このページはフレーム対応ブラウザ用に作成されています。下のリンクは非フレーム使用ページですのでそちらをご覧ください。
この記事をプリントする
核兵器反対!
先月末、インドに対抗して、パキスタンが核実験を行なった。この2ヵ国のとった行動は、核廃絶を目指す世界の流れに逆行するものである。
No To Nukes!
By CHRISTINE CUNANAN-NOMURA
India and Pakistan have recently disappointed the world by detonating their own nuclear devices under the guise of self-defense. Both countries claim it was necessary to test their nuclear capability because they need to protect themselves from unfriendly neighboring countries.
Unfortunately, the actions of these two countries have opened a Pandora's box — a box full of bad things to come. The recent, slow but steady trend toward a safer, nuclear-free world may have been changed irreversibly. The world is almost certainly a more dangerous place because of their decisions.
For one thing, the actions of India and Pakistan have heightened the sense of crisis in South Asia, which is already an unstable region. South Asian countries have never been on terms as friendly as those among Southeast Asian countries. In spite of the many cultural, political and religious differences among their citizens, Southeast Asian countries enjoy a mutually beneficial business and assistance relationship in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
South Asian countries don't have such a relationship and now it is even less likely that these countries will ever become good friends. In fact, there is now a much greater possibility of conflict in South Asia. India and Pakistan are at each other's necks because of the testing. Any minor skirmish, such as a shooting accident at a border, could end up turning into a regional war.
Second, the recent nuclear testings may prompt other countries that have been refraining from developing nuclear weapons programs to start doing so. Other countries can now claim that they must have nuclear weapons to defend themselves against the increasing number of countries that already have nuclear weapons. This is a vicious cycle.
The proliferation of such weapons could be very dangerous for the world. Some countries may not have adequate quality and security control or an efficient management system. In such cases, both the weapons and the plant for making such weapons would be potential sources of danger. Accidents might occur and any of these could easily become a serious disaster affecting other countries.
Other countries may use nuclear weapons for wrong purposes, such as conquering another country or revenging a wrong. Or they may sell their nuclear weapons to the wrong people — terrorists and dictators — for the right price.
Imagine what happens if terrorists get ahold of a nuclear missile and threaten to fire it at Tokyo or Osaka if Japan will not heed their ransom demands. Under such circumstances most governments would be practically powerless to defend their citizens.
The dangers of nuclear weapons cannot be overemphasized. The fewer we have, the better for the world
Japan has a special role to play in anti-nuclear weapons efforts since it is the only country that has experienced nuclear bombings. It is also one of the largest aid donors in the world. Both the Japanese government and Japanese citizens — in official, organizational or personal capacities — have the power to remind the world of the horrors of nuclear weapons and the tragedies that result. This opportunity should not be wasted at such a critical time!
India and Pakistan have recently disappointed the world by detonating their own nuclear devices under the guise of self-defense. Both countries claim it was necessary to test their nuclear capability because they need to protect themselves from unfriendly neighboring countries.
Unfortunately, the actions of these two countries have opened a Pandora's box — a box full of bad things to come. The recent, slow but steady trend toward a safer, nuclear-free world may have been changed irreversibly. The world is almost certainly a more dangerous place because of their decisions.
For one thing, the actions of India and Pakistan have heightened the sense of crisis in South Asia, which is already an unstable region. South Asian countries have never been on terms as friendly as those among Southeast Asian countries. In spite of the many cultural, political and religious differences among their citizens, Southeast Asian countries enjoy a mutually beneficial business and assistance relationship in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
South Asian countries don't have such a relationship and now it is even less likely that these countries will ever become good friends. In fact, there is now a much greater possibility of conflict in South Asia. India and Pakistan are at each other's necks because of the testing. Any minor skirmish, such as a shooting accident at a border, could end up turning into a regional war.
Second, the recent nuclear testings may prompt other countries that have been refraining from developing nuclear weapons programs to start doing so. Other countries can now claim that they must have nuclear weapons to defend themselves against the increasing number of countries that already have nuclear weapons. This is a vicious cycle.
The proliferation of such weapons could be very dangerous for the world. Some countries may not have adequate quality and security control or an efficient management system. In such cases, both the weapons and the plant for making such weapons would be potential sources of danger. Accidents might occur and any of these could easily become a serious disaster affecting other countries.
Other countries may use nuclear weapons for wrong purposes, such as conquering another country or revenging a wrong. Or they may sell their nuclear weapons to the wrong people — terrorists and dictators — for the right price.
Imagine what happens if terrorists get ahold of a nuclear missile and threaten to fire it at Tokyo or Osaka if Japan will not heed their ransom demands. Under such circumstances most governments would be practically powerless to defend their citizens.
The dangers of nuclear weapons cannot be overemphasized. The fewer we have, the better for the world
Japan has a special role to play in anti-nuclear weapons efforts since it is the only country that has experienced nuclear bombings. It is also one of the largest aid donors in the world. Both the Japanese government and Japanese citizens — in official, organizational or personal capacities — have the power to remind the world of the horrors of nuclear weapons and the tragedies that result. This opportunity should not be wasted at such a critical time!
Shukan ST: June 19, 1998
(C) All rights reserved
- by detonating their own nuclear devices
- 自国の核爆弾を爆発させて
- under the guise of self-defense
- 自己防衛という口実で
- claim
- 主張する
- Pandora's box
- パンドラの箱
- slow but steady trend toward 〜
- 遅いが着実に 〜 に向かう動向
- nuclear-free
- 核のない
- irreversibly
- 取り返しがつかないほど
- have heightened the sense of crisis
- 危機感を高めた
- unstable
- 不安定な
- have never been on terms as friendly as 〜
- 〜 のように友好的な関係ではない
- mutually beneficial business and assistance relationship
- 互いに有益なビジネスや支援関係
- Association of Southeast Asian Nations
- 東南アジア諸国連合
- it is even less likely that 〜
- ますます 〜 しそうもない
- conflict
- 紛争
- (are)at each other's necks
- 互いの首を締め合っている
- testing
- 核実験
- minor skirmish
- 小ぜり合い
- shooting accident
- 発砲事件
- border
- 国境
- could end up turing into 〜
- 〜 に発展しかねない
- regional war
- 局地戦争
- prompt 〜 to 〜
- 〜 を刺激して 〜 させる
- have been refraining from 〜
- 〜 するのを手控えていた
- defend themselves against 〜
- 〜 から自国を守る
- vicious cycle
- 悪循環
- proliferation
- 拡散
- adequate quality and security control
- ちゃんとした品質・安全管理
- efficient management system
- 効率のよい管理体制
- plant
- 工場
- affecting 〜
- 〜 に影響を及ぼす
- conquering 〜
- 〜 を征服する
- revenging a wrong
- 不当な行為に報復する
- dictators
- 独裁者
- get ahold of 〜
- 〜 を入手する
- threeaten to fire 〜
- 〜 を発射すると脅す
- heed their ransom demands
- 身代金の要求に耳を傾ける
- Under such circumstances
- そんな状況下では
- be practically powerless
- 事実上無力である
- cannot be overemphasized
- いくら強調してもし足りない
- The fewer we have, the better for the world.
- 世界のためには核は少ないほどよい
- anti-nuclear weapons efforts
- 核兵器反対運動
- nuclear bombings
- 原爆投下
- aid donors
- 援助国
- in official, organizational or personal capacities
- 政府、組織、または個人として
- tragedies that result
- 引き起こされる悲劇
- critical time
- 重大な時