„There are two quite different stories about war and peace in Japan“ Published: 6 May 2022 Interview The invasion of Ukraine has shocked Japan. The country participates in the sanctions against Russia. Still, people in Japan look at the war in Europe against the backdrop of security threats in their Northeast Asian region, says Akira Kawasaki, a peace activist with the Japanese NGO Peace Boat. He sees opportunities for civil society action even under current war conditions. By Axel Harneit-Sievers
Energy transition in East Asia fails to meet carbon neutral pledges Published: 21 December 2020 Commentary Both Japan and South Korea have announced that they would become carbon neutral by 2050. However, neither country has a clear roadmap or specific policies to attain this target. And, in fact, both governments are pursuing policies that are inconsistent with their pledges. By ASUKA Jusen
On the Anti-Austerity Green New Deal Published: 30 November 2020 E-paper In response to the climate crisis and the growing inequality and poverty due to neoliberalism, a series of anti-austerity Green New Deal (GND) proposals have been presented in Europe and the United States since 2018. pdf
The Fukushima Disaster and the Tokyo Olympics Published: 25 September 2020 Commentary Nine years after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, fundamental issues remain unresolved. Many domestic critics saw the Olympics as a ploy to distract from the nuclear disaster. The larger question remains: Should a country with an ongoing nuclear disaster be hosting these games? By Koide Hiroaki
Why Japan Needs an Anti-Austerity Green New Deal After Covid-19 Published: 28 July 2020 Opinion Covid-19 has shown us the limits of our current socio-economic structure and the neoclassical economics upon which it is based. It is time for the progressive left to put forth a Green New Deal for economic recovery and take on the climate crisis, the economic crisis and the inequalities of our time. By Hasegawa Uiko