Month: July 2016

Japan PM Shinzo Abe claims victory in parliament election

summary

The 24th regular election of members of the House of Councillors was held on Sunday 10 July 2016 to elect 121 of the 242 members of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the 717-member bicameral National Diet of Japan, for a term of six years. As a result of the election, the alliance configured by Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito party which is lead by the Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, has claimed victory, saying voters backed his economic policies.He fought his campaign on his economic record, but the sub-text of the election was the power to amend the constitution which is the change of Article 9. If the the upper house secures two-third majority to match that in the lower house, it is possible to hold a vote on constitutional change.

opinion

The voting age for national elections has been lowered to 18 from the current 20, from this upper house election. Thanks to this change, I went to the election for the first time. To be honest, the result of the election was expected, but at the same time, it was very surprising for me. If the Liberal Democratic Party and the Komeito Party win the upper house election and secures two-third majority to match that in lower house, it is possible to hold a vote on constitutional change of Article 9. This is an article so-called pacifism cause which forbibs Japan from fighting wars abroad. If  the amend of Article 9 became true, there might be a day that we have to join the war. The constitutional of Japan is hold by the pacifism, one of the tree major principles. As being one of a jurist, I think the constitutional should not be amended.

Oscars push for more gender and ethnical diversity

Summary

The organizers of the Oscars have invited a record number of new members to vote in next year’s Academy Awards, in response to criticism of a luck of diversity at this year’s ceremony. The members are mostly white, male and over 60. The percentage of male membership is nearly 80 and white is over 90. There are currently more than 6000 members of the academy. Almost half the people who have been asked to join are women and almost as many are people of colour. For the second year in a row, all of acting nominees at February’s 88th Academy Awards were white, sparking an outcry. The protests led to an unprecedented debate about racial equality in the film industry.
Opinion

That’s news to me that there are a racial discrimination and a sexual discrimination even in the film industry. Women and colors are often discriminate in their places of work, for the types of job and salaries. The film industry places the importance at actors’ and actresses’ ability, so it seem unaffected by such a discrimination. But there are. The efforts of the organizers of the Oscars is nice idea. It is because the tendency of this world has been to decrease the gap between male and female, white and color and so on. I hope that the day the people who live in this world will be possible to evaluate each other without considering their differences will come someday.

Amid day care shortage, parents inspired by anonymous blog vote for change

Summery

In Japan, a lot of people, especially women, want the Japanese Government to build more nursery schools. Due to the lack of nursery schools, some mothers are facing the risk of  losing their jobs or a chance to start work. Therefore, in this election of the members of the House of Councillors, the major point at issue are the monthly salaries of nursery school staff and infrastructures for child care and nursing care. However,the problem is long standing and will not be resolved in a day.

My opinion

This problem is very serious,and it is too difficult for politicians to change the situation. Generally, in Japan, politicians have a lot of money, so they never have a hard time bring up their children. If you don’t have much money, you won’t be able to run for the election. I think that we have no choice but to hold a huge demonstration.

 

Two U.S. transgender women running for Congress could make history.

Summary
In November, two transgender women were elected to run for the US Congress representing Utah and Colorado. These two women are Democrats Misty Snow and Misty Plowright, each running for the Senate and the House of Representatives, in respective order. If elected, these two would make history. Although the two won primary, they are still facing fierce competition against the Republican incumbents who are ahead in the polls. Snow is the first transgender to run for the Senate, but Plowright was proceeded by Karen Kerin, who lost against Bernie Sanders in 2000.

Opinion
I think it’s wonderful that LGBT people are receiving support for entering into politics. This is one of the signs of LGBT people really being accepted into society. People are showing their acceptation by trusting the candidates. They are seeing the trans candidates as people worthy of trust and support. Although the two candidates in the article still have many obstacles to overcome, I hope they can get to a place where they can have an effect on society.

Amid day care shortage, parents inspired by anonymous blog vote for change

summary

Many families in Japan were seeking to change the situation with their vote in Sunday’s House of Councilors election. As of last October, there were 45,315 applicants who had been denied places in public nursery schools around the country because of a lack of space. Particularly mothers facing the risk of losing their jobs or a chance to start work, it was no wonder an anonymous blog post unleashing the pent-up frustration of one mother who failed to get her child into nursery school went viral. “Failed to get a slot in a nursery school yesterday…Damn you, Japan.” Although there are party saying to arrenge infrastructures for child care and nursing care, experts said the problem is long-standing and will not be resolved in a day, urging parents to continue pushing for structual reforms beyond the election in Japan’s elderly-focused society.

 

opinion

I think that this problem is very serious and we must take the situation seriously. My mother works as the director of a nursery school. I heard her about the present circumstance. She said that the situation is little by little better than ever before, and the number of child on the waiting list for daycare has been decreasing. She opened up and start operating a nursery to help children. That is to say, she runs two nurseries now. I respect her for my mother and the director. But, most of young people are not interested in this problem, and not go to vote. If we take an interest in this situation, we have no choice but to go to vote. In fact, Japan’s present infrastructures for child care and nursing care aren’t very well, and I think that this situation continues. A shortage will exist due to overwhelming demand. We should go to vote to change the present situation if we want to change the future situation.

Bangladesh to ban Islamic TV channel, Peace TV

Summary

Bangladesh government has said it intends to ban the Islamic television channel, Peace TV, in the wake of the deadly attack on a café in the capital, Dhaka. The government decision comes amid fears that hardline views on the channel could radicalize youth. On the other hand, Peace TV founder Mr. Naik deny an allegation that one of the gunman in the café attack was inspired by his speeches, accusing Bangladeshi media of sensationalism. Also, he want to be said that Bangladeshi government people don’t believe the allegation that I inspired this Bangladeshi terrorists to kill innocent people.

Opinion

I disagree the Bangladeshi government’s intention. Bangladeshi has many Muslims. If the government bans the TV channel, that is equal to banning the freedom of speech in Bangladeshi. It is very important for human beings to say one’s opinions freely. Historically, human beings had a lot of conflicts. However, I believe if the freedom of speech had been protected, we could have prevented some conflicts. Today, there are a lot of conflicts because of religions, races and etc. around the world. In order to reduce the conflicts, it is very difficult but helpful that we tries to create the world that everyone says one’s opinion feely regardless of one’s religions, races, classes, gender and countries.

Food shortage in Venezuela

400 people and over100 shops have been damage in Venezuela after rioting and looting over food shortage. Because of highest inflation rates at 180% and if they can queue for subsidized food, they don’t get the food. The National blame politicians for government mismanagement for the shortage. But the government says the shortages are part of an economic war being waged to drive. According to Disdago Cabello, it is a problem that government blame the opposition for inciting violent protest. The reason is “these are fascist groups which are generating unrest” he said.

Now, about 850,000,000 people is food shortage. World population is about 70 hundred million people, so one eight people are starving in the world. Reading this article, I studied about the food shortage in the world. What most impressed me was that all adults in the country of food shortage unanimously say , “We can put up with it, but our children are hungry. We hope at least children alone can eat…. ”. Parents are hoping that the kids to grow up healthy even in the midst of food shortage. However, most parents in poor countries and we are in the same generation. This makes me feel utterly miserable. And I somehow understand the reason why they feel like rioting or looting as this article says.

US Opens Investigation into Tesla after Fatal Crash

Summary

The driver of a Tesla car died in Florida in May after colliding with a lorry.  In the accident, Tesla driver Joshua Brown died but the driver of the lorry was unhurt.  The car was a self-driving car, so US authorities are investigating Tesla’s Autopilot feature, which automatically changes traffic lanes and reacts to traffic.  In Tesla’s statement, a reason why the self-driving car was unable to recognize and avoid the lorry is “the white side of the tractor trailer against a brightly lit sky”.  The accident exposure imperfectness in the present system.  In addition, according to the news, the overconfidence of the driver on a self-driving system.  Mr. Brown posted a video on YouTube which recorded by a dashboard camera.  It shows a previous incident that the car steered to avoid a lorry in the next lane, and he wrote about safeness of the system with plenty of confidence.  The accident of this time went completely against his over-confidence.

 

Opinion

I partly agree with diffusion of self-driving cars for two reasons.  First, partly installation of a self-driving system can decrease the number of accidents result from carelessness.  In Japan, as to the increase in elderly people, the number of collisions increases, too.  According to Japanese Government’s Public Relations Office, big two of the cause of the traffic accident of elderly people are carelessness and the control impropriety by the drop of the physical ability and ability for recognition.  If the cars with the automatic collision avoidance function spread, such an accident will decrease in a considerable ratio.  Second, it is dangerous to completely rely on a program although technology progresses greatly.  It is impossible to be perfect since the self-driving system is made by a human hand.  Accidents like this may occur, and the unexpected situation for the program cannot be avoided because the car which isn’t automatic runs at the same time.  In conclusion, I think that partly introduction of the system assuming the constant driving skill leads to road safety.

Balance of Economy and Ecosystem

Summary

Last month, the Panama Canal was expanded.  The new locks are enormous.  This upgrade has costed $5.4 billion.  The former canal could accommodate 5,000 containers.  Today, the new one has double the capacity.  The United States built the canal and 65% of the cargo that uses the waterway has ports as its origin or destination.

Opinion

This upgrade might raise the dominant U.S. position, I suppose.  It allows the large ships transporting propane gas to make faster and cheaper carrying to Asian markets.  On the other hands, we should consider the influence to surrounding environment like ecosystem.  Linking the sea to another lets creatures move alternately.  It can break environment.  If human exterminate some creatures, can we take the responsibility of it?  We must be careful when arranging environment.

Who is the real president in Commonwealth?

summarise

In a speech to lagislators, Jamaican Governor-General Patric Allen proposed a constitutional amendment ”to replace Her Majesty The Queen(Elizabeth Ⅱ, the Queen of United Kingdom) with a Non-Executive President as Head of State” in the Caribbean nation. She is officialy head of state in 15 nations called the Commonwealth including Australia and Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica. There is one irony because Allen and other Jamaican governor-Generals were appointed by the Queen. It suggests that Allen is effectively pushing to push himself out.

opinion
I learned the President system in Jamaica for the first time. Then I felt something is wrong with the system. Why Elizabeth Ⅱ is the president in Commonwealth even if she is non-executive there? In history, Certainly UK was strong and occupied many country but now most of them are independent. I think they can’t become completely independent till she is the president. This may be thought as deep-rooted problem, but I wish their relationship become better and perfectly independent.