poisoning in Chiba and Hyogo, it was thought that a shortcut for this case would be for the Chinese police authorities to investigate what had happened in China, and link it to the damages caused in Japan in one single package, then to establish the attempted murder crime case. In that event, it was expected that records built up by the joint investigation headquarters of Chiba and Hyogo prefecture police based on details obtained from local victims would be offered to the China side, and the Police would cooperate with the investigation done by China.
Finally, China has arrested someone who is responsible for the poisonous dumpling exported to Japan many months ago.
中国製冷凍ギョーザ中毒事件の容疑者逮捕で、警察庁は２７日、中国警察当局から受けた連絡として、呂月庭容疑者の容疑の罪名は、殺人未遂に相当する罪名ではなく、毒物を食品などに混入するという意味の「危険物質投与罪」であると明らかにした。警察庁は早期に幹部を派遣し、日本での中毒症状の被害を立件できるよう中国警察当局と協議する方針。
容疑内容の詳細は不明だが、呂容疑者が有機リン系殺虫剤メタミドホスを混入させたのは中国国内である疑いが濃厚だ。犯罪行為の現場が日本国内であれば、代理処罰を要請するケースも考えられるが、今回は該当しない。 そのため、千葉と兵庫で起きた中毒症状の被害の刑事責任を追及するためには、中国警察当局が中国で発生した中毒事件と日本の被害を一括して捜査し、殺人未遂罪を適用するのが最も近道とみられる。 その場合、千葉、兵庫両県警による共同捜査本部が国内の被害者から取った調書を提供するなどして、中国側の捜査に協力することになる見通しだ。
On the 27, the National Police Agency clarified that they were contacted by the Chinese police authorities saying that a suspect in connection with the poisoning of frozen dumpling made in China was arrested, the arrested suspect [Lu yueting] was accused of “Hazardous material administering crime” which had the meaning of mixing poison with food, and not a crime that was corresponded to attempted murder. The National Police Agency had the policy of conferring with the Chinese police authorities, so as to send out officers at an early stage to build up a case in Japan over the damage caused by the poisoning. Although details on the content of the case was not clear, there were strong doubts in China that it was organic phosphorus related insecticide methamidophos that had been administered by the suspect. Although it was thought that if the crime scene was in Japan, this case would demand punishment representation, but that was not applicable in the current situation. Therefore in order to pursue the criminal damage caused by toxic poisoning in Chiba and Hyogo, it was thought that a shortcut for this case would be for the Chinese police authorities to investigate what had happened in China, and link it to the damages caused in Japan in one single package, then to establish the attempted murder crime case. In that event, it was expected that records built up by the joint investigation headquarters of Chiba and Hyogo prefecture police based on details obtained from local victims would be offered to the China side, and the Police would cooperate with the investigation done by China.
Finally, China has arrested someone who is responsible for the poisonous dumpling exported to Japan many months ago.
2010年3月23日 星期二
日本遊客慕尼黑食物中毒
Recently the NHK News reported the following:
ドイツのミュンヘン空港で、東京行きの旅客機が離陸しようとしたところ、帰国途中の日本人のツアー客が相次いで腹痛や吐き気などを訴え、２３人が病院に運ばれて、このうち１９人が現在も入院しています。
ドイツ南部のミュンヘン総領事館や地元の警察などによりますと、２０日午後４時ごろ、ミュンヘン空港発成田空港行きのルフトハンザ航空の７１４便が離陸しようとしたところ、乗っていた東京の専門学校の生徒からなる８０人のツアー客の一部が相次いで強い腹痛や吐き気を訴えたため、旅客機は急きょ離陸を取りやめました。旅客機はターミナルに引き返し、日本人２３人が救急車で病院に運ばれ、このうち現在も１９人が腹痛や発熱など食中毒とみられる症状が続いているため入院しています。症状はいずれも重症ではないということですが、地元の保健所などでは、ミュンヘンに滞在中の食事に問題がなかったかなど原因を調べています。
When the passenger plane for Tokyo was about to take off from the Munich airport in Germany, among the Japanese tourists in the plane who were about to return home some of them one after another had stomachache and nausea, 23 people were taken to the hospital, and 19 of them were hospitalized.
According to the consulate general at Munich at southern part of Germany and to the local police, on the 20th at around 4.00 pm when Lufthansa Airlines Flight 714 was about to take off for New Tokyo International Airport from Munich, the plane discontinued the take-off hastily because among the 80 tourists who were students of a special school in Tokyo, some of them one after another complained about stomachache and nausea. The passenger plane turned back to the terminal and carried 23 Japanese to the hospital by ambulances, and among them 19 people were hospitalized now because they continuously had symptom of food poisoning such as stomachache and fever. Although their symptom was not of serious illness, the local public health center was investigating the cause and to see whether there were problems in the meals while they stayed in Munich.
So, in order to avoid troubles while traveling, be careful with the food you are eating.
ドイツのミュンヘン空港で、東京行きの旅客機が離陸しようとしたところ、帰国途中の日本人のツアー客が相次いで腹痛や吐き気などを訴え、２３人が病院に運ばれて、このうち１９人が現在も入院しています。
ドイツ南部のミュンヘン総領事館や地元の警察などによりますと、２０日午後４時ごろ、ミュンヘン空港発成田空港行きのルフトハンザ航空の７１４便が離陸しようとしたところ、乗っていた東京の専門学校の生徒からなる８０人のツアー客の一部が相次いで強い腹痛や吐き気を訴えたため、旅客機は急きょ離陸を取りやめました。旅客機はターミナルに引き返し、日本人２３人が救急車で病院に運ばれ、このうち現在も１９人が腹痛や発熱など食中毒とみられる症状が続いているため入院しています。症状はいずれも重症ではないということですが、地元の保健所などでは、ミュンヘンに滞在中の食事に問題がなかったかなど原因を調べています。
When the passenger plane for Tokyo was about to take off from the Munich airport in Germany, among the Japanese tourists in the plane who were about to return home some of them one after another had stomachache and nausea, 23 people were taken to the hospital, and 19 of them were hospitalized.
According to the consulate general at Munich at southern part of Germany and to the local police, on the 20th at around 4.00 pm when Lufthansa Airlines Flight 714 was about to take off for New Tokyo International Airport from Munich, the plane discontinued the take-off hastily because among the 80 tourists who were students of a special school in Tokyo, some of them one after another complained about stomachache and nausea. The passenger plane turned back to the terminal and carried 23 Japanese to the hospital by ambulances, and among them 19 people were hospitalized now because they continuously had symptom of food poisoning such as stomachache and fever. Although their symptom was not of serious illness, the local public health center was investigating the cause and to see whether there were problems in the meals while they stayed in Munich.
So, in order to avoid troubles while traveling, be careful with the food you are eating.
2010年3月21日 星期日
我的工具書(XIII)
The introduction of this dictionary says the following:
この辞書は、小学生のみなさんの辞書です. . . この辞書には、三万二千ものことばが、とりあげられています。新聞に出ているような新しいことばや、外国から来たことばもたくさん出ています。ずいぶんたくさんのことばですが、どれも現代の日本語どしてだいじなものばかりです. . . それぞれのことばには、意味がわかりやすく説明してあり、それに用例がそえてあります. . . たくさんのイラストや、六種類の’例解コラム’は、どれもことばの勉強に役立つものばかりです。それらは、辞書をひくのとを、いっそうたのしくしてくれることでしょう。
[This dictionary is a primary school student's dictionary. . . This dictionary has taken up 32,000 words. It collects new words that come out from news, and from foreign countries. Although there are lots of them, all are now important modern Japanese words . . . For all the words, the meaning is explained in easily understandable terms, and examples on usage are given. . . There are lots of illustrations and the six kinds of 'Illustration Column' provided in the book are useful for the study of all words. All these would make consulting the dictionary a happy thing to do.]
この辞書は、小学生のみなさんの辞書です. . . この辞書には、三万二千ものことばが、とりあげられています。新聞に出ているような新しいことばや、外国から来たことばもたくさん出ています。ずいぶんたくさんのことばですが、どれも現代の日本語どしてだいじなものばかりです. . . それぞれのことばには、意味がわかりやすく説明してあり、それに用例がそえてあります. . . たくさんのイラストや、六種類の’例解コラム’は、どれもことばの勉強に役立つものばかりです。それらは、辞書をひくのとを、いっそうたのしくしてくれることでしょう。
[This dictionary is a primary school student's dictionary. . . This dictionary has taken up 32,000 words. It collects new words that come out from news, and from foreign countries. Although there are lots of them, all are now important modern Japanese words . . . For all the words, the meaning is explained in easily understandable terms, and examples on usage are given. . . There are lots of illustrations and the six kinds of 'Illustration Column' provided in the book are useful for the study of all words. All these would make consulting the dictionary a happy thing to do.]
"例解小學國語辭典"是一本設計給日本小學生用的日文字典, 總共收集了三萬二千字. 除了附錄外,這詞典總共有1060頁. 這書由三省堂發行, 於1999年出版.
2010年3月19日 星期五
成功起訴日本街頭騙案
Recently NHK News reported the following:
街頭募金を装って不特定多数の人から現金をだまし取ったとして大阪市の男が起訴された事件で、最高裁判所は「個々の被害者や被害額は特定できなくても、詐欺の罪が成立する」という初めての判断を示し、無罪を主張していた男の上告を退けました。
大阪市のチラシ配布員の横井清一被告（３９）は、６年前、大量のアルバイトを雇い、難病の子どもを救うための募金だと偽って、大阪や京都、神戸などの路上で通行人からあわせておよそ２４８０万円をだまし取ったとして詐欺などの罪に問われました。横井被告は「被害者の数やそれぞれの被害金額が特定されておらず、詐欺に当たらない」と無罪を主張しましたが、１審と２審は懲役５年と罰金２００万円を言い渡していました。これについて最高裁判所第２小法廷の古田佑紀裁判長は、１９日までに決定を出し、「個々の被害者や被害金額は特定できなくても、金を集める方法や場所それに集めた金の総額などが特定できれば、全体を一体のものと考えることができる」と指摘して詐欺の罪に問えるという初めての判断を示し、横井被告の上告を退けました。街頭募金を装った詐欺は、被害者などの特定が難しく、詐欺の罪で立件されたのはこの事件が初めてでしたが、最高裁の決定は、善意を踏みにじる悪質な犯行に歯止めをかけるものとなりました。
Supreme Court had announced their first judgment that "Even if an individual victim and the cost of damage could not be specified, the crime of cheating could be established", and thus rejected the appeal from a man from Osaka City who previously had been prosecuted but pleaded not guilty to charges that he had been cheating cash from many unspecified people on the street by dressing up as soliciting donations.
Defendant Seiichi Yokoi (39) had been engaged in handbills distribution in Osaka City, and six years ago he employed a large number of part-time workers and pretended that he was doing fund-raising to save children suffering from intractable diseases, and he cheated passers-by of about 24.8 million yen in streets in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, and was thus accused of cheating.The first and the second judgment had handed down 5 years of penal servitude plus penalty of two million yen although defendant Yokoi pleaded innocence, claiming that "Neither the number nor the individual amount of money damage to a victim could be specified, and thus it could not be taken as cheating". Presiding Judge Furuta of the second small court of the Supreme Court would give a court sentence on the 19th. It was the first time that cheating was able to be proved by pointing out that "As for the argument that both an individual victim and the amount of money damage cannot not be specified, if the total amount of money collected in this method, and the place to deflect the collected money can be specified generally, it is possible to think the whole activity as an integral one", and based on such reasoning defendant Yokoi's appeal was rejected. Although it was difficult to specify the victim etc. , and that the cheating was dressed up as soliciting charity contributions on the street, the supreme court now built up a case for the first time and put a brake on criminal conducts that trampled down people's good intentions.
It seems that the Supreme Court in Japan could apply their laws flexibly to deal with new kinds of cheating that might use legal loopholes to avoid prosecution.
街頭募金を装って不特定多数の人から現金をだまし取ったとして大阪市の男が起訴された事件で、最高裁判所は「個々の被害者や被害額は特定できなくても、詐欺の罪が成立する」という初めての判断を示し、無罪を主張していた男の上告を退けました。
大阪市のチラシ配布員の横井清一被告（３９）は、６年前、大量のアルバイトを雇い、難病の子どもを救うための募金だと偽って、大阪や京都、神戸などの路上で通行人からあわせておよそ２４８０万円をだまし取ったとして詐欺などの罪に問われました。横井被告は「被害者の数やそれぞれの被害金額が特定されておらず、詐欺に当たらない」と無罪を主張しましたが、１審と２審は懲役５年と罰金２００万円を言い渡していました。これについて最高裁判所第２小法廷の古田佑紀裁判長は、１９日までに決定を出し、「個々の被害者や被害金額は特定できなくても、金を集める方法や場所それに集めた金の総額などが特定できれば、全体を一体のものと考えることができる」と指摘して詐欺の罪に問えるという初めての判断を示し、横井被告の上告を退けました。街頭募金を装った詐欺は、被害者などの特定が難しく、詐欺の罪で立件されたのはこの事件が初めてでしたが、最高裁の決定は、善意を踏みにじる悪質な犯行に歯止めをかけるものとなりました。
Supreme Court had announced their first judgment that "Even if an individual victim and the cost of damage could not be specified, the crime of cheating could be established", and thus rejected the appeal from a man from Osaka City who previously had been prosecuted but pleaded not guilty to charges that he had been cheating cash from many unspecified people on the street by dressing up as soliciting donations.
Defendant Seiichi Yokoi (39) had been engaged in handbills distribution in Osaka City, and six years ago he employed a large number of part-time workers and pretended that he was doing fund-raising to save children suffering from intractable diseases, and he cheated passers-by of about 24.8 million yen in streets in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe, and was thus accused of cheating.The first and the second judgment had handed down 5 years of penal servitude plus penalty of two million yen although defendant Yokoi pleaded innocence, claiming that "Neither the number nor the individual amount of money damage to a victim could be specified, and thus it could not be taken as cheating". Presiding Judge Furuta of the second small court of the Supreme Court would give a court sentence on the 19th. It was the first time that cheating was able to be proved by pointing out that "As for the argument that both an individual victim and the amount of money damage cannot not be specified, if the total amount of money collected in this method, and the place to deflect the collected money can be specified generally, it is possible to think the whole activity as an integral one", and based on such reasoning defendant Yokoi's appeal was rejected. Although it was difficult to specify the victim etc. , and that the cheating was dressed up as soliciting charity contributions on the street, the supreme court now built up a case for the first time and put a brake on criminal conducts that trampled down people's good intentions.
It seems that the Supreme Court in Japan could apply their laws flexibly to deal with new kinds of cheating that might use legal loopholes to avoid prosecution.
2010年3月18日 星期四
我的工具書(XII)
"日語疑難問題解析"是由中國大陸外語教學與研究出版社出版. 對我來說, 學習使用日本通用語是很重要, 在不同語言環境是需要用不同詞句去表達. 這書幫我瞭解類似日語詞的不同意義,使用方法和使用場合. 這本書把所收集的詞句以表達功能作出分類, 總共有三十六個功能項目. 例如一: 提示話題和內容. 二:條件, 三:讓步等. 四:結果等等. 每個功能後之下再把類似功能句型集合,根據用法去分析和說明. 每個詞句的不同用法都有詳盡解釋. 每個詞都有用法比較. 在解釋時, 引用了不少例句說明, 例句中所用漢字都附有日文發音, 方便學習. 書尾有總索引, 列出全書包含了的句型, 用五十音順安排, 方便查閱. 這書是於是2004年版, 有643頁.
2010年3月14日 星期日
福岡市櫻花盛開
Recently NHK News reported the following:
福岡管区気象台は１４日、福岡市でサクラが開花したと発表しました。全国では４日前の今月１０日、高知市で気象台がサクラの開花を発表しています。
１４日の福岡市は、午前９時の気温が平年を３度上回る１２度４分まで上がり、福岡管区気象台は、福岡市でサクラが開花したと発表しました。福岡市のサクラの開花は平年より１２日早く、記録が残っている昭和２８年以降では２番目の早さです。気象台は「先月下旬に平年を５度以上も上回る暖かい日が続き、開花が早まったのではないか」と話しています。福岡県内のサクラは、早いところでは今月２１日ごろに見ごろになる見込みです。
Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatories announced on the 14th that cherry flowers had blossomed in Fukuoka City. Four days ago on the 10th of this month, the meteorological observatory in Kochi City announced to the whole country about the flowering of the cherry. On the 14th, Fukuoka city temperature at 9:00 am went up to 12.4 degrees, exceeding the yearly average by three degrees, Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatories announced that cherry trees in Fukuoka city had blossomed. According to the remaining records kept since 1953, it was the second earliest flowering of cherry trees in Fukuoka City, 12 days earlier then the yearly average. The meteorological observatory was saying that " since the end of last month, warm day that exceeds the yearly average by five degrees continues, and flowers bloom early". As early as around 21st of this month, cherry flowers in Fukuoka prefecture could be expected to have come out fully for appreciation.
I wish I could have the chance to visit Fukuoka city to see cherry flowers.
福岡管区気象台は１４日、福岡市でサクラが開花したと発表しました。全国では４日前の今月１０日、高知市で気象台がサクラの開花を発表しています。
１４日の福岡市は、午前９時の気温が平年を３度上回る１２度４分まで上がり、福岡管区気象台は、福岡市でサクラが開花したと発表しました。福岡市のサクラの開花は平年より１２日早く、記録が残っている昭和２８年以降では２番目の早さです。気象台は「先月下旬に平年を５度以上も上回る暖かい日が続き、開花が早まったのではないか」と話しています。福岡県内のサクラは、早いところでは今月２１日ごろに見ごろになる見込みです。
Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatories announced on the 14th that cherry flowers had blossomed in Fukuoka City. Four days ago on the 10th of this month, the meteorological observatory in Kochi City announced to the whole country about the flowering of the cherry. On the 14th, Fukuoka city temperature at 9:00 am went up to 12.4 degrees, exceeding the yearly average by three degrees, Fukuoka District Meteorological Observatories announced that cherry trees in Fukuoka city had blossomed. According to the remaining records kept since 1953, it was the second earliest flowering of cherry trees in Fukuoka City, 12 days earlier then the yearly average. The meteorological observatory was saying that " since the end of last month, warm day that exceeds the yearly average by five degrees continues, and flowers bloom early". As early as around 21st of this month, cherry flowers in Fukuoka prefecture could be expected to have come out fully for appreciation.
I wish I could have the chance to visit Fukuoka city to see cherry flowers.
2010年3月12日 星期五
George Kennan (Part V)
(15) that Soviet pressure against the free institutions of the west is something that can be contained by the adroit and vigilant application of counter-force at a series of constantly shifting geographical and political points, corresponding to the shifts and maneuvers of Soviet policy.
On the basis of the fifteen points quoted above, I marvel at the foresight of George Kennan who wrote them in 1947. He had a sharp eye in analysing the sources of Soviet conduct, and not surprisingly CCP also had such conducts, particularly in the first 30 years since the latter ruled mainland China.
Even in recent years, I still can see traces of the Soviet conducts in the behavior of CCP. For example in quotation number five above it states that in USSR the mass of Party members might go through the motions of election, deliberation and action; but in these motions they were to be animated not by their own individual will but by the awesome breath of the Party leadership. This situation is still quite true in CCP. Quotation number nine above is also relevant. But now the role of USSR is replaced by China. It seems that when there is something China wants from the US the former's stance may be thrust temporarily into the background; and when that happens there will always some China observers/experts who will leap forward with gleeful announcements that "China's policy have changed," and some who will even try to take credit for having brought about such "changes".
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
On the basis of the fifteen points quoted above, I marvel at the foresight of George Kennan who wrote them in 1947. He had a sharp eye in analysing the sources of Soviet conduct, and not surprisingly CCP also had such conducts, particularly in the first 30 years since the latter ruled mainland China.
Even in recent years, I still can see traces of the Soviet conducts in the behavior of CCP. For example in quotation number five above it states that in USSR the mass of Party members might go through the motions of election, deliberation and action; but in these motions they were to be animated not by their own individual will but by the awesome breath of the Party leadership. This situation is still quite true in CCP. Quotation number nine above is also relevant. But now the role of USSR is replaced by China. It seems that when there is something China wants from the US the former's stance may be thrust temporarily into the background; and when that happens there will always some China observers/experts who will leap forward with gleeful announcements that "China's policy have changed," and some who will even try to take credit for having brought about such "changes".
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
2010年3月10日 星期三
英語用字
每個英文詞彙都有符號象徵(denotation)和隱含意義(connotation). 隱含意義可以帶出不同感覺,態度,意見. 例如 soldier/warrior, 或者insect/bug, 或者 illness/disease/ailment/condition, 又或者fat/obese/plump/portly/stout/substantial.
文字可以反映使用者的身分,性別,社會地位,種族或者環境場合. 以前英語來源可以反映使用者的身分背景, 因為英文來源可以是拉丁語, 法國語等. 而在不同時代, 所用字彙代表著使用者的社會地位. 例如名詞 fire/flame/conflagration, 或者 fear/terror/trepidation 又或者動詞 rise/mount/ascent. 基本上從字彙可以猜出使用者是來自上流社會或草根階層.
在現代社會, 當運用英語時, 在不同場合, 能恰當地挑選出適當的字去表達自己, 我認為是英語高手的其中一個標記.
Reference: Laurel J. Briton. The Structure of Modern English. John Benjamins Publishing Company: Amsterdam/Philadelphia, 2000.
文字可以反映使用者的身分,性別,社會地位,種族或者環境場合. 以前英語來源可以反映使用者的身分背景, 因為英文來源可以是拉丁語, 法國語等. 而在不同時代, 所用字彙代表著使用者的社會地位. 例如名詞 fire/flame/conflagration, 或者 fear/terror/trepidation 又或者動詞 rise/mount/ascent. 基本上從字彙可以猜出使用者是來自上流社會或草根階層.
在現代社會, 當運用英語時, 在不同場合, 能恰當地挑選出適當的字去表達自己, 我認為是英語高手的其中一個標記.
Reference: Laurel J. Briton. The Structure of Modern English. John Benjamins Publishing Company: Amsterdam/Philadelphia, 2000.
2010年3月7日 星期日
George Kennan (Part IV)
(11) perfect discipline requires recognition of infallibility. Infallibility requires the observance of discipline . . . The fact that the leadership is at liberty to put forward for tactical purposes any particular thesis which it finds useful to the cause at any particular moment . . . require the faithful and unquestioning acceptance of that thesis . . . This means that truth is not a constant but is actually created. . . It may vary from week to week, from month to month.
(12) once a given party line has been laid down . . . the Soviet governmental machine . . . moves inexorably along the prescribed path, like a persistent toy automobile wound up and headed in a given direction, stopping only when it meets with some unanswerable force. The individuals who are the components of this machine are unamenable to argument or reason.
(13) these precepts are fortified by the lessons of Russian history: of centuries of obscure battles between nomadic forces over the stretches of a vast unfortified plan. Here cautions, circumspection, flexibility and deception are the valuable qualities. . . These considerations make Soviet diplomacy at once easier and more difficult to deal with then the diplomacy of individual aggressive leaders like Napoleon and Hitler.
(14) in these circumstance it is clear that the main element of any US policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies. (to be continued)
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
(12) once a given party line has been laid down . . . the Soviet governmental machine . . . moves inexorably along the prescribed path, like a persistent toy automobile wound up and headed in a given direction, stopping only when it meets with some unanswerable force. The individuals who are the components of this machine are unamenable to argument or reason.
(13) these precepts are fortified by the lessons of Russian history: of centuries of obscure battles between nomadic forces over the stretches of a vast unfortified plan. Here cautions, circumspection, flexibility and deception are the valuable qualities. . . These considerations make Soviet diplomacy at once easier and more difficult to deal with then the diplomacy of individual aggressive leaders like Napoleon and Hitler.
(14) in these circumstance it is clear that the main element of any US policy toward the Soviet Union must be that of long-term, patient but firm and vigilant containment of Russian expansive tendencies. (to be continued)
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
2010年3月5日 星期五
二次大戰失蹤日軍資料
Recently Mainichi News reported the following:
長妻昭厚生労働相は５日の閣議後会見で、太平洋戦争中に外地で戦死したり生死不明になった日本兵らについて国が帰還兵から聞き取った資料を、８月をめどに公開する方針を明らかにした。省内に残る膨大な関連資料を整理・分析し、個人名などを伏せて公開する。資料の全体数や種類は明らかでなく、戦争実態の解明が進む可能性があるという。 第１弾の公表対象は、死亡兵の「死亡証明書」や「死亡推定とする根拠資料」。終戦直後から１９５０年代に旧厚生省が帰還兵から同僚兵らについて聞き取りした資料で、８月の公開に先駆け、一部は５日に公表された。 死亡証明書は死亡日時、場所、死亡理由や状況、遺体の処理のされ方などが記されている。「死亡推定資料」は、生死不明となった当時の状況が書かれている。 長妻厚労相は「省内には非常に貴重な資料が膨大にあるが、きちんと保管もされていなかった。逐次公表し、公文書館に移行するなどしたい」と話した。 国外で戦死した軍人・軍属は約２００万人。聞き取りをした帰還兵数は不明という
After the Cabinet Council meeting held on the 5th, Health Minister [Nagatsumaakira] clarified the policy on disclosing in around August materials that the country had obtained from returning veterans about Japanese soldiers who had fought the Pacific War overseas, but their life and death was unknown. Large amount of related material left behind inside the Ministry would be arranged and analyzed, with personal names hidden before being made open to the public. It was said that details on the total amount, and the kind of material were not clear, and that there was a possibility that war realities would be advanced and clarified because of this. The first batch of material to be made public would be dead soldier's "Death certificate" and "supporting material used to make an assumption of death. " Part of the material that would be made public on the 5th in advance of official opening would be materials collected from returned veterans about their colleague that the old Ministry of Health and Welfare had obtained in the period between immediately after the War to 1950s. The death certificate recorded the death date, the place, the death reason, the situation, and how the remains were processed. As for "Death assumption material", it wrote down the situation at that time and the moment life and death became uncertain. The Health Minister said that "The amount of valuable materials in the Ministry was expanding, and it could not be properly secured. I want to make public the material one by one, and to shift them to the public record office". The servicemen and civilian employees who were killed outside the country was about two million people. It was said that the number of returned soldiers that had been asked for information was not known.
To many historians, records on missing WWII Japanese soldiers are important primary source documents as far as scholarly research is concerned. I wish I could have a chance to contribute my effort in this respect.
長妻昭厚生労働相は５日の閣議後会見で、太平洋戦争中に外地で戦死したり生死不明になった日本兵らについて国が帰還兵から聞き取った資料を、８月をめどに公開する方針を明らかにした。省内に残る膨大な関連資料を整理・分析し、個人名などを伏せて公開する。資料の全体数や種類は明らかでなく、戦争実態の解明が進む可能性があるという。 第１弾の公表対象は、死亡兵の「死亡証明書」や「死亡推定とする根拠資料」。終戦直後から１９５０年代に旧厚生省が帰還兵から同僚兵らについて聞き取りした資料で、８月の公開に先駆け、一部は５日に公表された。 死亡証明書は死亡日時、場所、死亡理由や状況、遺体の処理のされ方などが記されている。「死亡推定資料」は、生死不明となった当時の状況が書かれている。 長妻厚労相は「省内には非常に貴重な資料が膨大にあるが、きちんと保管もされていなかった。逐次公表し、公文書館に移行するなどしたい」と話した。 国外で戦死した軍人・軍属は約２００万人。聞き取りをした帰還兵数は不明という
After the Cabinet Council meeting held on the 5th, Health Minister [Nagatsumaakira] clarified the policy on disclosing in around August materials that the country had obtained from returning veterans about Japanese soldiers who had fought the Pacific War overseas, but their life and death was unknown. Large amount of related material left behind inside the Ministry would be arranged and analyzed, with personal names hidden before being made open to the public. It was said that details on the total amount, and the kind of material were not clear, and that there was a possibility that war realities would be advanced and clarified because of this. The first batch of material to be made public would be dead soldier's "Death certificate" and "supporting material used to make an assumption of death. " Part of the material that would be made public on the 5th in advance of official opening would be materials collected from returned veterans about their colleague that the old Ministry of Health and Welfare had obtained in the period between immediately after the War to 1950s. The death certificate recorded the death date, the place, the death reason, the situation, and how the remains were processed. As for "Death assumption material", it wrote down the situation at that time and the moment life and death became uncertain. The Health Minister said that "The amount of valuable materials in the Ministry was expanding, and it could not be properly secured. I want to make public the material one by one, and to shift them to the public record office". The servicemen and civilian employees who were killed outside the country was about two million people. It was said that the number of returned soldiers that had been asked for information was not known.
To many historians, records on missing WWII Japanese soldiers are important primary source documents as far as scholarly research is concerned. I wish I could have a chance to contribute my effort in this respect.
2010年3月3日 星期三
東京等地有偽鈔
Recently Mainichi News reported the following:
東京都や埼玉県など関東一円で今年に入り、偽１万円札数百枚が見つかり、関与が疑われる日本人２人が既に浮上していることが２日、捜査関係者への取材で分かった。各県警が、組織的な犯行の可能性があるとみて捜査している。１月末には青森や岩手など東北４県で偽１万円札計約６０枚が見つかっており、関連を調べている。 捜査関係者によると、関東で見つかっている偽札は透かしがないうえ、見る角度で色や模様が変わる偽造防止用のホログラムも不十分といい、カラー複写機でコピーした可能性がある。紙質は悪くないが、明るい場所で注意して見れば偽物と分かるという。 警察当局は、既に少なくとも日本人２人が関与したとの見方を強め、行方を追っている。使われる地域が広範囲であることから、グループによる犯行とみている。
On the 2nd it was learned from people who had participated in the investigation that In Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture around Kantoi, since this year, several hundred counterfeited 10,000 yen bank notes were found, and two Japanese suspected to have connection had already come to light. Individual prefecture police were investigating, seeing that there was a possibility that it was an organized crime. At the end of January, about 60 counterfeited 10,000 yen bank notes were found in the four North East prefectures such as Aomori and Iwate, and their relationship was being examined. According to people related to the investigation, the forged notes found in Kanto were without watermark, and the hologram designed for counterfeit prevention that would change color and pattern depending on viewing angles, was found insufficient, and there was a possibility that they were copied with color copying machines. Although the paper quality was not bad, if the imitation notes were seen carefully in a well-lighted area the forgery notes could be differentiated. The police authority strengthened the view that at least two Japanese had taken part, and were chasing for their whereabouts. Because the used region was spreading out wide, it was thought that the crime was committed by a group.
So, be careful if you are going to receive the 10,000 yen bank notes in Japan.
東京都や埼玉県など関東一円で今年に入り、偽１万円札数百枚が見つかり、関与が疑われる日本人２人が既に浮上していることが２日、捜査関係者への取材で分かった。各県警が、組織的な犯行の可能性があるとみて捜査している。１月末には青森や岩手など東北４県で偽１万円札計約６０枚が見つかっており、関連を調べている。 捜査関係者によると、関東で見つかっている偽札は透かしがないうえ、見る角度で色や模様が変わる偽造防止用のホログラムも不十分といい、カラー複写機でコピーした可能性がある。紙質は悪くないが、明るい場所で注意して見れば偽物と分かるという。 警察当局は、既に少なくとも日本人２人が関与したとの見方を強め、行方を追っている。使われる地域が広範囲であることから、グループによる犯行とみている。
On the 2nd it was learned from people who had participated in the investigation that In Tokyo and Saitama Prefecture around Kantoi, since this year, several hundred counterfeited 10,000 yen bank notes were found, and two Japanese suspected to have connection had already come to light. Individual prefecture police were investigating, seeing that there was a possibility that it was an organized crime. At the end of January, about 60 counterfeited 10,000 yen bank notes were found in the four North East prefectures such as Aomori and Iwate, and their relationship was being examined. According to people related to the investigation, the forged notes found in Kanto were without watermark, and the hologram designed for counterfeit prevention that would change color and pattern depending on viewing angles, was found insufficient, and there was a possibility that they were copied with color copying machines. Although the paper quality was not bad, if the imitation notes were seen carefully in a well-lighted area the forgery notes could be differentiated. The police authority strengthened the view that at least two Japanese had taken part, and were chasing for their whereabouts. Because the used region was spreading out wide, it was thought that the crime was committed by a group.
So, be careful if you are going to receive the 10,000 yen bank notes in Japan.
2010年3月2日 星期二
George Kennan (Part III)
(7) ideology. . . taught them that the outside world was hostile and that it was their duty eventually to overthrow the political forces beyond their borders.
(8) since capitalism no longer existed in Russia . . . it became necessary to justify the retention of the dictatorship by stressing the menace of capitalism abroad. . . But there is ample evidence that the stress laid in Moscow on the menace confronting Soviet society from the world outside its borders is founded not in the realities of foreign antagonisms but in the necessity of explaining away the maintenance of dictatorial authority at home.
(9) we find disturbing in the Kremlin's conduct of foreign policy: the secretiveness, the lack of frankness, the duplicity, the wary auspiciousness, and the basic unfriendliness of purposes . . . When there is something the Russians want from us. . . their policy may be thrust temporarily into the background; and when that happens there will always be Americans who will leap forward with gleeful announcements that "the Russians have changed," and some who will even try to take credit for having brought about such "changes".
(10) the Soviet concept of power, which permits no focal points of organization outside the Party itself, requires that the Party leadership remain in theory the sole repository of truth. . . The leadership of the Communist Party is therefore always right. (to be continued)
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
(8) since capitalism no longer existed in Russia . . . it became necessary to justify the retention of the dictatorship by stressing the menace of capitalism abroad. . . But there is ample evidence that the stress laid in Moscow on the menace confronting Soviet society from the world outside its borders is founded not in the realities of foreign antagonisms but in the necessity of explaining away the maintenance of dictatorial authority at home.
(9) we find disturbing in the Kremlin's conduct of foreign policy: the secretiveness, the lack of frankness, the duplicity, the wary auspiciousness, and the basic unfriendliness of purposes . . . When there is something the Russians want from us. . . their policy may be thrust temporarily into the background; and when that happens there will always be Americans who will leap forward with gleeful announcements that "the Russians have changed," and some who will even try to take credit for having brought about such "changes".
(10) the Soviet concept of power, which permits no focal points of organization outside the Party itself, requires that the Party leadership remain in theory the sole repository of truth. . . The leadership of the Communist Party is therefore always right. (to be continued)
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
2010年3月1日 星期一
George Kennan (Part II)
(3) Lenin, had he lived, might have proved a great man to reconcile . . . conflicting forces to the ultimate benefit of Russia society. Stalin, and those whom he led in the struggle for succession to Lenin's position of leadership were not the men to tolerate rival political forces . . . the sense of insecurity was too great. . . unmodified by any of the Anglo-Saxon traditions of compromise, was too fierce and too jealous to envisage any permanent sharing of power.
(4) They carried with them a skepticism as to the possibilities of permanent and peaceful co-existence of rival forces. Easily persuaded of their own doctrinaire "rightness," they insisted on the submission or destruction of all competing power.
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
(4) They carried with them a skepticism as to the possibilities of permanent and peaceful co-existence of rival forces. Easily persuaded of their own doctrinaire "rightness," they insisted on the submission or destruction of all competing power.
(5) And within the Party the same principle was to apply. The mass of Party members might go through the motions of election, deliberation and action; but in these motions they were to be animated not by their own individual will but by the awesome breath of the Party leadership.
(6) That they alone knew what was good for society and that they would accomplish that good once their power was secure and unchallengeable. But in seeking that security of their own rule they were prepared to recognize no restrictions, either of God or man, on the character of their methods. (to be continued)
Reference:
1. [George Kennan]. "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" in Foreign Affairs, 1947.
2. US Department of State, Bureau of International Information Programs.(http://www.america.gov/st/washfile-english/2005/March)
3. Una McGovern ed. Chambers Biographical Dictionary. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd.,2002.
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