英字新聞
読売、毎日、朝日各社英字新聞の主として社説を学習研究します

宮沢賢治の農民芸術概論が参考になるかも。
震災と津波で生じた跡地利用が鍵になるでしょう。
陰湿で閉鎖的かつ排他的な漁業協同組合の体質は改めた方がよい。
まず漁業権を民間企業に解放する。
跡地に大規模なソーラーパネルの製造工場を誘致する。
跡地に大規模な馬鈴薯畑をつくり、バイオ燃料の基地とする。
居住区は、やはり高台に移転する。
中国のような経済特区をつくるのも効果的。
（スラチャイ）

2011/06/17
-- The Asahi Shimbun, June 16, 2011
EDITORIAL: Government must support prefectures' redevelopment plans
震災復興特区―１国２制度の意気で

More than three months since the Great East Japan Earthquake, local governments in affected areas are beginning to come up with plans for reconstruction while still working overtime to deal with the aftermath of the calamity.
　東日本大震災から３カ月余り。被災した自治体は復旧作業に追われつつ、復興への構想をまとめ始めた。

Miyagi and Iwate prefectures have presented their plans to create special zones for regional redevelopment to the central government's council on post-disaster reconstruction.
　宮城、岩手両県は、それぞれ復興特区構想を政府の復興構想会議に示した。

The two prefectures envision special zones to relocate devastated communities to areas on high ground, promote local industries, develop local transportation networks and build new medical, welfare and education facilities. The local governments are calling on the state to support these plans by providing special subsidies and unifying and simplifying the related administrative procedures that are cumbersome and highly bureaucratic.
高台への移住を核とするまちづくりや産業再興、交通網や医療・福祉、教育の整備などで、国からの補助金を手厚くしたり、省庁の縦割りに伴う様々な手続きを一本化・簡素化したりすることを求めている。

The central government has a duty to respond positively to these requests.
要望に応えていくことは国の責任だろう。

Notable about the two prefecture's special zone proposals is that they include ideas that could lead to solutions to some key policy challenges facing the entire nation.
　両県の特区構想で注目したいのは、日本全体が抱える課題への突破口になりうる案が含まれていることだ。

Miyagi Prefecture, for instance, has come up with a plan to establish a special zone for rebuilding the battered local fisheries industry by allowing private-sector companies to enter the business of off-shore fishing, which is now effectively monopolized by local fishery cooperatives.
　宮城県は水産業復興特区として、漁協がほぼ独占している沿岸漁業への民間企業の参入を打ち出した。

The plan is aimed at tapping the financial and intellectual resources of the private sector to revitalize the fisheries sector, which is struggling with the familiar problems of an aging workforce and a shortage of young fishermen.
後継者がいないまま高齢化が進む地元漁業に、民間の資金や知恵を呼び込むのが狙いだ。

While the local fishery cooperatives are opposed to the proposal, Miyagi Governor Yoshihiro Murai is strongly committed to the idea.
漁協は反発しているが、村井嘉浩知事は強い意欲を示している。

In contrast to the deregulation zone plan for the fishery industry, the prefecture's special zone proposal to rebuild local agriculture and farming villages calls for tighter regulation.
　農業・農村モデル創出特区では、漁業とは逆に規制強化を訴える。

It would restrict the use of farmland by the landowners and tenants and put the land under municipal control for a certain period of time for the development of agricultural infrastructure and distribution of the land by the local governments.
農地の所有者や借地人の土地利用を制限し、市町村などが一定期間管理して基盤整備し、土地を配分するという案だ。

The proposal is aimed at promoting larger-scale and more efficient agriculture.
大規模で効率的な農業を目指す考えが土台にある。

Iwate Prefecture has proposed a "Tohoku international science and technology research special zone."
　岩手県は「ＴＯＨＯＫＵ国際科学技術研究特区」を掲げる。

It would create a special zone for cutting-edge research in the three areas of ocean, disaster prevention and energy.
海洋、防災、エネルギーの３分野で先端研究ゾーンを造ろうと、

The prefecture is pressing the central government to ease the regulations concerning housing, education and residence status to make it easier to invite foreign researchers to work in the special zone.
海外の研究者を呼び込むために住まいや教育、在留資格などで規制緩和を求めている。

To help realize these proposals, it is vital for the state to give the local governments both the powers and revenue sources needed.
　構想を実現するには、自治体に権限と財源をセットで確保することが欠かせない。

In Japan, the first major special zone program was launched by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to promote his structural reform initiative.
　特区では、小泉内閣が始めた構造改革特区が知られる。

The program is still alive with the continuing designation of areas as new special deregulation zones.
特区の認定は今も続いており、

The number of such special zones has surpassed 1,100.
１１００を超えた。

But this program brings the benefits of deregulation only to specific industries and businesses, as symbolized by the "doburoku (raw sake) special zone."
しかし、「どぶろく特区」に象徴される通り、規制緩和の効果は個別の分野・事業に限られる。

These special zones are all very small in both scale and scope.
いかにも小粒だ。

The two main factors behind this are the system for designation that requires negotiations with the ministries and agencies regulating the industries and businesses involved and the lack of fiscal and tax incentives.
権限を持つ省庁と交渉してから認定する仕組みになっていることと、財政・税制の優遇措置を欠いたことが原因だ。

The special zone proposals put forward by Miyagi and Iwate prefectures require effective coordination among the multiple ministries and agencies involved.
　宮城、岩手両県の特区構想は複数の省庁にまたがる。

And effective fiscal and tax incentives are also needed to support their efforts.
財政・税制上の後押しも必要だろう。

The proposals should prompt the central government to make a comprehensive review of the related laws and regulations.
構想を出発点に、一括して規制や法律を見直すことだ。

One key step would be to scrap the current state subsidies for specific local government expenditures based on the rigid division of powers and responsibilities among ministries and agencies and introduce instead a new program to provide prefectures and municipalities with state funds they can use freely over several years.
省庁縦割りの補助金から、使い道を自由に決められ、数年度にわたって支出できる一括交付金に切り替える。

The special zones in disaster areas should be supported by more powerful measures than simple incentives for investment, such as exempting companies operating in these zones from corporate taxation for a certain period of time.
特区内の企業は法人税を一定期間免除するなど、

These zones should be put under a different set of regulations according to a sort of "one country, two systems" approach.
投資優遇を超えた「１国２制度」的な措置に踏み込めないか。

Localities should be allowed and encouraged to take the initiative in the efforts to shape a new future for the nation.
　地方が主導権を握りつつ、あすの日本を切り開く。

The ideas for reconstruction in disaster-hit areas proposed by local governments in the areas should be fully respected.
現場発の構想を大切にしたい。

最近、毎日新聞がおもしろい。
火論、水説、木語と毎日を連続で掲載。
結構、面白い。良く書けていると思う。
読売や朝日も大切な情報源なので毎日かかさず読んでいる。
つまるところ、新聞記事というのは、いわば記者の魂。
読売や朝日の記事は、一人の記者ではなくて、社説グループで書いているのではないのか。
だから、あんまり面白くない。
それでも、各新聞社には感謝している。
大切な情報源なのだから。
（スラチャイ）

(Mainichi Japan) June 16, 2011
Game of chicken over Kan resignation threatens chaos during Japan's time of crisis
木語：原発事故政局を疑う＝金子秀敏
　＜ｍｏｋｕ－ｇｏ＞

The push to oust Prime Minister Naoto Kan has made me distinctly uncomfortable lately.
　昨今の菅降ろしが、どうも腑（ふ）に落ちない。

The opposition parties have been calling on Kan to step down -- and soon -- for his failure to handle the Fukushima nuclear crisis.
　菅直人首相では原発事故の処理ができないと野党が退陣を要求している。

Top figures in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) such as Secretary-General Katsuya Okada and Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano have also spoken openly of Kan stepping down.
政権与党の岡田克也幹事長や枝野幸男官房長官まで任命権者である党代表・首相の退陣を口にする。

DPJ Acting President Yoshito Sengoku has even said Kan would be gone within the month while he was reportedly sharing his personal opinions with opposition party executives over who could be the next prime minister.
　仙谷由人官房副長官などは「月内退陣」を公言し、野党幹部と次の首相を私議したという。まさに乱世だ。

These are indeed troubled times -- but not just troubled.

Something about this whole situation is strange.
　だが変だ。

I have to ask: When and how did Naoto Kan fail to deal with the nuclear disaster?
菅首相はいつ、どのように事故処理に失敗したのか。

What measures could any other prime minister have implemented?
だれが首相なら、どのような対策ができるか。

No-one has yet to say anything on these questions.
だれも言わない。

For a short while, critics fixed on the alleged prime ministerial order to halt cooling operations at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant in the turbulent hours after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.
一時、海水注入を中断させたと騒がれたが、

It turned out that there was never such an order.
事実ではなかった。

The only thing both the opposition and ruling parties are talking about is when: when Kan will vacate the prime minister's residence.
　与野党が論じているのはもっぱら退陣の時期である。

Even Kan himself, trying to fend off calls for an early exit, has sought to muddy the timetable for his exit by saying he would stay on "until a certain point in resolving the crisis has been reached."
菅首相も、事故処理に「一定のめどがつくまで」と、退陣時期をぼかして防戦している。

Perhaps the real reason for the attempts to oust Kan has nothing to do with how he dealt with the nuclear crisis. 　菅降ろしの理由は、ほんとうは原発事故対応の失敗ではないのではないか。

Let's have a look back to before the disaster, at the March 4 House of Councillors Budget Committee meeting, and the March 11 accounting committee meeting of the same chamber.
３月１１日の東日本大震災の前に戻ってみる。

At the March 4 committee, then Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda, and Government Revitalization Minister Renho were assailed by members of the largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over alleged donations from a suspect in a tax evasion case.
３月４日の参院予算委、１１日の参院決算委員会だ。
　予算委では自民党議員が、前原誠司外相、野田佳彦財務相、蓮舫行政刷新担当相を脱税事件の容疑者から献金を受けたとして攻めた。

Maehara was also attacked for taking a donation from a foreign resident, and resigned from his portfolio two days later.
前原氏は在日外国人からの献金も突かれ、２日後に外相を辞任した。

At the March 11 accounting meeting, before the shaking of the Great East Japan Earthquake started, suspicion was also cast on Kan for taking donations from a foreign national -- forbidden under Japan's political funding laws.
　決算委では菅首相が外国人献金疑惑を追及された。

Kan opponents were beginning to craft a knock-out punch in the upper house that week, with dodgy political donations as its driving force.
参院で菅政権打倒の「献金政局」が始まった－－

And then the earthquake came, freezing speculation and suspicion in its tracks.
そのとたん大震災で疑惑追及は止まった。

During the June 3 upper house budget committee meeting, however, the LDP revived accusations of illicit donations to the prime minister, finance minister and revitalization minister.
　６月３日、自民党は参院予算委で首相、財務相、行政刷新相の献金追及を再開した。

The opposition apparently intends to pry deeper before the end of the session on June 22, including calling on witnesses to testify in the chamber.
２２日の会期末まで、参考人招致などで菅首相らを追及するらしい。

So, perhaps it is all this that really crippled the Kan Cabinet, not the nuclear crisis.
とすれば菅政権が追いつめられているのはこの問題ではないか。

If the LDP can confirm the illicit donations to the ministers, then a number of bills including a vital special law on public debt will not pass the upper house.
　自民党は、献金を認めなければ公債特例法案などを参院で通さない。

If the upper house votes to censure the ministers, then parliamentary business will grind to a halt.
問責決議なら国会は止まる。

Furthermore, if the prime minister admits to taking donations from a foreigner, he will be pushed to resign from the Diet entirely.
首相が献金を認めれば議員辞職を迫る。

Years ago, when a postal reform bill was rejected by the upper house while Junichiro Koizumi was prime minister, Koizumi dissolved the House of Representatives and held an election.
　かつて小泉純一郎首相は参院で郵政改革法案を否決されて衆院を解散した。

Dissolution of the Diet was his trump card, but one that's impossible to play now.
解散は切り札だ。

Northeast Japan remains a disaster zone and is incapable of carrying out an election.
だがいまは東北地方で選挙ができない。

If the Diet was dissolved today, Japan would descend into chaos.
解散したら日本は大混乱だ。

However, even with such terrible repercussions possible, if Kan and the LDP continue their game of chicken, dissolution is possible.
　しかし、そんなことはかまわずに自民党と菅首相がチキンゲームを続けるなら解散の可能性はある。

Both ruling and opposition party members of the lower house find the idea frightening.
衆院議員は与野党とも解散が怖い。

If the donations issue came to dominate the political situation, then Kan would have nowhere to run.
献金政局を表に出すと首相は逃げ場を失うので、

So, perhaps to avoid the dangers of Diet dissolution, the nuclear crisis is being used to give Kan the chance of an "honorable resignation."
原発処理を口実に辞任する「名誉ある撤退」でおさめようとしているのではないか。

However, Kan refuses to give up the game of chicken.
　ところが首相はチキンゲームをやめない。

Containing the leak of radioactive material from the Fukushima plant is priority No. 1, and no-one in Japan is applauding the LDP's muckraking over alleged illicit political donations in this time of national crisis.
原発から漏れる放射能を封じ込めるのが最優先の、こんな非常時に献金疑惑の追及をする自民党に国民は拍手しない。

Maybe that's what Kan is thinking as well as he clings to his post.
そう首相は考えているのかもしれない。

If this were indeed the case, I would feel more at ease.
　こう読めば腑に落ちる。

(By Hidetoshi Kaneko, Expert Senior Writer)
（専門編集委員）

毎日新聞　2011年6月16日　東京朝刊

I would like to go for a car with a solar-powered engine.
私だったらソーラーパワーエンジン搭載車に乗ります＾＾。

現状ではまだ高価なソーラーパネルですが、日本の技術の粋を集めて大量生産ができれば、解決します。
日本のお家芸ICメモリーボードの制作技術に習えばよいのです。
CPUではアメリカのインテル社に完全に出し抜かれてはいますが、メモリーボードでは日本が世界一です。
ソーラーパネルだって、世界一の座を狙えるはずだし、また、そうすべきだと考えます。
ソフトバンクの孫社長がソーラーパネル業界への進出を狙っているようですね。
（スラチャイ）

(Mainichi Japan) June 15, 2011
Japan's renewable energy plans: Chasing rabbits using solar power?
水説：ウサギ狩りの効率＝潮田道夫
　＜ｓｕｉ－ｓｅｔｓｕ＞

Some readers may have heard of the "rabbit limit," a term coined by Swedish environmental researcher Folke Guenther that relates to energy use. We can explain it as follows:
　「ウサギの限界則」というのをご存じ？　フォルケ・ギュンターというスウェーデンの環境学者の造語である。

Suppose there were only humans and rabbits in the world, and people had to rely on rabbits as a food source.
　この世に人間とウサギしかいないとする。あなたはウサギを食料とするほかない。

If a person spent all their energy chasing rabbits, when they caught one they may not get enough energy from the meat to survive.
だが、追いかけ回して疲労困憊（こんぱい）したのでは、ウサギを捕まえても、その肉から得られるカロリーでは栄養が足りず命をつないでいけない。

The energy spent chasing the rabbits would have to be lower than the amount of energy obtained from eating them for a person to keep living.
　ウサギ捕りに投資するエネルギーは、ウサギを食って得られるエネルギー未満でないといけない。それが生死を分ける。

This "rabbit limit" teaches us the importance of energy return on investment.
エネルギーの回収効率の重要性を教えている。

However, humans have found a way around the rabbit limit, Guenther says.
　しかし、ウラ技があるのですね。

If a person used a petrol-powered buggy, they could catch rabbits more easily and have energy to spare, thanks to the energy provided by fossil fuels.
石油を燃料にバギーカーでウサギを追えば、楽に捕獲できる。自分の体力を消耗せずに済み、エネルギーの損得でおつりがくる。

The reason modern civilization has thrived is that is has a large amount of surplus energy.
　現代の文明がここまで栄えているのは、その「おつり」が大きいからだ。

On this point, one would think that nuclear power would far surpass petroleum, but as we have seen with the nuclear crisis in Fukushima, far from having a surplus, we have been left with a shortage of energy.
原子力が石油を上回るかに見えたが、おつりどころか借金の山を作ったのはご存じのとおり。

In terms of quality of energy, nothing surpasses fossil fuels such as petroleum.
石油などの化石燃料ほどエネルギーの質が高いものはない。

Yoshinori Ishii, an emeritus professor at the University of Tokyo, says that quality is everything when it comes to energy.
　石井吉徳東大名誉教授によれば「エネルギーは質がすべて」だ。

There is a large amount of uranium in the sea, for example, but it is widely dispersed and cannot be used.
海水中には莫大（ばくだい）なウラニウムが存在するが拡散しており利用できない。

In other words, poor quality energy is the same as no energy at all.
つまり「質が悪い」エネルギーは存在しないも同然なのだ。

To get to the point, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan is pushing for the use of solar power, and using solar panels on any roof that can have them.
　話を急ごう。菅直人首相が太陽光発電に熱心で、屋根という屋根に可能なかぎり太陽光パネルを載せたいという。
In doing so he is attempting to cover the energy that has become difficult to provide through nuclear power.
これで発電の難しくなった原発を補おうというわけだ。

Does solar power provide good quality energy?
　太陽光発電のエネルギーとしての質はどうか。

The energy profit ratio (EPR) gives us one basis for judgment.
エネルギー収支比（ＥＰＲ）という数字で判定する。

If one unit of energy can be used to produce three equivalent units, then the EPR is 3.
１単位のエネルギーで３単位のエネルギーが得られればＥＰＲは３。

If the EPR is below 1, then, as the rabbit limit shows us, it is not worthwhile to produce that form of energy.
１以下だとウサギの限界則で分かるようにやるだけムダ。

It has been said that the EPR of solar power is about 5, but that the quality of energy is not that great.
　太陽光発電のＥＰＲは５ぐらいで質はさほどでないといわれてきたが、

However, proponents of this form of energy say the latest forms of solar power have EPRs as high as 10 or 20.
推進派は最新型は１０とか２０に向上しているという。

The problem is, we don't know which figures are correct.
どれが正しいのか分からないので困惑する。

What we do know is that without subsidies, solar power will not find a strong footing in Japan.
　しかし、はっきりしているのは、現状では補助金なしでは立ちゆかないエネルギーであるということだ。

Considering this, we have to say it is of "poorer quality" than natural gas or coal.
それを考えれば天然ガスや石炭に比べ「質の悪いエネルギー」と言わざるをえない。

With the decline of nuclear power, power fees may rise in Japan and many factories may have to shift overseas. 　原発の比重低下で電力料金が上がり、工場が大挙海外移転しかねない情勢だ。

For this reason, Kan is promoting renewable energy.
だから再生可能エネルギーを増やそうと言う。

That is indeed a plan in its own right, but it is incomprehensible for the "quality" of energy to be left out of the picture.
それも一案だが、エネルギーの「質」が軽視されているのが解せない。

Fossil energy must play the main role of filling the gap left by the absence of nuclear power.
原発の穴埋めは化石エネルギーが主役たらざるをえない。

Just think about it.
　考えてもごらんなさい。

Could you catch rabbits using a solar-powered buggy?
太陽光エネルギーのバギーカーでウサギが捕れますか？　

I would go for a car with a diesel engine.
私はディーゼルエンジン搭載車に乗る。

(By Michio Ushioda, Expert Senior Writer)
（専門編集委員）

毎日新聞　2011年6月15日　東京朝刊

新聞記者としてはイモーショナルに傾きすぎているように感じるが、論説の内容はこの通りだと思った。
玉木氏の母親は敬虔なクリスチャンであったことから、韓国との関係も理解できる。
韓国は国民の７０％がクリスチャンで占められる妙な国なのだから。
多分、日本の植民地政策が原因ではないのでしょうか。（大東亜共栄圏）
カフェ友が玉木氏を嫌っている訳が理解できました。
（スラチャイ記）

(Mainichi Japan) June 14, 2011
Mandating singing of national anthem will dampen spirits of those who want to sing from heart
火論：踏み絵になっては＝玉木研二
　＜ｋａ－ｒｏｎ＞

Osaka Prefecture recently enacted an ordinance to make it mandatory for public school teachers and other education officials to stand and sing Japan's national anthem at school ceremonies.
　大阪府の公立学校で行事で教職員に君が代の起立斉唱を義務づける条例が成立した。

I wonder how teachers who have until now sung "Kimigayo" from their own free will feel about the ordinance.
胸中やいかにと思う。自らの意志で歌ってきた先生たちの胸中である。

Isn't it sad for them to now sing it because they are obliged to do so under an ordinance?
　条例で義務づけられているから歌うと思われてはせつないのではないか。

I have stood and sung the anthem without hesitation at events.
私は行事で気構えなく起立し、歌ってきた。

I would not be happy if someone mistakenly thought I was standing and singing against my will.
だから、心ならずも立っていると誤解されるようなことになったら不本意だ。

Of course, I am not saying this to criticize teachers who do not share my views.
　もちろん、そう感じない、そう考えない先生を否定するために言うのではない。

How people perceive the Hinomaru and Kimigayo, considered the national flag and national anthem, differs from person to person.
　国旗・国歌とされる日の丸も君が代もどう受け止めるかは、つまるところ個人の内面により、そこに踏み込んで一様一色にはできない。

But the national flag and anthem have been used in events and ceremonies, and I think it is only natural that people show them respect.
だが行事・式典にこれが用いられ、敬意を表する形をとるのは自然のことと私は思う。

Among some of my favorite scenes of the flag and anthem are the he Tokyo Olympics and boxer "Fighting" Harada's world title fights.
　その心象風景みたいなものは－－。
　東京オリンピック、ファイティング原田のボクシング世界戦などなど、

Young people today might cite soccer's World Cup finals, and I apologize for raising such old images, but I was deeply moved by the wind-whipped Hinomaru and the singing of Kimigayo at these events.
今の若い人ならサッカーのワールドカップを挙げるようなところを古い記憶映像を持ち出して恐縮だが、はためく日の丸と流れる君が代は深く染みた。

This is a personal matter (it would be difficult to write about this theme without delving into my personal affairs), but my late mother was a devoted Christian from even before World War II.
　私事ながら（私事にわたらねばこのテーマは書きにくい）戦前からの熱心なクリスチャンであった亡母は

She had no relatives or neighbors who shared her religious beliefs, and she of course felt no connection with the non-Christian festivals at local shrines.
親類にも近所にも信心を同じくする家なく、神社の祭りにももちろん縁なく、

But on national holidays, she erected a bamboo pole to hoist a huge Hinomaru flag that may have seemed out of place flying over our poor house.
しかし、国の祝日には小さな貧乏家には不釣り合いなほど大きな日の丸を竹のポールで立てた。

A pastor I know was apprehended during the war for refusing to convert his religion, but even he hoisted the Hinomaru on national holidays after the war.
　牧師は戦時中転向せぬために拘留されたという人であったが、戦後も教会には祝日の日の丸は掲げられた。

The flag may have been a symbol of a peaceful nation that transcended the political power of the time.
時の権力を超えた「平和な国の表徴」であったかもしれない。

I vividly remember one Hinomaru flag in the course of my reporting career.
　取材で目に焼き付いた日の丸がある。

It was 26 years ago when I climbed to a deep mountain village in Kumamoto Prefecture to a branch of a local school with 13 teachers and pupils.
２６年前、熊本の奥深い山村で先生と子供合わせて１３人の分校に登って行った時だ。

The eldest child led the group to school in the morning by jingling a bell to scare off bears.
通学は集団でクマよけの鈴を鳴らし、年長の子が率いる。

Deer cried out at night.
夜はシカが鳴く。

The village was so inconvenient that it was exempted from compulsory education during the Taisho era.
　あまりの不便さに大正時代までここは「義務教育免除地」とされた。

Until the branch school opened, parents had gathered their meager funds to bring in people from faraway towns who could teach their children reading, writing and calculating with an abacus.
分校ができるまで、貧しい中で父母たちは私費を寄せ合い、読み書きソロバンを教えてくれる人間を遠い町から呼んだ。

High up on a wall in the classroom of the dilapidated school was a small, old Hinomaru flag.
　老朽校舎の教室の壁の高い所に、黄ばんだ小さな日の丸が張ってあった。

It was as if that flag symbolized the history and pride of this school along a mountain stream, and when I saw it tears welled up in my eyes.
この谷川沿いの分校の歴史と誇りをその一枚が象徴しているようで、わけもなく涙がわいた。

I am becoming sentimental.
　センチメンタルに傾いてしまった。

But I am sure many people's feelings toward the Hinomaru and Kimigayo are inseparably linked with their memories and spiritual experiences.
だが、個々人の日の丸・君が代のありようは、それぞれ心の中にある思い出や精神経験と分かちがたく結びついているに違いない。

If it dampens the spirits of those who want to sing and look at the flag from their own heart, I personally wonder what the point of the ordinance is.
　そんな思いの上に歌い、見守る心にも水を差すとしたら、一体何のための条例化かと私は思う。（専門編集委員）

(By Kenji Tamaki, Expert Senior Writer)
毎日新聞　2011年6月14日　東京朝刊

いまさらながら、原発の発電力の威力を感じました。
原発はやはり、悪魔の贈り物なのかもしれませんね。
（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jun. 14, 2011)
Overcome power shortages with a new perspective
節電の夏　発想の転換で危機乗り切ろう（6月12日付・読売社説）

It is feared that power shortages could occur in many parts of the nation this summer.
　今夏は全国で電力不足が懸念される。

We hope every company and household will find ways to save electricity and deal with the summer heat.
企業や家庭で節電を工夫し、暑い夏を乗り切りたい。

Starting July 1, the government is set to impose power-use restrictions in areas serviced by Tokyo Electric Power Co. and Tohoku Electric Power Co.
　政府は、東京電力と東北電力の管内で、７月１日から大規模な工場やビルなどを対象に電力制限を実施する。

The scheme will target such facilities as large factories and buildings, all of which will be required to reduce their power consumption by 15 percent from last summer's peak levels.
電力使用量を昨夏のピーク時より１５％削減しなければならない。

Similar action will be taken by Kansai Electric Power Co., which will ask private-sector companies and ordinary households to cut their electricity consumption by 15 percent.
　関西電力も企業や家庭に１５％節電を要請する。

This is because the utility remains unsure about when--and if, for that matter--it will be able to restart operations at reactors closed for regular inspections.
定期検査中の原発の再稼働が見通せないためだ。

Other power companies could follow suit, asking consumers to save electricity.
　他の電力会社にも、同じ動きが広がる可能性がある。

These moves may well be regarded as inevitable, given the need to prevent a shortage of power this summer.
電力不足を避けるためにはやむを得ない。

One challenge facing corporations will be to efficiently use a limited amount of electricity, a task essential to minimize the impact of power-saving efforts on their business operations.
　企業は、限られた電力をいかに効率的に使い、経営への影響を最小限に抑えるかが問われよう。

===

Firms already taking action

It is reassuring to know that some companies have already come out with power-saving measures.
　早くも節電対策が打ち出されているのは心強い。

Automobile and electronics manufacturers, for example, have decided to suspend operations at their plants on weekdays instead of weekends.
自動車や電機メーカーなどは、工場の休業日を平日に変更する。

Power-saving steps adopted by these companies include replacing their lighting with light-emitting diode devices that require less electricity.
　電力消費の少ない発光ダイオード（ＬＥＤ）照明への切り替え、

They will also lengthen summer vacations and utilize daylight saving time, a measure to move up the time employees start work.
夏休みの長期化、社員の就業時間を早めるサマータイムの導入など様々な取り組みがみられる。

Admittedly, reductions in power consumption will place most of the burden on the corporate sector.
　節電は企業に負担を強いるが、

Put another way, however, saving electricity could lead to an increase in companies' operational efficiency. 発想を転換すれば、効率経営を進めるきっかけになりうる。

Changes in the way company employees work could eventually reduce their working hours and improve the efficiency of their employers' business operations.
就業形態の見直しは、労働時間の短縮や業務の効率化などにつながる。

Power-saving efforts could also provide new business opportunities.
　新たなビジネスチャンスとしても期待できるだろう。

This has been demonstrated by the rapid rise in sales of LED lamps and energy-saving air conditioners in recent weeks, for example.
ＬＥＤ電球や省エネ型エアコンなどの売り上げが急増し、

Also, the food service and hotel industries are offering various new services for employees whose companies will try to reduce power use through such measures as letting them leave work earlier than before.
退社時間の早まる会社員らを狙った外食やホテルなどの新サービスも相次いでいる。

We hope the economy will be revitalized as a result of new types of consumption that are generated by products and services catering to demand created by power-saving efforts.
　節電特需を取り込んだ商品やサービスで新たな消費を掘り起こし、経済を活性化させたい。


===

Everyone must pitch in

It is disturbing to see that the anticipated power shortages will affect a wide area, meaning households, companies and others in nearly all parts of the nation will have to implement power-saving measures.
　気がかりなのは、電力不足が広域に及ぶため、ほぼ全国で節電対策を迫られそうなことだ。

For instance, corporations with manufacturing bases in Tokyo and adjacent areas are likely to reconsider their initial plans to shift their production activities to western parts of the country.
　首都圏などに拠点のある企業が当初検討していた西日本への生産移転は、見直すことになろう。

These companies should think about what kind of production system would best suit them, keeping in mind the estimate for this summer's power supply and demand.
電力需給を踏まえ、最適な生産体制を検討すべきだ。

It is also indispensable for households to cooperate in saving electricity, given that they account for 30 percent of this nation's total power consumption.
　電力消費の３割を占める家庭の協力も欠かせない。

Households in the areas serviced by the Tokyo and Tohoku electric power companies should take this to heart. They are not obligated to reduce electric consumption, but we hope these consumers will raise their awareness of the need to cut wasteful power consumption as much as possible.
　東電、東北電管内でも、家庭は節電を義務付けられていないが、極力無駄な電力を使わない節電意識を高めてもらいたい。

There are various ways for them to easily save electricity--for example, raising air conditioners' preset temperatures and turning off the master power switches for electrical appliances.
エアコンの設定温度を上げたり、家電の主電源を切ったりするなど簡単にできることは多いはずだ。

TEPCO is planning to shore up its "denki yoho" system, through which the utility releases such information as the daily balance between power supply and demand, and the forecasted demand.
　東電は、日々の需給状況や見通しなどを示す「でんき予報」を拡充する。

The system is certain to help companies and households save electricity efficiently.
企業や家庭が効率的に節電するのに役立つだろう。

TEPCO and all other utilities need to keep providing power consumers with detailed information about the status of its electric power supply.
電力各社は、きめ細かい情報発信を続ける必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 12, 2011)
（2011年6月12日00時57分 読売新聞）

議員は働かなくても給料をもらえるがシステムがおかしい。
民間みたいに勤務評定をやり、給料は出来高制にしたらよい。
裁判員制度みたいな、勤務評定委員会を設置、輪番制で実行する。
（スラチャイ）

(Mainichi Japan) June 12, 2011
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: What are the politicians thinking?
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：政治家の心の中って　／東京

Politicians are people too.
　政治家だって“同じ人間”。

The workings of their minds are not completely different from ours.
私たちと全然、違う心の仕組みを持っているわけではない。

At least, that's what I used to think, but recently I'm beginning to wonder.
ずっとそう信じてきたけれど、ここに来て「やっぱり違うのかな」と思うようになってきた。

The reason is, of course, the political commotion surrounding the recent no-confidence motion against the Cabinet.
理由は、もちろん内閣不信任案の提出などの政局のゴタゴタ劇。

In the end it was voted down and the Cabinet is continuing to operate as if nothing happened, but I am sure there are many besides me who wonder what on earth these politicians are doing.
結局、衆院本会議で否決されて何ごともなかったかのように内閣の運営は続けられているが、私を含めて「何やってるの？」とあきれかえった人は多いはずだ。

On the day of the vote on the no-confidence motion, I was at a university where I had a full day of teaching scheduled.
　不信任案の採決があった当日、私は病院にではなくて大学にいた。

In the morning I asked my students, "Do you know what's happening in the Diet this afternoon? ... That's right, a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet is being voted on.
丸一日、授業をする日だったのだ。私は朝から授業を受ける学生たちにきいてみた。「今日の午後は国会で何があるか、知っていますよね？……そう、内閣不信任案のこと。

Could you tell me what you think about this?"
よかったらみなさん、どう思ってるか教えてくれる？」

The students raised their hands and I listened to their opinions.
　挙手してもらって意見をきくと、

In every class, the most common response from quizzical and angry students was "Why now?" It seemed that, regardless of whether they supported the current administration or not, students were dumbfounded that politicians would try to bring down the government at such a time.
どのクラスでもいちばん多かったのは、「なぜ今？」という疑問や怒りを語る人。

"If the motion were passed, the Diet would be dissolved and we would have a general election, right?
現政権を支持するかしないかはさておき、「もし可決されたら解散、総選挙なんでしょう？　

What if that brings restoration efforts in the disaster areas to a halt?" asked one student.
それで復興が止まったらどうするわけ？」

Another expressed frustration that they'd heard that the Democratic Party of Japan could split on the issue.
「ここで党が分裂だなんて意味がわからない」と“この時期に”ということに、驚きあきれていたようだった。

Most of the students were in their first or second year of university, so their ages ranged from the teens to around 20 -- they had just obtained or were just about to obtain the right to vote.
　彼らの多くは、大学１年や２年だからほとんどが１０代からハタチ。選挙権を手にした直後かどうか、といった年齢だ。

It is a serious problem when people who have just arrived at the door to adult society are visited so soon by feelings of distrust and lack of hope in politics.
「よし、これから私も政治に参加するぞ」とまさに社会の入り口に立ったばかりの時期の彼らが、「政治家っていったい何なの？」「政治なんて信用できないんだな」と早くも不信感やあきらめの気持ちを抱くというのは、本当に深刻な問題だ。

Does anyone benefit from such a situation?
　こんな結果になって、いったい誰か得をした人がいるのだろうか。

Some politicians apparently have argued that the no-confidence motion had a benefit in dealing a damaging blow to the current administration, but then they would be lying if they say the public's interests come first.
現政権にダメージを与えただけでも効果があった、などと語る政治家もいるようだが、「国民の利益がいちばん」というのはウソだったということだ。

One student asked me, "What's going on inside politicians' minds?
　ある学生が「先生、政治家の心の中ってどうなってるの？　

Do they have some kind of illness?"
何かの病気ですか？」と言った。

In the past I would have answered, "You shouldn't say things like that.
これまでなら私は、「そんな言い方しちゃダメだよ。

Politicians are putting in their best efforts, thinking about what they can do for society, even if they are also protecting their own positions."
政治家は自分の立場を守りながらも、一生懸命、社会のために何ができるかと奮闘してるんだから」などと答えたかもしれないが、

But this day I was unable to give such a reply.
私にはもうそう言うことはできなかった。

"Hmm. Maybe they are narcissistic and think only of themselves, or maybe they are ill in that they get overly worked up when a little commotion is raised."
「うーん、自分のことしか考えない自己愛パーソナリティーなのかな、それともちょっと騒動があるとテンションが上がりすぎちゃうそう病体質かな」

Actually, I didn't call them "ill," because that would be rude to patients who are seriously fighting with their illnesses, but what a troubling issue this is.
いや、そんな言い方をするのは、病と真剣に向き合っている患者さんたちに失礼か。本当に悩ましい。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)

毎日新聞　2011年6月7日　地方版