OKINAWA, Okinawa Prefecture Candidates in the Lower House election here were split on how far they should highlight an issue that has long dominated politics in Okinawa Prefecture: construction of a U.S. military base.
By Pat Elder
Pat Elder is an investigative journalist with Civilian Exposure, an organization based in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, that tracks how the military poisons people around the world. Pat’s focus is on documenting contamination caused by the U.S. military’s use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in routine fire-fighting drills.
PFAS in fire-fighting foams used on basFes worldwide are contaminating the environment and endangering public health. The Pentagon denies wrongdoing
Günther Schneider, a farmer from Binsfeld, Germany has photos that show what the stream that flows through the village of Binsfeld looks like when aqueous film-forming foam is released from a fire suppression system in hangarson the Spangdahlem Airbase – like a fluffy white ribbon. All around in the meadows, shreds of foam remained like huge snowballs.The toxic substances used in fire-fighting foams on base have contaminated the sewer water, ground water, surface water, and the ai
Students argue against the revision bill to toughen Japan’s asylum system at a gathering in Tokyo’s Chiyoda Ward on April 14. (Ryuichi Kitano)
Opposition lawmakers joined international criticism of a revision bill that would make it easier for the government to deport foreigners who are illegally staying in Japan, including those seeking asylum.
“It could endanger their lives if they were deported based on a mistaken judgment,” Tomohiro Yara, a member of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said at the Lower House plenary session on April 16.
Justice Minister Yoko Kamikawa, however, underlined the urgency and significance of amending the Immigration Control and Refugee Recognition Law.
Takamatsu Gushiken, who has been involved in recovering the remains of the war dead, points to cleared land where they may have been buried in Itoman, Okinawa Prefecture, on Nov. 26. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
As chief Cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga was in charge of easing Okinawa Prefecture’s disproportionate burden of hosting U.S. bases in Japan.
His pet phrase on file has been that he would be considerate of residents’ feelings.
Still, the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which Suga underpinned as the most senior government spokesman, pushed for the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma within the prefecture even though Okinawans have adamantly opposed the central government’s project.