新規記事の投稿を行うことで、非表示にすることが可能です。
2011年05月13日
原発事故賠償―東電温存にこだわるな
2011/05/12
--The Asahi Shimbun, May 11
EDITORIAL: TEPCO compensation talks should include industry reforms
原発事故賠償―東電温存にこだわるな
Debate within the government over measures to compensate for damage caused by the accident at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has entered the final phase. But we find the reported contents hard to understand in many ways.
東京電力福島第一原発事故の賠償策をめぐり、政府内での検討が大詰めを迎えている。だが、伝えられる中身は腑（ふ）に落ちないことばかりだ。
At a time when the entire picture of damage remains unclear, the government is only focusing on how to adjust the interests of concerned parties such as whether to set a cap on the burden borne by Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the plant.
被害の全容がつかめないなかで、東電の負担に上限を設けるかどうかといった関係者の利害調整ばかりに焦点があたった。
While the government is demanding TEPCO implement strict restructuring measures, it appears the discussion is based on the major premise that it would continue to operate as a listed company.
政府は東電に対して厳しいリストラ策を求めてはいるが、上場企業としてこれまでどおりの経営を続けることが大前提になっているかのようだ。
We repeat that the most important thing the government must hasten to do in studying compensation measures is to ensure that payments are promptly and adequately made to sufferers, and power supply to areas covered by TEPCO is not disrupted.
繰り返すが、賠償策を考えるにあたり、政府が急ぐべきは、被害者に対する支払いが迅速かつ十分に行われるようにすることと、管内への電力供給が滞らないようにすることに尽きる。
The purpose is not to "protect" TEPCO. Compensation payments and and power supply can be realized even if the company cannot maintain its current form.
決して東電を「守る」ことではないし、今の事業形態が維持できなければ、賠償や電力供給が実現できないわけでもない。
If the government clarifies its engagement "to require TEPCO to firmly make payments," there is much room to come up with ideas.
「東電にしっかり支払いを履行させる」という国の関与さえ明確にしておけば、工夫の余地はいくらでもある。
To begin with, the TEPCO problem is inseparable with Japan's electricity and energy policy. It should be debated within a much larger picture.
そもそも東電問題は、わが国の電力・エネルギー政策と不可分な関係にある。もっと大きな構図の中に位置づけて論じられるべきだろう。
Is it right to sit back and do nothing to change the electric power industry, which has maintained strong ties with politics and the administration while being protected by regional monopolies?
地域独占に守られながら政治や行政と強く結びついてきた電力産業をこのままにしていいのか。
Will Japan continue nuclear power generation in the future?
今後も原子力発電を続けるのか。
If so, should it leave individual power companies to continue to operate nuclear power plants as they have been doing up to now?
その場合、今までどおり各電力会社に運用を委ねるのか。
Or should they be separated?
それとも切り離すか。
Is it not possible to use funds invested in the nuclear fuel cycle project to reuse used nuclear fuel?
使用済み核燃料を再利用する核燃サイクル事業に投じてきた資金は使えないのか――。
By sorting out these points and coming up with a direction, we should be able to determine TEPCO's ability to shoulder the burden in concrete terms.
こうした論点を整理し、方向性を打ち出すことで、東電の具体的な負担能力が見えてくるはずだ。
How much can it afford to pay with proceeds from its business and sales of its assets?
事業収益や資産売却で、どの程度の支払い余力が見込めるのか。
A decision must be made based on concrete grounds.
具体的な根拠に基づいた判断が求められる。
In the process, naturally, the responsibility of shareholders will also be questioned.
その過程では、当然ながら株主の責任も問われるだろう。
Financial institutions will also be required to "shoulder a burden" in some form for their financial claims in general against TEPCO, excluding emergency loans after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
金融機関についても、震災後の緊急対応融資を除く一般債権について、何らかの負担を求めていくことになる。
Still, if payments cannot be met in the end, the public may be required to pick up the tab through an increase in electricity charges.
それでも最終的に賄い切れなければ、電力料金の値上げなどを通じて国民負担となる場合もある。
Also for that matter, a careful procedure is needed.
そのためにも、丁寧な手順が必要だ。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan gave a news conference May 10 to announce plans to put the government's basic energy policy back on the drawing board and emphasize the development of natural energy sources.
菅直人首相は１０日の記者会見で、エネルギー基本計画を白紙に戻し、自然エネルギーの開発に力を入れていく考えを表明した。
The way electric power supply is left to 10 companies should also be re-examined in the course of discussion.
今の１０電力体制のあり方も議論の対象にすべきだ。
Repeated attempts to reform the electric power supply system have failed.
電力改革は過去、何度か試みられては挫折してきた。
The unprecedented crisis this time is a chance to implement drastic reforms.
今回のような未曽有の危機は、大胆な改革のメスを入れるチャンスでもある。
--The Asahi Shimbun, May 11
EDITORIAL: TEPCO compensation talks should include industry reforms
原発事故賠償―東電温存にこだわるな
Debate within the government over measures to compensate for damage caused by the accident at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has entered the final phase. But we find the reported contents hard to understand in many ways.
東京電力福島第一原発事故の賠償策をめぐり、政府内での検討が大詰めを迎えている。だが、伝えられる中身は腑（ふ）に落ちないことばかりだ。
At a time when the entire picture of damage remains unclear, the government is only focusing on how to adjust the interests of concerned parties such as whether to set a cap on the burden borne by Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the plant.
被害の全容がつかめないなかで、東電の負担に上限を設けるかどうかといった関係者の利害調整ばかりに焦点があたった。
While the government is demanding TEPCO implement strict restructuring measures, it appears the discussion is based on the major premise that it would continue to operate as a listed company.
政府は東電に対して厳しいリストラ策を求めてはいるが、上場企業としてこれまでどおりの経営を続けることが大前提になっているかのようだ。
We repeat that the most important thing the government must hasten to do in studying compensation measures is to ensure that payments are promptly and adequately made to sufferers, and power supply to areas covered by TEPCO is not disrupted.
繰り返すが、賠償策を考えるにあたり、政府が急ぐべきは、被害者に対する支払いが迅速かつ十分に行われるようにすることと、管内への電力供給が滞らないようにすることに尽きる。
The purpose is not to "protect" TEPCO. Compensation payments and and power supply can be realized even if the company cannot maintain its current form.
決して東電を「守る」ことではないし、今の事業形態が維持できなければ、賠償や電力供給が実現できないわけでもない。
If the government clarifies its engagement "to require TEPCO to firmly make payments," there is much room to come up with ideas.
「東電にしっかり支払いを履行させる」という国の関与さえ明確にしておけば、工夫の余地はいくらでもある。
To begin with, the TEPCO problem is inseparable with Japan's electricity and energy policy. It should be debated within a much larger picture.
そもそも東電問題は、わが国の電力・エネルギー政策と不可分な関係にある。もっと大きな構図の中に位置づけて論じられるべきだろう。
Is it right to sit back and do nothing to change the electric power industry, which has maintained strong ties with politics and the administration while being protected by regional monopolies?
地域独占に守られながら政治や行政と強く結びついてきた電力産業をこのままにしていいのか。
Will Japan continue nuclear power generation in the future?
今後も原子力発電を続けるのか。
If so, should it leave individual power companies to continue to operate nuclear power plants as they have been doing up to now?
その場合、今までどおり各電力会社に運用を委ねるのか。
Or should they be separated?
それとも切り離すか。
Is it not possible to use funds invested in the nuclear fuel cycle project to reuse used nuclear fuel?
使用済み核燃料を再利用する核燃サイクル事業に投じてきた資金は使えないのか――。
By sorting out these points and coming up with a direction, we should be able to determine TEPCO's ability to shoulder the burden in concrete terms.
こうした論点を整理し、方向性を打ち出すことで、東電の具体的な負担能力が見えてくるはずだ。
How much can it afford to pay with proceeds from its business and sales of its assets?
事業収益や資産売却で、どの程度の支払い余力が見込めるのか。
A decision must be made based on concrete grounds.
具体的な根拠に基づいた判断が求められる。
In the process, naturally, the responsibility of shareholders will also be questioned.
その過程では、当然ながら株主の責任も問われるだろう。
Financial institutions will also be required to "shoulder a burden" in some form for their financial claims in general against TEPCO, excluding emergency loans after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
金融機関についても、震災後の緊急対応融資を除く一般債権について、何らかの負担を求めていくことになる。
Still, if payments cannot be met in the end, the public may be required to pick up the tab through an increase in electricity charges.
それでも最終的に賄い切れなければ、電力料金の値上げなどを通じて国民負担となる場合もある。
Also for that matter, a careful procedure is needed.
そのためにも、丁寧な手順が必要だ。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan gave a news conference May 10 to announce plans to put the government's basic energy policy back on the drawing board and emphasize the development of natural energy sources.
菅直人首相は１０日の記者会見で、エネルギー基本計画を白紙に戻し、自然エネルギーの開発に力を入れていく考えを表明した。
The way electric power supply is left to 10 companies should also be re-examined in the course of discussion.
今の１０電力体制のあり方も議論の対象にすべきだ。
Repeated attempts to reform the electric power supply system have failed.
電力改革は過去、何度か試みられては挫折してきた。
The unprecedented crisis this time is a chance to implement drastic reforms.
今回のような未曽有の危機は、大胆な改革のメスを入れるチャンスでもある。
2011年05月12日
浜岡原発―津波だけではない
2011/05/11
--The Asahi Shimbun, May 10
EDITORIAL: Tsunami not the only safety concern for Hamaoka plant
浜岡原発―津波だけではない
Chubu Electric Power Co. decided on May 9 to halt, for the time being, operations of all reactors at its Hamaoka nuclear power plant, which is located right above what seismologists say will be the focus of an expected Tokai earthquake.
東海地震の想定震源域の真上にある浜岡原発のすべての炉が当面は止まる。
The company made the decision in an emergency board meeting in response to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's unusual request for the action.
菅直人首相による異例の求めを中部電力が受け入れた。
The March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake has triggered a disastrous accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., shattering the myth of the safety of nuclear power generation.
東日本大震災によって東京電力福島第一原発の事故が起き、原子力の安全神話は崩れた。
There is clearly a compelling case for shutting down the nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is considered the most dangerous in Japan, and taking fresh measures to bolster the safety of the plant.
国内で最も危険といわれてきた原発を止め、安全対策を強めるのは当然の決断と言えよう。
One troubling element in the move is that the suspension of reactor operations requested by Kan is limited to the period until medium- to long-term safety measures, like the construction of levees, have been implemented at the plant.
ひとつ気になるのは、首相の要請が防潮堤づくりなどの中長期対策が施されるまで、となっていることだ。
This raises the question of whether the plant is strong enough to withstand the violent shaking of the ground caused by powerful seismic waves in the first place.
地震の揺れそのものに対しては大丈夫なのか、という心配が残る。
The medium- to long-term safety measures have been called for by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency in light of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 plant. They are aimed at enhancing defenses against massive tsunami and potential losses of power sources.
中長期対策は、福島第一の事故を受けて、原子力安全・保安院が、津波に対する備えや、それによって起こる電源喪失などへの対策を確実にするために求めた。
Besides building levees, Chubu Electric says that it will also install watertight doors, a backup reactor cooling system and additional power sources for emergencies.
中部電の計画では、防潮堤のほか防水扉、非常用の炉心冷却系や電源を充実させる、と説明している。
But the blueprint doesn't contain measures for checking and enhancing the safety of the plant against quakes themselves.
そこには、揺れそのものに対する安全度の確認や補強策は含まれていない。
The principal concern about the Hamaoka plant has been whether it can withstand the force of the expected Tokai earthquake, a mega-quake that occurs at the boundaries of tectonic plates.
浜岡原発がこれまで不安視されてきたのは、なによりもプレート境界型の巨大地震である東海地震の揺れに耐えられるか、ということだった。
In response to the concern, Chubu Electric announced in 2005 plans to strengthen the quake resistance of the plant. Other electric power companies have followed suit.
そのこともあって、中部電は早めに手を打ち、２００５年に補強を表明した。ほかの電力会社も追随した。
But NISA's assessment of the quake resistance of the Hamaoka plant based on the new quake safety standards adopted in 2006 is not yet over.
それでも、０６年に改定された新耐震指針による浜岡原発に対する保安院の審議は、まだ終わっていない。
The assessment has been delayed by the safety implications of some recent seismic events, including the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake, which shook the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture with a far stronger intensity than TEPCO had expected.
長引く背景には、０７年の新潟県中越沖地震で東京電力柏崎刈羽原発が想定を大きく超える揺れに見舞われるなど、新しい事態に直面したことがある。
It is also necessary to glean lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
東日本大震災からも、教訓を得る必要がある。
Regarding the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, attention has been focused on the height of the tsunami that struck the facilities.
福島第一原発の事故では、津波の高さばかりに目が向いている。
But it is possible that the piping of the reactors might have been seriously damaged by the intense shaking before the tsunami hit.
だが、原子炉の配管系が津波襲来より前の強い揺れで大きく損傷した可能性がある。
The March 11 earthquake was marked not just by its strong peak ground acceleration but also by the unusual length of the shaking.
そして、揺れの最大加速度だけではなく、その継続時間の長さにも特徴があった。
What is crucial in taking safety precautions is not to focus too much on a single aspect.
安全対策で忘れてならないのは、一つのことに目を奪われてはならぬということだ。
The Fukushima No. 1 plant suffered unexpectedly serious damage from a tsunami, a factor that had not been given much attention in preparations for a natural disaster.
福島第一原発は、それまで関心の低かった津波によって予想外の大打撃を受けた。
But it would be foolish to go to the opposite extreme and concentrate only on the danger of tsunami in taking precautionary measures to make the Hamaoka plant safer.
浜岡で、その逆の愚をおかしてはならない。
Let us not forget the destructive force of the shaking of a mammoth quake.
地震の揺れを忘れまい。
New important discoveries have been made almost annually about the mechanisms and risks of earthquakes that occur in areas surrounding the Japanese archipelago.
日本列島周辺の地震の仕組みや危険度については年々、新しいことがわかってきている。
Such new knowledge should be used for the sake of making more informed decisions on whether to keep or stop operating specific reactors.
新知識をとり込みながら、原発を動かすか止めるかを決める。
A greater dose of flexibility is needed for the government's nuclear power policy.
そういう柔軟な原発政策が、いま求められている。
--The Asahi Shimbun, May 10
EDITORIAL: Tsunami not the only safety concern for Hamaoka plant
浜岡原発―津波だけではない
Chubu Electric Power Co. decided on May 9 to halt, for the time being, operations of all reactors at its Hamaoka nuclear power plant, which is located right above what seismologists say will be the focus of an expected Tokai earthquake.
東海地震の想定震源域の真上にある浜岡原発のすべての炉が当面は止まる。
The company made the decision in an emergency board meeting in response to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's unusual request for the action.
菅直人首相による異例の求めを中部電力が受け入れた。
The March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake has triggered a disastrous accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co., shattering the myth of the safety of nuclear power generation.
東日本大震災によって東京電力福島第一原発の事故が起き、原子力の安全神話は崩れた。
There is clearly a compelling case for shutting down the nuclear power plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is considered the most dangerous in Japan, and taking fresh measures to bolster the safety of the plant.
国内で最も危険といわれてきた原発を止め、安全対策を強めるのは当然の決断と言えよう。
One troubling element in the move is that the suspension of reactor operations requested by Kan is limited to the period until medium- to long-term safety measures, like the construction of levees, have been implemented at the plant.
ひとつ気になるのは、首相の要請が防潮堤づくりなどの中長期対策が施されるまで、となっていることだ。
This raises the question of whether the plant is strong enough to withstand the violent shaking of the ground caused by powerful seismic waves in the first place.
地震の揺れそのものに対しては大丈夫なのか、という心配が残る。
The medium- to long-term safety measures have been called for by the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency in light of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 plant. They are aimed at enhancing defenses against massive tsunami and potential losses of power sources.
中長期対策は、福島第一の事故を受けて、原子力安全・保安院が、津波に対する備えや、それによって起こる電源喪失などへの対策を確実にするために求めた。
Besides building levees, Chubu Electric says that it will also install watertight doors, a backup reactor cooling system and additional power sources for emergencies.
中部電の計画では、防潮堤のほか防水扉、非常用の炉心冷却系や電源を充実させる、と説明している。
But the blueprint doesn't contain measures for checking and enhancing the safety of the plant against quakes themselves.
そこには、揺れそのものに対する安全度の確認や補強策は含まれていない。
The principal concern about the Hamaoka plant has been whether it can withstand the force of the expected Tokai earthquake, a mega-quake that occurs at the boundaries of tectonic plates.
浜岡原発がこれまで不安視されてきたのは、なによりもプレート境界型の巨大地震である東海地震の揺れに耐えられるか、ということだった。
In response to the concern, Chubu Electric announced in 2005 plans to strengthen the quake resistance of the plant. Other electric power companies have followed suit.
そのこともあって、中部電は早めに手を打ち、２００５年に補強を表明した。ほかの電力会社も追随した。
But NISA's assessment of the quake resistance of the Hamaoka plant based on the new quake safety standards adopted in 2006 is not yet over.
それでも、０６年に改定された新耐震指針による浜岡原発に対する保安院の審議は、まだ終わっていない。
The assessment has been delayed by the safety implications of some recent seismic events, including the 2007 Niigata Chuetsu-oki Earthquake, which shook the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant in Niigata Prefecture with a far stronger intensity than TEPCO had expected.
長引く背景には、０７年の新潟県中越沖地震で東京電力柏崎刈羽原発が想定を大きく超える揺れに見舞われるなど、新しい事態に直面したことがある。
It is also necessary to glean lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
東日本大震災からも、教訓を得る必要がある。
Regarding the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, attention has been focused on the height of the tsunami that struck the facilities.
福島第一原発の事故では、津波の高さばかりに目が向いている。
But it is possible that the piping of the reactors might have been seriously damaged by the intense shaking before the tsunami hit.
だが、原子炉の配管系が津波襲来より前の強い揺れで大きく損傷した可能性がある。
The March 11 earthquake was marked not just by its strong peak ground acceleration but also by the unusual length of the shaking.
そして、揺れの最大加速度だけではなく、その継続時間の長さにも特徴があった。
What is crucial in taking safety precautions is not to focus too much on a single aspect.
安全対策で忘れてならないのは、一つのことに目を奪われてはならぬということだ。
The Fukushima No. 1 plant suffered unexpectedly serious damage from a tsunami, a factor that had not been given much attention in preparations for a natural disaster.
福島第一原発は、それまで関心の低かった津波によって予想外の大打撃を受けた。
But it would be foolish to go to the opposite extreme and concentrate only on the danger of tsunami in taking precautionary measures to make the Hamaoka plant safer.
浜岡で、その逆の愚をおかしてはならない。
Let us not forget the destructive force of the shaking of a mammoth quake.
地震の揺れを忘れまい。
New important discoveries have been made almost annually about the mechanisms and risks of earthquakes that occur in areas surrounding the Japanese archipelago.
日本列島周辺の地震の仕組みや危険度については年々、新しいことがわかってきている。
Such new knowledge should be used for the sake of making more informed decisions on whether to keep or stop operating specific reactors.
新知識をとり込みながら、原発を動かすか止めるかを決める。
A greater dose of flexibility is needed for the government's nuclear power policy.
そういう柔軟な原発政策が、いま求められている。
2011年04月21日
原発工程表―これ以上悪くせず前へ
2011/04/20
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 19
EDITORIAL: TEPCO must prepare for additional risks in taming Fukushima crisis
原発工程表―これ以上悪くせず前へ
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has set a specific time frame for its long battle to end the nuclear crisis. The company on April 17 unveiled a road map for stabilizing the dangerous situation at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
「長い闘い」の長さが、数字で見えてきた。福島第一原発の事故収束をめぐって、東京電力が発表した工程表である。
In the first stage of the plan, which will take about three months, measures will be taken to ensure stable and safe cooling of the damaged reactors and spent fuel pools.
３カ月くらいかけて、事故炉や燃料プールを安定して冷却できるようにする。
In the second stage, steps will be made to bring the reactors to a stable state of cold shutdown in a process expected to require three to six months to complete.
その後３〜６カ月ほどで、炉を冷温停止状態に落ち着かせる。
It will take even longer to rebuild the lives of people living in areas around the ravaged nuclear power plant.
TEPCO admitted for the first time that it will take as many as six to nine months just to put the sources of radioactivity under control, which is a prerequisite for Fukushima evacuees to return home and restart their lives.
原発周辺の人々の生活再建はさらに長い闘いになるが、その前提である放射能源の制圧だけでも６〜９カ月かかることを、東電は初めて認めた。
The continuous pouring of water on the reactors and the pools have prevented the No. 1 to No. 4 units at the plant from running out of control.
福島第一の１〜４号機は今、炉やプールに水を注ぎ続けることで小康が保たれている。
If this makeshift measure fails, the risk of a massive release of radioactive materials will grow sharply, forcing the government to reconsider again its policy concerning the evacuation of residents in the surrounding areas.
これが破綻（はたん）したら、放射性物質のさらなる大量放出の恐れが高まり、周辺地域の避難のあり方を再び見直すことにもなろう。
That would place far severer strains on the residents than the already heavy burdens they are bearing now.
そうなれば、住民が背負う重荷は今の比ではない。
The utility needs to execute its plan for containing the crisis under such circumstances. What is the most important is to prevent the situation from becoming any worse.
こうしたなかでの収束作戦である。なによりも強く求められているのは、これ以上悪い状態にしない、ということだ。
First and foremost, the company needs to be properly prepared for unpredictable events that may occur.
まず備えるべきは、不測の出来事だ。
The biggest fear is a possible disruption in external power supply that causes the water injection to stop, which happened after a recent huge aftershock.
とりわけ怖いのは、先日の大きな余震のときのように外部電源が途絶え、注水が止まることである。
TEPCO's blueprint refers to such risks as aftershocks and lightning strikes, indicating that the company is trying to figure out ways to enhance the external power supply system. This should be done swiftly.
工程表も余震や落雷などのリスクに触れ、外部電源系の補強を考えているようだ。この対策は急務といえよう。
Easing this emergency requires working on reactors and fuel pools that cannot be inspected from up close due to high levels of radiation.
事故収束に向けた作業は、近づいて中をのぞくことのできない炉やプールを相手にする。
It is certain that the fix-it plan will have to be reviewed after each step is taken.
工程を一歩進めるごとに見直しを迫られるのは必至だ。
The company must not be so focused on carrying out the scheduled plan that it overlooks a big problem.
期限にばかり気をとられて急ぐあまり、大きな問題点を見逃すことがあってはならない。
The road map raises concerns about whether the number of workers needed to carry through the lengthy process can be secured.
工程表を見て気にかかるのは長丁場に必要な人力だ。
The plan requires a raft of tough and risky tasks, like sealing the container vessel of the No. 2 reactor and reinforcing the structure supporting the fuel pool for the No. 4 reactor. We wonder how many workers will be needed to perform these jobs.
２号機格納容器の密閉や、４号機の燃料プール周辺の補強など難しい作業が列挙されているが、それらにどれだけの作業員がかかわるのだろうか。
Workers will face the risk of being exposed to high levels of radiation.
現場は、放射線を浴びる危険が大きい。
At the entrance to the building housing the No. 1 reactor, for instance, a level of radiation recently detected was so high that working for just an hour at the location would expose the worker to more radiation than the upper limit.
１号機建屋の入り口では、作業員が１時間いるだけで被曝（ひばく）線量限度を超える放射線が測定された。
TEPCO's plan duly acknowledges the risk by pointing out the concern that long-term work at places with high levels of radiation may be required.
工程表にも「放射線レベルの高い場所で、作業が長期化する恐れ」が明記されている。
Workers must be replaced regularly before they are exposed to excessive amounts of radiation.
同じ人にずっと働いてもらうわけにはいかない。
In addition, all of the damaged No. 1 to No. 4 reactor buildings are releasing radiation. That means the measures prescribed must be taken simultaneously at all the four buildings.
さらに、放射能源を封じなくてはならないのは１〜４号機のすべてで、これらの作業を同時に進めなくてはならない。
The manpower that can be provided by TEPCO, the reactor makers and their affiliates may be far from enough to carry out all these tasks.
東電や原子炉メーカー、関連会社の人たちだけでは、とても追いつかないかもしれない。
Two key challenges in the mission are how to secure a sufficient number of workers, including reinforcements, and how to protect the health of these workers.
応援を含め、要員をどうやって確保するか。一線で働く人たちの健康をどう守っていくか。
The government is also taking on a heavy responsibility by accepting TEPCO's road map to safety at the crippled nuclear power plant.
政府も、この工程表を受け入れる以上は責任が重い。
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 19
EDITORIAL: TEPCO must prepare for additional risks in taming Fukushima crisis
原発工程表―これ以上悪くせず前へ
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has set a specific time frame for its long battle to end the nuclear crisis. The company on April 17 unveiled a road map for stabilizing the dangerous situation at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
「長い闘い」の長さが、数字で見えてきた。福島第一原発の事故収束をめぐって、東京電力が発表した工程表である。
In the first stage of the plan, which will take about three months, measures will be taken to ensure stable and safe cooling of the damaged reactors and spent fuel pools.
３カ月くらいかけて、事故炉や燃料プールを安定して冷却できるようにする。
In the second stage, steps will be made to bring the reactors to a stable state of cold shutdown in a process expected to require three to six months to complete.
その後３〜６カ月ほどで、炉を冷温停止状態に落ち着かせる。
It will take even longer to rebuild the lives of people living in areas around the ravaged nuclear power plant.
TEPCO admitted for the first time that it will take as many as six to nine months just to put the sources of radioactivity under control, which is a prerequisite for Fukushima evacuees to return home and restart their lives.
原発周辺の人々の生活再建はさらに長い闘いになるが、その前提である放射能源の制圧だけでも６〜９カ月かかることを、東電は初めて認めた。
The continuous pouring of water on the reactors and the pools have prevented the No. 1 to No. 4 units at the plant from running out of control.
福島第一の１〜４号機は今、炉やプールに水を注ぎ続けることで小康が保たれている。
If this makeshift measure fails, the risk of a massive release of radioactive materials will grow sharply, forcing the government to reconsider again its policy concerning the evacuation of residents in the surrounding areas.
これが破綻（はたん）したら、放射性物質のさらなる大量放出の恐れが高まり、周辺地域の避難のあり方を再び見直すことにもなろう。
That would place far severer strains on the residents than the already heavy burdens they are bearing now.
そうなれば、住民が背負う重荷は今の比ではない。
The utility needs to execute its plan for containing the crisis under such circumstances. What is the most important is to prevent the situation from becoming any worse.
こうしたなかでの収束作戦である。なによりも強く求められているのは、これ以上悪い状態にしない、ということだ。
First and foremost, the company needs to be properly prepared for unpredictable events that may occur.
まず備えるべきは、不測の出来事だ。
The biggest fear is a possible disruption in external power supply that causes the water injection to stop, which happened after a recent huge aftershock.
とりわけ怖いのは、先日の大きな余震のときのように外部電源が途絶え、注水が止まることである。
TEPCO's blueprint refers to such risks as aftershocks and lightning strikes, indicating that the company is trying to figure out ways to enhance the external power supply system. This should be done swiftly.
工程表も余震や落雷などのリスクに触れ、外部電源系の補強を考えているようだ。この対策は急務といえよう。
Easing this emergency requires working on reactors and fuel pools that cannot be inspected from up close due to high levels of radiation.
事故収束に向けた作業は、近づいて中をのぞくことのできない炉やプールを相手にする。
It is certain that the fix-it plan will have to be reviewed after each step is taken.
工程を一歩進めるごとに見直しを迫られるのは必至だ。
The company must not be so focused on carrying out the scheduled plan that it overlooks a big problem.
期限にばかり気をとられて急ぐあまり、大きな問題点を見逃すことがあってはならない。
The road map raises concerns about whether the number of workers needed to carry through the lengthy process can be secured.
工程表を見て気にかかるのは長丁場に必要な人力だ。
The plan requires a raft of tough and risky tasks, like sealing the container vessel of the No. 2 reactor and reinforcing the structure supporting the fuel pool for the No. 4 reactor. We wonder how many workers will be needed to perform these jobs.
２号機格納容器の密閉や、４号機の燃料プール周辺の補強など難しい作業が列挙されているが、それらにどれだけの作業員がかかわるのだろうか。
Workers will face the risk of being exposed to high levels of radiation.
現場は、放射線を浴びる危険が大きい。
At the entrance to the building housing the No. 1 reactor, for instance, a level of radiation recently detected was so high that working for just an hour at the location would expose the worker to more radiation than the upper limit.
１号機建屋の入り口では、作業員が１時間いるだけで被曝（ひばく）線量限度を超える放射線が測定された。
TEPCO's plan duly acknowledges the risk by pointing out the concern that long-term work at places with high levels of radiation may be required.
工程表にも「放射線レベルの高い場所で、作業が長期化する恐れ」が明記されている。
Workers must be replaced regularly before they are exposed to excessive amounts of radiation.
同じ人にずっと働いてもらうわけにはいかない。
In addition, all of the damaged No. 1 to No. 4 reactor buildings are releasing radiation. That means the measures prescribed must be taken simultaneously at all the four buildings.
さらに、放射能源を封じなくてはならないのは１〜４号機のすべてで、これらの作業を同時に進めなくてはならない。
The manpower that can be provided by TEPCO, the reactor makers and their affiliates may be far from enough to carry out all these tasks.
東電や原子炉メーカー、関連会社の人たちだけでは、とても追いつかないかもしれない。
Two key challenges in the mission are how to secure a sufficient number of workers, including reinforcements, and how to protect the health of these workers.
応援を含め、要員をどうやって確保するか。一線で働く人たちの健康をどう守っていくか。
The government is also taking on a heavy responsibility by accepting TEPCO's road map to safety at the crippled nuclear power plant.
政府も、この工程表を受け入れる以上は責任が重い。
2011年04月12日
Ｍ７級余震―揺れても守れる態勢を
2011/04/10
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 9
EDITORIAL: Japan needs to brace for period of big quakes
Ｍ７級余震―揺れても守れる態勢を
Mother Nature is merciless.
無情というほかない。
It is still less than a month since the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated so many coastal cities and towns in northeastern Japan.
東日本大震災からまだひと月もたたない。
The victims of the massive quake and tsunami are struggling to come to terms with their painful losses and trying to take steps toward rebuilding their shattered lives.
人々が喪失と向き合い、生活を取り戻すために動きだそうというときである。
But late Thursday night, the ravaged Tohoku region was rocked by another big quake, which registered an upper 6 on the Japanese intensity scale.
深夜の東北地方を、最大震度６強の揺れが襲った。
The Thursday quake, centered off Miyagi Prefecture, measured magnitude 7.1. This is a powerful earthquake in its own right, the kind that rarely occurs. But it is an aftershock of the March 11 temblor, which measured magnitude 9.0.
震源は宮城県沖でマグニチュード（Ｍ）７．１。それだけでもめったにない大地震だが、Ｍ９だった３月１１日の本震の余震だという。
Experts say we should brace for aftershocks of magnitude 7 or so for at least half a year after that mega-quake.
Ｍ９の地震後、少なくとも半年はＭ７級の余震を覚悟する必要があるという専門家の指摘もある。
A period of tension and anxiety will continue for a while.
まだまだ気をやすめることができない状態が続く。
Under such circumstances, what is most important is to ensure people in the disaster areas will not suffer additional damage.
こうしたなかで、なによりも気を配るべきは、被災地の人々が二重、三重の被害に遭わないようにすることだ。
When the Thursday aftershock hit, lighting equipment at a gymnasium in the city of Sendai that is used as an evacuation center shook wildly and made ominous sounds. Some of the evacuees reportedly feared that the equipment could fall on them.
余震がきたとき、仙台市内の体育館では、照明が音を立てて揺れ「落ちてきそうで怖かった」と感じる住民がいたという。被災者がどれほど揺れにおびえているかがわかる。
The first thing to do is to take sufficient safety measures at the evacuation centers.
避難所の安全策にまず心を用いたい。
In the quake-stricken areas, various efforts for rebuilding have started. These efforts should be made under the assumption that more big aftershocks could occur.
被災地では、復興に向けたさまざまな作業が始まっている。これらの仕事も、大きな余震が今後も起こる可能性を織り込みながら進めてほしい。
What is most worrisome is the damage the aftershock has done to nuclear power plants in the region.
一方、最も気がかりなのは原子力発電所である。
An emergency generator was activated at the Higashidori Nuclear Power Station, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co., after its external power was knocked out by the aftershock.
この余震で、東北電力の東通原発では外部電源が切れて、非常用発電機を動かすことになった。
The company's Onagawa Nuclear Power Station lost two of its three external power systems.
女川原発でも一部の外部電源しか使えなくなった。
These facts are frightening, given that the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant was triggered by the loss of all power sources.
福島第一原発の事故のきっかけが電源喪失だったことを思い返すと、背筋が寒くなる。
If external power sources are so vulnerable to earthquakes, all the emergency diesel generators at nuclear power plants must be checked now to see if they will kick in immediately. In addition, power generation vehicles should be readied as a second backup to have multiple fail-safes in place.
外部電源がこれほどもろいなら、非常用発電機がすぐ働くかどうかを改めて確かめ、それもだめなときは電源車を使うという多重の態勢を万全にする必要がある。
The disastrous failure at the Fukushima No. 1 plant must never be repeated again.
「福島第一」の失敗を、絶対に再現してはならない。
Nuclear power plants in the Tohoku region have been shaken repeatedly by the March 11 quake and its aftershocks. We fear that some parts of them may have been weakened. They all should be checked for safety.
東北地方の原発は、本震や余震で何度も揺すられてきた。弱くなっているところがないか心配だ。点検を急ぐべきだ。
A mega-quake that occurs at the boundaries of sea-floor plates, like the one that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, could be followed by another giant quake that is too big to be categorized as an aftershock.
３月１１日の本震のように海底のプレート（岩板）境界で起こる巨大地震は、余震の域を超えた大地震も伴うことがある。
For instance, two years after the 1944 Tonankai earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9, struck off the city of Owase, Mie Prefecture, the magnitude-8.0 Nankai earthquake took place off nearby Wakayama Prefecture.
たとえば、１９４４年の東南海地震の２年後には南海地震が起こっている。
The 1854 Ansei Tokai earthquake was followed by the Ansei Nankai earthquake the next day. The two are called twin earthquakes.
１８５４年には安政東海地震の翌日に安政南海地震が続いた。双子地震と呼ばれる。
A massive movement on the boundaries of plates could also stimulate inland active faults.
さらに、プレート境界の大きな動きが影響して、内陸の活断層が刺激されることもある。
We should assume that the Japanese archipelago is now facing a high risk of major seismic events.
日本列島は今、地震リスクが高いとみるべきだろう。
Effective measures should be taken to prepare for an earthquake not just in the Tohoku region but also in the rest of the nation.
東北だけでなく全国で、地震への備えを強めたい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 9
EDITORIAL: Japan needs to brace for period of big quakes
Ｍ７級余震―揺れても守れる態勢を
Mother Nature is merciless.
無情というほかない。
It is still less than a month since the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated so many coastal cities and towns in northeastern Japan.
東日本大震災からまだひと月もたたない。
The victims of the massive quake and tsunami are struggling to come to terms with their painful losses and trying to take steps toward rebuilding their shattered lives.
人々が喪失と向き合い、生活を取り戻すために動きだそうというときである。
But late Thursday night, the ravaged Tohoku region was rocked by another big quake, which registered an upper 6 on the Japanese intensity scale.
深夜の東北地方を、最大震度６強の揺れが襲った。
The Thursday quake, centered off Miyagi Prefecture, measured magnitude 7.1. This is a powerful earthquake in its own right, the kind that rarely occurs. But it is an aftershock of the March 11 temblor, which measured magnitude 9.0.
震源は宮城県沖でマグニチュード（Ｍ）７．１。それだけでもめったにない大地震だが、Ｍ９だった３月１１日の本震の余震だという。
Experts say we should brace for aftershocks of magnitude 7 or so for at least half a year after that mega-quake.
Ｍ９の地震後、少なくとも半年はＭ７級の余震を覚悟する必要があるという専門家の指摘もある。
A period of tension and anxiety will continue for a while.
まだまだ気をやすめることができない状態が続く。
Under such circumstances, what is most important is to ensure people in the disaster areas will not suffer additional damage.
こうしたなかで、なによりも気を配るべきは、被災地の人々が二重、三重の被害に遭わないようにすることだ。
When the Thursday aftershock hit, lighting equipment at a gymnasium in the city of Sendai that is used as an evacuation center shook wildly and made ominous sounds. Some of the evacuees reportedly feared that the equipment could fall on them.
余震がきたとき、仙台市内の体育館では、照明が音を立てて揺れ「落ちてきそうで怖かった」と感じる住民がいたという。被災者がどれほど揺れにおびえているかがわかる。
The first thing to do is to take sufficient safety measures at the evacuation centers.
避難所の安全策にまず心を用いたい。
In the quake-stricken areas, various efforts for rebuilding have started. These efforts should be made under the assumption that more big aftershocks could occur.
被災地では、復興に向けたさまざまな作業が始まっている。これらの仕事も、大きな余震が今後も起こる可能性を織り込みながら進めてほしい。
What is most worrisome is the damage the aftershock has done to nuclear power plants in the region.
一方、最も気がかりなのは原子力発電所である。
An emergency generator was activated at the Higashidori Nuclear Power Station, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co., after its external power was knocked out by the aftershock.
この余震で、東北電力の東通原発では外部電源が切れて、非常用発電機を動かすことになった。
The company's Onagawa Nuclear Power Station lost two of its three external power systems.
女川原発でも一部の外部電源しか使えなくなった。
These facts are frightening, given that the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant was triggered by the loss of all power sources.
福島第一原発の事故のきっかけが電源喪失だったことを思い返すと、背筋が寒くなる。
If external power sources are so vulnerable to earthquakes, all the emergency diesel generators at nuclear power plants must be checked now to see if they will kick in immediately. In addition, power generation vehicles should be readied as a second backup to have multiple fail-safes in place.
外部電源がこれほどもろいなら、非常用発電機がすぐ働くかどうかを改めて確かめ、それもだめなときは電源車を使うという多重の態勢を万全にする必要がある。
The disastrous failure at the Fukushima No. 1 plant must never be repeated again.
「福島第一」の失敗を、絶対に再現してはならない。
Nuclear power plants in the Tohoku region have been shaken repeatedly by the March 11 quake and its aftershocks. We fear that some parts of them may have been weakened. They all should be checked for safety.
東北地方の原発は、本震や余震で何度も揺すられてきた。弱くなっているところがないか心配だ。点検を急ぐべきだ。
A mega-quake that occurs at the boundaries of sea-floor plates, like the one that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, could be followed by another giant quake that is too big to be categorized as an aftershock.
３月１１日の本震のように海底のプレート（岩板）境界で起こる巨大地震は、余震の域を超えた大地震も伴うことがある。
For instance, two years after the 1944 Tonankai earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9, struck off the city of Owase, Mie Prefecture, the magnitude-8.0 Nankai earthquake took place off nearby Wakayama Prefecture.
たとえば、１９４４年の東南海地震の２年後には南海地震が起こっている。
The 1854 Ansei Tokai earthquake was followed by the Ansei Nankai earthquake the next day. The two are called twin earthquakes.
１８５４年には安政東海地震の翌日に安政南海地震が続いた。双子地震と呼ばれる。
A massive movement on the boundaries of plates could also stimulate inland active faults.
さらに、プレート境界の大きな動きが影響して、内陸の活断層が刺激されることもある。
We should assume that the Japanese archipelago is now facing a high risk of major seismic events.
日本列島は今、地震リスクが高いとみるべきだろう。
Effective measures should be taken to prepare for an earthquake not just in the Tohoku region but also in the rest of the nation.
東北だけでなく全国で、地震への備えを強めたい。
2011年04月03日
福島原発危機―世界から力を借りて
2011/04/02
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 1
EDITORIAL: Worried international community offers support for Fukushima operation
福島原発危機―世界から力を借りて
Foreign countries have started to offer substantial support to the effort to contain the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
福島第一原子力発電所の事故に対する国際社会の支援がいよいよ本格的に動き出した。
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, host of this year's Group of Eight summit, has traveled to Japan, and traces of radioactive material believed to be from the Fukushima plant are now being detected outside the country. The effort to contain the nuclear disaster had taken on an international aspect.
主要国首脳会議（Ｇ８）の議長国であるフランスのサルコジ大統領も来日した。
海外でも第一原発からとみられる放射性物質が検出され始めた。
At Fukushima, a large volume of radioactive water is hampering work to regain control of the crippled nuclear reactors. High levels of radioactive materials are leaking into the sea.
現場では、原子炉の制御を回復する作業を大量の汚染水が阻み、海水にも高濃度の放射性物質が漏れ出ている。
There is some distrust in the international community of Japan's effort to deal with the crisis. International support is being offered in the context of that concern.
日本はこの危機に対処できていないのではないか、という不信感も生まれている。支援の機運が高まるのは、各国に危機感があるからだ。
It looks like the operation at Fukushima will continue for a long time. It is natural that the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, should accept international assistance. Japan should draw on the expertise of foreign countries.
事故の対応は長期戦の様相にある。政府や東京電力が受け入れに踏み出したのは当然だ。諸外国の知恵を借り、その好意を成果に結びつけたい。
Cooperation with the United States, which has significant nuclear know-how, is crucial. In addition to offering expert advice, the United States has decided to dispatch a military unit equipped to deal with radioactive pollution.
軸になるのは、原子力のノウハウを蓄積している米国の協力だ。専門家による助言に加え、放射能汚染に対応できる米軍の専門部隊も派遣される。
Among the other equipment provided by the United States is a remote-control robot that could work inside the plant. Technology to replace personnel in dangerous locations is likely to be particularly useful to the workers at Fukushima.
とりわけ期待したいのが、危険な現場にいる作業員の仕事を肩代わりする技術だ。米国からの機材には、原発内で遠隔操作できるロボットが含まれる。
France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, has sent measuring equipment as well as large quantities of protective clothing and masks. French experts who might be able to help with the problem of shifting contaminated water in the plant have arrived in Japan. Britain and Germany have also offered to dispatch their own specialists.
欧州の原発大国フランスからは大量の防護服や防護マスク、測定器が届き、汚染水処理の専門家も来日した。英国やドイツからも専門家派遣などの申し入れが届いている。
The International Atomic Energy Agency is urging the government to conduct a detailed survey of radioactive pollution around the No. 1 plant to inform its decisions on evacuating residents.
国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）も、住民避難とのからみで第一原発周辺の放射性物質の詳しい調査を政府に促している。
The 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union is a major factor in the sensitivity of international society to the current situation in Japan.
国際社会が敏感に反応する背景には、１９８６年の旧ソ連チェルノブイリ原発事故がある。
Radioactive substances from Chernobyl spread across a large area of Europe. The Chernobyl disaster was even described as causing "global radiation exposure." Chernobyl taught the world that nuclear disasters cannot be properly dealt with by an individual country.
当時、事故炉から出た放射性物質が欧州の広い地域に飛び散って、「地球被曝（ひばく）」とさえいわれた。その経験から、原発災害には一国では立ち向かえない、という認識が培われてきたのである。
The Fukushima case will be the first time that international society has cooperated to deal with a catastrophic nuclear disaster.
今回は、国際社会が連携して原発の一大事に臨む最初の例となろう。
The important thing is to combine foreign support effectively with Japan's own personnel, equipment and know-how.
大事なことは、国外の支援を国内の人材や機材、ノウハウとうまく組み合わせることだ。
What will have to be done to stabilize the reactors and stop them from leaking radioactive substances? What technology and personnel from which countries will be most effective? These points need to be considered. If necessary, Japan should ask foreign countries to help in specific areas.
炉を落ち着かせ、放射性物質の放出を抑えるには何が求められ、どの国の技術や人材が最適かを見極める。場合によっては「こんなところに力を貸して」と要望してもいい。
Instead of acting separately, the Foreign Ministry and TEPCO should work together to deal with the situation as a single unit. The prime minister's office should serve as the command post and make the key decisions, while listening to the opinions of experts.
外務省や東京電力はばらばらに対応するのではなく、首相官邸が司令塔となって専門家の意見を聴きながら判断することが大切だ。
Japan also needs to be more forthcoming with accurate information to help dispel distrust in other countries.
国際社会の不信を解消するために的確な情報を発信することにも積極的でありたい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 1
EDITORIAL: Worried international community offers support for Fukushima operation
福島原発危機―世界から力を借りて
Foreign countries have started to offer substantial support to the effort to contain the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
福島第一原子力発電所の事故に対する国際社会の支援がいよいよ本格的に動き出した。
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, host of this year's Group of Eight summit, has traveled to Japan, and traces of radioactive material believed to be from the Fukushima plant are now being detected outside the country. The effort to contain the nuclear disaster had taken on an international aspect.
主要国首脳会議（Ｇ８）の議長国であるフランスのサルコジ大統領も来日した。
海外でも第一原発からとみられる放射性物質が検出され始めた。
At Fukushima, a large volume of radioactive water is hampering work to regain control of the crippled nuclear reactors. High levels of radioactive materials are leaking into the sea.
現場では、原子炉の制御を回復する作業を大量の汚染水が阻み、海水にも高濃度の放射性物質が漏れ出ている。
There is some distrust in the international community of Japan's effort to deal with the crisis. International support is being offered in the context of that concern.
日本はこの危機に対処できていないのではないか、という不信感も生まれている。支援の機運が高まるのは、各国に危機感があるからだ。
It looks like the operation at Fukushima will continue for a long time. It is natural that the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, should accept international assistance. Japan should draw on the expertise of foreign countries.
事故の対応は長期戦の様相にある。政府や東京電力が受け入れに踏み出したのは当然だ。諸外国の知恵を借り、その好意を成果に結びつけたい。
Cooperation with the United States, which has significant nuclear know-how, is crucial. In addition to offering expert advice, the United States has decided to dispatch a military unit equipped to deal with radioactive pollution.
軸になるのは、原子力のノウハウを蓄積している米国の協力だ。専門家による助言に加え、放射能汚染に対応できる米軍の専門部隊も派遣される。
Among the other equipment provided by the United States is a remote-control robot that could work inside the plant. Technology to replace personnel in dangerous locations is likely to be particularly useful to the workers at Fukushima.
とりわけ期待したいのが、危険な現場にいる作業員の仕事を肩代わりする技術だ。米国からの機材には、原発内で遠隔操作できるロボットが含まれる。
France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, has sent measuring equipment as well as large quantities of protective clothing and masks. French experts who might be able to help with the problem of shifting contaminated water in the plant have arrived in Japan. Britain and Germany have also offered to dispatch their own specialists.
欧州の原発大国フランスからは大量の防護服や防護マスク、測定器が届き、汚染水処理の専門家も来日した。英国やドイツからも専門家派遣などの申し入れが届いている。
The International Atomic Energy Agency is urging the government to conduct a detailed survey of radioactive pollution around the No. 1 plant to inform its decisions on evacuating residents.
国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）も、住民避難とのからみで第一原発周辺の放射性物質の詳しい調査を政府に促している。
The 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union is a major factor in the sensitivity of international society to the current situation in Japan.
国際社会が敏感に反応する背景には、１９８６年の旧ソ連チェルノブイリ原発事故がある。
Radioactive substances from Chernobyl spread across a large area of Europe. The Chernobyl disaster was even described as causing "global radiation exposure." Chernobyl taught the world that nuclear disasters cannot be properly dealt with by an individual country.
当時、事故炉から出た放射性物質が欧州の広い地域に飛び散って、「地球被曝（ひばく）」とさえいわれた。その経験から、原発災害には一国では立ち向かえない、という認識が培われてきたのである。
The Fukushima case will be the first time that international society has cooperated to deal with a catastrophic nuclear disaster.
今回は、国際社会が連携して原発の一大事に臨む最初の例となろう。
The important thing is to combine foreign support effectively with Japan's own personnel, equipment and know-how.
大事なことは、国外の支援を国内の人材や機材、ノウハウとうまく組み合わせることだ。
What will have to be done to stabilize the reactors and stop them from leaking radioactive substances? What technology and personnel from which countries will be most effective? These points need to be considered. If necessary, Japan should ask foreign countries to help in specific areas.
炉を落ち着かせ、放射性物質の放出を抑えるには何が求められ、どの国の技術や人材が最適かを見極める。場合によっては「こんなところに力を貸して」と要望してもいい。
Instead of acting separately, the Foreign Ministry and TEPCO should work together to deal with the situation as a single unit. The prime minister's office should serve as the command post and make the key decisions, while listening to the opinions of experts.
外務省や東京電力はばらばらに対応するのではなく、首相官邸が司令塔となって専門家の意見を聴きながら判断することが大切だ。
Japan also needs to be more forthcoming with accurate information to help dispel distrust in other countries.
国際社会の不信を解消するために的確な情報を発信することにも積極的でありたい。
2011年03月20日
原発との闘い―最前線の挑戦を信じる
今朝、朝日新聞の社説（日本語）を開いてびっくり。
有料となっている。月額５００円。
英語版は一日遅れなので明日の朝刊を見てみないとわからない。
朝日新聞の社説は今日で最後になる見込みです。
読売、毎日の社説は無料で読めます。
朝日の教材がなくなると痛いですね＾＾。
今後、他の教材を探します。
英語学習初心者のためにVOAの掲載など考えております。
あちらがダメなら、こちらを使う！
（スラチャイ記）
2011/03/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 18
EDITORIAL: The battle being waged at the Fukushima nuclear power plant
原発との闘い―最前線の挑戦を信じる
Helicopters operated by members of the Self-Defense Forces dumped tons of water on the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday. Riot police of the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo and SDF personnel also deployed water cannon from the ground in an attempt to cool the No. 3 reactor.
福島第一原子力発電所に、自衛隊員が操縦するヘリコプターが何度も、水をまいた。地上からは警視庁の機動隊員と自衛隊員が放水を試みた。
The immediate area is seriously contaminated with leaked radioactive substances. The workers all wore protective gear and measured radiation exposure levels as they went about their tasks.
原発のまわりは、漏れ出た放射性物質でひどく汚染されている。いずれも重い防護服に身を包み、被曝（ひばく）量を測りながらの、決死の作業だ。
Footage of the operation, aired on television, was watched by many people with bated breath.
きのう朝から夜にかけて、原発の冷却に向けての作業を、多くの国民がかたずをのんで見守った。
One week has passed since the mega-quake struck northeastern Japan.
(地震発生から１週間が経過した）
Workers of Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, and its business partners and firefighters have been working day and night to fight a disaster that has no precedent.
東京電力や協力会社の作業員、消防隊も、地震の発生以来、不眠不休で経験のない災厄に挑んできた。
Countless people perished in quake-triggered tsunami and some were injured in explosions at the plant. Many workers are also engaged in efforts to recover the ability to generate electricity at the plant.
津波やこれまでの爆発で、行方不明やけがをした人もいる。さらに、第一原発の制御を取り戻すため、多くの作業員が電源の復旧作業に取り組んでいる。
We pray their efforts bear fruit quickly and that those brave souls who are literally staking their lives to fix the radiation leak are exposed to the minimum risk to their health.
事態が少しでも好転してほしい。
そして、まさしく生命をかけてこの難局に立ち向かう人びとの被害が、最小限に抑えられるように――。
努力が結実することを願う。
In a catastrophic event such as this, who has to work in such a dangerous environment? Our society, which has avoided in-depth discussion on this issue, is now facing this grave question.
ひとたび重大な原発事故が起きたとき、だれが、危険をおかして作業にあたるのか。これまで突っ込んだ議論を避けてきた私たちの社会は、いま、この重い課題に直面している。
Japan is neither a dictatorship nor the militaristic state that it once was. Each and every life is precious and irreplaceable. No one can has the right to rank one person's life as more valuable than another's.
軍国主義時代の日本や独裁国家ではない。一人ひとりの生命がかけがえがなく、いとおしい。そこに順位や優劣をつけることはできない。
At the same time, the mission at hand is not work that anyone can do. It can only be handled by highly trained professionals--people whose job is to make and provide electric power and those who have specialized knowledge and technology; SDF personnel who have the required equipment and entered service taking the oath that they are prepared to take risks when necessary; and police officers, whose mission is also to maintain public safety.
一方で、誰もが立ち向かえる仕事ではない。電気をつくり、供給することを業務とし、専門の知識と技術をもつ人。一定の装備をもち、「事に臨んでは危険を顧みず」と宣誓して入隊する自衛官。同じく公共の安全の維持を責務とする警察官。
Of course, for SDF personnel and police, it is work they never thought they would be required to do. However, since the crisis has escalated to this point, we have no choice but to believe in their sense of mission and ability and hope for the best.
もちろん自衛隊や警察にとっては、およそ想定していなかった仕事だ。しかし、事態がここまで進んだいま、私たちは、そうした人たちの使命感と能力を信じ、期待するしかない。
This risky work will likely continue for many days to come. Difficult decisions will probably have to be made along the way.
危険な作業はこれから長く続く。この先も、苦渋の選択が求められる場面が何度もあるだろう。
Those who are in the position to make decisions and issue commands must do so on the basis of appropriate information. The same can be said of politicians who must take final responsibility.
その判断をし、指揮・命令する立場にある人は、適切な情報に基づいた確たる覚悟が求められる。最終責任を負う政治家も同様である。
They must gather much wisdom, take into account all sorts of factors, devise multiple backup measures and procure supplies before reaching their decisions.
多くの知恵を結集して様々な場合を想定し、三重四重の対応策を考え、物資を調達し、決断する。
If they make a misstep, get rattled or try to shift the blame on others, not only those doing the actual work but their families and also the public will not have any faith in their ability to resolve the crisis.
ここを誤り、右往左往し、あるいは責任を転嫁するような振る舞いをすれば、作業にあたる人やその家族はもちろん、国民は何も信じられなくなる。
While showing gratitude from the bottom of our hearts to those who are at the frontline of this disaster, we must keep supporting their activities both spiritually and materially.
私たちは、最前線でこの災禍と闘う人たちに心から感謝しつつ、物心の両面でその活動を支え続けなければならない。
As ones who use electricity and have been enjoying life's comforts as a result, we wish to join hands in a spirit of solidarity.
電気を使い、快適な生活を享受してきた者として、そしてこの社会をともに築き、担ってきた者として、連帯の心を結び合いたい。
有料となっている。月額５００円。
英語版は一日遅れなので明日の朝刊を見てみないとわからない。
朝日新聞の社説は今日で最後になる見込みです。
読売、毎日の社説は無料で読めます。
朝日の教材がなくなると痛いですね＾＾。
今後、他の教材を探します。
英語学習初心者のためにVOAの掲載など考えております。
あちらがダメなら、こちらを使う！
（スラチャイ記）
2011/03/19
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 18
EDITORIAL: The battle being waged at the Fukushima nuclear power plant
原発との闘い―最前線の挑戦を信じる
Helicopters operated by members of the Self-Defense Forces dumped tons of water on the quake-stricken Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture on Thursday. Riot police of the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo and SDF personnel also deployed water cannon from the ground in an attempt to cool the No. 3 reactor.
福島第一原子力発電所に、自衛隊員が操縦するヘリコプターが何度も、水をまいた。地上からは警視庁の機動隊員と自衛隊員が放水を試みた。
The immediate area is seriously contaminated with leaked radioactive substances. The workers all wore protective gear and measured radiation exposure levels as they went about their tasks.
原発のまわりは、漏れ出た放射性物質でひどく汚染されている。いずれも重い防護服に身を包み、被曝（ひばく）量を測りながらの、決死の作業だ。
Footage of the operation, aired on television, was watched by many people with bated breath.
きのう朝から夜にかけて、原発の冷却に向けての作業を、多くの国民がかたずをのんで見守った。
One week has passed since the mega-quake struck northeastern Japan.
(地震発生から１週間が経過した）
Workers of Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, and its business partners and firefighters have been working day and night to fight a disaster that has no precedent.
東京電力や協力会社の作業員、消防隊も、地震の発生以来、不眠不休で経験のない災厄に挑んできた。
Countless people perished in quake-triggered tsunami and some were injured in explosions at the plant. Many workers are also engaged in efforts to recover the ability to generate electricity at the plant.
津波やこれまでの爆発で、行方不明やけがをした人もいる。さらに、第一原発の制御を取り戻すため、多くの作業員が電源の復旧作業に取り組んでいる。
We pray their efforts bear fruit quickly and that those brave souls who are literally staking their lives to fix the radiation leak are exposed to the minimum risk to their health.
事態が少しでも好転してほしい。
そして、まさしく生命をかけてこの難局に立ち向かう人びとの被害が、最小限に抑えられるように――。
努力が結実することを願う。
In a catastrophic event such as this, who has to work in such a dangerous environment? Our society, which has avoided in-depth discussion on this issue, is now facing this grave question.
ひとたび重大な原発事故が起きたとき、だれが、危険をおかして作業にあたるのか。これまで突っ込んだ議論を避けてきた私たちの社会は、いま、この重い課題に直面している。
Japan is neither a dictatorship nor the militaristic state that it once was. Each and every life is precious and irreplaceable. No one can has the right to rank one person's life as more valuable than another's.
軍国主義時代の日本や独裁国家ではない。一人ひとりの生命がかけがえがなく、いとおしい。そこに順位や優劣をつけることはできない。
At the same time, the mission at hand is not work that anyone can do. It can only be handled by highly trained professionals--people whose job is to make and provide electric power and those who have specialized knowledge and technology; SDF personnel who have the required equipment and entered service taking the oath that they are prepared to take risks when necessary; and police officers, whose mission is also to maintain public safety.
一方で、誰もが立ち向かえる仕事ではない。電気をつくり、供給することを業務とし、専門の知識と技術をもつ人。一定の装備をもち、「事に臨んでは危険を顧みず」と宣誓して入隊する自衛官。同じく公共の安全の維持を責務とする警察官。
Of course, for SDF personnel and police, it is work they never thought they would be required to do. However, since the crisis has escalated to this point, we have no choice but to believe in their sense of mission and ability and hope for the best.
もちろん自衛隊や警察にとっては、およそ想定していなかった仕事だ。しかし、事態がここまで進んだいま、私たちは、そうした人たちの使命感と能力を信じ、期待するしかない。
This risky work will likely continue for many days to come. Difficult decisions will probably have to be made along the way.
危険な作業はこれから長く続く。この先も、苦渋の選択が求められる場面が何度もあるだろう。
Those who are in the position to make decisions and issue commands must do so on the basis of appropriate information. The same can be said of politicians who must take final responsibility.
その判断をし、指揮・命令する立場にある人は、適切な情報に基づいた確たる覚悟が求められる。最終責任を負う政治家も同様である。
They must gather much wisdom, take into account all sorts of factors, devise multiple backup measures and procure supplies before reaching their decisions.
多くの知恵を結集して様々な場合を想定し、三重四重の対応策を考え、物資を調達し、決断する。
If they make a misstep, get rattled or try to shift the blame on others, not only those doing the actual work but their families and also the public will not have any faith in their ability to resolve the crisis.
ここを誤り、右往左往し、あるいは責任を転嫁するような振る舞いをすれば、作業にあたる人やその家族はもちろん、国民は何も信じられなくなる。
While showing gratitude from the bottom of our hearts to those who are at the frontline of this disaster, we must keep supporting their activities both spiritually and materially.
私たちは、最前線でこの災禍と闘う人たちに心から感謝しつつ、物心の両面でその活動を支え続けなければならない。
As ones who use electricity and have been enjoying life's comforts as a result, we wish to join hands in a spirit of solidarity.
電気を使い、快適な生活を享受してきた者として、そしてこの社会をともに築き、担ってきた者として、連帯の心を結び合いたい。
2011年03月18日
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 16
EDITORIAL: We must stand strong to overcome this catastrophe
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を
We are facing an unprecedented national crisis. In order to overcome it, we have no choice but to create firm bonds of trust between the government and the people, as well as between companies and the people.
これは未曽有の国家的危機である。乗り切るためには、政府と国民、企業と市民、それぞれの「信頼」という綱を、しっかり結び続けるしかない。
The disaster at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is becoming increasingly serious.
東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所の状態が深刻の度を増している。
Following hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, the No. 2 reactor exploded and a fire occurred at the No. 4 reactor.
１号機と３号機で水素爆発が起きたのに続き、２号機では爆発が、４号機では火災があった。
The suppression pool linked to the containment vessel that covers the No. 2 reactor has likely broken. There is a danger that highly radioactive substances could leak into the outside air.
２号機は、原子炉を覆う格納容器につながる圧力抑制室が壊れたようだ。強い放射能を帯びた物質が外に出るおそれがある。
Support their dangerous mission
■危険な作業支えよう
The No. 4 reactor was undergoing a regular inspection when the earthquake hit on March 11. There are also suspicions that the spent fuel rods in the suppression pool part of the reactor have broken because they were not sufficiently cooled.
４号機は１１日の地震のときには定期検査中だった。プールで保管中の使用済みの核燃料の冷却が不十分となり、燃料棒が壊れた疑いもある。
Four nuclear reactors in a single plant are still unstable and appear to be leaking radioactive substances. This is an extremely serious situation.
ひとつの発電所内にある四つの原子炉がいずれもまだ安定せず、放射性物質が漏れているらしい。極めて厳しい状況といえる。
The most important thing is to prevent large quantities of radioactive substances from spreading outside.
放射性物質が大量に、広範囲に外に出ることを何とかして食い止める。これが最も大切だ。
Under demanding and challenging conditions, desperate efforts to cool the reactors continue. We want to do everything we can to support those efforts so that this difficult and extremely dangerous work can progress as smoothly as possible.
厳しい条件の下、原子炉を冷却するための努力が懸命に続けられている。困難かつ危険を伴う作業ができるだけうまく進むよう、全力を挙げて支えてゆきたい。
At one point, workers had to be evacuated because a high level of radioactivity was detected inside the plant. While work needs to move forward, safety must also be ensured.
発電所内で高い放射線量が検出され、作業員が退避する事態もあった。安全を守りながら進める必要がある。
Yet lacking a power source with the limited capacity of pumps or other equipment, it is difficult to find an effective way to bring the situation under control. We need to gather knowledge and strength.
電源が得られず、ポンプなどの能力にも限りがあり、なかなか決め手となる方法が見いだせないのが現状だ。知恵と力を結集してほしい。
In response to the accident of the No. 2 reactor, Prime Minister Naoto Kan once again called on residents who live within a radius of 20 kilometers of the plant to evacuate and those who live between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors. People are becoming increasingly anxious about how long the situation will continue.
２号機の事故を受け、菅直人首相は改めて半径２０キロ以内からの住民避難を呼びかけるとともに、２０〜３０キロの範囲の人たちに屋内退避を求めた。いつまで続くのか、不安が広がる。
As many as 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate from the vicinity of the plant. They will be forced to put up with the inconvenience of staying at evacuation sites. To support them, the cooperation of local governments and residents will be indispensable.
原発周辺から集団避難を求められたのは約２０万人にも及ぶ。不便を強いられる避難先での生活を支えるため、受け入れ先の自治体、地元住民の協力が欠かせない。
Trust the public and disclose information
■国民信じ情報開示を
Kan is the only person who can guide the nation to overcome this crisis. We urge him to give first priority to protecting citizens' lives and act in unison with TEPCO to deal with the difficult situation.
危機にあたって陣頭指揮をとるべきは、菅首相をおいて他にいない。国民の生命を守ることを最優先に、東電と一体となって難局に臨んでほしい。
The prime minister visited TEPCO's head office Tuesday and told officials: "You are the only ones (who can do this job). You have to brace yourselves." From the perspective of citizens, his words also apply to the government and the prime minister himself.
首相はきのう東電本店に乗り込み、「あなたたちしかいない。覚悟を決めてください」と叱咤（しった）した。国民から見れば、その言葉はそのまま政府、そして首相自身にも当てはまる。
Many citizens and government officials have begun to distrust TEPCO because of the way it has dealt with the situation and the delay in releasing information. What is important at this juncture is for all those concerned to come together to overcome the crisis.
情報伝達の遅れなど、これまでの東電の対応に不信感を募らせる国民や政府関係者は多い。ここは、あらゆる当事者が心をひとつにして、危機を乗り切ることが肝心だ。
First, the government and TEPCO need to closely share information and unify their chain of command. Why not seek the opinions of foreign specialists such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States, both of which have pledged their cooperation?
まずは政府と東電が密接に情報を共有し、指揮命令系統を一本化する必要がある。すでに協力を表明している国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）や米国など、海外の専門家の知見も広く求めたらどうだろう。
The important thing at this juncture is to promptly and adequately disclose information.
いま重要なことは、迅速で十分な情報の開示だ。
Until now, at every turn, the government and TEPCO have stressed that everything is under control. We can well understand the need to prevent the public panicking.
政府や東電はこれまで、ことあるごとに大丈夫だ、と強調してきた。国民がパニックに陥らないよう細心の注意を払う必要はよくわかる。
However, if the government causes the public to suspect that it is hiding something, it could breed public anxiety. Crisis management depends on the public's trust in the government.
しかし、「政府は何かを隠しているのでは」との疑念を招けば、かえって国民の不安をあおりかねない。危機管理がうまくいくかどうかは、政府に対する国民の信頼にかかっている。
The government needs to have faith in the public and properly release information.
国民を信じてきちんと情報を提供しなければならない。
What is actually happening? What developments are expected? What about preparations and what action should be taken?
何が起きているのか、これからどんなことが想定されるのか、備えはどうなっているか、どう行動すべきか。
While doing its best to bring the situation under control, the government should simultaneously prepare for a worsening of the situation. If additional measures such as further evacuation become necessary, it must give prompt and appropriate instructions.
政府は事態の収拾に最善を尽くしつつ、さらに悪化した時をも想定して、対応策の準備を同時に進める責任がある。状況の変化に応じ、さらなる避難などが必要であれば、的確な指示を出すことだ。
EDITORIAL: We must stand strong to overcome this catastrophe
原発危機―「最悪」の回避に全力を
We are facing an unprecedented national crisis. In order to overcome it, we have no choice but to create firm bonds of trust between the government and the people, as well as between companies and the people.
これは未曽有の国家的危機である。乗り切るためには、政府と国民、企業と市民、それぞれの「信頼」という綱を、しっかり結び続けるしかない。
The disaster at Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. is becoming increasingly serious.
東京電力の福島第一原子力発電所の状態が深刻の度を増している。
Following hydrogen explosions at the No. 1 and No. 3 reactors, the No. 2 reactor exploded and a fire occurred at the No. 4 reactor.
１号機と３号機で水素爆発が起きたのに続き、２号機では爆発が、４号機では火災があった。
The suppression pool linked to the containment vessel that covers the No. 2 reactor has likely broken. There is a danger that highly radioactive substances could leak into the outside air.
２号機は、原子炉を覆う格納容器につながる圧力抑制室が壊れたようだ。強い放射能を帯びた物質が外に出るおそれがある。
Support their dangerous mission
■危険な作業支えよう
The No. 4 reactor was undergoing a regular inspection when the earthquake hit on March 11. There are also suspicions that the spent fuel rods in the suppression pool part of the reactor have broken because they were not sufficiently cooled.
４号機は１１日の地震のときには定期検査中だった。プールで保管中の使用済みの核燃料の冷却が不十分となり、燃料棒が壊れた疑いもある。
Four nuclear reactors in a single plant are still unstable and appear to be leaking radioactive substances. This is an extremely serious situation.
ひとつの発電所内にある四つの原子炉がいずれもまだ安定せず、放射性物質が漏れているらしい。極めて厳しい状況といえる。
The most important thing is to prevent large quantities of radioactive substances from spreading outside.
放射性物質が大量に、広範囲に外に出ることを何とかして食い止める。これが最も大切だ。
Under demanding and challenging conditions, desperate efforts to cool the reactors continue. We want to do everything we can to support those efforts so that this difficult and extremely dangerous work can progress as smoothly as possible.
厳しい条件の下、原子炉を冷却するための努力が懸命に続けられている。困難かつ危険を伴う作業ができるだけうまく進むよう、全力を挙げて支えてゆきたい。
At one point, workers had to be evacuated because a high level of radioactivity was detected inside the plant. While work needs to move forward, safety must also be ensured.
発電所内で高い放射線量が検出され、作業員が退避する事態もあった。安全を守りながら進める必要がある。
Yet lacking a power source with the limited capacity of pumps or other equipment, it is difficult to find an effective way to bring the situation under control. We need to gather knowledge and strength.
電源が得られず、ポンプなどの能力にも限りがあり、なかなか決め手となる方法が見いだせないのが現状だ。知恵と力を結集してほしい。
In response to the accident of the No. 2 reactor, Prime Minister Naoto Kan once again called on residents who live within a radius of 20 kilometers of the plant to evacuate and those who live between 20 and 30 kilometers of the plant to stay indoors. People are becoming increasingly anxious about how long the situation will continue.
２号機の事故を受け、菅直人首相は改めて半径２０キロ以内からの住民避難を呼びかけるとともに、２０〜３０キロの範囲の人たちに屋内退避を求めた。いつまで続くのか、不安が広がる。
As many as 200,000 people have been asked to evacuate from the vicinity of the plant. They will be forced to put up with the inconvenience of staying at evacuation sites. To support them, the cooperation of local governments and residents will be indispensable.
原発周辺から集団避難を求められたのは約２０万人にも及ぶ。不便を強いられる避難先での生活を支えるため、受け入れ先の自治体、地元住民の協力が欠かせない。
Trust the public and disclose information
■国民信じ情報開示を
Kan is the only person who can guide the nation to overcome this crisis. We urge him to give first priority to protecting citizens' lives and act in unison with TEPCO to deal with the difficult situation.
危機にあたって陣頭指揮をとるべきは、菅首相をおいて他にいない。国民の生命を守ることを最優先に、東電と一体となって難局に臨んでほしい。
The prime minister visited TEPCO's head office Tuesday and told officials: "You are the only ones (who can do this job). You have to brace yourselves." From the perspective of citizens, his words also apply to the government and the prime minister himself.
首相はきのう東電本店に乗り込み、「あなたたちしかいない。覚悟を決めてください」と叱咤（しった）した。国民から見れば、その言葉はそのまま政府、そして首相自身にも当てはまる。
Many citizens and government officials have begun to distrust TEPCO because of the way it has dealt with the situation and the delay in releasing information. What is important at this juncture is for all those concerned to come together to overcome the crisis.
情報伝達の遅れなど、これまでの東電の対応に不信感を募らせる国民や政府関係者は多い。ここは、あらゆる当事者が心をひとつにして、危機を乗り切ることが肝心だ。
First, the government and TEPCO need to closely share information and unify their chain of command. Why not seek the opinions of foreign specialists such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United States, both of which have pledged their cooperation?
まずは政府と東電が密接に情報を共有し、指揮命令系統を一本化する必要がある。すでに協力を表明している国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）や米国など、海外の専門家の知見も広く求めたらどうだろう。
The important thing at this juncture is to promptly and adequately disclose information.
いま重要なことは、迅速で十分な情報の開示だ。
Until now, at every turn, the government and TEPCO have stressed that everything is under control. We can well understand the need to prevent the public panicking.
政府や東電はこれまで、ことあるごとに大丈夫だ、と強調してきた。国民がパニックに陥らないよう細心の注意を払う必要はよくわかる。
However, if the government causes the public to suspect that it is hiding something, it could breed public anxiety. Crisis management depends on the public's trust in the government.
しかし、「政府は何かを隠しているのでは」との疑念を招けば、かえって国民の不安をあおりかねない。危機管理がうまくいくかどうかは、政府に対する国民の信頼にかかっている。
The government needs to have faith in the public and properly release information.
国民を信じてきちんと情報を提供しなければならない。
What is actually happening? What developments are expected? What about preparations and what action should be taken?
何が起きているのか、これからどんなことが想定されるのか、備えはどうなっているか、どう行動すべきか。
While doing its best to bring the situation under control, the government should simultaneously prepare for a worsening of the situation. If additional measures such as further evacuation become necessary, it must give prompt and appropriate instructions.
政府は事態の収拾に最善を尽くしつつ、さらに悪化した時をも想定して、対応策の準備を同時に進める責任がある。状況の変化に応じ、さらなる避難などが必要であれば、的確な指示を出すことだ。
2011年03月17日
The nation must join hands to overcome the crisis
今朝は４時起床、NHK、TBS、BBSをみる。
日本では大きな動きなし。
世界ではバーレーン、リビア、イスラエル・パレスチナ情勢をチェック。
福島原発が気になるが、とりあえず英字新聞を掲載する。
昨日の天皇陛下のお言葉がまだ残っている。
苦しみを国民皆（みな）で分かち合って…。
陛下は夜、電気を消してローソクで過ごされている。
銀座のバーなどは明かりを落とすべし。
（スラチャイ）
2011/03/16
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 15
EDITORIAL: The nation must join hands to overcome the crisis
計画停電―我慢と共助のときだ
Rescue workers are continuing their search for survivors of the gigantic earthquake and tsunami that destroyed wide areas in northeastern Japan on Friday.
太平洋沿いの被災地で救出活動が続く。
Hundreds of bodies are found daily in the affected areas, making increasingly clear the grim reality of the catastrophic damage inflicted by the mega-quake.
数十、数百と遺体が見つかり、つらい現実を突きつけられる。
For many survivors, a new, tough life in evacuation centers has begun.
厳しい避難所生活も始まっている。
It is essential now for the entire nation to share a commitment to the long-term efforts for mutual aid and support needed to overcome the crisis.
長丁場の助け合いへの決意を、国民全体で共有することが欠かせない。
Vast swaths of the nation have been hit by the disaster.
被災は列島の広範囲に及んでいる。
As the new week began Monday, great confusion broke out in the Kanto region early in the morning.
週明けの関東圏は、早朝から混乱に見舞われた。
After Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced a plan to introduce rolling power cuts throughout its area of service in response to a severe power shortage caused by the quake, Japan Railway and other train service operators hastily decided to cut down their operations.
震災で電力不足に陥った東京電力が地域ごとの「計画停電」を発表し、ＪＲをはじめ鉄道各社があわてて運休や間引き運転を決めた。
Many people living in Tokyo and its vicinity awoke Monday to find their commuter trains had been canceled. Stations on the limited number of lines where trains were in service were crowded with commuters.
朝起きてみたら通勤の足がなくなっていた、という人たちも少なくなかった。限られた運行路線では各駅がごったがえした。
Still, at many stations people patiently waited in lines for trains.
Then, they endured the ordeal of riding jam-packed trains without complaining.
それでも多くの駅では人々が辛抱強く列をなし、黙って満員電車に揺られた。
The orderly behavior of Tokyo commuters reflected their awareness of how survivors in the quake-hit areas are desperately searching for relatives amid piles of rubble, many of them without enough clothes or fuel to keep warm.
Commuters in the capital exercised self-control as they perceived their problems were nothing compared with the tremendous hardships the quake survivors are enduring.
がれきの中で十分な暖もなく、一生懸命に家族をさがす被災地の人たちを思えばこそ、「この程度のことで」と自制する気持ちが整然とした行動につながったようだ。
It became abundantly clear immediately after the earthquake struck that there would be serious power shortages.
電力が足りなくなることは、大震災の当初から明らかだった。
Probably, the vast majority of residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area do not have any problem with accepting the effects on their daily lives of the rolling blackouts and power conservation if it helps efforts to deal with the situation.
計画停電や節電による生活への影響を甘受してでも協力したいと考える人は少なくないはずだ。
But plans for power cuts must be crafted and executed carefully to minimize their impact.
だからといって、やぶから棒なやり方ではいけない。
It is necessary to announce exactly when and where the power supply will be stopped so that households and businesses in the targeted areas can adequately prepare themselves.
地域と時間を前もって知らせ、家庭や企業に準備を促すことが必要だ。
Doing so would help prevent confusion and lead to a larger saving on electricity.
そのほうが混乱を防げるだけでなく、節電の効果も上がるだろう。
What is especially worrisome about a power outage is its effects on people who need respirators or other electric-powered medical devices.
停電でとりわけ心配なのは、人工呼吸器など医療機器を必要とする人たちだ。
A prolonged power outage could be life threatening for home-bound as well as hospitalized patients.
入院患者に限らず、在宅療養している人たちにとっても、停電が長引けば命にかかわりかねない。
Explaining the confusion in the implementation of the power cuts, TEPCO said it made every effort to avoid outages up until the last moment.
混乱を生んだ理由について、東電側は「停電を避けようと最後まで調整したため」と説明した。
But not many people would get upset when a planned suspension of the power supply in their area has been canceled.
だが、計画停電をあらかじめ知らせておいた地域で結果的に停電がなかったとしても、それで怒る人は多くないはずだ。
The company should put priority on ensuring that its plans for power cuts are made known in advance to people in the areas to be affected.
事前の周知を優先したい。
It is certain that TEPCO's service region will face a chronic power shortage for the foreseeable future.
東電管内では当面、恒常的な電力不足が続くことに変わりはない。
It goes without saying that companies, governments and households should all do everything they can to save electricity.
企業も役所も家庭も、みんなで節電に取り組むべきであることは論をまたない。
But on Monday night most commercial facilities in the high-end Ginza shopping district in central Tokyo were brightly lit with neon.
都心部の銀座では夜になっても商業施設の照明やネオンが目立った。
There is still much room for power conservation. The government should urge companies and schools to take bolder measures to save electricity, such as halting operations, to see how much conservation can be achieved.
まだまだ節電の余地はある。政府は、企業や学校などに思い切った休業や節電を呼びかけ、どこまで成果が上がるかをまず試してみてはどうか。
A variety of measures should be combined to lower use of electricity during peak demand hours.
ピーク時の消費電力を下げるためには、さまざまな手法を駆使しなくてはならない。
In the aftermath of an unprecedented natural disaster, Japanese are ready to face inconveniences and tests of endurance.
未曽有の災害のただ中で、私たちには不便さや我慢を引き受ける覚悟がある。
The government should respond to the people's sacrifice by demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting their lives and property and reducing the confusion threatening their well-being.
だからこそ政府に求めたいのは、国民の生命と財産を守り抜き、かけがえのない生活を混乱から救い出すことである。
We hope the government will swiftly develop a clear policy for dealing with the situation so that it can capitalize on the people's great ability to help each other.
明確な指針を早く決め、国民の共助の力を大きく引き出してほしい。
日本では大きな動きなし。
世界ではバーレーン、リビア、イスラエル・パレスチナ情勢をチェック。
福島原発が気になるが、とりあえず英字新聞を掲載する。
昨日の天皇陛下のお言葉がまだ残っている。
苦しみを国民皆（みな）で分かち合って…。
陛下は夜、電気を消してローソクで過ごされている。
銀座のバーなどは明かりを落とすべし。
（スラチャイ）
2011/03/16
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 15
EDITORIAL: The nation must join hands to overcome the crisis
計画停電―我慢と共助のときだ
Rescue workers are continuing their search for survivors of the gigantic earthquake and tsunami that destroyed wide areas in northeastern Japan on Friday.
太平洋沿いの被災地で救出活動が続く。
Hundreds of bodies are found daily in the affected areas, making increasingly clear the grim reality of the catastrophic damage inflicted by the mega-quake.
数十、数百と遺体が見つかり、つらい現実を突きつけられる。
For many survivors, a new, tough life in evacuation centers has begun.
厳しい避難所生活も始まっている。
It is essential now for the entire nation to share a commitment to the long-term efforts for mutual aid and support needed to overcome the crisis.
長丁場の助け合いへの決意を、国民全体で共有することが欠かせない。
Vast swaths of the nation have been hit by the disaster.
被災は列島の広範囲に及んでいる。
As the new week began Monday, great confusion broke out in the Kanto region early in the morning.
週明けの関東圏は、早朝から混乱に見舞われた。
After Tokyo Electric Power Co. announced a plan to introduce rolling power cuts throughout its area of service in response to a severe power shortage caused by the quake, Japan Railway and other train service operators hastily decided to cut down their operations.
震災で電力不足に陥った東京電力が地域ごとの「計画停電」を発表し、ＪＲをはじめ鉄道各社があわてて運休や間引き運転を決めた。
Many people living in Tokyo and its vicinity awoke Monday to find their commuter trains had been canceled. Stations on the limited number of lines where trains were in service were crowded with commuters.
朝起きてみたら通勤の足がなくなっていた、という人たちも少なくなかった。限られた運行路線では各駅がごったがえした。
Still, at many stations people patiently waited in lines for trains.
Then, they endured the ordeal of riding jam-packed trains without complaining.
それでも多くの駅では人々が辛抱強く列をなし、黙って満員電車に揺られた。
The orderly behavior of Tokyo commuters reflected their awareness of how survivors in the quake-hit areas are desperately searching for relatives amid piles of rubble, many of them without enough clothes or fuel to keep warm.
Commuters in the capital exercised self-control as they perceived their problems were nothing compared with the tremendous hardships the quake survivors are enduring.
がれきの中で十分な暖もなく、一生懸命に家族をさがす被災地の人たちを思えばこそ、「この程度のことで」と自制する気持ちが整然とした行動につながったようだ。
It became abundantly clear immediately after the earthquake struck that there would be serious power shortages.
電力が足りなくなることは、大震災の当初から明らかだった。
Probably, the vast majority of residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area do not have any problem with accepting the effects on their daily lives of the rolling blackouts and power conservation if it helps efforts to deal with the situation.
計画停電や節電による生活への影響を甘受してでも協力したいと考える人は少なくないはずだ。
But plans for power cuts must be crafted and executed carefully to minimize their impact.
だからといって、やぶから棒なやり方ではいけない。
It is necessary to announce exactly when and where the power supply will be stopped so that households and businesses in the targeted areas can adequately prepare themselves.
地域と時間を前もって知らせ、家庭や企業に準備を促すことが必要だ。
Doing so would help prevent confusion and lead to a larger saving on electricity.
そのほうが混乱を防げるだけでなく、節電の効果も上がるだろう。
What is especially worrisome about a power outage is its effects on people who need respirators or other electric-powered medical devices.
停電でとりわけ心配なのは、人工呼吸器など医療機器を必要とする人たちだ。
A prolonged power outage could be life threatening for home-bound as well as hospitalized patients.
入院患者に限らず、在宅療養している人たちにとっても、停電が長引けば命にかかわりかねない。
Explaining the confusion in the implementation of the power cuts, TEPCO said it made every effort to avoid outages up until the last moment.
混乱を生んだ理由について、東電側は「停電を避けようと最後まで調整したため」と説明した。
But not many people would get upset when a planned suspension of the power supply in their area has been canceled.
だが、計画停電をあらかじめ知らせておいた地域で結果的に停電がなかったとしても、それで怒る人は多くないはずだ。
The company should put priority on ensuring that its plans for power cuts are made known in advance to people in the areas to be affected.
事前の周知を優先したい。
It is certain that TEPCO's service region will face a chronic power shortage for the foreseeable future.
東電管内では当面、恒常的な電力不足が続くことに変わりはない。
It goes without saying that companies, governments and households should all do everything they can to save electricity.
企業も役所も家庭も、みんなで節電に取り組むべきであることは論をまたない。
But on Monday night most commercial facilities in the high-end Ginza shopping district in central Tokyo were brightly lit with neon.
都心部の銀座では夜になっても商業施設の照明やネオンが目立った。
There is still much room for power conservation. The government should urge companies and schools to take bolder measures to save electricity, such as halting operations, to see how much conservation can be achieved.
まだまだ節電の余地はある。政府は、企業や学校などに思い切った休業や節電を呼びかけ、どこまで成果が上がるかをまず試してみてはどうか。
A variety of measures should be combined to lower use of electricity during peak demand hours.
ピーク時の消費電力を下げるためには、さまざまな手法を駆使しなくてはならない。
In the aftermath of an unprecedented natural disaster, Japanese are ready to face inconveniences and tests of endurance.
未曽有の災害のただ中で、私たちには不便さや我慢を引き受ける覚悟がある。
The government should respond to the people's sacrifice by demonstrating a strong commitment to protecting their lives and property and reducing the confusion threatening their well-being.
だからこそ政府に求めたいのは、国民の生命と財産を守り抜き、かけがえのない生活を混乱から救い出すことである。
We hope the government will swiftly develop a clear policy for dealing with the situation so that it can capitalize on the people's great ability to help each other.
明確な指針を早く決め、国民の共助の力を大きく引き出してほしい。
2011年03月10日
前原外相辞任―外国人と政治献金 どうにも、もやもやが残る
2011/03/09
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 8
EDITORIAL: Did 250,000 yen really threaten Japan's national interest?
前原外相辞任―外国人と政治献金 どうにも、もやもやが残る。
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara's resignation over donations he received from a foreign national has left us with a vaguely uncomfortable feeling.
The Korean resident who made the donations, the owner of a beef barbecue restaurant, says she has been treating Maehara as if he were her son ever since he moved to her neighborhood after losing his father when he was in the second year of junior high school.
Did her political donations to Maehara--50,000 yen ($610) per year for five years totaling 250,000 yen--really "threaten Japan's national interest?"
焼き肉店を経営する在日韓国人の女性は、中学２年で父親をなくして近所に越してきた前原誠司氏を、息子のように思って付き合ってきたという。彼女からの年５万円、計２５万円の政治献金が「国益が損なわれる」ほどのことだったのか。
The Political Fund Control Law bans in principle Japanese lawmakers from accepting political contributions from foreigners or companies more than half owned by foreigners. The ban is designed to prevent foreign involvement in or influence on Japanese politics.
政治資金規正法は外国人や、外国資本が過半数を占める企業からの政治献金を原則禁じている。日本の政治への外国の関与や影響を防ぐためだ。
A Korean resident in Japan who runs pachinko parlors once talked about his political donations.
パチンコ店を営む在日韓国人の男性は以前、こんな話をしていた。
Because opening pachinko parlors requires permission from the authorities, he has no choice but to build personal relations with various politicians, from Diet lawmakers to members of municipal assemblies.
出店をめぐる問題などで商売柄、国会議員から市議会議員まで、どうしても政治家とはつきあわざるを得ない。
The Korean resident provides financial support to politicians only within the range in which they don't have to disclose the name of the donor. That way, it remains unknown that the money comes from a foreigner. When he buys tickets to a fund-raising party, for instance, the upper limit is 200,000 yen.
The man said this involves subtle cooperation with aides to the politicians based on "aun no kokyu," or the same wavelength.
金の支援は外国人からと分からぬように、献金者の記載義務がない範囲で、たとえばパーティー券なら２０万円までにしておく。秘書とのあうんの呼吸だという。
The Political Fund Control Law was revised in 2006 to ease the ban on political donations by foreign companies, exempting from the rule companies that have been listed on a Japanese stock exchange for five years or more.
外資系企業の献金規制をめぐっては２００６年、国内で上場して５年以上たっていれば可、と規正法が改正された。
The revision has ensured that Japanese companies can continue making political donations even after foreigners have acquired more than half of their shares.
国際化で外資が５０％超になっても企業献金できるようにしたものだ。
The Liberal Democratic Party proposed to lift the ban altogether, but the Democratic Party of Japan expressed concerns that the step would make it possible for a foreign party to influence Japanese politicians for specific purposes. As a result, the requirement concerning stock listing was added to the revision.
自民党は解禁を提案したが、このときは民主党が「外国勢力が特定の意図で政治家に影響を与える懸念がある」といい、上場年数の要件がついた。
Here's another relevant story.
こんな話もある。
When an election draws near, candidates of various parties visit the local offices of Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) to ask the organization affiliated with South Korea for support or recommendations.
在日本大韓民国民団の各地の事務所には、選挙が近づくと、いろんな党の候補者が入れ替わり、あいさつや推薦依頼に来るという。
Foreign residents in Japan, of course, don't have the right to vote in elections.
もちろん、外国籍の人に選挙権はない。
But the children of Korean residents married to a Japanese are Japanese nationals. And Korean business owners employ Japanese workers.
だが日本人と結婚すれば子どもは日本国籍も持ち、事業をしていれば日本人従業員がいる。
In areas where many Korean residents live, they could have a political influence that cannot be safely ignored.
在日の人たちが多く住む街では、無視できない存在だからだ。
These episodes indicate that the border that keeps foreigners from Japanese politics and elections is actually rather fuzzy and subject to the influence of politicians.
いくつかの例から見えてくるのは、日本の政治や選挙と外国人の間の線引きが実はあいまいで、政治家の都合で左右されている現実だ。
In particular, Korean residents affiliated with North or South Korea have been living in this country for three or four generations.
外国人の中でも在日韓国・朝鮮人の人たちは、日本に根を下ろしてすでに３世代、４世代目だ。
They have maintained their foreign nationality because of reasons related to the procedures for obtaining Japanese nationality or their sentiment toward their ethnic roots.
国籍取得の手続きや自身のルーツへの思いから、外国籍を持ち続けている。
On the other hand, these Korean residents have been paying taxes as Japanese taxpayers do and sharing living space with Japanese citizens. They are integral members of local communities, including in terms of politics.
一方で、日本人と同じように税金を納め、生活空間をともにし、政治を含めた地域社会に組みこまれた存在だ。
Korean residents seeking to be recognized as legitimate members of their local communities have been demanding the right to vote in local elections.
きちんと住民の一員として認めてほしいと、地方選挙権を求める運動も起きている。
Receiving political donations from foreign residents in Japan is certainly illegal.
在日外国人の献金は確かに法に触れる。
But a conversation at the Diet or on the street over the money Maehara received from the Korean owner of a barbecue restaurant loses sight of the context. It starts sounding like a discussion about an intelligence war between countries as soon as it becomes a debate on the abstract issue of political donations by foreigners.
だが、国会や街中の議論で「外国人献金問題」と抽象化した瞬間、焼き肉屋のおばちゃんのいきさつは消し飛び、まるで国家間の諜報（ちょうほう）を論じるようだ。
Some important elements that can provoke candid conversations may have been lost in the process.
その間に互いに本音で話しあえる大切なものが落っこちていないか。
Have Maehara's critics made a well-reasoned argument by raising the issue of national interest and asking him which side he would choose if a diplomatic row were to break out between the two countries?
今回、ことさらに「国益」をうんぬんし、「外交問題が起こった時にどちら側に立つか」と問うような批判は、当たっていたのだろうか。
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 8
EDITORIAL: Did 250,000 yen really threaten Japan's national interest?
前原外相辞任―外国人と政治献金 どうにも、もやもやが残る。
Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara's resignation over donations he received from a foreign national has left us with a vaguely uncomfortable feeling.
The Korean resident who made the donations, the owner of a beef barbecue restaurant, says she has been treating Maehara as if he were her son ever since he moved to her neighborhood after losing his father when he was in the second year of junior high school.
Did her political donations to Maehara--50,000 yen ($610) per year for five years totaling 250,000 yen--really "threaten Japan's national interest?"
焼き肉店を経営する在日韓国人の女性は、中学２年で父親をなくして近所に越してきた前原誠司氏を、息子のように思って付き合ってきたという。彼女からの年５万円、計２５万円の政治献金が「国益が損なわれる」ほどのことだったのか。
The Political Fund Control Law bans in principle Japanese lawmakers from accepting political contributions from foreigners or companies more than half owned by foreigners. The ban is designed to prevent foreign involvement in or influence on Japanese politics.
政治資金規正法は外国人や、外国資本が過半数を占める企業からの政治献金を原則禁じている。日本の政治への外国の関与や影響を防ぐためだ。
A Korean resident in Japan who runs pachinko parlors once talked about his political donations.
パチンコ店を営む在日韓国人の男性は以前、こんな話をしていた。
Because opening pachinko parlors requires permission from the authorities, he has no choice but to build personal relations with various politicians, from Diet lawmakers to members of municipal assemblies.
出店をめぐる問題などで商売柄、国会議員から市議会議員まで、どうしても政治家とはつきあわざるを得ない。
The Korean resident provides financial support to politicians only within the range in which they don't have to disclose the name of the donor. That way, it remains unknown that the money comes from a foreigner. When he buys tickets to a fund-raising party, for instance, the upper limit is 200,000 yen.
The man said this involves subtle cooperation with aides to the politicians based on "aun no kokyu," or the same wavelength.
金の支援は外国人からと分からぬように、献金者の記載義務がない範囲で、たとえばパーティー券なら２０万円までにしておく。秘書とのあうんの呼吸だという。
The Political Fund Control Law was revised in 2006 to ease the ban on political donations by foreign companies, exempting from the rule companies that have been listed on a Japanese stock exchange for five years or more.
外資系企業の献金規制をめぐっては２００６年、国内で上場して５年以上たっていれば可、と規正法が改正された。
The revision has ensured that Japanese companies can continue making political donations even after foreigners have acquired more than half of their shares.
国際化で外資が５０％超になっても企業献金できるようにしたものだ。
The Liberal Democratic Party proposed to lift the ban altogether, but the Democratic Party of Japan expressed concerns that the step would make it possible for a foreign party to influence Japanese politicians for specific purposes. As a result, the requirement concerning stock listing was added to the revision.
自民党は解禁を提案したが、このときは民主党が「外国勢力が特定の意図で政治家に影響を与える懸念がある」といい、上場年数の要件がついた。
Here's another relevant story.
こんな話もある。
When an election draws near, candidates of various parties visit the local offices of Korean Residents Union in Japan (Mindan) to ask the organization affiliated with South Korea for support or recommendations.
在日本大韓民国民団の各地の事務所には、選挙が近づくと、いろんな党の候補者が入れ替わり、あいさつや推薦依頼に来るという。
Foreign residents in Japan, of course, don't have the right to vote in elections.
もちろん、外国籍の人に選挙権はない。
But the children of Korean residents married to a Japanese are Japanese nationals. And Korean business owners employ Japanese workers.
だが日本人と結婚すれば子どもは日本国籍も持ち、事業をしていれば日本人従業員がいる。
In areas where many Korean residents live, they could have a political influence that cannot be safely ignored.
在日の人たちが多く住む街では、無視できない存在だからだ。
These episodes indicate that the border that keeps foreigners from Japanese politics and elections is actually rather fuzzy and subject to the influence of politicians.
いくつかの例から見えてくるのは、日本の政治や選挙と外国人の間の線引きが実はあいまいで、政治家の都合で左右されている現実だ。
In particular, Korean residents affiliated with North or South Korea have been living in this country for three or four generations.
外国人の中でも在日韓国・朝鮮人の人たちは、日本に根を下ろしてすでに３世代、４世代目だ。
They have maintained their foreign nationality because of reasons related to the procedures for obtaining Japanese nationality or their sentiment toward their ethnic roots.
国籍取得の手続きや自身のルーツへの思いから、外国籍を持ち続けている。
On the other hand, these Korean residents have been paying taxes as Japanese taxpayers do and sharing living space with Japanese citizens. They are integral members of local communities, including in terms of politics.
一方で、日本人と同じように税金を納め、生活空間をともにし、政治を含めた地域社会に組みこまれた存在だ。
Korean residents seeking to be recognized as legitimate members of their local communities have been demanding the right to vote in local elections.
きちんと住民の一員として認めてほしいと、地方選挙権を求める運動も起きている。
Receiving political donations from foreign residents in Japan is certainly illegal.
在日外国人の献金は確かに法に触れる。
But a conversation at the Diet or on the street over the money Maehara received from the Korean owner of a barbecue restaurant loses sight of the context. It starts sounding like a discussion about an intelligence war between countries as soon as it becomes a debate on the abstract issue of political donations by foreigners.
だが、国会や街中の議論で「外国人献金問題」と抽象化した瞬間、焼き肉屋のおばちゃんのいきさつは消し飛び、まるで国家間の諜報（ちょうほう）を論じるようだ。
Some important elements that can provoke candid conversations may have been lost in the process.
その間に互いに本音で話しあえる大切なものが落っこちていないか。
Have Maehara's critics made a well-reasoned argument by raising the issue of national interest and asking him which side he would choose if a diplomatic row were to break out between the two countries?
今回、ことさらに「国益」をうんぬんし、「外交問題が起こった時にどちら側に立つか」と問うような批判は、当たっていたのだろうか。
2011年02月27日
Social security reform
消費税増分はVAT（付加価値税value added tax）としたほうが良いかも。
欧米はVATだし、タイでさえVATです。ちなみにタイの現時点のVATは７％です。
しかしながら消費税を増額する前に、霞ヶ関の特別会計に是非メスを入れてもらいたい。
朝日新聞でもこの問題はタブーになっているのでしょう。
あるいは暗闇の中に閉ざされていてよくその実体が見えないとか。
そうであるならば、新聞社には記者魂を発揮してこのエリアに切り込むことが強く望まれる。
記者の命の保証ができないというのも多分理由でしょう。
特別会計予算には各分野とも相当な余剰金が含まれているようです。
米国国債を無理やり引き受けさせられていますが、毎月３兆円弱のお金が使われています。
一年では３０兆円、一億の国民が赤ちゃんからお年よりまでひっくるめて一人当り３０万円負担している計算になります。
米国国債の買い入れは一例で氷山の一角。
消費税を増税しなくともやっていけるだけの体力はまだ残っている！
（スラチャイ記）
2011/02/26
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 25
EDITORIAL: Social security reform
社会保障と税の改革―財源なくして安心なし
A government council is now intensively debating the integrated tax and social security reform proposed by the administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The Kan administration intends to announce a plan for revamping the social security system in April and then draft a blueprint for the integrated reform incorporating tax increases to finance the social security overhaul.
政府の「集中検討会議」が、社会保障と税の一体改革を議論している。４月中に社会保障改革案を示し、６月にはその財源を賄うための増税策との一体改革案をまとめる。
Reform of the nation's tax and fiscal regime and the social safety net was the underlying theme of the series of editorials we published from October 2007 to April 2008 on proposals to make Japan a more hopeful society.
朝日新聞が２００７年１０月から０８年４月にかけて連載したシリーズ社説「希望社会への提言」でも、税・財政と社会保障の改革は根幹だった。
Immediately after the series of editorials, U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed, pushing the world into synchronized recession. The global economic crisis revived deflation--continuous declines in prices and wages--in Japan.
この連載の直後、リーマン・ショックと同時不況が世界を襲った。日本では物価や賃金が下がり続けるデフレがぶり返した。
A vision for rehabilitation
■財政再建へ展望ひらけ
A power transfer took place in the United States and then in Japan.
米国に続き日本でも政権交代が起きた。
With the nation heading into a future of unprecedented demographic situation due to the aging of the population and low fertility rate, repairing the frayed social security system and mapping out a feasible plan for restoring fiscal sanity is the principal challenge facing policymakers.
だが、未曽有の少子高齢社会に向かういま、社会保障のほころびを繕い、財政再建の道筋をつけることが政治の歴史的使命であることに変わりはない。
The further deterioration of the nation's fiscal health due to stimulus measures taken in response to the economic crisis has increased the urgency for a radical reform of the tax code centering on a consumption tax hike. Such a tax overhaul is an indispensable prerequisite for social security stability.
危機対策などで一段と悪化した財政をみれば、消費増税を柱とする税制の抜本改革は待ったなしだ。それなしに社会保障の安定は望めない。
We would like to add some fresh proposals to the arguments we made in the series of editorials for a hopeful society.
私たちもいま、「希望社会への提言」を踏まえて追加的な検討を加えつつ、提案をしていきたい。
As for reform of the state pension program, it should be based on the current social insurance formula. That would be more realistic than the fully tax-financed system for basic portions, which is proposed by business organizations and Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation), the nation's largest labor organization.
まず、年金については、いまの社会保険方式を土台に改革を進める。そのほうが、経済団体や連合などが提言している基礎年金をすべて税で賄う「税方式」より現実的だろう。
The precious new revenue from tax hikes in the coming years will have to be used mainly to finance programs in such areas as health and nursing-care and child-care support.
今後の増税による貴重な税収は、医療と介護、子育てなどの分野に優先して振り向ける必要があるからだ。
Between fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2025, the total amount of health-care and nursing-care benefits will grow by 70 percent and 160 percent, respectively, compared with a 40-percent increase in pension payouts, according to estimates by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
厚生労働省による社会保障給付の見通しでは０６年度から２５年度にかけ、年金の伸びは１．４倍だが、医療は１．７倍、介護は２．６倍に伸びる。
In addition to tackling the problems of the shortages of doctors and special elderly nursing homes, the government needs to expand its policy support for families rearing children and people struggling to become financially independent.
医師不足や特別養護老人ホームの入居待ちの緩和だけでなく、子育て支援、自立支援などの強化も必要である。
欧米はVATだし、タイでさえVATです。ちなみにタイの現時点のVATは７％です。
しかしながら消費税を増額する前に、霞ヶ関の特別会計に是非メスを入れてもらいたい。
朝日新聞でもこの問題はタブーになっているのでしょう。
あるいは暗闇の中に閉ざされていてよくその実体が見えないとか。
そうであるならば、新聞社には記者魂を発揮してこのエリアに切り込むことが強く望まれる。
記者の命の保証ができないというのも多分理由でしょう。
特別会計予算には各分野とも相当な余剰金が含まれているようです。
米国国債を無理やり引き受けさせられていますが、毎月３兆円弱のお金が使われています。
一年では３０兆円、一億の国民が赤ちゃんからお年よりまでひっくるめて一人当り３０万円負担している計算になります。
米国国債の買い入れは一例で氷山の一角。
消費税を増税しなくともやっていけるだけの体力はまだ残っている！
（スラチャイ記）
2011/02/26
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 25
EDITORIAL: Social security reform
社会保障と税の改革―財源なくして安心なし
A government council is now intensively debating the integrated tax and social security reform proposed by the administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan. The Kan administration intends to announce a plan for revamping the social security system in April and then draft a blueprint for the integrated reform incorporating tax increases to finance the social security overhaul.
政府の「集中検討会議」が、社会保障と税の一体改革を議論している。４月中に社会保障改革案を示し、６月にはその財源を賄うための増税策との一体改革案をまとめる。
Reform of the nation's tax and fiscal regime and the social safety net was the underlying theme of the series of editorials we published from October 2007 to April 2008 on proposals to make Japan a more hopeful society.
朝日新聞が２００７年１０月から０８年４月にかけて連載したシリーズ社説「希望社会への提言」でも、税・財政と社会保障の改革は根幹だった。
Immediately after the series of editorials, U.S. investment bank Lehman Brothers collapsed, pushing the world into synchronized recession. The global economic crisis revived deflation--continuous declines in prices and wages--in Japan.
この連載の直後、リーマン・ショックと同時不況が世界を襲った。日本では物価や賃金が下がり続けるデフレがぶり返した。
A vision for rehabilitation
■財政再建へ展望ひらけ
A power transfer took place in the United States and then in Japan.
米国に続き日本でも政権交代が起きた。
With the nation heading into a future of unprecedented demographic situation due to the aging of the population and low fertility rate, repairing the frayed social security system and mapping out a feasible plan for restoring fiscal sanity is the principal challenge facing policymakers.
だが、未曽有の少子高齢社会に向かういま、社会保障のほころびを繕い、財政再建の道筋をつけることが政治の歴史的使命であることに変わりはない。
The further deterioration of the nation's fiscal health due to stimulus measures taken in response to the economic crisis has increased the urgency for a radical reform of the tax code centering on a consumption tax hike. Such a tax overhaul is an indispensable prerequisite for social security stability.
危機対策などで一段と悪化した財政をみれば、消費増税を柱とする税制の抜本改革は待ったなしだ。それなしに社会保障の安定は望めない。
We would like to add some fresh proposals to the arguments we made in the series of editorials for a hopeful society.
私たちもいま、「希望社会への提言」を踏まえて追加的な検討を加えつつ、提案をしていきたい。
As for reform of the state pension program, it should be based on the current social insurance formula. That would be more realistic than the fully tax-financed system for basic portions, which is proposed by business organizations and Rengo (Japanese Trade Union Confederation), the nation's largest labor organization.
まず、年金については、いまの社会保険方式を土台に改革を進める。そのほうが、経済団体や連合などが提言している基礎年金をすべて税で賄う「税方式」より現実的だろう。
The precious new revenue from tax hikes in the coming years will have to be used mainly to finance programs in such areas as health and nursing-care and child-care support.
今後の増税による貴重な税収は、医療と介護、子育てなどの分野に優先して振り向ける必要があるからだ。
Between fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2025, the total amount of health-care and nursing-care benefits will grow by 70 percent and 160 percent, respectively, compared with a 40-percent increase in pension payouts, according to estimates by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.
厚生労働省による社会保障給付の見通しでは０６年度から２５年度にかけ、年金の伸びは１．４倍だが、医療は１．７倍、介護は２．６倍に伸びる。
In addition to tackling the problems of the shortages of doctors and special elderly nursing homes, the government needs to expand its policy support for families rearing children and people struggling to become financially independent.
医師不足や特別養護老人ホームの入居待ちの緩和だけでなく、子育て支援、自立支援などの強化も必要である。