春天來了

最近這幾天總是下著毛毛雨, 家門路旁的櫻桃樹則在盛開, 可說是櫻花怒放. 花的彩色雖然略淡,但 亦有其觀賞價值. 花開花落, 四季有時, 我在散步其間, 映了一些相回來, 作為對一個季節開始的見證.

George Kennan (Part I)

In 1947 George Kennan (1904-2005), a career diplomat of the US, published an article anonymously in Foreign Affairs. This article was entitled "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" and was singed by "X". It asserted that Stalin's policy was based on a combination of Marxist-Leninist ideology that aimed at the defeat of capitalism in the world outside USSR. At that time Kennan was the director of policy planning under the supervision of Secretary of State George C. Marshall. When the real identity of X was eventually known, people began to believe that its content represented the official viewpoint of the Truman administration as far as US foreign policy towards USSR was concerned. On the death of Kennan on 17, April 2005 at the age of 101, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice published a statement on March 18 which called Kennan "one of the greatest strategists in the history of American foreign policy". Kennan was regarded by many as the US diplomat who first proposed the Cold War strategy of containment that would be followed by the Americans for over half a century. Some of the ideas presented in the "The Sources of Soviet Conduct" are quoted as follows:

1) The political personality of Soviet power as we know it today is the product of ideology and circumstances: ideology inherited by the present Soviet leaders from the movement in which they had their political origin and circumstances of the power which they now have exercised for nearly three decades in Russia.

2) The circumstances of the immediate post-revolution period -- the existence in Russia of civil war and foreign intervention, together with the obvious fact that the Communists represented only a tiny minority of the Russian people -- made the establishment of dictatorial power a necessity. (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.

The China White Paper 1949(XVI)

In China Hurley had spent much time in mediating the differences between the CCP and the Nationalist Government. Another problem for Hurley was about the supplying American arms and equipment to China other than the Nationalist Government. In January 1945 Chu Teh (朱德) asked the US to lend the Communist forces US 20 million dollars for the purpose of "procuring the defection of officers and man of the Chinese puppet government. "1 Such a proposal was objected by Hurley. In mid-February 1945 Hurley returned to the US for consultation. When he left Washington for Chungking in early April 1945, he travelled by way of London and Moscow. While in Moscow, Hurley had a discussion with Stalin and Molotov.2 He recorded this discussion in a report dated April 17, 1945. In this report Hurley was optimistic about USSR's attitude towards US's policy in China, saying that Stalin would be glad "to cooperate with the US and Britain in achieving unification of the military forces in China."3 However, Hurley's optimism as presented in his report was not shared by the Charge d'Affaires in Moscow, George Kennan. Kennan in his report dated April 23, 1945 stated that while nothing in Hurley's report was not honest, it had to be understood that "to the Russians words mean different things than they do to us." Kennan believed that Soviet's policy towards China would still be "a fluid resilient policy directed at the achievement of maximum power with minimum responsibility on portions of the Asiatic continent lying beyond the Soviet border . . . within the framework of this policy Moscow will aim specifically at :(1) Re-acquiring in substance, if not in form, all the diplomatic and territorial assets previously possessed on the mainland of Asia by Russia under the Czars . . . (3) Acquiring sufficient control in all areas of north China now dominated by the Japanese to prevent other foreign powers from repeating the Japanese incursion. . . It would be tragic if our natural anxiety for the support of the Soviet Union [leads] us into an undue reliance on Soviet aid."4 (to be continued)

Notes:
1.United States, Department of State. The China White Paper-August 1949. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1967, page 86.
2. page 94.
3. page 95.
4. page 97.

日本立體電視

Recently Yomiuri News reported the following:

家電メーカーなどが、人やモノが画面から飛び出してくるように見える３Ｄ（３次元）映像を無料体験できるショールームを相次いで開設している。 ３Ｄ映画「アバター」が大ヒットするなど２０１０年は「３Ｄ元年」と位置づけられており、各社は、３Ｄ対応テレビやデジタルカメラの普及につなげたい考えだ。 東京・銀座のソニービルでは、自分の姿を３Ｄテレビに映して見ることができる。専用のメガネをかけ、３Ｄカメラに向かって手を伸ばすと、画面から自分の手が飛び出してくる。「プレイステーション３」用のレースゲームでは、本物の自動車を運転しているように錯覚しやすい。 大阪・梅田の「ソニースタイル」や「パナソニックセンター」（東京、大阪）でも、３Ｄカメラで撮影したアニメ映画やスポーツの名場面を大型モニターで視聴できる。

Electrical appliance makers were opening up showrooms one after another to give free trial of 3D(three dimensions) that produced images which people and things seemed to dash out from the screen. 2010 was the year considered to be the "3D first year" because 3D movie "Avatar" became a big hit, and each company thought that they were tied to the spread of 3D televisions and digital cameras. In Sony Building in Tokyo, Ginza, it was possible to see one's appearance being projected into 3D television. When one reached out his hand towards the 3D camera one would see his hand dashed out from the screen if special glasses were worn. In the racing game for "Play Station 3", it was easy to mistake driving a genuine car. In Osaka, Umeda's "Sony Style", "Panasonic Center" (Tokyo and Osaka), great scenes of cartoon movies and sports could be enjoyed with large-scale monitors using pictures taken with 3D cameras.

It seems that the "3D Era" has started in Japan.

The China White Paper 1949 (XV)

In the US in August 1944, arrangements were made to send General Hurley to China, the goal of his visit would include: 1) to serve as personal representative of the US President to Chiang Kai-shek, 2) to promote harmonious relations between US General Joseph Stilwell and Chiang, and 3) to unify all the military forces in China for the purpose of defeating Japan.1 Hurley arrived Chungking (重慶) in September 1944. He traveled to China via Moscow in order to have a discussion with USSR Foreign Minister Molotov about the situation in China. Among other things Molotov said that his country had been unjustifiably held responsible for many happening took place in China recently, and stressed that his government had no responsibilities for these developments. He also said that 'in China some of whom called themselves communists but were related to Communism in no way at all. It was merely a way of expressing dissatisfaction with their economic condition and they would forget this political inclination when their economic condition improved.'2 Molotov also confirmed the statements made previously that "his government would be glad to see the US taking the lead economically, politically, and militarily in Chinese affairs".3 After arriving at China Hurley thought that in order to unify all the military forces in China for the purpose of defeating Japan, it was important to achieve mediation between the Chinese National Government and the CCP.4 (to be continued)

Notes:
1. United States, Department of State. The China White Paper-August 1949. Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, 1967, page 71.
2. Ibid., page 72.
3. Ibid., page 72.
4. Ibid., page 73.

F.D. Roosevelt's D-Day Prayer

In the morning of June 6, 1944, after months of preparations, American and British troops assisted by Allied soldiers crossed the English Channel and landed on the beaches of Normandy. It was the long-awaited ‘D-Day’, which would force the Nazis to defend themselves in the west, east and south. In the US the news of this landing was received with mixed emotions among the people: with some luck, it might bring the war to a conclusion, but it might also mean that some of their loved ones might die in the invasion. That night the US President Roosevelt (1882-1945) through the radio broadcasted a prayer for the sons of the Nation who were fighting in Normandy. This prayer is reproduced in part as follows:

“Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our Nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity. Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness to their faith. They will need Thy blessing. Their road will be long and hard. The enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph. They will be sore tired, by night and by day, without rest – till the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war. For these are men lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and good will among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home. Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them. Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom. . . . With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country . . . and a peace that will let all men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil. Thy will be done, Almighty God. Amen.”

I love the prayer because it was written beautifully and President Roosevelt is one of the few American leaders that I admire. During his life time the US had experienced two important events: the Great Depression and the war with Nazis Germany and the Empire of Japan. As a politician, he had truly discharged his duties as the leader of the country. He had the political wisdom and charisma to unite his people together during crucial moments in American history. He could command the confidence of the people when faith in the country was at the ebb.

Hong Kong is now at the crossroad of the political reform. Will she be lucky enough to have a political leader who has the wisdom to guide people out of the chaos?

日器官捐贈新例

Recently NHK reported the following:

ことし７月に施行される改正臓器移植法では、患者本人が臓器の提供を拒否する意思を示していない場合、家族の承諾で脳死からの臓器提供ができるようになりますが、厚生労働省の作業部会は１８日、拒否の意思表示を確認する方法について、移植コーディネーターが家族への聞き取りや意思表示カードで確認すれば十分だとする方針を決めました。
ことし７月に施行される改正臓器移植法では、臓器の提供を拒否する意思を示していない場合、家族の承諾で脳死からの臓器の提供が行えるようになるため、厚生労働省の作業部会では、本人が拒否していないことをどのように確認すればよいか議論を進めてきました。その結果、本人が書き残した文書などをすべて調べることは不可能だとして、家族への聞き取りのほか、意思表示カードと日本臓器移植ネットワークのホームページへの登録で、拒否の意思が示されていないかどうかを、移植コーディネーターが確認すれば十分だとする方針を決めました。改正臓器移植法では、１５歳未満の子どもからも脳死からの臓器の提供ができるようになりますが、幼い子どもでも拒否の意思を示していれば、有効と認めるとしています。また、本人が拒否していない場合に、臓器の提供を承諾する家族の範囲については、原則として、夫婦、親子、祖父母と孫、それに同居する親族とする方針も決めました。

Based on the Revised Organ Transplant Law to be enforced in July this year, if the intention of the patient himself to refuse to offer the internal organs was not indicated, organ donations after the brain death could proceed with the approval of the patient's family. On the 18th the Working Group of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, regarding the method of confirming the refusal, decided that it would be adequate if the transplant coordinator could confirm the understanding of the family and the details in the wish expression card.
Regarding the Revised Organ Transplant Law to be enforced in July this year, the Working Group of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare had been carrying out discussions on ways to handle offering of internal organs due to the brain death based on the family's approval, and on ways to confirm that there was no intention to refuse to offer internal organs. As a result, knowing that it was impossible to examine all documents left by a person in question, it was decided that as a policy it would be enough for the transplant coordinator to confirm whether an intention to refuse was shown in the donor registration card, and in the homepage of Japan Organ Transplant Network, besides confirming the understandings of the family. In the Revised Organ Transplant Law, 15-year-old child could offer internal organs due to brain death, but the young child's intention of refusal would be effective if such an intention had been shown. It was decided that if the person in question had not shown intention to refuse, the range of the family who could approve the offer of internal organs would be, as a rule, the married couple, the parent and child, the grandparent and grand son, and the cohabiting relative.

Its seems that the new laws on organs donation will permit more donations to take place.