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もう一つの「米大統領選」
米大統領選の行方に影響を与えようと、ウェブ上で行なわれている「国際米大統領選」にあなたも一票を投じてみてはいかがだろう。
Pick a president
Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and U.S. President George W. Bush appear to be real pals. The administrations of the two gentlemen don't seem to be butting heads on many issues - one exception being the matter of what restrictions should be placed on U.S. beef exports to Japan. When the United States faced strong international opposition to its plans to overthrow Saddam Hussein in Iraq, Koizumi provided very important political support.
Bush's actions in Iraq and his requests for Japanese collaboration may prove to have a profound effect on this country. First, it seems more likely now that Japan and its people will be targeted by persons who oppose the U.S.-led actions in Iraq. Furthermore, Koizumi's sudden decision to commit Japan's Self-Defense Forces to a historic and highly controversial role in the international coalition forces stationed in Iraq has already begun to escalate the debate on constitutional revision.
No one can tell for sure how different things would have been for Japan had Al Gore won the 2000 presidential election in the United States instead of Bush. But it is difficult to imagine that he would have invaded Iraq, at least not without broader international support. And it seems probable that, like his predecessor Bill Clinton, he wouldn't have been nearly as buddy-buddy with the Japanese prime minister, being more focused on China. But he would have signed that important international agreement spearheaded by Japan: the Kyoto Protocol.
On Nov. 2, U.S. voters will again decide who will lead their country for the next four years - George W. Bush or John Kerry. It is generally accepted that how a group of people cast their votes is their own business. But a network of Japanese and Korean NGOs holds that this is no ordinary election. Decisions made by the United States over the next four years will likely affect everyone on the planet, they reason. That's why they are inviting people from all regions to access their Web site (choice21.org) and "vote," either for Kerry or Bush.
The group plans to announce the results of the "international election" in mid-October. By releasing their data at that time, they are hoping that the international sentiment reflected in their initiative will have an impact on those U.S. voters preparing to enter the ballot box.
While purists will frown upon this unorthodox concept and methodology, the NGOs' move is not without its logic. If your life is being impacted by today's lone superpower, why not make your voice heard? Fair warning: no ballot-stuffing is allowed, so don't even think about it.
Shukan ST: Oct. 15, 2004
(C) All rights reserved
- pals
- 仲良し
- be butting heads on 〜
- 〜について角突き合わせる
- exception
- 例外
- restrictions
- 制限
- overthrow 〜
- 〜を打倒する
- collaboration
- 協力
- profound
- 深刻な
- be targeted by 〜
- 〜に狙われる
- commit 〜 to 〜
- 〜を〜に関与させる
- Self-Defense Forces
- 自衛隊
- controversial
- 論争の的になっている
- role
- 役割
- coalition forces
- 多国籍軍
- stationed
- 駐留している
- escalate 〜
- 〜を激化させる
- constitutional revision
- 憲法改正
- had Al Gore won 〜 instead of 〜
- 〜の代わりにアル・ゴア(大統領候補)が〜で勝っていたら
- presidential election
- 大統領選挙
- predecessor
- 前任者
- wouldn't have been 〜
- 〜にはならなかっただろう
- buddy-buddy
- 大の仲良し
- being more focused on 〜
- 〜を重視して
- would have signed 〜
- 〜に署名していただろう
- spearheaded by Japan
- 日本が先頭に立った
- Kyoto Protocol
- 京都議定書。先進国の温室ガス排出量に数値目標を設定した。
- John Kerry
- 民主党大統領候補
- cast their votes
- 投票する
- their own business
- 彼ら自身が決めること
- NGOs
- 非政府組織
- holds 〜
- 〜だと考える
- planet
- 惑星(地球のこと)
- reason
- 結論付ける
- regions
- 地域
- sentiment
- 感情
- reflected in their initiative
- 彼らの活動に反映された
- ballot box
- 投票箱
- purists
- 純粋主義者
- frown upon 〜
- 〜を良しとしない
- unorthodox
- 型破りな
- methodology
- 方法
- is not without its logic
- それなりの道理がある
- lone
- たった一つの
- Fair
- 公明正大な
- warning
- 警告
- ballot-stuffing
- 得票の水増し