JAPAN: AUTO POLLUTION/JAPANESE PARLIAMENT BEGINS SPECIAL SESSION ON ANTI-POLLUTION LAWS.

Record ID: 1080917

  • Title: JAPAN: AUTO POLLUTION/JAPANESE PARLIAMENT BEGINS SPECIAL SESSION ON ANTI-POLLUTION LAWS.
  • Date: 21st November 1970
  • Summary: 1. VARIOUS SHOTS TRAFFIC IN TOKYO'S EDOGAWA AREA. 2. TRAFFIC ON TOKYO EXPRESSWAY ( 3 SHOTS ) 3. TRAFFIC IN SEMI-RESIDENTIAL AREA OF SHIBA. 4. EXTERIOR SHOTS OF PARLIAMENT BUILDING ( 5 SHOTS ). Initials rgh/vs/k NOTE TO EDITORS: THIS FILM CAN BE INTERCUT AT THE HEAD OF OUR FILM ON AUTO POLLUTION INCLUDED IN THE SAME SHIPMENT. Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 5th December 1970 13:00
  • Keywords:
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  • Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
  • Country: Japan
  • Reuters ID: LVA6EXWLQNZRA24RSDWM2T6KIQ35
  • Story Text:A MAJOR SOURCE OF POLLUTION TO BE TICKED BY THE BILLS BEFORE THE DIET JAPANESE PARLIAMENT IS THAT FROM EXHAUST FUMES. MILLIONS OF CARS POURING DAILY ONTO INADEQUATE AND OVERCROWDED ROADS HAVE MANY MORE MILLIONS OF JAPANESE TO CONSTANT HIGHT DOSES OF NOXIOUS CASES.

    THE GOVERNMENT'S INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY RECENTLY ANNOUNCED THAT IN 1967, MOTORCARS BELCHED OUT MORE THAN 850,000 TONS OF CARBON MONOXIDE, MORE THAN 170,000 TONS OF HYDROCARBON AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER POLLUTANTS. THE SITUATION IS MUCH WORSE THREE YEARS LATER.

    THE RESULT OF ALL THIS AIR POLLUTION FROM ONE SOURCE ALONE WAS INCREASED CASES OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES AND LEAD POISONING AMONG RESIDENTS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS, PARTICULARLY IN SOME SECTIONS OF TOKYO.

    THE FLOOD OF EXHAUST FUMES LEAD TO A PHENOMENON LAST SUMMER CALLED PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG - A WHITE CLOUD THAT AFFECTED THE EYES, THROAT AND BREATHING OF PEOPLE IN EVEN THE QUIETEST SUBURNS OF TOKYO.

    THE AUTUMN WINDS HAVE GIVEN TEMPORARILY RELIEF FROM THE SMOG BUT THE PROBLEM OF EXHAUST FUMES REMAINS. AFTER DOCTORS REPORTED A HIGH LEVEL OF LEAD IN THE BLOOD AND URINE OF PEOPLE LIVING NEAR A BUSY INTERSECTION IN TOKYO, THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BEGAN A CAMPAIGN FOR LEAD-FREE PETROL, ONLY TO COME UP AGAINST ANOTHER PROBLEM. PETROLEUM COMPANIES SAID THAT IN ORDER TO REMOVE LEAD, THEY WOULD HAVE TO INCREASE THE LEVEL OF HYDROCARBONS TO PRODUCE EQUAL PERFORMANCE. AND IT'S THE HYDROCARBONS THAT REACT WITH SUNSHINE TO CREATE "PHOTOCHEMICAL SMOG".

    AT PRESENT, AIR POLLUTION BY MOTORCARS IS REGULATED BY LAW ONLY IN TERMS OF THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEVEL PER VEHICLE. DRIVERS WHO EXCEED THE LIMIT MUST FIX THEIR VEHICLE WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME OR FACE THE PROSPECT OF A HEAVY FINE. THE MAIN POINT IN THE BILL BEFORE THE DIET WILL EMPOWER LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO RESTRICT VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN ANY AREA IF THE LEVEL OF EXHAUST FUMES GENERALLY EXCEED A FIXED LIMIT. AS IN THE UNITED STATES, JAPANESE AUTOMOBILE MANUFACTURERS ARE UNDER PRESSURE TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION TO CLEAN UP EXHAUST FUMES BY 1975. UNTIL A "MIRACLE CURE" CAN BE FOUND, JAPAN'S NEW LEGISLATION IF PASSED BY THE DIET COULD MAKE LIFE A LITTLE HEALTHIER FOR MILLIONS OF JAPANESE.

    THE JAPANESE PARLIAMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) BEGAN A SPECIAL 25-DAY SESSION DURING WHICH THE GOVERNMENT WILL ATTEMPT TO ARM ITSELF WITH TOUGHER POWERS TO CRACK DOWN ON ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION. EIGHT EXISTING LAWS ARE TO BE REVISED BY THE DIET PARLIAMENT AND SEVEN NEW BULLS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED COVERING AIR, LAND, RIVER AND OCEAN POLLUTION.

    INCLUDED IS ONE BILL DECLARING POLLUTION A CRIME, WITH HEAVY JAIL TERMS AND FINES FOR OFFENDING BUSINESS CONCERNS, DESPITE KEEN OPPOSITION FROM INDUSTRY LEADERS THAT SUCH LEGISLATION IS PREMATURE.

    THE NEW LAW WILL PLACE THE ONUS ON I ??? ESTABLISH ITS INNOCENCE AND WILL IMPOSE JAIL TERMS UP TO THREE YEARS ???RIALISTS FOUND GUILTY OF CAUSING POLLUTION THAT ENDANGERS HUMAN LIFE OR HEALTH. THE FOUR PARLIAMENTARY OPPOSITION PARTIES HAVE PLEDGED THEMSELVES TO URGE THE GOVERNMENT INTO PASSING THE STRONGEST POSSIBLE LEGISLATION DESPITE INDUSTRY OPPOSITION.

    THE NEW LAWS IN APPROVED BY THE DIET WILL ALSO GIVE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENTS MORE MUSCLE TO IMPOSE ANTI-POLLUTION MEASURES ON RELUCTANT BUSINESSES. POLLUTING FACTORIES CAN BE CLOSED DOWN OR FORCED TO USE OIL LOWER SULPHUR CONTENT.

    THERE IS A NEW ON OCEAN POLLUTION AND STRICTER CONTROL OF INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGED INTO JAPANESE RIVERS - AMONG THE WORST POLLUTED IN THE WORLD. OTHER LEGISLATION COVERS OFFENSIVE SMELLS AND EXESSIVE NOISE
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