福島核電事故對居民健康無影響?

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:　

原発事故「住民に健康影響表れない」国連科学委                                            

【ウィーン＝石黒穣】東京電力福島第一原子力発電所事故による住民への被曝(ひばく)影響について、「原子放射線の影響に関する国連科学委員会」（ＵＮＳＣＥＡＲ）の報告書案をまとめたウォルフガング・ワイス博士が３１日、ウィーンで記者会見し、「（被曝による住民への）健康影響はこれまでなく、将来的にも表れないだろう」と述べた。

　また、事故直後、同原発から２０キロ・メートル以内の住民を避難させるなどの政府の判断が功を奏して「被曝量を最大１０分の１に抑えられた」と評価した。

　同委員会は２７～３１日、総会を開き、放射線医学の専門家ら約８０人のグループが２年かけて被曝の影響を評価した報告書案について協議した。ワイス博士は、グループの議長を務めた。

（2013年5月31日22時35分 読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

About the contamination influence on the residents because of the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, Dr. Wolfgang Weiss who collated the proposed report: the "United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation" (UNSCEAR) gave an interview in Vienna; he said on the 31^st (May) that "for that, there is no health effect (on residents due to the contamination), and it will not appear in the future, either."

Moreover, immediately after the accident, the judgment of the government to evacuate residents within less than 20-km from the nuclear power plant was effective, and it estimated that "this contained the exposure dosage to 1/10 of the maximum".

The committee held a general meeting, about a group of 80 people (specialists in radiology) discussed from 27th to the 31st about the proposed report which evaluated the influence of contamination in two years. Dr. Weiss served as the chairperson of the group.

So, according to this report, the Japanese government has handled the accident well.

三重県廢物処理中心發現一公斤切碎日元

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

１万円札:三重の産廃施設で１キロ分発見

毎日新聞　2013年05月24日　22時17分（最終更新　05月24日　22時52分）

　２３日午前８時半ごろ、三重県四日市市の産業廃棄物処理施設で、裁断された１万円札が約１キロ見つかった。県警四日市北署は遺失物として保管している。

　同署によると、施設の男性従業員が収集したごみを裁断中、１万円札の紙片が交じっているのを見つけた。最大で紙幣の４分の１の大きさで、最初から裁断されていたかは不明という。

　紙片は今週、東海３県の事業所から集めた可燃、不燃ごみに交じっていた。１万円札の重さは１枚約１グラムという。【岡正勝】

(試譯文)

   On the 23^rd at around 8:30 am about 1 kg cut-out ten thousand yen bill was found in the industrial waste disposal facility in Yokkaichi city, Mie. The Prefecture Police’s Yokkaichi north office was keeping it as a lost article.

    According to the police station, while the male employee of the facility collected the cut-out trash, it was found out that paper pieces were mixed with ten thousand yen bills. It was said that at the beginning it was unnoticed; it was judged that the maximum size was in 1/4 of the bill.

   The paper pieces were mixed with the inflammable and the incombustible trash which were collected this week from the business locations at the three Tokai prefectures. It was said that the weight of a ten thousand yen bill was about 1 gram per sheet.

I think the discovery of these shredded bills could make a good start of a detective story. One kg is equal to one thousand grams; the amount of money involved should be around ten million yen.

巴基斯坦要求中國核電支援

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

シャリフ氏 中国に原発など支援要請
5月23日 23時17分

パキスタンの次期首相となる見通しのシャリフ元首相が、２３日、中国の李克強首相と会談し、国内の深刻な電力不足の解消に向けて、原子力発電所の増設などで中国の支援を求めました。

パキスタンの国民議会選挙で勝利し、３度目の首相就任が確実視されているシャリフ元首相は、パキスタンを訪れている中国の李克強首相と首都イスラマバードで会談しました。
パキスタンの各メディアによりますと、会談で、シャリフ元首相は、国内で停電が慢性化する深刻な電力不足を改善するためには中国の協力が重要だと強調しました。
そして、原子力発電所と水力発電所の増設、それに太陽光発電の導入などで中国の支援を求めたということです。
これに対して、李克強首相は両国の経済協力を強化していくことを約束したということです。
パキスタンは、電力不足の解消に向けて原子力発電所を増設する計画ですが、ＮＰＴ＝核拡散防止条約に加盟せず、核技術を北朝鮮などに拡散させた過去があるため、欧米諸国からは協力がえられない状況です。
シャリフ元首相としては、選挙の公約に掲げた電力不足の解消に向けて、中国からさらなる協力を引き出すため、首相就任後、早期に中国を訪問したいとしています。

(試譯文)

On the 23rd former Prime Minister Sharif who was expected to turn into the prime minister designate of Pakistan talked with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang, and asked for Chinese support in adding the nuclear power plant etc. towards solving the serious domestic electric power shortage.

Wining the National Assembly election of Pakistan, former Prime Minister Sharif, for the 3rd time assumed the prime minister office, would talk with Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang who was visiting Pakistan, at Islamabad the capital.

According to various media of Pakistan, at the talk, former Prime Minister Sharif emphasized that Chinese cooperation was important in order to improve the serious electric power shortage in which power failure became chronic at home.

Also it was said that Chinese supports were asked in extending the nuclear power plants and hydroelectric power stations and introducing the solar electricity etc.

In response it was said that Prime Minister Li Keqiang promised to strengthen the economic cooperation of both countries.

Although Pakistan was scheduled to expand nuclear power plants towards solving the electric power shortage problem, since it did not join the NPT= Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, and in the past it had spread nuclear technology to North Korea etc., it was in the situation that it could not obtain cooperation from Western countries.

In order to start further cooperation with China, and because former Prime Minister Sharif had touched on solving the electric power shortage in the campaign election pledges, it was supposed that after the prime minister had assumed the office he would visit China at an early stage.

I notice that politically Pakistan is in an interesting position. All along it has maintained a working relationship with both China and the US etc.

日本指望七年後放送“８Ｋ”超高清電視節目

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

“８Ｋ” ７年後の本放送を目指す

5月31日 20時54分

放送サービスの高度化を議論する総務省の検討会は、今のハイビジョンより画質が鮮明なテレビ放送の実施に向けた工程表をまとめ、ＮＨＫが中心となって開発した８Ｋ＝スーパーハイビジョンは、７年後の２０２０年の本放送を目指すことになりました。

検討会には、放送局や電機メーカーの幹部らが参加し、今のハイビジョンより画質が鮮明な４Ｋと８Ｋのテレビ放送を行う推進組織が今月設立されたことを踏まえ、放送の実施に向けた工程表をまとめました。
工程表では、今のハイビジョンの４倍の画素数を持つ４Ｋの試験放送を、ブラジルでサッカーのワールドカップが開かれる来年、世界に先駆けて衛星放送で開始することを目指すとしています。
そして、ＮＨＫが中心となって開発した画素数が１６倍の８Ｋ＝スーパーハイビジョンは、リオ・オリンピックが開かれる２０１６年に試験放送を開始したうえで、東京オリンピックの実現を念頭に、２０２０年の本放送を目指すとしています。

検討会に出席した柴山総務副大臣は、「今回の成果は、世界のマーケットを先導していくという皆さんの意欲の表れであり、政府の情報通信技術戦略にもきちんと反映させたい」と述べました。

(試譯文)

At the investigation commission of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications which discussed about advancing the broadcast service, a work schedule was summarized aiming at the enforcement of television broadcasting with image quality much clearer than the present Hi-Vision; regarding the 8K- super Hi-Vision which NHK took the lead in its development, the aim was to have a full-service broadcasting in 2020 that would be seven years from now.

In the investigation commission, the broadcasting station management office together with the participating electrical equipment manufacturers, on the basis established by a promoting organization which was formed this month, had summarized a work schedule which aimed at the implementation of broadcasting at 4K and 8K in which the image quality would be clearer than the present Hi-Vision.

In the work schedule there was the aim to test broadcasting the 4K which had 4 times the pixel count of the present Hi-Vision; and as a pioneer, to start satellite broadcasting next year in the world when the World Cup soccer would be opened in Brazil

Then about the 8K- super Hi-Vision which had 16 times pixel count which NHK took the lead in its development, its test broadcast would be started in 2016 after the opening of the Rio Olympic Games, and the aim was to have a full-service broadcasting in 2020, with the realization of Tokyo Olympic Games in mind.

Shibayama the General-Affairs Deputy Minister who attended the investigation commission said "The result this time is the manifestation of the volition in trying to lead the world market; it also properly reflects the governmental information and communication technology strategy".

I look forward to seeing the 8K- super Hi-Vision TV programs.

日本小学英語由４年班開始

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

小学校の英語「４年生ぐらいから」…文科相

政府の教育再生実行会議（座長・鎌田薫早稲田大総長）は２２日、首相官邸で会合を開き、グローバル化への対応や大学改革などについての最終的な提言案をまとめた

　。月内に安倍首相に提出し、来月策定される政府の成長戦略に盛り込まれる。具体的な制度設計は、文部科学相の諮問機関、中央教育審議会に委ねられる。

　提言案の柱は、小学校英語の拡充。海外で活躍できる人材を育成するのがねらいで、小学５、６年生で必修化されている週１回の「外国語活動」について、正式な教科にして専任教員を確保することや、実施学年の引き下げ、指導時間の拡大などの検討を求めた。

　同日記者会見した下村文科相は、海外の事例も参考にしながら、小学校英語の教科化などに向け学習指導要領改定を検討する考えを表明。小学校の英語教育開始の目安については、「４年生ぐらい」と述べた。実行会議の委員からは「３、４年生から」という意見も出ている。

（2013年5月22日22時01分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

The government’s Education Rebuilding Execution Meeting (Chairman Kaoru Kamata, the president of Waseda University) held a meeting in the Prime Minister's official residence on the 22^nd ; in response to the globalization and aiming at university reforms etc. it had come to the final proposal.

   Prime Minister Abe would be presented with the proposal within this month (May) and it would be incorporated into the governmental growth strategy which would be decided next month (June). The concrete design of the institutional arrangements would be left to a consultative body of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology: the Central Council for Education.

   The pillar of the proposal was the expansion of the elementary school English. Aiming at raising talented people who could play an active part overseas, about one "foreign language activity" per week in elementary school fifth and sixth graders would be made compulsory. It would be regarded as a formal subject and a full-time teacher would be secured. It would be asked to review reducing the number of implementation year and expanding the instruction time etc.

   Shimomura the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology who gave a press interview on the same day, referring to overseas example, expressed the idea which considered amending the government guidelines on teaching, aiming at making the elementary school English a subject etc. It was stated that the goal was to start the English education in the elementary school at "around the fourth grader". The opinion "to start from the third or fourth grader" had also come out from the committee members of the execution meeting.

It seems that Japan is paying more attention to increase the English ability of the students.

地球ＣＯ２濃度進入危険領域

Last month the Yomuri News on-line reported the following:

「新たな危険領域に入った」…ＣＯ２濃度で声明

米ハワイ島の観測所で、二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）の平均濃度が４００ｐｐｍ（１０００ｐｐｍが０・１％）を超えたのを受け、国連気候変動枠組み条約事務局のフィゲレス事務局長は１３日、「我々は歴史的な境界を越え、新たな危険領域に入った」との声明を発表した。

　声明では「世界は目を覚まし、これが人類の安全保障や福祉、経済発展にどのような影響を及ぼすか気づかねばならない」と警告している。

　米海洋大気局（ＮＯＡＡ）によると今月９日、大気中のＣＯ２濃度が１日平均で初めて４００ｐｐｍを超えた。

（2013年5月13日22時43分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

    On the 13th (May) at the observatory on the Hawaii Island of the U.S., it was noted that the average density of carbon dioxide (CO2) had exceeded 400 ppm (1000 ppm is 0.1%), Executive Director Figueres of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change Office issued a statement that "we have crossed the historical boundary and gone into a new dangerous region".

In the declaration it warned that "The world must wake up and notice what kind of influence this has on human beings' security, welfare, and economic development".

According to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), CO2 concentration in the atmosphere had exceeded 400 ppm for the first time on average on the 9th of this month (May).

It is a dangerous signal, probably climate change on earth would continue.

糖尿病與癌症有關連

Last month the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

がん発症リスク、糖尿病で高まる…学会の合同委

日本糖尿病学会と日本癌(がん)学会は１４日、糖尿病が、がんの発症リスクを高める要因になると発表した。

　両学会は、野菜不足や過剰な飲酒、運動不足、喫煙は、糖尿病とがんに共通する危険因子だとし、適切な生活習慣を身につけるよう、呼び掛けている。

　両学会は合同委員会を設立し、２０１１年から糖尿病とがん発症との関係について検討を続けてきた。

　全国各地で実施された男性約１５万人、女性約１８万人分の健康状態の追跡調査のデータを解析。男性約２万人、女性約１万３０００人が、がんになったが、糖尿病の人は、そうでない人に比べ、がんになるリスクが男女とも１・２倍高かった。

　中でも、大腸がんは１・４倍、肝臓がんと膵臓(すいぞう)がんは、それぞれ約２倍、高かった。子宮がんや膀胱(ぼうこう)がんも、糖尿病になるとがんのリスクが高まる傾向がみられた。一方、乳がん、前立腺がんは糖尿病との関連はみられなかった。

（2013年5月14日19時43分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

The Japan Diabetes Society and the Japanese Cancer (gan) Society announced on the 14th (May) that diabetes had become a factor which could raise the risk of cancer development symptoms.

    According to both societies, it was supposed that the shortage of vegetables, superfluous drinking and the lack of exercise, together with smoking were risk factors common to diabetes and cancer. They were appealing to learn to lead a suitable lifestyle.

Both societies established a joint committee, from 2011 they had continued the examination on the relation between diabetes and the onset of the cancer.

Analysis was done on the data of a follow-up survey carried out all over the country on the health condition of about 150,000 men and about 180,000 women. While about 20,000 men and about 13,000 women had developed a cancer, a diabetic person had 1.2 times higher risk of getting cancer compared to men and women who were not diabetic.

Especially, colorectal cancer 1.4 times; liver cancer and pancreatic cancer were about twice as high. When there was the uterine cancer or the bladder (baukou) cancer, an increase in the risk tendency to become diabetes was seen. On the other hand, as for the breast cancer and the prostate cancer, the relation with diabetes was not found.

This is a useful medical founding. Situation in other societies may be similar.